Plasma steroid tendency, social environment and Eimeria necatrix infection.
Chickens from a line selected for high levels of plasma corticosterone when housed in an environment faciliating considerable social interaction were more resistant to Eimeria necatrix infection than those from a line selected for low levels of plasma corticosterone housed in an environment that minimized social interaction. Individuals in the high steroid group had a more active phagocytic defense and fewer schizonts than those in the low steroid group.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D012931:Social Environment
D003345:Corticosterone