A kinetic model for Ascaridia galli populations in chickens treated with mixed salts of copper and zinc

Abstract

The action of mixed salts of copper and zinc (basic and neutral) on Hisex chickens experimentally infected with Ascaridia galli has been studied. The data show that the lowest host mortality and decrease in body weight gain and the highest reduction in nematode loading occurs in infected chickens treated with basic salts (in comparison with infected chickens, untreated or treated with neutral salts). A mathematical model has been proposed to provide a quantitative interpretation of the observed results. The model solutions of the kinetics of parasite numbers and of the gain in body weight are in a good agreement with the experimental data. One of the kinetic parameters in the model is defined as a phenomenological constant of the host immune response. Its value is determined in the case of infected and untreated chickens.

Administration of Zn-Co-Mn basic salt to chickens with ascaridiosis

“…The change with time of A. galli populations in the host is demonstrated in Fig. 1 (Gabrashanska et al 1999a). Mixed Zn-Co, and Zn-CoMn crystals have a positive effect on the host because zinc stimulates immunity (Goyer 1996), and a stronger immune response of the host may lead to a higher elimination of the nematodes.…”

“…Mixed Zn-Co, and Zn-CoMn crystals have a positive effect on the host because zinc stimulates immunity (Goyer 1996), and a stronger immune response of the host may lead to a higher elimination of the nematodes. Copper basic salts have an antiparasitic action (Stepanjan and Sakyljan 1981; Gabrashanska et al 1999a) which explains the very high percentage of worm reduction in the case of treatment with Zn-Cu salt.…”

“…In our previous studies (Gabrashanska et al , 2004, in which the same doses of 1,450 embryonated A. galli eggs were used, a repeated value of m=0.026 day -1 was obtained using the mathematical model, and in the case of infection with 450 embryonated A. galli eggs (Gabrashanska et al 1999a), a value of m=0.0167 day -1 was calculated. The difference between the values of the kinetic parameter m is likely to be due to the different degrees of infection: a higher infection stimulates a stronger immune response.…”

“…This fact results in a prolonged action on intestinal nematodes and lower toxicity compared with neutral salts (Gabrashanska 1993;Gabrashanska and Timanova 1993). In a series of experiments we used different basic salts, both pure Galvez-Morros et al 1995) and mixed (Gabrashanska and Timanova 1995;Gabrashanska et al 1999aGabrashanska et al , 2002. Basic salts containing mixed crystals seem to be preferable.…”

Administration of Zn-Co-Mn basic salt to chickens with ascaridiosis

“…During the last 30-40 years, a number of investigations on the mineral composition of parasites and their hosts, and especially on the trace element status of helminths (Ascaris suum, Fasciola hepatica, Diphillobotrium latum, Moniezia expansa, Ascaridia galli, Trichinella spiralis), have been carried out (Berenschtein 1968;Watson et al 1970;Ince 1976;Sinha and Majumdar 1977;Greichus and Greichus 1980;Barrett 1981;Lal and Kumar 1985;Sood and Kapur 1986;Gabrashanska et al 1987;Pandey and Chondhry 1989;Bhattacharya et al 1994;Smith et al 1995;Vellema et al 1996). Chickens infected with parasites need treatment with biogenic elements to correct mineral deficiencies and restore the normal mineral balance (Southern and Baker 1978;Kratzer and Vohra 1986;Baker et al1991;Wedekind and Baker 1992;Aoyagi and Baker 1993;Gabrashanska et al 1993Gabrashanska et al , 1999aGabrashanska et al , 1999bGabrashanska et al , 2001Gabrashanska et al , 2002Galvez-Morros et al 1995;Flachowsky 1997).…”