Effect of dietary zinc level on serum carotenoid levels, body and shank pigmentation of chickens after experimental infection with coccidia.

Two experiments were conducted to test the effects of a dietary zinc amino acid complex (Zn-AA) and an anticoccidial drug on Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella infections. In each experiment, 288 day-old Three-Yellow-Chickens were used in a 2 x 3 factorial experimental design. Six groups were arranged randomly to receive three levels of Zn-AA (0, 40, or 80 mg/kg) alone or with salinomycin (60 mg/kg). Additionally an uninfected group was set as negative control. At the age of 21 days birds in Exp. 1 were inoculated with 3 x 10(4) sporulated E. acervulina oocysts, while birds in Exp. 2 were inoculated with 1.5 x 10(4) sporulated E. tenella oocysts. In Exp. 1, E. acervulina did not suppress growth performance significantly, but in groups without salinomycin it significantly reduced serum carotenoid levels on day 7 after inoculation and body and shank pigmentation on day 42. Salinomycin medication maintained serum carotenoids and visual colour of inoculated birds, but Zn-AA did not influence these parameters. In Exp. 2, growth performances of infected and uninfected chickens were similar. Infection decreased to only serum carotenoid levels on day 14 after infection, and colour scores on day 42 in the inoculated group without salinomycin and Zn-AA supplementation. The birds that received Zn-AA had significantly higher serum carotenoid levels and colour scores than those that did not. Although supplementation of Zn-AA cannot avoid coccidial damage of caecum, it prevents the reduction of serum carotenoids and pigmentation of Three-Yellow-Chicken infected with E. tenella, but not after infection with E. avervulina. The interactive effects between Zn-AA and salinomycin on growth performance and pigmentation were not significant.