U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            DALLOUL, RAMI - UNIV. OF MARYLANDitem
                                            Lillehoj, Hyunitem
                                            DOERR, JOHN - UNIV. OF MARYLAND
  Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2002
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Previously we have shown in separate experiments that resistance in broilers to Eimeria acervulina (EA) was reduced by vitamin A deficiency and enhanced by a probiotic (Lactobacillus-based, Primalac®).  In the present 2 x 2 factorial study, a broiler starter ration was amended for vitamin A (control, C, or deficient, A) and probiotic status (-, P).  One hundred eighty day-old broilers were randomly assigned to battery cages (11/cage, 4 cages/treatment).  At 21 d, 24 birds per treatment were inoculated orally with 104 oocysts of EA.  Feces were collected from 27-30 d (6-9 days post infection, dpi), and shed oocysts were enumerated.  Sera and intestinal secretions were sampled at 3, 6, 9, and 12 dpi and tested by ELISA for interferon-g (IFN-g) and anti-EA antibodies (Ab).  Fecal oocyst shedding was highest (P £ 0.05) in A- birds (1.9 x 109 oocysts/kg body wt), followed by AP, C- and CP, respectively.  Feeding the probiotic reduced shed oocysts by about 20% in A fed birds and by 26% in C fed birds.  Intestinal IFN-g was relatively constant in all treatment groups except for A-.  In those birds, IFN-g declined steadily and was lower (P £ 0.05) from day 6 on.  Serum IFN-g levels fluctuated within each treatment, and over time were not revealing.  Secretory Ab level against a recombinant Eimeria antigen was constant (P > 0.05) in AP birds, but increased (P £ 0.05) in A-, C- and CP birds.  Serum Ab levels were also constant in A- and CP, but increased (P £ 0.05) in AP.  Between treatments, A- birds had higher (P £ 0.05) Ab level than AP. At 12 dpi, CP had the lowest serum Ab level and A- the highest.  AP birds were not different (P > 0.05) than C-.  At this time period, serum Ab level is indicative of a higher invasion by EA in A- birds, and that probiotic treatment reduced this internal challenge.  The data demonstrate that this Lactobacillus-based probiotic had an immunostimulatory effect even in birds compromised by a dietary deficiency of vitamin A.  Further, this effect occurs at the level of the mucosal immune system of chickens and is best manifested by apparent lower internal invasion by EA, based on lower serum antibody, and lower EA oocyst production.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov