Selecting Eimeria tenella-resistance markers by comparing resistant and susceptible groups of Jinghai Yellow chickens

Abstract

Improving the genetic resistance of chickens to parasitic diseases is an alternative way to protect the poultry industry. To establish valid measurable in vivo parameters indicating coccidiosis resistance, 232 Jinghai Yellow chickens were randomly selected and orally infected with Eimeria tenella (1.5 × 104 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The resistant and susceptible chickens were classified based on their cecal lesion scores 8 days after infection. Ten plasma components, including antioxidant enzymes, interleukins (ILs), nitric oxide (NO), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and β-carotene, were compared among the resistant, susceptible, and control chickens (uninfected with E. tenella). The NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), IL17, and IFN-γ concentrations were significantly higher in the resistant group than in the susceptible group (P < 0.05), and malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly lower in the resistant group than in the susceptible group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that plasma NO, IFN-γ, SOD, MDA, and IL17 can be used as markers of resistance or susceptibility to E. tenella in the selection of E. tenella-resistant chickens.