Embrex, Inc.

Zoetis Services LLC

James E. Hutchins

Julius K. Tyczkowski

James E Hutchins

Julius K Tyczkowski

B Alan Chalker, Ii

Robert C Tuttle

B Alan Chalker Ii

The present invention provides improved methods and compositions for producing oocysts. The oocysts produced according to the invention find use in the manufacture of vaccines. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the production ofoocysts. Vaccines containingoocysts, sporocysts and/or sporozoites produced according to the present invention may be used to immunize birds against coccidiosis either in ovo or post hatch.

Methods for producing oocysts

The invention provides methods and compositions for purifying protozoan oocysts. In particular embodiments, the oocysts areoocysts. The methods comprise contacting a composition comprising fecal material and protozoan oocysts with polysaccharidase under conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of fecal material in the composition.

Method of purifying oocysts using enzymatic digestion of fecal debris

Methods and apparatus that can non-invasively identify the present condition of eggs, namely, whether an egg is a live egg, a clear egg, an early dead egg, a middle dead egg, a late dead egg, a rotted egg, a cracked egg, and/or an inverted egg, are provided. An egg is illuminated with both visible and invisible light at wavelengths of between about three hundred nanometers and about eleven hundred nanometers (300 nm-1,100 nm). Light passing through the egg is received at a detector positioned such that a path of the received light does not pass through an aircell within the egg, except in the case of an inverted egg. The intensity of the light is determined at a plurality of the visible and infrared wavelengths, and a spectrum that represents light intensity at selected ones of the visible and infrared wavelengths is generated. The generated spectrum is compared with one or more spectra associated with a respective known egg condition to identify a present condition of the egg.

Methods and apparatus for non-invasively identifying conditions of eggs via multi-wavelength spectral comparison

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Durham, NC, United States of America

James E Hutchins