M. Gabrashanska et al., A kinetic model for Ascaridia galli populations in chickens treated with mixed salts of copper and zinc, J HELMINTH, 73(1), 1999, pp. 45-50
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.