Abstract
Simple SummaryAvian coccidiosis is the leading parasitic disease in the poultry industry and means to control its damages continue to be explored. This study evaluated the feeding effects of a yeast-derived β-glucan on expression of immune response genes in the spleen, thymus, and bursa of commercial broiler chickens during an Eimeria challenge. The study consisted of two dietary treatments (0% or 0.1% β-glucan) each with or without a coccidiosis challenge. There were significant effects from dietary β-glucan, Eimeria challenge, and their interaction for several gene targets in the spleen, thymus, and bursa on days 10 and 14 of age. Based on the current results, supplementation of dietary β-glucan in Eimeria-challenged birds enhanced and modulated the expression of immune response genes during coccidiosis.This study investigated the effects of a yeast-derived β-glucan (Auxoferm YGT) supplementation on mRNA expression of immune response genes in the spleen, thymus, and bursa of broiler chickens during a mixed Eimeria infection. Day (d)-old chicks (n = 1440) were fed diets containing 0% or 0.1% YGT. On d 8 post-hatch, half the replicate pens (n = 8) were challenged with a mixed inoculum of E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella. On d 10 and d 14 post-hatch, the spleen, thymus, and bursa were collected to evaluate mRNA abundance by quantitative real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX model (2-way interaction) and differences were established by LS-MEANS with significance reported at p ≤ 0.05. In spleen tissues at d 10, expression of interleukin (IL)-10 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were elevated in both 0.1% YGT-fed challenged and non-challenged birds. In thymus tissues at d 14, expression of IL-10, IL-17F, interferon (IFN)-γ, iNOS, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were elevated in challenged birds fed 0.1% YGT. In bursal tissues at d 10 and d 14, expression of IL-10, IFN-γ, iNOS (d 10 only), and MIF were elevated in 0.1% YGT-fed challenged and non-challenged birds. Dietary β-glucan supplementation to chicken diets modulated their immune response to the Eimeria challenge.
Highlights
Introduction censeeMDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Poultry coccidiosis is considered the leading parasitic disease in commercial production with significant economic impact on the industry worldwide that is estimated at a devastating $3.2 billion annually [1,2,3]
In challenged birds fed the 0.1% YGT diet, expression of IL-10 mRNA was elevated by 2- and 7-fold (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0390, respectively) in spleen and bursal tissues when compared with 0.0% YGT controls
On d 14, there was a significant interaction on expression in the thymus, with a 6-fold increase observed in the challenged birds fed 0.1%
Summary
Introduction censeeMDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Poultry coccidiosis is considered the leading parasitic disease in commercial production with significant economic impact on the industry worldwide that is estimated at a devastating $3.2 billion annually [1,2,3]. Coccidiosis is an infection of the small intestine caused by intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria often resulting in localized lesions leading to reduced nutrient utilization and performance in livestock and poultry [4,5]. Vaccines; but, more natural feed supplements are being widely investigated as potential means of alleviating the impact of coccidiosis in poultry [6,7]. One of such additives is β-glucans, which are glucose polymers and can be derived from fungi, yeast, and cell walls of bacteria, as well as from cereal grains, including oat and barley [4]. Large variations exist in the structure of β-glucans from these different sources that result in differences in their physiological functions [8]. β-glucans from fungal and yeast sources are most effective in enhancing protective immunity against infectious agents due to their highly branched structure [9,10], as they have shown the ability to minimize coccidial infection in both growing pullets and layer chickens [11]. β-glucans from dried algae can help improve gut immunity and host protection, reducing lesion scores in broilers challenged with three prevalent species of Eimeria (E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella) [12]
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