Modulation of Gut Microbiota, and Morphometry, Blood Profiles and performance of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with Piper aduncum, Morinda citrifolia, and Artocarpus altilis leaves Ethanolic Extracts

Bioactive plants such as P. aduncum, M. citrifolia, and A. altilis might improve intestinal health as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the ethanolic extracts (EEs) of these plants on the intestinal health of broiler chickens. Cobb 500 chickens (n = 352) were distributed into eight treatments with four replicates and 11 chickens each. T1 received a base diet, and T2 received a base diet with 0.005% zinc bacitracin. T3, T5, and T7 were supplemented with 0.005% of P. aduncum, M. citrifolia, and A. altilis EE in the diet while T4, T6, and T8 with 0.01% of the extract. The EEs were supplemented with drinking water from 1 to 26 days of age. The following parameters were evaluated: hematological profiles at 28 days of age, blood metabolites profiles at 14, 21, and 28 days; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Lactobacillus sp. abundance in the ileum mucosa and content at 21 and 28 days, and histomorphometry of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum mucosa at 14, 21, and 28 d. Final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion rate (FCR) were evaluated at seven, 21, and 33 days of age. M. citrifolia and A. altilis EE at 0.01% increased blood glucose levels at 21 and 28 days of age, respectively, and P. aduncum and M. citrifolia EE at 0.01% increased triglycerides at 28 days of age; in addition, this EE did not have any effect on the AST and ALT profiles. The depths of the Lieberkühn crypts and the villi length to the crypt's depth ratio increased with age on supplementation with 0.01% M. citrifolia and A. altilis EE at 21 days of age (p < 0.05). In addition, the depth of the crypts increased at 28 days of age (p < 0.05) in chickens supplemented with 0.01% A. altilis EE. The 0.01% M. citrifolia EE in diet decreased in the Staphylococcus aureus population in the ileal microbiota (p < 0.05). The FW and WG during the fattening and in the three stages overall increased, and the FCR decreased; however, the FI and the carcass yield did not change in the broiler chickens supplemented with 0.01% M. citrifolia EE (p < 0.05). Conclusively, the M. citrifolia EE at 0.01% of the diet improved intestinal health and thus the performance indices of the broiler chickens and did not have a detrimental effect on any of the parameters evaluated, so it is postulated as a potential alternative to AGP in poultry.

Variation of PM2.5 and PM10 in emissions and chemical compositions in different seasons from a manure-belt laying hen house

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from animal houses and the corresponding hazard have raised increasing attention during recent years. In this study, a large-scale manure-belt laying hen house located in Beijing, China was selected as the experimental site for the study of the emission rates (ER) and chemical compositions of PM2.5 and PM10 in 3 seasons, namely, summer, autumn, and winter, to investigate their possible influences on ambient air quality and human health. The results showed that the mean ER from the hen house in summer, autumn, and winter were 9.0 ± 1.7, 2.4 ± 0.7, and 1.9 ± 0.7 mg hen-1 d-1 for PM2.5 (P < 0.05), and 30.7 ± 1.1, 12.8 ± 1.5, and 10.9 ± 0.9 mg hen-1 d-1 for PM10 (P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, large amounts of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) were observed inside the house in summer, accounting for 11.4 and 9.6% of indoor PM2.5 and PM10 mass, respectively, compared with the value of <1.4% in autumn and winter. Among the 31 detected elements in indoor PM, arsenic concentration exceeded the threshold set in legislation. Zn had a notably high concentration of 3,403 to 4,432 ng m-3 in indoor PM10, which was 28 to 71 times higher than that in ambient PM10. The findings suggest that the poultry-raising house emit PM2.5 and PM10 containing SIA and toxic heavy-metal elements such as As and Zn to the ambient with much more emissions in summer than in autumn and winter. Considering the increasing development of poultry-raising farming in China, the potential hazard derived from the exhaust of PM2.5 and PM10 should be focused on, especially during summer.

