Hepatic profile of Gallus gallus Linnaeus, 1758 experimentally infected by Plasmodium juxtanucleare Versiani & Gomes, 1941

Abstract

One of the species that causes avian malaria is Plasmodium juxtanucleare. It is commonly found in poultry, especially when the birds receive food free of coccidiostats. Since industrial and organic poultry breeding is increasing in the world and few studies have been conducted examining the clinical parameters of both healthy and infected birds, this work evaluated whether the infection caused by P. juxtanucleare in Gallus gallus provokes alterations in the birds' hepatic profile. We analyzed the activity of ALT and AST and carried out histological analyses of liver sections of infected fowls by intracelomic inoculation with infected blood from a donor fowl with a parasite load of around 7%. The infected birds' parasite load was evaluated during 45 days by means of blood smears. There was a positive correlation between the increase in parasite load and higher ALT activity in the infected fowls, but there was no significant variation of the AST activity between the control and infected groups, possibly because of the non-specificity of this enzyme as an indicator of hepatic lesion. The results show that infection caused by P. juxtanucleare in G. gallus provokes hepatic alterations, indicated by the increase in the ALT enzyme activity and by the inflammatory infiltrates found in the liver sections of the infected fowls.

Interactions ofPlasmodium juxtanucleareand chicken anaemia virus: establishing a model

“…It is important to note that in the present study, cardiomegaly and hepato-splenomegaly were observed among animals from the Malaria group. Spleen and liver enlargement were observed in earlier studies related to P. juxtanucleare infection in chickens (Vashist et al 2011). However, cardiomegaly and hydropericardium by P. juxtanucleare in experimentally infected SPF chicks are reported herein for the first time.…”

“…2009 a , b , Vashist et al . 2011). In those studies, it was also observed that P. juxtanucleare generally caused low parasitaemia and that parasitaemia is not always associated with anaemia or other changes.…”

Analysis of hematologic and serum chemistry values of Spheniscus magellanicus with molecular detection of avian malarial parasites (Plasmodium spp.)

“…compromises liver function. The high AST activity values in 66.6% of animals with avian malaria suggests the presence of liver injury, but further tests are needed for confirmation (Vashist et al 2011).…”

Quercetin as a Promising Antiprotozoan Phytochemical: Current Knowledge and Future Research Avenues

“…P. gallinaceum and P. juxtanucleare are two species that naturally infect domestic chickens, causing “chicken malaria” [ 129 ]. In one study, chickens infected with P. juxtanucleare were immunocompromised by intramuscular injection of methylprednisolone before receiving 50 mg/kg (body weight) Que or chloroquine diphosphate by gavage for four consecutive days [ 80 ]. Interestingly, both treated groups exhibited a significant decrease in parasitemia as compared to the control group ( p < 0.01) within the 30 days following the infection.…”