This article was downloaded by: [University of Arizona] On: 03 February 2015, At: 23:42 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
British Poultry Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cbps20
Energy and nitrogen metabolism of chickens infected with either Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella B. S. Takhar
a b
& D. J. Farrell
a
a
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition , University of New England , PO Box 2, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia b
Red Comb Co‐operative Society Ltd , Dry Creek, 5094, South Australia Published online: 08 Nov 2007.
To cite this article: B. S. Takhar & D. J. Farrell (1979) Energy and nitrogen metabolism of chickens infected with either Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella , British Poultry Science, 20:2, 197-211, DOI: 10.1080/00071667908416569 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071667908416569
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/ terms-and-conditions
Br. Poult. Sci., 20: 197-211. 1979
Longman: printed in Great Britain
ENERGY AND NITROGEN METABOLISM OF CHICKENS INFECTED WITH EITHER EIMERIA ACERVULINA OR EIMERIA TENELLA B. S. TAKHAR1 AND D. J. FARRELL Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Received for publication 20th June 1978
1. The effects of sublethal infections of E. acervulina and E. tenella on the energy and nitrogen metabolism of groups of five broilers aged 16 d were studied for 16 d in respiration chambers. 2. The metabolisable energy content of the diet for chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.689 of its gross energy content and N retention was 42.5 g/100 g N intake compared with 0.738 and 47.1 g respectively, in uninfected pair-fed controls. Chickens infected with E. tenella were similarly affected. 3. Efficiency of utilisation of ME by chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.43 during the first 8 d after infection, and 0.52 during the second 8 d compared with an overall efficiency by non-infected chickens fed ad libitum of 0.73. Maintenance energy requirement of infected chickens was higher during the first 8 d after infection than during the second 8-d period. 4. Body composition measurements showed that of the total gain in weight of chickens infected with E. acervulina, only 7.5 g/kg gain was fat and 213 g/kg was protein compared with 45 g and 210 g respectively for noninfected chickens fed ad libitum. 5. E. acervulina and E. tenella infections reduced the apparent digestibility of total mineral, calcium and phosphorus. INTRODUCTION
Coccidiosis, a ubiquitous disease of poultry, is caused by an intestinal parasite, Eimeria. Of the nine species known to infect chickens (Reid, 1968), two were chosen for this study: E. acervulina, which infects the anterior part of the small intestine and is considered to be moderately pathogenic, and E. tenella, which infects mainly the caeca and is considered to be highly pathogenic. The period of infection (prepatent and critical) lasts about 9 d depending on the species but it is important to continue studies into the period of recovery in order to determine the overall effect of the disease. We report here experiments on growing chickens infected with E. acervulina or E. tenella and their pair-fed controls. Measurements were also made on similar 1
Present address: Red Comb Co-operative Society Ltd, PO Box 2, Dry Creek, South Australia 5094. 197
198
B. S. TAKHAR AND D. J. FARRELL
groups of chickens grown without infection and with or without food restriction. Observations were made on energy and N metabolism, mineral balance, particularly calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and on changes in body composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Chickens and experimental plan
Debeaked, non-vaccinated 1-d-old broiler cockerels were housed in electricallyheated brooders in an isolated room and fed on proprietary starter crumbs ad libitum for 14 d. In each experiment twenty 14-d-old chickens were allocated to four groups of five birds of equal mean body weight (W), identified by wing bands and housed in four respiration chambers for measurement of energy, N and mineral balance. Simultaneously a group of eight birds of equal mean weight was selected, identified by wing bands and placed in a battery brooder. The diet of the birds was changed to a " calorimeter diet " with a determined ME content of 12-9 MJ/kg and a crude protein (N x 6-25) content of 235 g/kg. Chickens in the chambers were accustomed to the experimental conditions for 2 d. Immediately prior to the calorimetric measurements all groups were starved for 12 h. At 16 d of age the birds in the battery brooder were weighed, killed, and their carcasses stored at —22 °G. Also at 16 d two groups of birds in the calorimeters were infected, by intubation, with one of the two species of coccidia at the predetermined dose (see below). A pair-fed control group was intubated with physiological saline. In one experiment, all four groups were given physiological saline (oocyst-free carrier) to determine normal growth patterns in the respiration chambers. The experimental plan is shown in Table 1. For the 1st day of the experiment all groups in respiration chambers were fed ad libitum but thereafter only infected groups were fed ad libitum. The control (non-infected) groups were pair-fed by offering the amount of food eaten by the infected groups on the previous day. Calorimetric measurements were made for 12 to 16 d. At the conclusion of each experiment all groups of birds were starved for 12 h, weighed, killed and their carcasses stored frozen. The experimental period was divided into four stages, each of 4 d: prepatent (stage 1, 1 to 4 d), critical (stage 2, 5 to 8 d), recovery (stage 3, 9 to 12 d), and postrecovery (stage 4, 13 to 16 d). Propagation of the parasite
