Administration of Zn-Co-Mn basic salt to chickens with ascaridiosis. I. A mathematical model for Ascaridia galli populations and host growth with and without treatment.

A newly synthesized basic mixed salt (Zn(x)Co(y)Mn(1-x-y)) x (OH)6SO4 x 2H2O) was administered to chickens with ascaridiosis. Improvement in survival, gain in body weight (of 19.03%) and restoration of microelement content were observed in the treated chickens. An increase in the gain in body weight of 7.62% in uninfected treated chickens was also observed. The establishment of Ascaridia galli populations in chickens, and chicken growth in control and infected hosts, untreated and treated, were modelled mathematically. Some kinetic parameters (the rate of reduction of the nematode population nu and the relative rate mu of gain in body weight of the host) were determined. The values of nu =0.027 day(-1) and nu* =0.032 day(-1) were calculated for the reduction rates in infected, untreated chickens and in infected, treated chickens, respectively. The worm burden in infected, treated chickens was 20.4% lower than in infected, untreated chickens.

Administration of Zn-Co-Mn basic salt to chickens with ascaridiosis. II. Sex ratio and microelement levels in Ascaridia galli and in treated and untreated chickens.

Hisex chickens were infected with 1,450 embryonated Ascaridia galli eggs and treated with a new synthesized basic mixed salt (Zn(x)Co(y)Mn(1-x-y)) x (OH)6SO4 x 2H2O). The worm burden was determined and sex ratios for A. galli of M:F = 1.4 and M:F = 2 in untreated and treated chickens, respectively, were found. A decrease in the mean establishment rate of A. galli in treated chickens was observed. The levels of zinc, cobalt and manganese were determined in liver and muscle of the host and in male and female A. galli. The survival of the chickens and gain in body weight were improved, and the restoration of microelement content was observed by treatment with the salt. A positive effect of the basic Zn-Co-Mn salt was also observed in the nematode microelement levels. Significant differences were found between the levels of zinc, cobalt and manganese in male and female A. galli.