Research Note: A novel immunization approach for chicken coccidiosis vaccine: waterline immunization and its application effect

Coccidiosis is a prevalent disease in poultry industry, causing significant economic losses. Vaccine immunization has been developed as an effective method to prevent coccidiosis. In China, the traditional method for coccidiosis vaccination in the poultry industry involves the using water troughs and powder drinking water adjuvants for chick immunization via drinking. However, as the breeding industry evolves rapidly, water troughs are progressively being replaced by water lines. This article introduces an innovative immunization approach-waterline immunization-utilizing a novel microencapsulated drinking water adjuvant. The oocyst suspension effects of microencapsulated drinking adjuvants and powder drinking adjuvants was compared in water with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) values ranging from 0 to 1000 ppm. The findings revealed that the microencapsulated drinking adjuvant could ensure stable suspension of oocysts in water with TDS values from 0 to 1000 ppm for 6 h. Experimental chickens were vaccinated with a coccidiosis trivalent live vaccines using four distinct immunization methods: spray immunization, powder water bottle immunization, microencapsulated waterline immunization, and feed mixing immunization. The effectiveness of these four immunization methods was assessed by comparing the tip staining rate and the average number of oocysts per chicken post-immunization. The results showed that the average number of oocysts per chicken, from 96 to 168 h post-immunization, decreased in the following order: microencapsulated waterline immunization, powder water bottle immunization, feed mixing immunization, and spray immunization. Waterline immunization is a convenient and efficient immunization approach, particularly suitable for large-scale poultry farms to achieve uniform flock immunization. It represents a promising new option for the prevention of coccidiosis in the breeding industry.