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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32561
Title: PLASMA NITRITE INCREASES DURING EIMERIA ACERVULINA INFECTIONS IN CHICKENS

Author
item Allen, Patricia
item TEASDALE DANA - 1265-40-00

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Eimeria acervulina is a protozoan parasite of the chicken duodenum, and evokes a cellular immune response. Pathology of acute infections in naive animals, resulting ultimately in reduced weight gain, occurs during the first week, and may be a nonspecific result of the immune cascade. Nitric oxide (NO) is an end product of the immune response, but its role in Eimeria sp. infections is not well defined. In chickens, each inoculated with 1 million oocysts, plasma nitrite was used to estimate NO production. It was significantly increased compared to uninoculated controls at 96, 126, 150 and 168 hr post inoculation (PI). In a second experiment, chicks inoculated with 1 million oocysts (G6), but not those with 1 thousand oocysts (G3), showed a 2.88-fold increase in plasma nitrite and decreased weight gain compared to controls at 162 hr PI. No relationship between plasma nitrite and total circulating monocytes was found. Challenge infection of these immunized chicks with 1 million oocysts gave the following mean nitrite levels (uM) at 168 hr PI: G6, .566; G3, .816; unimmunized, 2.437; uninoculated control, .358. The source of plasma nitrite during infection is not known, but levels appear to be related to the infective dose of the parasite, and its production is diminished in immunized animals.