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Title: Cytokine gene expression profile in Fayoumi chicken after Eimeria maxima infection

Author
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item KIM, DUK - BARC VIST. SY
item PARK, DONG - BARC VIST. SY
item LAMONT, SUSAN - IOWA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/14/2007
Citation: Lillehoj, H.S., Kim, D.K., Hong, Y.H., Park, D.W., Lamont, S.J. 2007. Cytokine gene expression profile in Fayoumi chicken after Eimeria maxima infection. Proceedings of America Avian Veterinary Pathologists Meeting. July 14-18, Washington, D.C. P 119.

Interpretive Summary: Coccidiosis is complex disease of poultry which is caused by several distinct species of Eimeria. Currently there is no vaccine besides live parasite vaccine. Understanding the nature of host genes which control coccidiosis disease resistance will lead to the development of marker-assisted selection strategy. In this paper, ARS scientists collaborated with scientists at Iowa State University to investigate immune response patterns of two different chicken lines that show different levels of coccidiosis susceptibility. The results of immune parameter analysis reveled significant differences in cytokine secretion following coccidiosis challenge infection. The results of this study provide new insights on the role of host genes in immune response to coccidiosis and provide background information for the development of future strategy for marker-based selection for coccidiosis resistant chicken lines.

Technical Abstract: Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease of poultry causing substantial economic losses. This study was conducted to investigate the cytokines related with the resistance against coccidiosis. Two breeding lines of Fayoumi chicken were evaluated for the expression of 9 cytokine genes: IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, IL-10, IL-15, IL-17, iNOS, LITAF, NK-lysine and TL1A. mRNA expression was measured in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and splenocyte by real-time RT-PCR at 0, 3, 4 and 5 days after Eimeria maxima infection. The changes of the gain of body weight and the oocyst count from the infection were also examined in both chicken lines.