Investigating the role of interleukin 10 on Eimeria intestinal pathogenesis in broiler chickens

Publication date: Available online 31 August 2019Source: Veterinary Immunology and ImmunopathologyAuthor(s): Maria Arendt, Jonathan Elissa, Natalie Schmidt, Emily Michael, Nicole Potter, Mark Cook, Laura J. KnollAbstractEimeria species are intestinal protozoan parasites that cause lack of production, malabsorption and mortality in floor raised chickens. Administering an oral antibody to interleukin 10 (aIL-10) reduces the symptoms of coccidiosis in broilers, indicating interleukin 10 (IL-10) is key to Eimeria pathology. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and acts as a stand down signal to reduce inflammation and host pathology during disease. Related protozoan parasites exploit IL-10 to reduce pathogen-damaging host inflammatory responses. We hypothesize that IL-10 is increased during Eimeria infection through an unknown host-pathogen interaction, and by feeding aIL-10 to neutralize excess IL-10 the bird is allowed to mount an effective immune response to Eimeria. To determine the effects of aIL-10 during the intestinal immune response, intestinal pathology and the relationship between IL-10, interferon gamma (IFNγ) and Eimeria infection were evaluated in this study.In both experiments, broilers were administered either a 10x dose of Advent® Eimeria vaccine or saline. Duodenum, jejunum and cecum samples were collected, processed, stained and examined under a microscope. Evaluation of intestinal histomorphology during aIL-10 administration showed minimal differences in b...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research