Dynamic Patterns of Systemic Innate Immunity and Inflammatory Associated Factors in Experimental Caprine Coccidiosis

The role of genetics in determining resistance to coccidiosis in goats a review of current research and future directions

Coccidiosis is a significant parasitic disease in goats, with significant impacts on animal health, productivity, and economic losses for producers. Although various management practices can help control and prevent coccidiosis, a growing body of research suggests that genetics play an important role in determining resistance to the disease. This review explores the current understanding of the genetics of coccidiosis resistance in goats, including the potential genetic factors and mechanisms involved, and the implications for breeding and selection programs. The review will also discuss current research and future directions in this field, including the use of genomic tools and technologies to better understand the genetics of resistance and to improve breeding programs for coccidiosis resistance in goats. This review will be of interest to veterinary practitioners, goat producers, animal breeders, and researchers working in the field of veterinary parasitology and animal genetics.

Effects of riboflavin and Bacillus subtilis on internal organ development and intestinal health of Ross 708 male broilers with or without coccidial challenge

In a companion study, we found that inclusion of different doses of riboflavin affected growth performance of Ross 708 male broilers' responses to coccidial challenge (by 5 Eimeria spp on day 14 of age) and dietary Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) supplementation. The current study was conducted to further test whether supplementation of B. subtilis and riboflavin will reduce negative impact and inflammation caused by Eimeria spp proliferation and help proper function of internal organs. A total of 1,248 Ross × Ross 708 male broiler chicks were randomly placed in 96 floor pens (8 blocks, 12 treatments). Treatments were arranged in a 3 (riboflavin) × 2 (B. subtilis) × 2 (Coccidial challenge) factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Coccidial challenge reduced the weight of sampled birds on day 27 and day 36 and increased the relative weights of the internal organs of proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and spleen to BW on day 27, which may be because of inflammation caused by proliferation of Eimeria spp. The increased relative weights of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and spleen on coccidial challenged birds were lost on day 36. Correlation analysis also indicated that the jejunum weight was positively related to villus height, Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria maxima on day 27 but was not on day 36. The loss of the positive relationships may be because of recovery of the birds from coccidiosis on day 36. Even though the coccidial challenge and riboflavin interactively affected feed conversion ratio and BW gain and supplementation of dietary B. subtilis reduced mortality from day 35 to 42 in the companion study, the same response of internal organs was not observed in the current study. Coccidial challenge compromised development of internal organs of Ross 708 male broilers at an early age, but the negative effects subsided with age of birds rather than supplementation of riboflavin and B. subtilis at current tested levels under our experimental set up.

Oxidative stress linked to changes of cholinesterase and adenosine deaminase activities in experimentally infected chicken chicks with Eimeria spp

Both oxidative stress and alterations in adenosinergic and cholinergic systems participate in initiation and progression of parasitic infectious diseases. Nevertheless, the involvement of these pathways during eimeriosis remains poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of adenosinergic and cholinergic systems in regulation of inflammatory response and oxidative stress in chicken chicks experimentally infected with Eimeria spp. Two groups were formed for comparison at 3 time points (days 5, 10 and 15) of infection (PI): uninfected (control) and infected. Erythrocyte counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin levels were lower in infected chicks on day 15 post-infection (PI). Total leukocytes, heterophil and lymphocyte counts were higher in infected chicks on days 5 and 10 PI, while eosinophil counts were higher only on day 10 PI. Serum levels of total protein and globulins were higher in infected chicks on days 10 and 15 PI, while triglycerides and cholesterol levels were lower on day 15 PI. Acetylcholinesterase activity in total blood and butyrylcholinesterase activity in serum were higher in infected chicks on day 15 PI, while adenosine deaminase activity was higher on day 10 PI and lower on day 15 PI compared with the respective control. Finally, serum levels of reactive oxygen species and catalase activity in total blood were higher in infected chicks on day 15 PI, while superoxide dismutase activity in total blood was lower at the same time of infection. These data suggest that cholinergic and adenosinergic systems display a pro-inflammatory profile that contributes to impairment of immune and inflammatory responses in a mixed Eimeria infection. Furthermore, oxidative stress may contribute to clinical signs of disease as well as to pathogenesis. In summary, the impairment of immune response and alterations in blood antioxidant/oxidant status contributes to disease pathophysiology.