Assessment of low doses of Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts on the biochemical parameters and intestinal microflora of chickens

Iva Langrová,Romana Krejčířová,Ivana Knížková,Roman Švejstil,Zuzana Čadková,Ivana Jankovská,Jaroslav Vadlejch,Eva Tůmová,Darina Chodová,Barbora Horáková,Martina Šašková

doi:10.3906/vet-1704-68

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the biochemical parameters and intestinal microflora in broilers with low doses of Eimeria tenella. Birds from the experimental groups were orally infected with 500 (GI) or 1000 (GII) sporulated oocysts of E. tenella and then examined for weight gain, biochemical indicators, and microbiota on day 9 and 16 after infection. Experimental infection of E. tenella on day 9 post infection (pi) increased concentrations of uric acid, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and glucose; however, these measurements did not differ from those of the control group on day 16 pi. On day 16 pi, bifidobacteria counts were lower in both infected groups, whereas E. coli counts were higher in GII than in GI and the control group. Statistical differences were not observed when average weight gains between the infected and noninfected groups were compared.

Highlights

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by coccidia, common protozoal parasites that affect both domestic and wild animals
Due to the development of effective prophylactic drugs, clinical outbreaks of coccidiosis are considered rare in modern poultry production; subclinical Eimeria infection is still considered one of the most significant problems in the industry
Accurate estimations of the effects caused by coccidial infections are difficult to achieve because different Eimeria species impact their hosts in different ways [1,17]

Summary

Introduction

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by coccidia, common protozoal parasites that affect both domestic and wild animals. Coccidia are commonly found in small poultry farms (often in subclinical forms); some species found in large production farms are highly pathogenic and can cause enormous losses [1]. Eimeria tenella is one of the most economically significant species of Eimeria. Infections from this parasite can lead to bird mortality through hemorrhaging, which is accompanied by the emergence of second stage schizonts from the cecal subepithelium [2]. There are many studies that research the influence of these pathogenic coccidia at oocyst doses of 1 × 104 and above (e.g., 3–5). Recently we see a growing number of small farms where poultry are kept under different types of alternative farming systems (organic or bio regime), and subclinical

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion