Effect of social environment and oocyst dose on resistance and immunity to Eimeria tenella challenge.
Chickens were exposed to graded doses of a suspension of Eimeria tenella oocysts while in environments of high (HSS) or low (LSS) social stress. Both primary cellular resistance and the sensitization phase of cell-mediated immunity were higher in the HSS environment than in the LSS environment. The manifestation of cell-mediated immunity seems to be inhibited by social stress.
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000473:pathology; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004539:Eimeria / Q000254:growth & development*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*