Quality traits, fatty acids, mineral content of meat and blood metabolites changes of broiler chickens after artificial infection with sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts

This study was to investigate physicochemical characteristics, fatty acids, minerals and hematological alterations in broiler chickens artificially infected with 1 × 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella. Results revealed that pH values were decreased (p ˂.05) in the infected group (IG) at 7 and 9 days post infection (dpi) than those at 5 dpi, although no significant differences between the non-infected group (NIG) and IG. Infection with E. tenella did not affect meat colour parameters except that redness was lower (p ˂.05) than that in the NIG. Cooking loss was decreased (p ˂.05) in NIG and IG at 7 and 9 dpi than that at 5 dpi. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value was increased (p ˂.05) in IG at 7 dpi than 5 or 9 dpi and NIG (p ˂.01). Total protein (TP) and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly lowered in IG at 5 dpi. Other blood parameter results showed decreases of glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in infected chicken at 7 dpi compared to those in the NIG without significance. However, albumin (ALB) level was decreased (p ˂.01) in the IG compared with NIG at 5 dpi. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were lowered (p <.05) in the IG than NIG at 7 dpi. Mineral contents of Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn were lowered (p ˂.01) in the IG than those in the NIG at 7 dpi. Based on these results indicate that a low dose of E. tenella has no impact on meat quality traits, fatty acids although it can slightly affect blood parameters and mineral contents.HIGHLIGHTS The low dose of Eimeria tenella has no impact on meat quality traits and fatty acids of broiler meat. A significant increase in some blood parameter is observed in infected broiler chickens at 9 dpi. Mineral contents of Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn decreases in infected broiler meat at 7 dpi.