Interaction between nutrition and Eimeria acervulina infection in broiler chickens: Development of an experimental infection model

In three experiments broiler chickens were inoculated with sporulated Eimeria acervulina oocysts at 18 d of age. Feed intake, body-weight gain, brush-border enzyme activities, fat digestion, protein digestion and protein retention were measured, Body-weight gain was reduced during the acute phase of the infection and increased during the recovery phase of the infection, Feed intake was decreased on day 4 and day 5 postinfection (PI) and increased from day 7 to day 11 PI. Maltase (EC 3.2.1.20) and sucrase (EC 3.2.1.48) activities were decreased on day 5 PI in all intestinal segments. In Expts 2 and 3, however, maltase activity was increased in the ileum, Fat digestion was decreased From day 2 to day 11PI. N digestion and retention were decreased from day 2 to day 11 PI.