Effects of day-of-hatch intramuscular administration of a herbal extract mixture and its re-supplementation in drinking water on growth performance, stress indicators, and antioxidant status of broiler chickens reared under hot summer conditions

Broilers under oxidative stress from high ambient temperatures may benefit from the use of additives that have antioxidant properties. This experiment investigated the efficacy of a herbal extract mixture (HEM; aqueous extracts from Ferula gummosa, Thymus vulgaris, and Trachyspermum copticum) in day-old chicks, injected intramuscular (deep pectoral muscle; (0, 30, 60, and 90 μL/0.1 mL of sterilized and distilled water)), and supplemented in drinking water (0 and 0.25 mL/L) during the rearing period. Broilers were reared in battery cages under summer temperature conditions, with average maximum temperature of 35.5°C, average minimum temperature of 25.5°C, and average relative humidity of 50-60%. A total of 400 1-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups (5 replicates/treatment with 10 birds per replicate). From d1 to d10, the indoor air temperature was adjusted to match fluctuating outdoor summer temperatures, and was set at 30-34°C and 50-60% relative humidity; and from d10 onwards, no adjustments were made. Injection of HEM linearly decreased feed:gain (P = 0.005), heterophile-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (P = 0.007), and serum concentrations of cholesterol (P = 0.008), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (P < 0.001), malondialdehyde (P = 0.005), and cortisol (P = 0.008). The 60 μL of HEM injection produced the best results in terms of final body weight (BW; P = 0.003), overall average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.002), European performance index (P < 0.001), carcass yield (P < 0.001), and serum glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.001). Supplementation of HEM in drinking water also increased final BW (P = 0.048), overall ADG (P = 0.047), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.042), and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.030), while decreasing the H/L ratio (P = 0.004) and serum LDL concentration (P = 0.031). There were interactions between injection and water supplementation for BW (day 24; P = 0.045), carcass yield (day 42; P = 0.014), and serum superoxide dismutase activity (day 42; P = 0.004). In conclusion, administering an injection of HEM at a dose of 60 μL at the time of hatching, followed by supplementation at a dose of 0.25 mL/L via drinking water during the rearing period could be a useful strategy for improving the performance and health status of heat-stressed broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary supplementation with purple garlic powder and oregano essential oil on intestinal health in post-weaning piglets from commercial farms

This work studied the effects of the inclusion of Purple Garlic Powder (PGP) and Oregano Essential Oil (OEO) in the feed, at different doses and combinations, on intestinal health and the growth performance of 140 and 3000 piglets, respectively, weaned at 21 days of age. Seven dietary treatments were used: a negative control group (basal diet), a positive control group with ZnO (3000 mg/Kg of feed), two groups with OEO at 0.4% and 1.2% respectively, two groups with PGP at 0.4% and 2% respectively and one group with OEO at 1.2% combined with PGP at 2%. Only the positive control group received ZnO in the diet. Each group of piglets received the treatment for seven weeks, from weaning, and were later sacrificed to obtain jejunum and ileum samples for counting of goblet cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, and IgA-producing cells. The growth performance were measured at the beginning and at the end of the seven weeks. In jejunum and ileum, the number of goblet cells increased in the groups with ZnO, PGP 2%, OEO 1.2% and PGP 2% + OEO 1.2%, presenting significant differences with the rest of the groups. The results obtained for the intraepithelial lymphocyte count were in line with those obtained for the count of goblet cells. Regarding IgA-producing cells, the groups that showed significantly favourable results in the jejunum and ileum were OEO 1.2%, PGP 2% and their combination, but the groups that showed the most similar means to ZnO were the OEO 0.4% and the PGP 0.4%. Regarding the growth performance, PGP 2%, OEO 1.2% and their combination had similar results to ZnO. The intestinal health of piglets could be improved, without harming the growth performance, by means of the supplementation of PGP 2%, OEO 1.2% and PGP 2% + OEO 1.2% offering a natural alternative to the use of ZnO.

