Investigation of Dietary Eubiotic Supplementation on the Growth Performance and Gut Health Parameters in Broiler Chicks Challenged with Eimeria spp.: A Pilot Study.
Tilemachos Mantzios, Dimitrios Galamatis, Ioanna Stylianaki, Ioannis Panitsidis, Konstantinos Kiskinis, Elias Papadopoulos, Ilias Giannenas, Vasilios Tsiouris
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Coccidiosis is a major challenge for the poultry industry, often leading to reduced performance, gut damage, and increased mortality. This study explores the efficacy of a phytogenic and prebiotic additive combination (PPB), containing inulin, β-glucans, vitamin C, and layer covered essential oils from oregano and cinnamon, as a dietary supplement in broiler chicks experimentally with Eimeria spp. A total of 288 broiler chicks (Ross®308) were randomly allocated into four treatment groups (6 replicates/group): NEG: the negative control (basal diet), INF: challenged by Eimeria spp. at 14th days of age (basal diet), PPB: challenged by Eimeria spp, (basal diet, PPB supplementation) and SAL: challenged by Eimeria spp. (basal diet, salinomycin supplementation). Broiler performance, oocyst shedding, lesion score, histomorphometry, claudin-3 expression, and lymphocytic infiltration in the intestine were assessed. The challenge affected body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the INF group exhibiting significantly poorer performance compared to the NEG and supplemented groups (p ≤ 0.05). Oocyst per gram (OPG) counts were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the INF group than in the PPB and SAL groups at all timepoints, while anticoccidial index (ACI) and total macroscopic lesion scores (TMLS) confirmed the protective effect of both interventions. Histopathological examination revealed that infection induced marked epithelial damage across intestinal segments. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated (p ≤ 0.05) elevated Claudin-3 expression in the duodenum and ileum of INF birds. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with PPB provided protective effects against Eimeria infection in broiler chickens, comparable to salinomycin.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS PPB effectively mitigated Eimeria spp. infection in broilers.PPB and salinomycin reduced oocyst excretionOocyst excretion was highest in the INF groupPPB was as effective as salinomycin.
期刊介绍：
Avian Pathology is the official journal of the World Veterinary Poultry Association and, since its first publication in 1972, has been a leading international journal for poultry disease scientists. It publishes material relevant to the entire field of infectious and non-infectious diseases of poultry and other birds. Accepted manuscripts will contribute novel data of interest to an international readership and will add significantly to knowledge and understanding of diseases, old or new. Subject areas include pathology, diagnosis, detection and characterisation of pathogens, infections of possible zoonotic importance, epidemiology, innate and immune responses, vaccines, gene sequences, genetics in relation to disease and physiological and biochemical changes in response to disease. First and subsequent reports of well-recognized diseases within a country are not acceptable unless they also include substantial new information about the disease or pathogen. Manuscripts on wild or pet birds should describe disease or pathogens in a significant number of birds, recognizing/suggesting serious potential impact on that species or that the disease or pathogen is of demonstrable relevance to poultry. Manuscripts on food-borne microorganisms acquired during or after processing, and those that catalogue the occurrence or properties of microorganisms, are unlikely to be considered for publication in the absence of data linking them to avian disease.
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