The effect of heat exposure and bacterial endotoxin on plasma zinc concentration and the body temperature in the broiler.
The effect of heat exposure and bacterial endotoxins on plasma zinc levels and mean rectal temperature of 8 week old broilers and investigated. Broilers exposed for 2 hours to 35-35 degrees C. had higher (P less than 0.01) mean rectal temperatures (42.8 vs 41.7 degrees C.) than sham treated broilers maintained at 22-24 degrees C. Likewise, endotoxin (E. coli, 500 mug./kg) treated broilers also had mean rectal temperatures significantly higher (P less than 0.01, 42.4 vs 41.7 degrees C.) than sham treated broilers. Plasma zinc levels in the bacterial endotoxin treated broilers were lower (P less than 0.05) than in the sham treated (173 vs 220, and 219 mug/kg./100 ml. plasma, respectively). In contrast, the plasma zinc concentration was not significantly depressed in the broilers exposed to heat for 2 hours. In summary, either endotoxin or heat exposure resulted in increased body temperature, however only the response to endotoxin resulted in a significant depression of plasma zinc concentration.
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000378:metabolism; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D004731:Endotoxins; D015032:Zinc