Eimeria acervulina Infection in Chicks Fed Deficient or Excess Levels of Manganese

: Four experiments were conducted with young chicks to investigate the effect of duodenal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria acervulina infection on Mn toxicity or deficiency. Coccidiosis depressed gain and efficiency of feed utilization. Weight gain was depressed by 3000 mg/kg Mn, but not by 1500 mg/kg. Coccidiosis exacerbated Mn toxicity as assessed by hematological parameters; it also dramatically increased bone and bile Mn concentrations in chicks fed high levels of Mn. The increase in Mn absorption caused by coccidiosis resulted in a lower dietary requirement for Mn. In fact, the coccidial infection almost doubled the rate of Mn uptake by bone.