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The Problem: Broilers suffer commonly from gastrointestinal infectious diseases, such as necrotic enteritis (NE). In free-range birds, parasitic infections are considered a re-emerging issue. In humans, helminth infections can modulate the immune system of the host, and can lead to reduced inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to characterize immune responses of commercial broilers artificially infected with NE or the helminth 'Ascaridia galli' by comparing the responses to healthy control birds. How we investigated or researched the problem: Ninety-six one-day-old broiler chickens were subject of this study. After a period of 10 days, broilers were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: control birds (n=32), 'A. galli' infected birds (n=32), or necrotic enteritis infected birds (NE; n=32). Immune responses of birds were monitored by evaluating changes in hematological parameters, acute phase protein products, and intraepithelial intestinal lymphocyte counts. |
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