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Antagonistic Effect of Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Coccidiosis Infection in Broiler Chickens

M. A. Elmusharaf^*,1, J. J. Cuppen, H. N. A. Grooten and A. C. Beynen^*

^* Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Immunent BV, Veldhoven, the Netherlands; and Feed Innovation Services BV, Wageningen, the Netherlands

¹ Corresponding author: m.a.elmusharaf{at}vet.uu.nl

The hypothesis tested was that exposure of broiler chickens to an electromagnetic field (EMF) may reduce the signs of coccidiosis infection, based on recent insights into immunology. The experiment had a 2 x 2 factorial design. An uninfected and an infected group did not receive further treatment, whereas the other uninfected and infected groups were subjected to EMF treatment. In the cages of EMF-treated birds, a field strength of 5 µT root mean square was created for a period of 30 min/d. Infected birds were given a single dose of a mixture of Eimeria species (1.76 x 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, 1.25 x 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima, and 7.5 x 10³ sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella) through gavage into the crop. Infection with the Eimeria mixture induced intestinal lesions, shedding of oocysts, and a reduction in growth performance. Exposure of broiler chickens to the EMF antagonized the effects of infection. In the EMF-treated birds, the infection caused no effect on weight gain and feed intake, whereas the severity of intestinal lesions mediated by E. acervulina and E. maxima was less than in the infected controls. We suggest that EMF has anticoccidial activities and its application could serve as an alternative to the anticoccidial drugs currently used in poultry production.

Key Words: coccidium • electromagnetic field • broiler