Diet-induced changes in intestinal viscosity and response to low-dose 'Eimeria maxima' infection in broiler chickens

This study investigated whether diet-induced changes in intestinal viscosity could influence the response of broiler chickens to 'Eimeria maxima' challenge at a single low dose (50 oocysts/bird). Immediately before the challenge, birds fed a low-ME wheat diet showed a higher level of intestinal viscosity than those fed either a control maize diet or a xylanase-supplemented low-ME wheat diet. The birds fed the low-ME wheat diet also had a significantly lower total faecal oocyst output than those fed the control maize and xylanase-supplemented low-ME wheat diets that elicited relatively lower intestinal viscosity. The results suggest that intestinal viscosity may influence the host resistance to low-dose Eimeria infection in broilers. The possible impact of this on the efficacy of low-dose live vaccines should not be overlooked.