Effect of an artificial Ascaridia galli infection on egg production, immune response, and liver lipid reserve of free-range laying hens

Title
Effect of an artificial Ascaridia galli infection on egg production, immune response, and liver lipid reserve of free-range laying hens
Publication Date
2018
Author(s)
Sharma, Nisha
Hunt, Peter
Hine, Brad C
McNally, J
Sharma, Nishchal Kumar
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8013-9269
Email: nsharma4@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nsharma4
Iqbal, Zafar
Normant, Camille
Andronicos, Nicholas
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5881-2296
Email: nandroni@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nandroni
Swick, Robert A
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3376-1677
Email: rswick@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:rswick
Ruhnke, Isabelle
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5423-9306
Email: iruhnke@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:iruhnke
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.3382/ps/pex347
UNE publication id
une:23003
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.
Link
Citation
Poultry Science, 97(2), p. 494-502
ISSN
1525-3171
0032-5791
Start page
494
End page
502

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