A culture of E. acervulina propagated from a single oocyst was obtained. E. tenella was isolated according to the method of Tyzzer (1932). The oocysts of two species were propagated by infecting susceptible, coccidia-free chickens housed in cages. After the respective prepatent period, excreta were collected daily for 4 d and the oocysts recovered by the flotation technique of Davies et al. (1963). To obtain maximum sporulation, the oocyst suspensions were incubated at 27 °C for 48 h, during which time oxygen was continuously bubbled through them. After 48 h all collections were pooled and an oocyst count done. The stock of oocysts was then suspended in a potassium dichromate solution (20 g/1) and stored at
199
COCCIDIOSIS AND METABOLISM TABLE 1
Infection status
No. ofoocysts given/bird
Feeding regimen
Chamber Experiment 1 4 3 1 2
E. acervulina Control E. acervulina Control
2-25 xlO 5 0 5-5 xlO 5 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Chi
Experiment 2 2 1 3 4
E. acervulina Control E. acervulina Control
MxlO« 0 2-75 xlO 8 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch2 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch3
Experiment 3 4 3 2 1
E. tenella Control E. tenella Control
5 0 x 10s 0 1-0x10* 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch2
Experiment 4 1 2 4 3
No No No No
o oo o
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Plan of experiments1 showing infection status, number ofoocysts given and feeding regimen of groups of Jive chickens in four respiration chambers (Ch)
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Chi Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4
infection infection infection infection
1 Each experiment lasted 16 d with the exception of experiment 2, chambers 1 and 2, where the experiment was terminated at 12 d.
0 °C until used. The required number of oocysts was washed free of potassium dichromate before being intubated into the birds. Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the maximum oocyst dose that could be used without mortality in 16- to 32-d-old chickens. It was found that the infective dose should not exceed 5-5 x 106 oocysts/bird, for E. acervulina and 1-0 x 10* oocysts/bird for E. tenella.
Respiration chambers and calculation of results
The four indirect closed-circuit respiration chambers and their method of operation have been described by Farrell (1972), Farrell (1974a) and Pym and Farrell (1977). Results were calculated according to Walker and Farrell (1976). Energy retention of chickens was determined using the difference between ME intake and heat production, and from carbon and N balance measurements. The mean value of the two methods is reported. Water intake
Water intake was determined from the difference between the starting and finishing weights of a stoppered 500-ml glass container with a small self-filling drinking cup.
200
B. S. TAKHAR AND D. J. FARRELL TABLE 2
Results of analysis of variance of measurements made during calorimetric studies over 12 or 16 d in stages of 4 d on groups of five chickens infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, or non-infected ad libitum^rf and their pair-fed controls Non-infected
Variable Weight gain (g/4d)
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Food intake (g/kgWd) Metabolisability of diet3 ME intake (kJ/kgWM)
Heat production (kJ/kgWd) Energy retention (kJ/kgWd) N intake (g/kgWd) N retention (g/kgWd) N retention (g/lOOgN intake) Water intake (g/kgWd).
E. acervulina-inEected E. teneWa-infected vs vs Pair-fed controls Pair-fed controls
S1 T ST S T ST S T ST S T ST S T ST S
T ST S
T ST S T ST S
T ST S
T ST
Total mineral retention (g/100 g intake) Ca retention (g/100 gCa intake) P retention (g/100 g P intake)
S T ST S T ST S T ST
***2
*•*
NS NS *** * NS *** ***
NS * *** NS * * ** *
***
**•
*•*
NS * *** NS
NS *** NS NS *** * NS *** NS * *** *** * * *** NS ** *** *** * *** *** ** *** ***
NS
NS ** NS
NS **•
NS * *** NS NS ** NS * NS NS * NS NSNS NS * NS * * * NS NS NS
(ad libitum-kd) vs
Pair-fed controls * NS NS *** NS NS
NS NS NS ** NS NS *** NS NS NS NS NS ** NS NS *** NS NS ** NS NS * NS NS *** NS NS ** NS NS *** NS *
Degrees of freedom *S = Stage 3 T = Treatment 1 ST = Stage x Treatment interaction 3 NS = Not significant; * P
British Poultry Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cbps20
Energy and nitrogen metabolism of chickens infected with either Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella B. S. Takhar
a b
& D. J. Farrell
a
a
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition , University of New England , PO Box 2, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia b
Red Comb Co‐operative Society Ltd , Dry Creek, 5094, South Australia Published online: 08 Nov 2007.
