Abstract

For poultry producers, chronic low-grade intestinal inflammation has a negative impact on productivity by impairing nutrient absorption and allocation of nutrients for growth. Understanding the triggers of chronic intestinal inflammation and developing a non-invasive measurement is crucial to managing gut health in poultry. In this study, we developed two novel models of low-grade chronic intestinal inflammation in broiler chickens: a chemical model using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and a dietary model using a high non-starch polysaccharide diet (NSP). Further, we evaluated the potential of several proteins as biomarkers of gut inflammation. For these experiments, the chemical induction of inflammation consisted of two 5-day cycles of oral gavage of either 0.25mg DSS/ml or 0.35mg DSS/ml; whereas the NSP diet (30% rice bran) was fed throughout the experiment. At four times (14, 22, 28 and 36-d post-hatch), necropsies were performed to collect intestinal samples for histology, and feces and serum for biomarkers quantification. Neither DSS nor NSP treatments affected feed intake or livability. NSP-fed birds exhibited intestinal inflammation through 14-d, which stabilized by 36-d. On the other hand, the cyclic DSS-treatment produced inflammation throughout the entire experimental period. Histological examination of the intestine revealed that the inflammation induced by both models exhibited similar spatial and temporal patterns with the duodenum and jejunum affected early (at 14-d) whereas the ileum was compromised by 28-d. Calprotectin (CALP) was the only serum protein found to be increased due to inflammation. However, fecal CALP and Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) concentrations were significantly greater in the induced inflammation groups at 28-d. This experiment demonstrated for the first time, two in vivo models of chronic gut inflammation in chickens, a DSS and a nutritional NSP protocols. Based on these models we observed that intestinal inflammation begins in the upper segments of small intestine and moved to the lower region over time. In the searching for a fecal biomarker for intestinal inflammation, LCN-2 showed promising results. More importantly, calprotectin has a great potential as a novel biomarker for poultry measured both in serum and feces.

Highlights

  • Antibiotics used as growth promoters (AGP) have successfully controlled dysbiosis and enteropathogens for the past 50 years [1]

  • Macroscopic Gut Observations It was observed that neither the Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment nor the rice bran diet had an effect on feed intake or mortality (“Supplemental Data”- Table 2)

  • The macroscopic ISI score lesions of each section of the intestine showed that the duodenum was affected more in the early days of the treatments (Table 5) whereas, the posterior parts of the intestine showed compromised intestinal health at a later stage (36 days), suggesting a spatial and temporal impact on the intestinal lumen

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Antibiotics used as growth promoters (AGP) have successfully controlled dysbiosis and enteropathogens for the past 50 years [1]. The recent increase in worldwide non-AGP poultry production is challenging the industry in management, health, and animal welfare due to the increase of enteric and systemic diseases [2, 3]. One of the most accepted theories of AGP mechanism is its role in reducing low-level inflammation [4] and immunologic stress [5] that can be caused by environmental factors, pathogens, and feed ingredients [6]. Removing AGP may increase the inflammatory level of the non-AGP flocks and reduce their performance, which raises the importance of understanding intestinal health and applied practices to its promotion [7]. Despite the importance of studying chronic gut inflammation [8], there is a lack of a practical model to induce a low-grade chronic response in broilers that would mimic field situations. There is a need for an replicated research model that will best mimic the intestinal response in the field

Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call