Determination of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and prostaglandin GF2α in plasma and intestine of specific-pathogen-free chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and determine the concentration of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and prostaglandin GF2α (PGF2α) from plasma and intestine in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima (EM) using solid‐phase microextraction and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Forty one-day-old male SPF chickens were randomly allocated to one of two groups with four replicates (n=5 chickens/replicate). Groups consisted of Control (no challenge) or the Challenge group EM (40,000 sporulated oocysts/bird). At day 7 and 9 post-challenge, half of the chickens were euthanized in both groups to determine plasmatic and enteric concentrations of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α. Enteric levels of both 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α were significantly increased at 7 (8‐iso‐PGF2α P=0.0000252; PGF2α P=0.00000268) and 9 days (8‐iso‐PGF2α P=0.000000717; PGF2α P=0.00000222) post-challenge compared to non-challenge control chickens. However, plasma levels of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α were similar in both groups. A significant reduction (P=0.0000095) in oocyst excretion was observed in chickens at 9 days post-challenge compared to 7 days. Chickens challenged with EM showed an inflammatory response associated with significant increases in enteric PGF2α and 8-Iso-PGF2α, suggesting that the active disease phase was accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress within the intestinal layer.