Cocidiosis causes annual economic losses in industrial poultry farms and nutritional strategies can alleviate these losses. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of arginine on cecum microbial population and serum antioxidant properties of healthy and Eimeria-challenged broiler chicks. Experimental treatments included healthy and challenged broiler chicks fed with 85, 100, 125 and 150% of the recommended arginine. To conduct bacterial culture, samples were collected aseptically from cecum during slaughter (on days 21 and 42). The levels of antioxidant and oxidant factors and nitric oxide were also assessed in the serum of broiler chicks. The chicks which had received 125 and 150% of arginine showed lower E. coli population and higher population of lactobacillus, total bacteria, bifidiobacteria and pH in the cecum (p < /em><0.05), but entrococous population was not influenced (p < /em>>0.05). Eimeria challenge decreased the level of glutathione peroxidase, super oxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity and increased the levels of malondialdehyde (p < /em><0.05), but inclusion of arginine in the levels of 125 and 150% only increased the level of glutathione peroxidase (p < /em><0.05), and did not have any effect on other parameters (p < /em><0.05). In summary, consumption of arginine in higher levels (125 and 150%) decreased the pathogenic population and increased the beneficial bacteria and the level of glutathione peroxidase in Eimeria-challenged broiler chicks.
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