The aim of this thesis was to explore the relationship between Eimeria sp. infection in broiler chickens and the inflammatory response, by measuring the levels of both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). This relationship was assessed from two aspects related to tissue expression: at the gene level (gene expression) and at the protein level.
The most important conclusions: Elevated levels of the cytokine genes IL-2 and IL-4 were detected in infected broiler chickens within the cecal tonsils. Positive expression of IL-2 and IL-4 proteins was also identified in epithelial cells.
The most important recommendations: Measure the levels of cytokine genes in organs other than the cecum, such as the spleen, thymus, and Peyer’s patches. This contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the immune response in various tissues.