Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22819
Title: Effect of an artificial Ascaridia galli infection on egg production, immune response, and liver lipid reserve of free-range laying hens
Contributor(s): Sharma, Nisha (author); Hunt, Peter (author); Hine, Brad C (author); McNally, J (author); Sharma, Nishchal Kumar  (author)orcid ; Iqbal, Zafar  (author); Normant, Camille (author); Andronicos, Nicholas  (author)orcid ; Swick, Robert A  (author)orcid ; Ruhnke, Isabelle  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2018
DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex347
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22819
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effect of Ascaridia galli infection on free-range laying hens. Lohmann Brown laying hens (n = 200) at 17 wk of age were allocated to 4 treatment groups (n = 50 per group), each with 5 replicate pens of 10 hens. Hens in 3 treatment groups were orally inoculated with different doses of embryonated A. galli eggs: low (250 eggs), medium (1,000 eggs), and high (2,500 eggs) levels, whereas hens of the control group were not infected. Infection levels were monitored using excreta egg counts and mature A. galli worm counts in the intestine. Anti A. galli antibody titers (IgY) in the serum were measured prior to infection, and at 6, 11, 15, and 20 wk post infection (PI) and in egg yolk at 11 and 20 wk PI. Parameters evaluated included feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, FCR, liver weight, liver fat, and intra epithelial immune cell infiltration. The results showed no difference in feed intake, body weight, or FCR among any treatment groups (P > 0.05). Egg production was lower in the low infection group compared to other groups at 20 wk of age (P < 0.01). Serum IgY was higher in the infected groups' hens at 20 wk PI compared to control group hens (P < 0.01). Yolk IgY increased significantly over time and was higher in infected hens compared to hens of the control group at 11 and 20 wk PI (P < 0.001). No differences were observed in liver lipid content or intraepithelial lymphocytes infiltration among treatment groups. Ascaridia galli eggs in the coprodeum content and adult A. galli worm count were higher in infected hens compared to hens of the control group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the effects of artificial infection with A. galli on the parameters investigated were minor, and egg yolk antibody may be a more reliable indicator of A. galli infection than serum antibody or excreta egg count.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Poultry Science, 97(2), p. 494-502
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1525-3171
0032-5791
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070204 Animal Nutrition
060804 Animal Immunology
070203 Animal Management
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300303 Animal nutrition
310905 Animal immunology
300302 Animal management
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 839999 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products not elsewhere classified
830501 Eggs
839901 Animal Welfare
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100601 Eggs
109902 Animal welfare
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science
School of Science and Technology

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