Impacts of increasing challenge with Eimeria maxima on the growth performance and gene expression of biomarkers associated with intestinal integrity and nutrient transporters

Table 3 Effects of graded E. maxima infection on intestinal morphology of broiler chickens on 6-dpi

Items^a	Control	Low	Medium	High	Linear^b P value	Quadratic^b P value
Jejunum (μm)
Villi height	1155 ± 46^d	911 ± 27	900 ± 31	800 ± 22	< 0.0001	0.006
Crypt depth	205 ± 9	216 ± 34	182 ± 6	171 ± 7	0.002	0.804
Ratio^c	5.85 ± 0.35	4.48 ± 0.26	5.15 ± 0.22	4.96 ± 0.20	0.143	0.060

The study evaluated the effects of graded challenge of E. maxima on growth performance and gastrointestinal biomarkers in the broiler chickens. Birds were challenged with E. maxima on day 14. Intestinal tissue was collected on 6-dpi.
^aLow, 12 500 oocysts of E. maxima; Medium, 25 000 oocysts of E. maxima; High, 50 000 oocysts of E. maxima.
^bThe P values indicate whether the analyzed parameters linearly or quadratically responded to the graded challenge doses of E. maxima.
^cRatio of villi height to crypt depth
^dMean ± SD.

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