Effect of Experimental Coccidiosis Infections on Body Weight Gain and Spermatogenesis in Broiler Breeder Males

Abstract

Infections with E. tenella in broiler breeder males showed that body weight gains of the uninfected males were significantly greater (p< 0.05) at 5, 7 and 14 days post inoculation (dpi) than those of the infected groups. Sperm productions at 0, 5 and 7 dpi (0=day of inoculation with infected oocysts) for the uninfected controls were also significantly different (p<0.05) from those of the infected groups. No significant differences (p>0.05) occurred at 14 days post inoculation among the two treatments. The pathological effect of coccidiosis on sperm production of the male chickens had not been previously studied. It is note-worthy that coccidiosis infection in broiler males showed no degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and testis. In both cross and longitudinal sections of the testis of the infected male, there were empty lumina of the seminiferous tubules. The infected controls showed sperm-filled lumina of the seminiferous tubules.