Summary
It could be shown that in E. acervulina infected birds the absorption both of vitamin A and carotenes is strongly disturbed, chiefly in the proximal parts of the intestine. When the infection is stronger, more vitamin A is absorbed in the distal part of the intestine.
At day 5 after infection a caseous substance is found over the mucosa of the affected parts of the intestine.
It appeared that a similar caseous substance is formed after experimental exposure of the intestinal wall to a pH of about 4.5 for 4 hours.
The supposition is given that in infected birds the mucosal protein in the affected parts of the intestine is “denaturated” thanks to the low pH caused by the infection.
As a consequence of this denaturation the absorption of vitamin A and of carotene is strongly disturbed and the carotene in the blood decreases. This can be observed already at day 2 after infection.
Finally it has been shown that it seems very unlikely that administration of extra vitamin A to normally fed, infected chickens will decrease the influence of the infection on the chickens.
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Kouwenhoven, B., van der Horst, C.J.G. Disturbed intestinal absorption of vitamin A and carotenes and the effect of a low pH during Eimeria acervulina infection in the domestic fowl (gallus domesticus). Z. Parasitenk. 38, 152–161 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329027
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329027