To cite this article: B. S. Takhar & D. J. Farrell (1979) Energy and nitrogen metabolism of chickens infected with either Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella , British Poultry Science, 20:2, 197-211, DOI: 10.1080/00071667908416569 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071667908416569
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/ terms-and-conditions
Br. Poult. Sci., 20: 197-211. 1979
Longman: printed in Great Britain
ENERGY AND NITROGEN METABOLISM OF CHICKENS INFECTED WITH EITHER EIMERIA ACERVULINA OR EIMERIA TENELLA B. S. TAKHAR1 AND D. J. FARRELL Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Received for publication 20th June 1978
1. The effects of sublethal infections of E. acervulina and E. tenella on the energy and nitrogen metabolism of groups of five broilers aged 16 d were studied for 16 d in respiration chambers. 2. The metabolisable energy content of the diet for chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.689 of its gross energy content and N retention was 42.5 g/100 g N intake compared with 0.738 and 47.1 g respectively, in uninfected pair-fed controls. Chickens infected with E. tenella were similarly affected. 3. Efficiency of utilisation of ME by chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.43 during the first 8 d after infection, and 0.52 during the second 8 d compared with an overall efficiency by non-infected chickens fed ad libitum of 0.73. Maintenance energy requirement of infected chickens was higher during the first 8 d after infection than during the second 8-d period. 4. Body composition measurements showed that of the total gain in weight of chickens infected with E. acervulina, only 7.5 g/kg gain was fat and 213 g/kg was protein compared with 45 g and 210 g respectively for noninfected chickens fed ad libitum. 5. E. acervulina and E. tenella infections reduced the apparent digestibility of total mineral, calcium and phosphorus. INTRODUCTION
Coccidiosis, a ubiquitous disease of poultry, is caused by an intestinal parasite, Eimeria. Of the nine species known to infect chickens (Reid, 1968), two were chosen for this study: E. acervulina, which infects the anterior part of the small intestine and is considered to be moderately pathogenic, and E. tenella, which infects mainly the caeca and is considered to be highly pathogenic. The period of infection (prepatent and critical) lasts about 9 d depending on the species but it is important to continue studies into the period of recovery in order to determine the overall effect of the disease. We report here experiments on growing chickens infected with E. acervulina or E. tenella and their pair-fed controls. Measurements were also made on similar 1
Present address: Red Comb Co-operative Society Ltd, PO Box 2, Dry Creek, South Australia 5094. 197
198
B. S. TAKHAR AND D. J. FARRELL
groups of chickens grown without infection and with or without food restriction. Observations were made on energy and N metabolism, mineral balance, particularly calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and on changes in body composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Chickens and experimental plan
Debeaked, non-vaccinated 1-d-old broiler cockerels were housed in electricallyheated brooders in an isolated room and fed on proprietary starter crumbs ad libitum for 14 d. In each experiment twenty 14-d-old chickens were allocated to four groups of five birds of equal mean body weight (W), identified by wing bands and housed in four respiration chambers for measurement of energy, N and mineral balance. Simultaneously a group of eight birds of equal mean weight was selected, identified by wing bands and placed in a battery brooder. The diet of the birds was changed to a " calorimeter diet " with a determined ME content of 12-9 MJ/kg and a crude protein (N x 6-25) content of 235 g/kg. Chickens in the chambers were accustomed to the experimental conditions for 2 d. Immediately prior to the calorimetric measurements all groups were starved for 12 h. At 16 d of age the birds in the battery brooder were weighed, killed, and their carcasses stored at —22 °G. Also at 16 d two groups of birds in the calorimeters were infected, by intubation, with one of the two species of coccidia at the predetermined dose (see below). A pair-fed control group was intubated with physiological saline. In one experiment, all four groups were given physiological saline (oocyst-free carrier) to determine normal growth patterns in the respiration chambers. The experimental plan is shown in Table 1. For the 1st day of the experiment all groups in respiration chambers were fed ad libitum but thereafter only infected groups were fed ad libitum. The control (non-infected) groups were pair-fed by offering the amount of food eaten by the infected groups on the previous day. Calorimetric measurements were made for 12 to 16 d. At the conclusion of each experiment all groups of birds were starved for 12 h, weighed, killed and their carcasses stored frozen. The experimental period was divided into four stages, each of 4 d: prepatent (stage 1, 1 to 4 d), critical (stage 2, 5 to 8 d), recovery (stage 3, 9 to 12 d), and postrecovery (stage 4, 13 to 16 d). Propagation of the parasite
