title: Changes in carotenoid and vitamin A levels in young turkeys infected with Eimeria meleagrimitis or E. adenoeides.
abstract: Changes in levels of plasma xanthophyll, plasma retinol, liver retinol, and liver retinylpalmitate in poults infected with Eimeria meleagrimitis or E. adenoeides were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Infection with either species significantly reduced total plasma carotenoids; the reduction was due largely to a decrease in xanthophyll to approximately 50% of control levels on the day of maximum effect. In addition, E. meleagrimitis infection decreased plasma retinol levels from 1.84 microgram/ml plasma (controls) to 1.00 microgram/ml plasma on day 6 postinoculation. Concomitantly, liver retinol levels fell from 0.23 microgram/mg protein (controls) to 0.15 microgram/mg protein, and liver retinylpalmitate levels fell from 0.74 microgram/mg protein (controls) to 0.44 microgram/mg protein. In contrast, Eimeria adenoeides infection caused little change in either plasma or liver retinol levels.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D004224:Diterpenes; D004539:Eimeria; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014422:Turkeys; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein