Effect of Sophy β-glucan on immunity and growth performance in broiler chicken

Effect of Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broiler chickens from 1 to 34 d of age

The effect of dietary graded levels of Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast (C. jadinii) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broilers was evaluated from 1 to 34 d of age. A total of 360 male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (6 replicate pens each) consisting of a wheat-soybean meal-based pelleted diet (Control or CJ0), and 3 diets in which 10% (CJ10), 20% (CJ20), and 30% (CJ30) of the crude protein were supplied by C. jadinii, by gradually replacing protein-rich ingredients. Body weight and feed intake were measured at d 1, 11, 22, and 32. Pellet temperature, durability, and hardness increased linearly (P < 0.05) with C. jadinii inclusion, with highest (P < 0.05) values for CJ30. Up until d 22, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was similar between treatments (P = 0.169). Overall, increasing C. jadinii inclusion linearly increased (P = 0.047) feed intake but had no effect on weight gain or mortality. FCR increased (P < 0.05) linearly with increasing C. jadinii inclusion but only birds fed CJ30 had a significantly poorer FCR compared to the Control. Ileal digestibility was not affected by C. jadinii inclusion, however, there was a significant linear decrease in crude protein and phosphorus, and a tendency for a decrease in fat digestibility. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME) decreased (P < 0.001) quadratically with increasing C. jadinii and was significantly lower in CJ30 compared to the Control. Ileal concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were not affected by C. jadinii inclusion, but butyric acid and total VFAs were linearly and quadratically increased and were significantly higher in cecal digesta of birds fed CJ20 and CJ30. Increasing C. jadinii inclusion was associated with an increase (P < 0.05) in the relative abundance of lactobacillus in the ileum and cecum. In conclusion, C. jadinii yeast can supply up to 20% of the total dietary protein without negatively affecting performance, digestibility, or gut health of broilers. The potential confounding role of feed processing and C. jadinii cell wall components on broiler performance is discussed.

Effect of dietary Saccharomyces-derived prebiotic refined functional carbohydrates as antibiotic alternative on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens reared in a commercial farm

The search for effective in-feed antibiotic alternative is growing due to the global trend to reduce or ban the utilization of antibiotics as growth promotors in poultry diets. This study was processed to assess the effect of dietary refined functional carbohydrates (RFCs) replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) on growth performance, intestinal morphologic structure and microbiota, as well as intestinal immune function and barrier function of broilers reared on a commercial broilers farm. Trials contained 3 treatments with 4 replicate broiler houses, with about 25,000 birds each room. The treatments were control group (CON), RFCs group (CON + 100 mg/kg RFCs), and AGP group (CON + 50 mg/kg bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), respectively. Results showed that RFCs and AGP group significantly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) during d 22 to 45 in contrast to control. Compared with the control and AGP-treated groups, feeding RFCs increased (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio. AGP addition reduced (P < 0.05) the jejunal villi surface area compared to broilers fed control and RFC supplemented diets. Supplementation of RFCs promoted (P < 0.05) the growth of Lactobacillus but inhibited Escherichia coli and Salmonella proliferation compared with the control group. Inclusion of RFCs and BMD enhanced (P < 0.05) antibody titers against avian influenza virus H9 compared with control. RFCs and AGP both down-regulated (P < 0.05) intestinal TLR4 mRNA levels, whereas RFCs tended to up-regulate (P = 0.05) IFN-γ gene expression compared to control. Expression of intestinal tight junction genes was not affected by either AGP or RFCs supplementation. Based on above observation, we suggested that RFCs could replace in-feed antibiotic BMD in broiler diets for reducing intestinal pathogenic bacteria and modulating immunity of broilers.

Beta-glucans induce cellular immune training and changes in intestinal morphology in poultry

Introduction

Beta-glucans are known as biological response modifiers due to their ability to activate the immune system. This research aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of feeding beta-glucans from various sources on the immune status and intestinal morphology of chickens.

Methods

To this end we used in vitro and in vivo set-ups. In the in vitro set-up the chicken macrophage cell line HD-11 was used to measure the response of the chicken immune cells to beta-glucans extracted from algae and mushrooms on immune-related gene expression and associated activities. Additionally, we conducted two in vivo experiments using either beta-glucans extracted from yeast or mix of yeast and mushrooms beta-glucans as part of the chicks feed in order to test their effects on the chick intestinal morphology.

Results

In the in vitro set-up exposure of HD-11 cells to a concentration of 1 mg/ml of algae and mushroom beta-glucans resulted in significantly higher expression of 6 genes (TNFα, IL4, IL6, IL8, IL10, and iNOS2) compared to control. The release of nitrite oxide (NO) to the medium after exposure of HD-11 cells to mushrooms or algae beta-glucans was significantly increased compared to control. Additionally, significantly increased phagocytosis activity was found after exposure of the cells to algae and mushroom beta-glucans. In the in vivo set-up we observed that the length of the villi and the number of goblet cells in the ileum and the jejunum in the beta-glucan fed chicks were significantly augmented compared to control, when the chicks were fed with either yeast or yeast and mushroom beta-glucans mix.

Discussion

In conclusion, dietary supplementation of poultry with beta-glucan exerts significant and positive effects on immune activity and the intestinal morphology in poultry.