A culture of E. acervulina propagated from a single oocyst was obtained. E. tenella was isolated according to the method of Tyzzer (1932). The oocysts of two species were propagated by infecting susceptible, coccidia-free chickens housed in cages. After the respective prepatent period, excreta were collected daily for 4 d and the oocysts recovered by the flotation technique of Davies et al. (1963). To obtain maximum sporulation, the oocyst suspensions were incubated at 27 °C for 48 h, during which time oxygen was continuously bubbled through them. After 48 h all collections were pooled and an oocyst count done. The stock of oocysts was then suspended in a potassium dichromate solution (20 g/1) and stored at
199
COCCIDIOSIS AND METABOLISM TABLE 1
Infection status
No. ofoocysts given/bird
Feeding regimen
Chamber Experiment 1 4 3 1 2
E. acervulina Control E. acervulina Control
2-25 xlO 5 0 5-5 xlO 5 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Chi
Experiment 2 2 1 3 4
E. acervulina Control E. acervulina Control
MxlO« 0 2-75 xlO 8 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch2 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch3
Experiment 3 4 3 2 1
E. tenella Control E. tenella Control
5 0 x 10s 0 1-0x10* 0
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4 Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch2
Experiment 4 1 2 4 3
No No No No
o oo o
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Plan of experiments1 showing infection status, number ofoocysts given and feeding regimen of groups of Jive chickens in four respiration chambers (Ch)
Ad libitum Pair-fed to Chi Ad libitum Pair-fed to Ch4
infection infection infection infection
1 Each experiment lasted 16 d with the exception of experiment 2, chambers 1 and 2, where the experiment was terminated at 12 d.
0 °C until used. The required number of oocysts was washed free of potassium dichromate before being intubated into the birds. Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the maximum oocyst dose that could be used without mortality in 16- to 32-d-old chickens. It was found that the infective dose should not exceed 5-5 x 106 oocysts/bird, for E. acervulina and 1-0 x 10* oocysts/bird for E. tenella.
Respiration chambers and calculation of results
The four indirect closed-circuit respiration chambers and their method of operation have been described by Farrell (1972), Farrell (1974a) and Pym and Farrell (1977). Results were calculated according to Walker and Farrell (1976). Energy retention of chickens was determined using the difference between ME intake and heat production, and from carbon and N balance measurements. The mean value of the two methods is reported. Water intake
Water intake was determined from the difference between the starting and finishing weights of a stoppered 500-ml glass container with a small self-filling drinking cup.
200
B. S. TAKHAR AND D. J. FARRELL TABLE 2
Results of analysis of variance of measurements made during calorimetric studies over 12 or 16 d in stages of 4 d on groups of five chickens infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, or non-infected ad libitum^rf and their pair-fed controls Non-infected
Variable Weight gain (g/4d)
Downloaded by [University of Arizona] at 23:42 03 February 2015
Food intake (g/kgWd) Metabolisability of diet3 ME intake (kJ/kgWM)
Heat production (kJ/kgWd) Energy retention (kJ/kgWd) N intake (g/kgWd) N retention (g/kgWd) N retention (g/lOOgN intake) Water intake (g/kgWd).
E. acervulina-inEected E. teneWa-infected vs vs Pair-fed controls Pair-fed controls
S1 T ST S T ST S T ST S T ST S T ST S
T ST S
T ST S T ST S
T ST S
T ST
Total mineral retention (g/100 g intake) Ca retention (g/100 gCa intake) P retention (g/100 g P intake)
S T ST S T ST S T ST
***2
*•*
NS NS *** * NS *** ***
NS * *** NS * * ** *
***
**•
*•*
NS * *** NS
NS *** NS NS *** * NS *** NS * *** *** * * *** NS ** *** *** * *** *** ** *** ***
NS
NS ** NS
NS **•
NS * *** NS NS ** NS * NS NS * NS NSNS NS * NS * * * NS NS NS
(ad libitum-kd) vs
Pair-fed controls * NS NS *** NS NS
NS NS NS ** NS NS *** NS NS NS NS NS ** NS NS *** NS NS ** NS NS * NS NS *** NS NS ** NS NS *** NS *
Degrees of freedom *S = Stage 3 T = Treatment 1 ST = Stage x Treatment interaction 3 NS = Not significant; * P
