Expression of Toll-like receptors and antimicrobial peptides during Eimeria praecox infection in chickens

► A high infection load (>500,000 oocysts) of Eimeria praecox may result in downregulated TLR expression. ► Antimicrobial peptide expression behaves differently in response to an E. praecox infection than in response to a bacterial infection. ► E. praecox may induce non-specific immunity during a mild to moderate infection.