Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal mucosal structure and immune cells of broilers infected with Salmonella Enteritidis. 160 1-d-old commercial Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly selected to receive one of four treatments, each of which had 5 replicates. Each replicate consisted of 8 chicks subjected to a 21-d feeding trial. Group I served as the unchallenged (CON). All birds in groups II (SCC) - IV were challenged with 2.0 × 104 CFU/mL of S. Enteritidis. The birds in groups III and IV were treated with 0.5% and 1.0% Gln. The results showed that S. Enteritidis infection led to a decrease in the relative length and weight, villus height:crypt depth (VH:CD) of the jejunum and ileum, the number of intraepithelial lymphocyte cells, and number of goblet cells and an increase in the number of mast goblet cells compared with the measurements of these parameters in the CON group (p<0.05). In addition, the Gln groups had increased relative length and weight, VH:CD of the jejunum and ileum, numbers of intraepithelial lymphocyte cells, and numbers of goblet cells and decreased crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum and numbers of mast goblet cells compared with the measurements of these parameters in the SCC group (p<0.05). It was concluded that Gln added to broiler diets can effectively alleviate the intestinal mucosal damage caused by S. Enteritidis infection and improve its normal defense barrier function.
Highlights
Salmonella is a gram-negative bacteria widely found in nature and is a foodborne pathogen (Hohmann, 2001)
Enteritidis infection group (p0.05)
Enteritidis infection decreased the relative weight of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broilers (p
Summary
Salmonella is a gram-negative bacteria widely found in nature and is a foodborne pathogen (Hohmann, 2001). Salmonella secretes invasion factor E in the small intestine, destroying host gastrointestinal epithelial cells by counteracting the sulfite released by immune cells and compromising host defense mechanisms (Shanmugasundaram et al, 2015), leading to intestinal damage and decreased growth performance of broilers infected with Salmonella (Wang et al, 2012). Evidence from animal studies showed that Salmonella induces an increase in T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the small intestine of the infected broilers. IL-10 secreted by Tregs can suppress the host immune response, enabling Salmonella to survive in the small intestine (Paramasivam et al, 2019). Gln has a role in protecting the intestinal mucosa, participating in the immune response, and in boosting protein synthesis (Bollhalder et al, 2013).
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