Macroelements in the circulation of coccidiosis-infected chicks.

Four-week-old Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) chicks were inoculated with either Eimeria acervulina, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. tenella, or left uninfected. On the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and 35th days after inoculation, blood was removed from five birds in each group, and the content of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and packed cell volumes were determined. Hemoglobin, erythrocyte concentrations, and hematocrits all decreased during the acute phase of the infections and returned to normal during recovery. Plasma calcium concentrations were significantly decreased by the upper intestinal tract infections, but decreases were smaller in lower tract infections. Plasma magnesium was decreased and then increased by lower tract infections, but upper tract infections had variable effects. In contrast to earlier reports, acute phase E. acervulina, E. brunetti, and E. tenella infections decreased sodium plasma concentrations. Plasma potassium concentrations were variable, but increases were associated with the induction phases of E. necatrix and E. brunetti infections.