A Relationship Between Coccidiosis and Vitamin A Nutrition in Chickens

Abstract

LIMITED experimental evidence and field observations with chickens indicate that a possible relationship may exist between the requirement for vitamin A or carotene in the diet, and coccidiosis. Jungherr (1945) noted a relatively high association between the occurrence of A hypovitaminosis and cecal coccidiosis. However, he indicated that the association may have been coincidental. Taylor et al. (1946) also found that when the conditions were favorable for the development of cecal coccidiosis that the severity of the disease was enhanced in chickens receiving less than the minimum requirement of vitamin A. Davies (1952)) noted that chickens suffering from natural infections of coccidiosis had lower storages of vitamin A per gram of liver than normal chickens fed the same diet. It has also been shown by Murphy el al. (1938) that the provision of adequate amounts of cod liver oil accelerated recovery from coccidiosis. While this beneficial effect may have been due to the vitamin A content of this ingredient, the effects of vitamin D or other substances in the oil were not excluded. Schoop et al. (1954) reported …