Effects of zinc glycinate on growth, immunity, and intestinal health in broiler chickens

The study was performed with the objective of verifying raw soy feed, oxidized oil feed, and a control group. Performance evaluation was done at 7, 14, and 21 days of age. Metabolism assay was carried out between the 17th and 20th days for nutrient digestibility analysis. On the 21st day, two birds per repetition were sent for necropsy and collection of intestine fragments (duodenum and jejunum) for histomorphometric analysis. Eight to 14 days after treatment with Salmonella, individuals showed lower feed intake and feed conversion than the control group. Treatment with coccidiosis decreased all performance parameters in the control. Raw soybeans and oxidized oil induce lower weight gain and higher feed conversion compared to the control feed. Unlike after 14 days, at 21 days treatment with salmonella a decrease in weight gain was noted. For the group challenged by coccidiosis feed intake, the feed conversion remained lower than the control group. Undesirable effects on performance in the groups fed raw soybean and oxidized oil remained at up to 21 days. In the evaluation of digestibility, it was observed that raw soy had lower values for digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, and nitrogen balance due to intake. In addition, a lower ratio of villus:crypt measurements was observed. Lower villus height was found in the duodenum of the group challenged by coccidiosis. This group presented a positive correlation between the digestibility of ether extract and the duodenum, indicating that increased villus height implies an increased digestibility of ether extract. The results obtained for the jejunum showed a positive correlation with villus height in groups challenged by coccidiosis, raw soybeans, and oxidized oil; and to crypt depth in the group challenged with oxidized oil. The information obtained in the present study demonstrates that nutrient digestibility parameters can be useful tools for the analysis of the intestinal health of broiler chickens.

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The Effects of Flavomycin and Colistin Sulfate Pre-Treatment on Ileal Bacterial Community Composition, the Response to Salmonella typhimurium and Host Gene Expression in Broiler Chickens

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms7110574 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 574 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

He ◽

Yang ◽

Dong ◽

Yan ◽

Zhang

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Bacterial Community ◽

Salmonella Typhimurium ◽

Bacterial Diversity ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Intestinal Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Colistin Sulfate

The composition of the bacterial community affects the intestinal health and growth performance of broiler chickens. The main purpose of this study was to explore the effects of flavomycin and colistin sulfate on the resistance to Salmonella typhimurium infection, ileal bacteria and intestinal health. In total, 396 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into six groups. Two groups were fed each one of the diets—the control diet (CON), the flavomycin at 10 mg/kg diet (AntiG+), and the colistin sulfate at 40 mg/kg diet (AntiG−), for 5 days. Then, one of each of the two groups was challenged with S. typhimurium on the 8th day; these were named CONS, AntiG+S and AntiG−S, respectively. The results showed that S. typhimurium significantly reduced the feed intake and body weight gain, and increased the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). It also increased the inflammatory expressions of NF-κB and MyD88 genes (p < 0.05); and reduced the expressions of claudin-1, occludin and mucin-2 (p < 0.05) tight junction genes in the intestines. S. typhimurium significantly reduced ileal bacterial diversity indexes of observed-species, chao1 and Shannon (p < 0.05). Compared with AntiG+S group, AntiG−S group increased the body weight gain of broiler chickens (p < 0.05), reduced the expression of inflammatory genes (p < 0.05) and intestinal permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate (p < 0.05). AntiG-S group also improved the ileal bacterial diversity indexes of observed-species and Shannon (p < 0.05). There were many significant correlations between intestinal bacteria, intestinal gene expressions and intestinal morphology (p < 0.05). This study indicated that pre-constructed AntiG− bacteria could against a S. typhimurium infection by inhibiting the expressions of intestinal inflammation genes and increasing the diversity of intestinal bacteria.

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