Effects of glass bead size, vortexing speed and duration on Eimeria acervulina oocyst excystation

Improved methods for efficient excystation of Eimeria should be developed and standardized for future Eimeria-related studies. Here, the effects of different glass bead sizes (0.5, 1, 2, and 2.5. mm), and various vortex speeds (1000, 2000, and 3000. rpm) and durations (30. s, 1, 3, and 5. min) have been examined for Eimeria (E.) acervulina oocyst excystation. At 3000. rpm, all glass beads, regardless of size, efficiently ruptured E. acervulina oocysts at 5. min. At 2000 and 3000. rpm, all four glass bead sizes increasingly ruptured oocysts in a time-dependent manner. In contrast, at 1000. rpm the excystation efficiency was not related with the glass bead size or with vortexing duration. It appeared that the 1. mm glass beads are most efficient for E. acervulina DNA extraction at a 3000. rpm vortexing speed for 3 and 5. min. The 2. mm glass beads delicately released the highest number of intact sporocysts at 2000. rpm for 3. min. Therefore, our data can provide valuable information for the efficient mechanical excystation of E. acervulina.