Effect of glutamine on the intestinal function and health of broilers challenged with Salmonella pullorum

Abstract

The influence of glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal function and health in broilers challenged with Salmonella pullorum was investigated. 240 one -day-old Arbor Acres broilers were divided into four groups in a completely randomized design, each of which included 6 replicates with 10 birds per replicate, for 21 days. The experimental groups were as follows: control group (CON), S. pullorum challenged control group (SCC), basal diet plus S. pullorum challenged plus 0.5 % Gln (Gln 1) or1.0 % Gln (Gln 2), The results showed that S. pullorum had significantly adverse effect on ADG, ADFI and feed to gain ratio (F: G) of broilers compared with the values measured for the CON during days 5 to 7. Moreover, compared with the characteristics of CON, S. pullorum showed significantly effects on the relative weight and length of small intestine at 7 d, the activities of sucrose, maltase and lactase in the jejunum mucosa at 4 d, or 7 d, the counts of Salmonella and Lactobacillus at 4, 7 and 21d and the molar proportion of isobutyric acid at 14 d. The inclusion of Gln significantly elevated the relative weight and length of small intestine, increased intestinal sucrose, maltase and lactase activities, decreased caecal Salmonella population and molar proportion of isobutyric acid at 14 d. These results suggested that Gln might exert a favorable effect on intestinal function and health in broilers.