Development and Evaluation of Selected Chemoprophylaxis Candidates and a Candidate Live-Attenuated Vaccine for Prevention of Histomoniasis in Turkeys

<p>Histomoniasis, commonly known as blackhead disease, has increased in prevalence due to the regulatory ban of prophylactics and therapeutics within the past 30 years. The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the efficacy of selected dietary chemoprophylaxis candidates as well as an in vitro live-attenuated vaccine candidate Histomonas meleagridis for prevention of histomoniasis. Chapter one addresses deoxycholic acid and a biliogenic diet intended to endogenously increase production of this secondary bile acid. Deoxycholic acid was effective in vitro but failed to prevent histomoniasis when evaluated during the in vivo experimental disease trial with turkeys. The biliogenic diet did not reduce disease prevalence. Chapter two addresses dietary inclusion of 0.2% boric acid to prevent disease. The selected concentration of boric acid was unsuccessful in disease prevention. Chapter three addresses the experiments conducted to evaluate select ages, doses, and routes of a candidate live-attenuated vaccine. The live-attenuated vaccine candidate has exhibited slight reduction in histomoniasis severity when administered intracloacally on d14. Although the practicality of this current experimental vaccine administration approach may be limited, further research must be conducted in order to further elucidate conferred immune response and investigate the viability of this vaccine.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Poultry Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Beer, Lesleigh

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hargis, Billy M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barta, John R.
• Rochell, Samuel J.

• Blackhead disease
• Histomonas meleagridis
• Histomoniasis
• Turkey
• Animal Diseases
• Poultry or Avian Science

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3147

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uark.edu:etd-4697