Proteomic analysis of Ascaridia galli. Identification of immunoreactive proteins in naturally and experimentally infected hens.

Ascaridia galli, intestinal parasite of domestic fowl, is responsible of economic losses in avian exploitations. However, molecular mechanisms that govern avian ascaridiasis remain largely unknown. The aim of the present work was to identify proteins of A. galli recognized by the immune system of naturally and experimentally infected hens, using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS). Sixteen immunoreactive proteins of A. galli were identified. These proteins are mainly related to different metabolic processes, cell motility and binding activities. The timing evolution of this recognition pattern was studied using serum samples from experimentally infected hens, allowing us to observe an early recognition of many of these antigens. Many of them were isoforms from lipid and plasminogen-binding proteins. Moreover, plasminogen-binding activity has been related in other parasites with the facilitation of intra-organic migration, which represents an important fact in avian ascaridiasis. This work represents the first proteomic study of A. galli and could contribute to explain some aspects of parasite/host relationships of avian ascaridiasis.

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.

Effects of glycine-metal compounds on Ascaridia galli-infected chickens expressed by a kinetic model.

The biogenic elements zinc, manganese and cobalt are essential for metabolic processes in animals. Compounds of nGly.Me2+A. mH2O (Me2+=Zn2+, Mn2+, Co2+; A=Cl(-), SO4(2-), n=1, 2; m=2, 5), as supplements in the diet, were used separately on different experimental groups of male Hisex chickens to correct the mineral deficiency caused by Ascaridia galli infections. An amelioration of body weight gain, reduction of mortality and restoration of trace element levels were estimated in infected chickens. A mathematical model has been proposed for A. galli population kinetics in chickens, taking into account the stimulating effect of these elements on the nematodes. The model parameters are considered as phenomenological constants of the host-parasite system. An agreement with experimental data is observed using, for the parameters psi, alpha, micro and micros, values equal to those calculated in previously investigated A. galli-chicken systems. For parameter nu (immunological constant) the same value was obtained as in a previous experiment with high infection. This model is likely to be suitable for a range of host-nematode systems, including varying degrees of infection and treatment with different trace elements.

Content of some microelements in chickens with ascaridiasis under combined drug treatment.

The content of zinc, cobalt, and selenium in the intestinal wall of Leghorn chickens infected with Ascaridia galli was determined by nondestructive neutron-activation analysis. A comparison was made between the infected animals that were treated with Piperathrine and those that were given microelements or those that did not receive microelements. Age-dependent changes were found in the content of the microelements in the control groups. It is concluded that zinc, cobalt, and selenium are unevenly distributed in the intestinal tissues, with a dominating density of selenium occurring in the epithelial layer of the intestinal mucosa.

Application of small doses of copper salts (basic and neutral) to Ascaridia galli-infected chicks.

Male Hisex chicks were used in two experiments to investigate the interaction between Ascaridia galli infection and supplemental copper from basic and neutral salts. This was assessed by means of body weights, mortality, parasite burden and liver copper level. Cu2(OH)3Cl reduced the number of parasites but CuSO4.5H2O and CuCO3.Cu(OH)2.nH2O did not affect the parasite burden.

Kinetic model of parasite development and of the host microelement content under combined drug treatment.

The content of nine microelements has been investigated in a parasite-host system by nondestructive neutron activation analysis. A mathematical model has been proposed for the development of Ascaridia galli in the "Leghorn" chicks intestines and for the microelement content dynamics under combined treatment with antiparasite agent and microelements. An analytical solution of the system of nonlinear differential equations has been obtained for the case of simple invasion. The model explains well the experimentally observed process of the change in the microelement content. The recovery constant has been introduced for the damaged by the helminthosis tissue and its value has been determined.

Some pathological and biochemical studies on experimental ascaridiasis in chickens.

During studying the pathogenicity of Ascaridia galli for young Ross-Broiler chickens fed with single doses of 100, 200 and 500 infective eggs, it was found that the infected chickens showed variable decreases in body weight gain and increases in the ratio of liver weight relative to body weight when compared with the control. Both decrease and increase was proportionally related with the number of infective eggs given to the chickens. Biochemical analysis of muscle and liver tissue of the previous groups of chickens showed a decrease in both glycogen and protein content and an increase in fat content of muscle and liver of infected chickens when compared with those of normal tissues. The decrease in the glycogen content due to ascaridiasis was mostly apparent in case of 500 egg dose and that of the protein content was noted with the egg doses of 200 and 500. Each of the three egg doses showed a significant increase in the fat content of the muscle and liver of infected chickens when compared with the control. After the sixth week of infection chickens fed with 500 eggs showed emaciation, loss of colour of combs and legs and of brightness of plumage, diarrhoea, drooping wings, ruffled feathers and a gradual loss of strength manifested by leg weakness. At autopsy, the small intestine showed external macroscopic lesions of haemorrhage and congestion. Intestinal obstruction with adult Ascaridia galli was also found in the infected birds.

[Cadaverine and its possible role in parasite and host interrelations in ascaridiasis]. / Kadaverin i ego vozmozhnaia rol'vo vzaimootnosheniiakh parazita i khoziaina pri askaridioze.

A comparative study of the formation process of cadaverine in tissues of ascarides, intestine and liver of hen was conducted. Data are given on the activity, pH-optimum of lysine decarboxylase obtained from tissues of helminth and its host. The question on a toxic role of cadaverine during helminthiasis is considered. It has been concluded that the accumulation of cadaverine in the host's intestine can break the permeability of the intestine walls and favour the penetration of toxins of helminths into the host's organism.

Energy and nitrogen metabolism of diseased chickens: interaction of Ascaridia galli infestation and vitamin A status.

1. Effects of Ascaridia galli infection on the energy and nitrogen (N) metabolism were studied on groups of 5 cross-bred cockerels aged about 5 weeks and given a diet deficient or adequate in vitamin A at two levels of feeding in respiration chambers. 2. Metabolisability of dietary energy was 67% and N retention 33% in infected chickens compared with 71 and 41% respectively, in uninfected chickens. 3. Maintenance energy requirement of vitamin A-deficient birds was 882 kJ/kgW d compared with 998 kJ/kgW d for normal birds. N balance of the deficient chickens was also less when compared at the same energy balance. Infection did not affect maintenance energy requirement nor N balance. 4. Starvation heat production of infected chickens (619 kJ/kgW d) was higher than that of uninfected controls (586 kJ/kgW d). When infection treatments were combined, vitamin A-adequate chickens had a higher heat production (615 kJ/kg d) than the vitamin A-deficient (580 kJ/kgW d). Endogenous N excretion (mg/gW) was less in vitamin A-deficient than in adequate, starved birds. 5. Deficient chickens had undetectable liver reserves of vitamin A and only very low plasma concentrations. There was a difference in the length of larvae (17 d after infection) associated with vitamin A status, and with level of feeding.