Research note: interactive effects of sodium zeolite A and Eimeria acervulina infection on growth and tissue minerals in chicks.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the interactive effects of dietary sodium zeolite A (SZA) and experimental Eimeria acervulina infection on growth and tissue mineral concentrations in chicks. The average initial weight of the chicks was 71.8 g, and the experimental periods were from 5 to 15 days posthatching. In both experiments, the corn-soybean meal basal diet was supplemented with 0 or .75% SZA and fed to uninfected chicks or to chicks infected with 4 x 10(5) sporulated E. acervulina oocysts on Days 0, 3, and 6 of the experiments. Both coccidial infection and SZA reduced (P < .05) gain and feed intake; however, feed efficiency was reduced (P < .01) only in the coccidiosis-infected chicks. Neither SZA nor the coccidial infection affected (P > .10) plasma Ca or P, tibia P, liver Ca, Zn, Fe, or Mn, or pancreas Cu. Sodium zeolite A increased (P < .05) plasma Zn but only in uninfected chicks (SZA by coccidiosis, P < .10). The coccidial infection decreased (P < .02) tibia ash percentage. Sodium zeolite A decreased tibia Ca in uninfected chicks but increased tibia Ca in coccidiosis-infected chicks (SZA by coccidiosis, P < .10). The coccidial infection increased (P < .05) tibia Mg, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Al concentrations. Dietary SZA also increased (P < .02) tibia Zn, Mn, and Al concentrations. The coccidial infection decreased (P < .02) tibia Zn concentration, and SZA decreased (P < .05) tibia Mg and Fe. Sodium zeolite A by coccidiosis interactions (P < .10) were evident in tibia Zn, Fe, Mn, and Al concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)