Chickens exhibit varied responses to infection with Eimeria parasites. We hypothesise that broilers selected for increased growth rate will show lower resistance and tolerance to a coccidian challenge. 288 chickens of fast (F) or slow (S) growing lines were inoculated with 0 (control), 2500 (low-dose), or 7000 (high-dose) sporulated E. maxima oocysts at 13 days of age in two consecutive rounds. Gain and Intake were measured daily and their values relative to BW at the point of infection were calculated over the pre-patent (days 1–4 post-infection), acute (d5–8pi), and recovery (d9–12pi) phases of infection to assess the impact of infection. Levels of plasma carotenoids, vitamins E and A, long bone mineralisation, caecal microbiota diversity indices, and histological measurements were assessed at the acute (d6pi) and recovery stage (d13pi). In addition, we measured the levels of nitric oxide metabolites and the number of parasite genome copies in the jejunum at d6pi. In absolute terms F birds grew 1.42 times faster than S birds when not infected. Infection significantly reduced relative daily gain and intake (P<0.001), with the effects being most pronounced during the acute phase (P< 0.001). Levels of all metabolites were significantly decreased, apart from NO which increased (P<0.001) in response to infection on d6pi, and were accompanied by changes in histomorphometric features and the presence of E.maxima genome copies in infected birds, which persisted to d13pi. Furthermore, infection reduced tibia and femur mineralisation, which also persisted to d13pi. Reductions in measured variables were mostly independent of dose size, as was the level of parasite replication. The impact of infection was similar for Sand F-line birds for all measured parameters, and there were no significant interactions between line x dose size on any of these parameters. In conclusion, our results suggest that line differences in productive performance do not influence host responses to coccidiosis when offered nutrient adequate diets.
Keywords: Coccidiosis Eimeria maxima Broiler Genetic selection Resistance Tolerance Growth rate Bone mineralisation.
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L.S.,
In your introduction you mentioned:
Such an emphasis on productive traits may have compromised the ability of modern broilers to cope with metabolic and skeletal disorders (Dawkins and Layton, 2012; Julian, 1998) and infectious pathogens (Cheema et al., 2003; Yunis et al., 2000). This raises concerns amongst the general public and have led, for example, the Dutch Organisation of Retailers to take the strategic decision that they will only sell chicken meat from slow-growing animals.
The reasons, however, why Dutch retailers chose for slow growing birds are very diverse. It was not so much the general public but more the pressure of action groups with different agendas that forced the retailers to take actions. These actions were partly based on false accusations.
Different parameters of disease and welfare in regular broilers were and are very good in the Netherlands. The average mortality rates and the amount of antibiotics used are very low in both the regular and the slower growing birds.
To our surprise, however, we are seeing more severe outbreaks of Coccidiosis (mainly E. tenella) in slower growing birds than in the regular broilers.
I would be curious to hear about your ideas about this observation.
Regards.