The present invention relates to the fields of veterinary parasitology and -vaccinology; more specifically the invention relates to a composition comprising live Eimeria oocysts and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The composition is characterised in that it comprises a TLR3 agonist. The composition can be used to prepare a vaccine for poultry against Coccidiosis. The vaccine can be applied for example as a coarse spray on day-old chicks. The TLR3 agonist in the vaccine allows for a reduction of the dose of Eimeria oocysts up to 4 fold, while obtaining the same level of protection against challenge as from a vaccine without the TLR3 agonist. Alternatively, when employing a conventional dose of Eimeria oocysts in the vaccine, the TLR3 agonist causes an earlier onset of immunity, resulting in a significant reduction of the intestinal lesion score upon challenge, already at 2 instead of at 3 weeks after vaccination.
本发明涉及兽医寄生虫学和疫苗学领域;更具体地说,本发明涉及一种由活艾美拉虫卵囊和药学上可接受的载体组成的组合物。该组合物的特征在于它包含一种 TLR3 激动剂。该组合物可用于制备家禽球虫病疫苗。例如,该疫苗可作为粗喷雾剂喷洒在雏鸡身上。疫苗中的 TLR3 激动剂可使卵囊艾美耳蚴的剂量减少 4 倍,同时获得与不含 TLR3 激动剂的疫苗相同的抗挑战保护
水平。另外,如果在疫苗中使用常规剂量的艾美拉虫卵囊,TLR3 激动剂会使免疫开始得更早,从而使接种后 2 周而不是 3 周的肠道病变评分显著降低。