The cellular constituents of the innate defense system in the intestine include epithelial cells, goblet cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. The front line of this system is the mucous layer containing goblet cells which secrete mucin [6,7]. The response of goblet cells was observed in several intestinal infections due to bacteria, viruses and parasites. Decreases number of goblets cells (h...

In mammals, the inducible cytokine interleukin 10 is a feedback negative regulator of inflammation. To determine the extent to which this function is conserved in birds, recombinant chicken IL-10 was expressed as a secreted human Ig Fc fusion protein (chIL-10-Fc) and used to immunise mice. Five monoclonal antibodies (mAb) which specifically recognise chicken IL-10 were generated and characteris...

Fourteenbreedinggiltswere movedfrom a highhealth-status multiplication facility to a dirt lot. Most exhibited diarrhea after four days and one died after seven days. The gilts, from a source herd with no history of coccidial infection, were diagnosed with Eimeria-induced coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis. Eimeria infestation is not typically pathogenic. High-health-status swine appear to be pa...

The CCR7 and CXCR5 chemokine receptor mRNA contents of different immune organs were studied in normal, healthy birds and in birds treated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a systemic inflammatory challenge or coccidial vaccine (Coccivac B; Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp., Millsboro, DE) as an enteric vaccination challenge. The CCR7 mRNA content of the spleen of normal, health...

This article describes the in vitro and in vivo effects of a 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25[OH]D) treatment in layer hens during a mixed coccidia challenge. HD11 cells (chicken macrophage cell line) were treated in vitro with a coccidia antigen or in a medium supplemented with either 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25[OH]2D) or 25(OH)D. HD11 cells treated in vitro with 200 nM of 1,25(OH)2D had ...

This paper reports prevalence of coccidial oocysts in fecal samples from 6 endemic and 2 introduced lizard species on Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Total coccidian prevalence was 54% (n = 341) for the endemic 'ornate day gecko,' Phelsuma ornata; 48% (n = 159) for the endemic 'Durrell's night gecko,' Nactus durrelli; 53% (n = 15) for the endemic 'Serpent Island night gecko,' N...

BACKGROUND This study aimed at investigating a potential effect caused by coccidia on the immune response to vaccine- and very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) in SPF chickens. METHODS Two groups of three weeks old SPF chickens were vaccinated prior to inoculation with coccidia and challenge with virulent IBDV, all within a period of eight days. Two control groups were simila...