Biotechnological Addition of β-Glucans from Cereals, Mushrooms and Yeasts in Foods and Animal Feed

Varied cereal plants including, mushrooms, yeast, bacteria and algae are important sources of β-glucans, and many extraction procedures have been used in order to recover these valuable naturally occurring polysaccharides. The rheological and molecular properties of β-glucans can be utilized to be incorporated into various foods and to offer properties extremely beneficial to human health. Their functional effects are mainly determined by their molecular and structural characteristics. Consumption of foods fortified and enriched with β-glucans can contribute to the treatment of certain chronic diseases. Reduced cholesterol, cardiovascular and diabetic risk and moderate glycemic response of foods have been recorded with the consumption of these biologically active compounds. In addition, β-glucans are characterized by anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. As β-glucans interact with the foods in which they are incorporated, this review aims to discuss recent applications with quality and nutritional results of β-glucans incorporation with foods such as beverages, dairy, bakery, meat and pasta products, as well as their addition in animal feeds and their uses in other fields such as medicine.

Review: β-glucans as Effective Antibiotic Alternatives in Poultry

The occurrence of microbial challenges in commercial poultry farming causes significant economic losses. Antibiotics have been used to control diseases involving bacterial infection in poultry. As the incidence of antibiotic resistance turns out to be a serious problem, there is increased pressure on producers to reduce antibiotic use. With the reduced availability of antibiotics, poultry producers are looking for feed additives to stimulate the immune system of the chicken to resist microbial infection. Some β-glucans have been shown to improve gut health, to increase the flow of new immunocytes, increase macrophage function, stimulate phagocytosis, affect intestinal morphology, enhance goblet cell number and mucin-2 production, induce the increased expression of intestinal tight-junctions, and function as effective anti-inflammatory immunomodulators in poultry. As a result, β-glucans may provide a new tool for producers trying to reduce or eliminate the use of antibiotics in fowl diets. The specific activity of each β-glucan subtype still needs to be investigated. Upon knowledge, optimal β-glucan mixtures may be implemented in order to obtain optimal growth performance, exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, and optimized intestinal morphology and histology responses in poultry. This review provides an extensive overview of the current use of β glucans as additives and putative use as antibiotic alternative in poultry.

Effects of immune stress on performance parameters, intestinal enzyme activity and mRNA expression of intestinal transporters in broiler chickens

Immune stress is the loss of immune homeostasis caused by external forces. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of immune stress on the growth performance, small intestinal enzymes and peristalsis rate, and mRNA expression of nutrient transporters in broiler chickens. Four hundred and thirty-two 1-d-old broilers (Cobb500) were randomly assigned to four groups for treatment; each group included nine cages with 12 birds per cage. Group 1 = no vaccine (NV); Group 2 = conventional vaccine (CV); group 3 = lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+conventional vaccine (LPS); group 4 = cyclophosphamide (CYP)+conventional vaccine (CYP). The results demonstrated that immune stress by LPS and CYP reduced body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), small intestine peristalsis rate and sIgA content in small intestinal digesta (p<0.05). However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained unchanged during the feeding period. LPS and CYP increased intestinal enzyme activity, relative expression of SGLT-1, CaBP-D28k and L-FABP mRNAs (p<0.05). LPS and CYP injection had a negative effect on the growth performance of healthy broiler chickens. The present study demonstrated that NV and CV could improve growth performance while enzyme activity in small intestine and relative expression of nutrient transporter mRNA of NV and CV were decreased in the conditions of a controlled rational feeding environment. It is generally recommended that broilers only need to be vaccinated for the diseases to which they might be exposed.

Effects of Sophy β-glucan on growth performance, carcass traits, meat composition, and immunological responses of Peking ducks

The response of Peking ducks to supplements of Sophy β-glucan was studied. A total of 160 healthy 1-d-old mixed-sex ducklings were randomly allocated to 3 groups: Sophy β-glucan (n = 80), bacitracin zinc (n = 40), and control (n = 40), which received the same antibiotics-deficient diet supplemented with 1% β-glucan, 5% bacitracin zinc, or nothing, respectively. During 2 mo of the study, growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of Peking ducks were evaluated. Additionally, a separate immunological study was conducted with a total of 105 healthy male Peking ducks in 7 groups (n = 15) and immunized with different doses of β-glucan (0, 0.5, 2.5, 12.5, and 62.5 μg/duck) and BSA (200 μg/duck). Blood was taken for detection of anti-BSA-IgG antibody and peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferation assays. Groups subjected to different dietary treatments showed almost no differences in growth performance and slaughter traits except breast muscle percentage and intestinal length. These 2 indicators were significantly higher in the bacitracin zinc group than in the control and β-glucan groups (P < 0.05). Similarly, chemical compositions, fatty acids, and amino acids of breast muscle were not significantly influenced by the diet. Ducks immunized with Sophy β-glucan did not have enhanced level of anti-BSA-IgG antibodies but had significant peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferation compared with unchallenged ducks (P < 0.01). With an increase in the glucan concentration, the proliferative responses approximately linearly increased. These findings indicate that 1% Sophy glucan did not improve duck growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality significantly under the conditions of the present experiment and mainly had regulatory or enhancing properties on poultry nonspecific cellular immunity.