Effects of Escherichia coli on iron, copper, and zinc metabolism in chicks.

The present report describes the effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin and infection on kinetic changes of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) levels in the transport (serum), storage (liver), and immune organs (spleen and bursa of Fabricius) of the chicken. During infection and endotoxin challenge, increased serum and bursal Cu were noted. Infection and endotoxin both led to a redistribution of Fe with a decrease in serum and an increase in the spleen. Infection decreased serum Zn and concomitantly increased hepatic and splenic Zn. Seven days postinfection, when recovery was well underway, hepatic and splenic Cu and splenic Zn were elevated. Hepatic Fe decreased with recovery, whereas splenic Fe increased. Endotoxin and infection changed trace element kinetics. The endotoxin produced tissue elemental alterations similar to the early stages of infection. This indicated that in early infection, some of the disease responses may be due to endotoxin, whereas the later responses may be due to other aspects of infection such as stress.