Upregulation of chicken TLR4, TLR15 and MyD88 in heterophils and monocyte-derived macrophages stimulated with Eimeria tenella in vitro

► The expression of ChTLR4, ChTLR15 and MyD88 in heterophils and monocyte-derived macrophages stimulated with Eimeria tenella for 2h were upregulated significantly. ► The heat-killed E. tenella sporozoites had ability of stimulating higher expression of ChTLR4, ChTLR15 and MyD88 than live sporozoites. ► ChTLR4 and ChTLR15 maybe involved in recognizing of E. tenella, by triggered MyD88-dependent signal pathway, and played a role in chickens infected with E. tenella.