Single-oocyst-derived field strains of Eimeria tenella isolated from Rugby in the United Kingdom (E tenella R) and from Mymensingh and Dhaka in Bangladesh (E tenella M and D, respectively) and a laboratory strain (E tenella, Houghton, H) were compared by isoenzyme electrophoresis, reactivity with antisporozoite monoclonal antibodies and, for some pairs of strains, cross-protection in vivo. The three field strains conformed to one zymodeme with respect to six isoenzymes. For glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) all field strains were characterised by GPI-9. A panel of six different monoclonal antibodies raised against sporozoites of E tenella H did not discriminate between strains by titration in an immunofluorescence assay against air-dried, acetone fixed sporozoites. In cross-protection experiments involving immunisation and challenge of young chickens, two immunisation schedules were used which, after homologous challenge, provided complete immunity either by the criterion of oocyst output, or by the criterion of weight gain (and more than 94 per cent protection by the criterion of oocyst output). While strain heterogeneity was minimal in the former situation, there was poor cross protection between some strains in the latter case. Under those conditions, heterologous challenge with E tenella M resulted in dysentery and in significantly (P less than 0.05) increased oocyst output and decreased weight gain. The results suggested that E tenella M was immunologically superior to E tenella R and H strains. The results show that a limited degree of immunogenic variability exists between these strains of E tenella and that, unless homologous strain immunity is complete by the criterion of oocyst output, challenge with heterologous strains may result in depressed weight gain.