Effects of daily oral doses of L-arginine on coccidiosis infections in chickens

USDA, ARS, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. pallen@lpsi.barc.usda.gov

L-arginine is an essential amino acid for chickens, as well as the substrate for biosynthesis of nitric oxide (NO), a bioregulatory free radical molecule known to have antimicrobial activity. Biosynthesis of NO by induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) can be stimulated during immunological response to infection. Therefore, in chickens, production of NO as a response to an infection should be influenced by dietary levels of L-arginine. Two experiments were carried out to determine whether oral dosing with L-arginine during coccidia infections could influence the associated pathology or the development of the parasites. Neither single nor dual daily doses (500 mg/kg) of L-arginine reversed weight gain reduction, augmented plasma NO2- + NO3- levels, or lessened lesion scores in chicks infected with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, or Eimeria tenella. Although the oocyst shedding from E. maxima (1x dose) or E. acervulina (2x dose) infections were not affected, the oocyst shedding from E. tenella infections was significantly reduced by both dose regimens.

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