Antagonistic effect of electromagnetic field exposure on coccidiosis infection in broiler chickens.

Poultry science · 2007 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 5048

Infection with a mixture of Eimeria species induced intestinal lesions, oocyst shedding, and reduced growth performance. EMF exposure (5 µT RMS, 30 min/d) antagonized infection effects: in EMF-treated birds infection caused no effect on weight gain and feed i…

Study snapshot

PublicationPoultry science · 2007

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The hypothesis tested was that exposure of broiler chickens to an electromagnetic field (EMF) may reduce the signs of coccidiosis infection, based on recent insights into immunology. The experiment had a 2 x 2 factorial design. An uninfected and an infected group did not receive further treatment, whereas the other uninfected and infected groups were subjected to EMF treatment. In the cages of EMF-treated birds, a field strength of 5 muT root mean square was created for a period of 30 min/d. Infected birds were given a single dose of a mixture of Eimeria species (1.76 x 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, 1.25 x 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima, and 7.5 x 10(3) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella) through gavage into the crop. Infection with the Eimeria mixture induced intestinal lesions, shedding of oocysts, and a reduction in growth performance. Exposure of broiler chickens to the EMF antagonized the effects of infection. In the EMF-treated birds, the infection caused no effect on weight gain and feed intake, whereas the severity of intestinal lesions mediated by E. acervulina and E. maxima was less than in the infected controls. We suggest that EMF has anticoccidial activities and its application could serve as an alternative to the anticoccidial drugs currently used in poultry production.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationBroiler chickens

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposure30 min/d

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Coccidiosis infection signs/effects
Intestinal lesions (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima)
Oocyst shedding
Growth performance
Weight gain
Feed intake

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
EMF frequency/band not reported in abstract
Randomization/blinding not described in abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min/d"
  },
  "population": "Broiler chickens",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Coccidiosis infection signs/effects",
    "Intestinal lesions (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima)",
    "Oocyst shedding",
    "Growth performance",
    "Weight gain",
    "Feed intake"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Infection with a mixture of Eimeria species induced intestinal lesions, oocyst shedding, and reduced growth performance. EMF exposure (5 µT RMS, 30 min/d) antagonized infection effects: in EMF-treated birds infection caused no effect on weight gain and feed intake, and intestinal lesion severity mediated by E. acervulina and E. maxima was less than in infected controls.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "EMF frequency/band not reported in abstract",
    "Randomization/blinding not described in abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "EMF",
    "5 µT",
    "broiler chickens",
    "coccidiosis",
    "Eimeria acervulina",
    "Eimeria maxima",
    "Eimeria tenella",
    "intestinal lesions",
    "oocyst shedding",
    "weight gain",
    "feed intake",
    "growth performance"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1093/ps/86.10.2139
PubMed: 17878443

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