Haemato-biochemical profile of broilers affected with coccidiosis^†

The haemato-biochemical profile studied in 82 coccidia infected and 41 healthy birds from commercial poultry broiler farms revealed that the infected birds had significantly (P<0.01) lower mean total erythrocyte count (1.71±0.03 vs 3.18±0.03 million/cmm) and packed cell volume (19.58±0.31 vs 34.29±0.61%), apparently lower haemoglobin concentration (7.57±0.15 vs 10.54±0.14 g%) and significantly (P<0.05) higher mean total leucocyte count (16.40±0.23 vs 10.75±0.15 thousand/cmm) than the healthy ones. The mean values of blood glucose (217.82±1.47 vs 174.73±0.72 mg%), serum total cholesterol (290.39±4.88 vs 114.11±1.59 mg%) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity (79.25±0.56 vs 65.14±0.49 U/L) were significantly (P<0.05) higher and serum total protein was lower (2.98±0.05 vs 4.27±0.07 g%) in coccidia infected birds as compared to healthy birds, while the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (8.55±0.20 vs 6.99±0.16 U/L) and alkaline phosphatase (898.76±6.68 vs 800.97±20.84 KAU%) were non-significantly higher in affected birds than the healthy ones. Almost similar trend was observed for all the parameters in broiler birds managed under both deep litter as well as cage system. These fmdings reflected anaemic condition with depressed metabolism due to tissue damage and immune response in infected birds.