Influence of Lacto-Immuno-Vital on growth performance and gene expression of IgA, MUC-2, and growth factor IGF-2 in the jejunum of broiler chickens

EGCG improve meat quality, restore lipid metabolism disorder and regulate intestinal flora in high-fat fed broilers

Excessive oil addition can easily result in decreased disease resistance in broilers, a drop in meat quality, and disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an important bioactive component of tea and has been shown to have promising effects on the metabolism of nutrients. This study was aimed at investigating the impact of EGCG supplementation through a high-fat diet (HFD) on production performance, meat quality, lipid metabolism and the influence of intestinal flora in broiler chickens. During the experimental phase, the broilers were segregated into three groups and provided with distinct diets: a basal diet, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet supplemented with EGCG, respectively. The results showed that EGCG increased lightness (L*) 24 h (P < 0.05), and decreased drip loss (P < 0.05) of chicken meat; Enhanced the presence of non-essential and flavor amino acids in muscle tissue and greatly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of broilers, leading to a noteworthy upregulation of antioxidant genes at the genetic level (P < 0.05); Reduced in blood lipids, blood glucose, liver and abdominal fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese chickens (P < 0.05), markedly improved serum and liver biochemical parameters, and histological analysis results also demonstrated that EGCG markedly decreased hepatic lipid accumulation caused by HFD feeding. Compared to high-fat diet-induced obese chickens, supplementation of EGCG significantly lowered hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression and lipid synthesis metabolites, while fatty acid decomposition enzymes showed no significant changes. Furthermore, EGCG significantly decreased inflammation levels and oxidative damage in high-fat diet-induced obese chickens (P < 0.05). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that dietary supplementation of EGCG reduced the abundance of Bacteroidota and Dielma, while increasing the abundance of Firmicutes, Turiciactor, Romboutsia, and Parasutterella, thereby modulating the microbial composition. Dietary EGCG may have induced some of the alterations due to increased activity of the enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as decreased oxidation of proteins and lipids. Collectively, EGCG shows potential as an effective dietary additive for improving the high fat feeding of broiler health, feed nutrient utilization, and meat quality and nutritional value. This experiment provides a powerful new idea for the efficient utilization of oil feed and has important theoretical significance.

The Effect of Enterococcus faecium AL41 on the Acute Phase Proteins and Selected Mucosal Immune Molecules in Broiler Chickens

Probiotic bacteria, including the Enterococcus faecium strain, can improve intestinal mucosal health by several mechanisms, including modulation of the immune response, as well as by improving the protective function of the epithelial barrier. In this study, we tested the effect of Enterococcus faecium AL41 on the acute phase proteins response (blood), gene expression of selected molecules of mucosal immunity (immunoglobulin A, mucin-2, insulin-like growth factor 2) and mucus production (all parts of the small intestine) in broilers. Eighty broiler chicks were divided into two groups: a control and E. faecium AL41 (birds were inoculated with AL41 for 7 days) group. The whole experiment lasted 11 days. Our results revealed that the administration of E. faecium AL41 had no substantial effect on the concentrations of acute phase proteins, but we recorded a significant increase in β- and γ-globulin fractions at the end of the experiment, which may indicate an improvement in the immune status. A significant prolonged stimulatory effect of E. faecium AL41 on the relative expression of molecules (immunoglobulin A, mucin-2) as well as on the dynamic of mucus production in the chicken intestine was observed. In addition, AL41 significantly reduced the total number of enterococci in the cecum and faeces.

Research Note: Immunocompetent cells in blood and intestine after administration of Lacto-Immuno-Vital in drinking water of broiler chickens

The understanding of the synbiotics´ impact on the host is incomplete. To improve the knowledge, we study the effect of Lacto-Immuno-Vital synbiotic preparation in chickens on local and systemic immune response by evaluation of immunocompetent cells in the peripheral blood and jejunal mucosa. Hematological method was used for determination of white blood cell count, and flow cytometry for measurement the functions of phagocytes and subpopulation of lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8, IgM, and IgA). Cell Qest programme (Germany) was used for analysing of data obtained from flow cytometer and GraphPad Prism version 4.0 for comparison by paired t test between control and experimental groups. The experiment was conducted in a commercial broiler chicken fattening farm, the birds were handled and sacrificed in a humane manner. A flock of 64,400 one-day-old Hybrid ROSS 308 chickens were included in the 42-d experiment. The chickens were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, experimental and control, and each group of chickens was housed in a different hall while maintaining the same conditions. The chickens in the experimental group (Lactovital) received 500 g of Lacto-Immuno-Vital (Hajduvet Kft., Hungary) in 1,000 L of drinking water. Lacto-Immuno-Vital was administered daily from the first day (D1) to D7 of the experiment. From D 7 to D 22 it was given in a pulsed manner (every third day) at a dose of 300 g in 1,000 L of drinking water. Control group received only the standard diet. For immune analyses 6 randomly chosen chickens from experimental and control group were taken from the halls. The sampling days were set at D 8 and D 22 of the experiment. Samples of peripheral blood were collected from vena subclavia. The chickens were euthanized and whole jejunum was taken during necropsy into Hanks ice solution (pH 7.2–7.3). Administration of Lacto-Immuno-Vital in drinking water of nonstressed broilers during fattening period in commercial production increased phagocytic activity and phagocytic index. The number of IgA+ and CD8+ cells in lamina propria of intestine was decreased in chickens fed diet supplemented with Lacto-Immuno-Vital in drinking water. We suggest that increased phagocytic activity and decreased number of immunocompetent cells in mucosa of intestine was caused by improved systemic and local immune system function.