THE HEPATIC AND DUODENAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME DRUG-METABOLIZING-ENZYMESIN CHICKENS - INFLUENCE OF INFECTION WITH ESCHERICHIA-COLI ENDOTOXIN AND COCCIDIOSIS

The activities of the drug metabolizing enzymes aminopyrine-N-demethyl ase, aniline hydroxylase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase, together with protein concentration, were measured in liver microsomes and duodenal mucosa from healthy chickens and chickens experimentally infected wit h Escherichia coli endotoxin, or naturally infected with Eimeria necat rix and Eimeria tenella (clinically classified as slight, moderate or severe infections). E. coli (2 mg/kg, 3 days) and severe coccidiosis s ignificantly decreased the activities of the three enzymes in the live r and duodenum. However, infection by the E. coli endotoxin at lower d oses (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, 3 days) and moderate or slight coccidial infect ions had no significant effect on the activities of these enzymes. Nei ther E. coli nor coccidial infections significantly affected the liver /body weight ratio. However, infection with the E. coli endotoxin (2 m g/kg, 3 days) and the moderate or severe coccidial infections signific antly reduced microsomal protein concentration in the liver.