Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the protective effects of organic acids (OA) in broilers exposed to Salmonella Pullorum challenge at early stage and to explore the potential benefits of OA by metabolomics analysis. The treatment groups included non-challenged, S. Pullorum-challenged, challenged group supplemented with virginiamycin, challenged group supplemented with OA in drinking water, challenged group supplemented with OA in feed, and challenged group supplemented with OA in combination in drinking water and feed. Results showed that early Salmonella challenge induced an acute systemic infection of broilers in the starter phase, followed by the grower phase without triggering clinical signs. OA supplementation promoted growth during the grower phase, and while OA in water contributed more, the positive effects of OA in combination were comparable to those of virginiamycin supplementation in challenged birds. Furthermore, OA could modulate the systemic metabolic perturbation caused by challenge as it alleviated stress responses mediated by steroid hormone, potentially attenuated antioxidant or immune defense, and modified intestinal microbiota metabolism. These results show a metabolic mechanism that may partly explain the potential benefits of OA in Salmonella challenged birds, and may contribute to the use of OA to control or reduce S. Pullorum infection in farm animals.
Highlights
Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum
Pullorum-challenged group with the basal diets; challenged group receiving the control diets supplemented with 0.002% virginiamycin; challenged group receiving the control diets and the drinking water added with organic acids (OA) blend; challenged group receiving the diets supplemented with OA feed additives; challenged group receiving the combination of acidified drinking water and OA feed additives
Lower average daily gain (ADG) and body weight on day 14 were observed in challenged groups, with the exception of the group with dietary supplementation of virginiamycin, when compared to the unchallenged control (P < 0.01)
Summary
Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum Pullorum) is a poultry-specific pathogen of considerable economic importance in China and other countries with a developing poultry industry (Wigley et al, 2001). In China between 2006 and 2012, S. Pullorum was the most commonly detected serovar in chickens and the pullorum disease infection rates were reported to be over 30% (Li et al, 2013; Gong et al, 2014). In addition to causing high mortality rates among young chicks, one of the features of S. Pullorum infection is that it persists for long periods in convalescent chicks in the absence of clinical disease (Wigley et al, 2001). The chronic and mild depressive effect on growth or health of birds induced
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