Reduced intestinal absorption in broilers during Eimeria mitis infection.

The absorption of glucose and L-methionine was as much as 52% less in the intestine of broilers inoculated with 2 strains of Eimeria mitis than in the intestine of noninoculated controls. This malabsorption was observed in the region of, and caudad to, the yolk sac diverticulum. Malabsorption was greater in birds given 500,000 sporulated oocysts than in those given 50,000 sporulated oocysts/bird. Depigmentation of the plasma was also considered an indication of malabsorption. Gross lesions were not evident in the intestine of these infected birds, even though histopathologic sections showed the presence of numerous parasites. Body weight was also less in inoculated birds, but PCV and plasma protein concentrations were not affected.