All the erythrocytic stages of P. juxtanucleare (trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes) were observed in the infected group ( Fig. 1). The pre-patent period and peak parasite load occurred between LY2109761 the seventh and eighth day, after which it declined ( Fig. 2). The fowls of both groups had hematocrits above 26.9%, considered normal for fowls ( Fig. 3). With respect to ALT activity, there was a significant increase in the first week of

infection (27.99 ± 1.58) in relation to the baseline value (week 0; 13.83 ± 1.57), but this increase was also observed in the control group (25.3 ± 1.21). However, the second week of infection, the ALT activity of the infected group (24.14 ± 2.41) remained significantly higher than that of the control group (19.99 ± 1.74). There was also a correlation between the peak parasite load and highest ALT activity in the infected group in the second week of the experiment. Starting in the third week, there was no longer a significant difference between the control and infected groups in relation to the baseline value (group 0) (Fig. 4). There were significant differences in the AST activity in the first week of the experiment in both the infected group

(144.67 ± 3.65) and control group (149.68 ± 2.73) in relation to Hedgehog antagonist the baseline value (109.86 ± 2.23), but starting in the third week the values leveled off (Fig. 5). The livers of the infected birds had darker colored areas than normally observed (Fig. 6). Microscopic examination of the hepatic tissue fragments revealed the presence of vacuolized and tumefied hepatocytes, extensive hemorrhage, proliferation

of fibrous conjunctive tissue in the portal space, multifocal and diffuse subcapsular (lymphoplasmocytic) inflammatory infiltrate in the portal and periportal areas and the parenchyma, sinusoidal congestion, dilatation and intrahepatic cholestasis (Fig. 7). The most abundant blood stages in this study, the trophozoites, were the same as those found in other studies (Santos-Prezoto et al., 2004, Silveira et al., 2009, Vashist et al., 2008 and Vashist et al., 2009). The pre-patent period of the isolate studied, about two days, was shorter than the majority Carnitine dehydrogenase of the periods mentioned in the literature for infection caused by P. juxtanucleare, which vary from four to eighteen days ( Versiani and Gomes, 1941, Dhanaphala, 1962, Massard and Massard, 1981 and Oliveira et al., 2001). This variation can be explained by the strain’s pathogenicity: more pathogenic strains have shorter pre-patent periods. In this study the peak parasite load of the infection occurred earlier than reported elsewhere in the literature (Versiani and Gomes, 1941, Dhanaphala, 1962, Massard and Massard, 1981 and Oliveira et al., 2001).