A kinetic model for Ascaridia galli populations in chickens treated with mixed salts of copper and zinc

The action of mixed salts of copper and zinc (basic and neutral) on Hisex c hickens experimentally infected with Ascaridia galli has been studied. The data show that the lowest host mortality and decrease in body weight gain a nd the highest reduction in nematode loading occurs in infected chickens tr eated with basic salts (in comparison with infected chickens, untreated or treated with neutral salts). A mathematical model has been proposed to prov ide a quantitative interpretation of the observed results. The model soluti ons of the kinetics of parasite numbers and of the gain in body weight are in a good agreement with the experimental data. One of the kinetic paramete rs in the model is defined as a phenomenological constant of the host immun e response. Its value is determined in the case of infected and untreated c hickens.