Protective immunity induced by Eimeria common antigen 14–3-3 against Eimeria tenella, Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria maxima

Table 1 Protective efficacy of common antigen Ea14–3-3 against challenge with E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima and mixed oocysts of the three Eimeria species

Group	Challenge with Eimeria spp.	Average body weight gain (g)	Relative body weight gain (%)	Mean lesion scores	Oocyst decrease ratio (%)	ACI
pVAX-Ea14–3-3	E. tenella	53.26 ± 11.52^b	87.49	0.42 ± 0.52^b	58.79	178.29
pVAX1 control	E. tenella	35.26 ± 9.89^a	58.00	3.59 ± 0.51^c	−0.61	112.1
Challenged control	E. tenella	32.58 ± 10.29^a	53.11	3.78 ± 0.67^c	0.00	105.41
Unchallenged control*	PBS	61.30 ± 9.29^c	100	0 ± 0^a	100	200
pVAX-Ea14–3-3	E. acervulina	53.96 ± 12.0 ^b	88.51	1.62 ± 0.54^b	77.05	171.31
pVAX1 control	E. acervulina	38.41 ± 10.93^a	63.20	3.01 ± 0.81^c	12.67	93.1
Challenged control	E. acervulina	37.38 ± 10.27^a	62.37	3.26 ± 0.67^c	0.00	89.77
Unchallenged control*	PBS	61.30 ± 8.89^c	100	0 ± 0^a	100	200
pVAX-Ea14–3-3	E. maxima	52.96 ± 11.91^b	88.23	1.72 ± 0.64^bc	72.04	161.03
pVAX1 control	E. maxima	35.39 ± 11.52^a	58.62	2.56 ± 0.71^c	12.19	93.02
Challenged control	E. maxima	35.18 ± 12.21^a	57.18	2.90 ± 0.67^c	0.00	88.18
Unchallenged control*	PBS	61.30 ± 9.29^c	100	0 ± 0^a	100	200
pVAX-Ea14–3-3	Mixed oocysts	52.98 ± 11.54^b	86.82	0.59 ± 0.51^b	39.33	170.92
pVAX1 control	Mixed oocysts	35.10 ± 10.81^a	57.57	3.58 ± 0.61^c	−1.69	111.77
Challenged control	Mixed oocysts	33.08 ± 11.09^a	53.77	3.70 ± 0.57^c	0.00	106.77
Unchallenged control*	PBS	61.30 ± 9.29^c	100	0 ± 0^a	100	200

Significant difference (p < 0.05) between numbers with different letters. No significant difference (p > 0.05) between numbers with the same letter
*unchallenged control was shared among the groups challenged with different Eimeria species
Mixed oocysts: mixed oocysts of E. tenella, E. acervulina and E. maxima

ISSN: 1746-6148