THE EFFECT OF BCG, ZYMOSAN AND COXIELLA-BURNETTI EXTRACT ON EIMERIA INFECTIONS

Infection of animals with species of Eimeria induces a hyper-reactivit y to endotoxin as manifest by a greatly increased capacity of infected animals to produce TNF in response to LPS in vivo compared with uninf ected animals. This finding indicates priming for hyperactivation of m acrophages by Eimeria infection and raises the possibility that non-sp ecific triggering of macrophages by agents such as Bacille Calmette-Gu erin (BCG), zymosan or Coxiella burnetti extract may be a simple means of control for coccidiosis. However, all of these agents enhanced ooc yst excretion in mice, rats or chickens infected with Eimeria vermifor mis, Eimeria nieschulzi or Eimeria tenella, respectively, without affe cting the patent period.