In Vitro Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticoccidial, and Anti-Inflammatory Study of Essential Oils of Oregano, Thyme, and Sage from Epirus, Greece

Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Thymus vulgaris, and Salvia fructicosa are aromatic plants commonly found in Mediterranean countries and are traditionally used in Greece as a remedy for humans, since they are well known as potent antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents. Essential oils (EOs) derived from plants cultivated in the mountainous region of Epirus, Greece, were investigated for their inhibitory activity against key microorganisms with relevance to avian health, while also assessing their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the EOs was estimated according to the Folin−Ciocalteu method, while the antioxidant capacity was tested through the EOs’ ability to scavenge free radicals by means of the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects were examined by the agar disc diffusion method and the lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition test, respectively. Furthermore, the EOs’ ability to inhibit the invasion of sporozoites of Eimeria tenella (Wisconsin strain) along with any toxic effects were assayed in Madin−Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. The antioxidant activity of the EOs was observed in descending order: oregano > thyme > sage. The antimicrobial effects of thyme and oregano were equivalent and higher than that of sage, while the anti-inflammatory effect of thyme was higher compared to both sage and oregano. The intracellular invasion of sporozoites was evaluated by the detection of E. tenella DNA by qPCR from cell monolayers harvested at 2 and 24 h post-infection. Parasite invasion was inhibited by the addition of oregano essential oil at the concentration of 100 μg/mL by 83% or 93% after 2 or 24 h, respectively, and was higher compared to the addition of thyme and sage, which had similar effects, but at a less intensive level. The cytotoxic assessment of all three essential oils revealed that they had no effect on MDBK cells compared to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), used as the control substance. The supplementation of oregano, thyme, and sage essential oils had a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticoccidial in vitro effect that is comparable to synthetic substances or approved drugs, justifying the need for further evaluation by in vivo studies in broilers reared in the absence of antimicrobial and anticoccidial drugs or synthetic antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory compounds.

Effect of Dietary Anthocyanin-Extracted Residue on Meat Oxidation and Fatty Acid Profile of Male Dairy Cattle

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of anthocyanin-extracted residue (AER) in the diet of cattle on meat oxidation during storage and on the fatty acid profiles of the meat. Sixteen male dairy cattle (average body weight 160 ± 10.6 kg) were allotted to feed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four levels of AER supplementation, 0, 20, 40, and 60 g/kg dry matter (DM) in the total mixed ration (TMR). These TMR diets were fed ad libitum to the cattle throughout the trial. At the end of the feeding trial (125 days), all cattle were slaughtered and meat samples from the Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were collected to assess meat oxidation and fatty acid profile. The antioxidant effect of AER on meat oxidation was investigated during 14 days of storage based on color, myoglobin redox forms, lipid, and protein oxidation. The results showed meat from cattle fed AER had better color stability, lower oxidation of lipid, protein and myoglobin than did meat from cattle fed the control diet (0 g/kg AER). Furthermore, fatty acid profiles were affected by AER supplementation with an increase in the concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These results support the inclusion of AER supplementation as a natural antioxidant in cattle to reduce meat oxidation and increase PUFA in meat.

In vitro Anticoccidial Study of Oregano and Garlic Essential Oils and Effects on Growth Performance, Fecal Oocyst Output, and Intestinal Microbiota in vivo

This study investigated the in vitro effects of Greek oregano and garlic essential oils on inhibition of Eimeria parasites and their in vivo effects on production performance, intestinal bacteria counts, and oocyst output. An inhibition assay was performed in vitro using Eimeria tenella Wisconsin strain sporozoites and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. Intracellular sporozoite invasion was quantified by detection of E. tenella DNA using qPCR from cell monolayers harvested at 2 and 24 h post-infection. Parasite invasion was inhibited by the oregano essential oil at the concentration of 100 μg/ml by 83 or 93% after 2 or 24 h, respectively. Garlic essential oil reached a maximum inhibition of 70% after 24 h with the 50 μg/ml concentration. Normal morphology was observed in MDBK cells exposed to concentrations of 100 μl/ml of garlic or oregano for over 24 h. In the in vivo trial, 180 male broiler chicks (45.3 ± 0.7 g) were allocated into two treatments (6 pens of 15 chicks per treatment). Control treatment was fed commercial diets without antibiotics or anticoccidials. The ORE-GAR treatment was fed the same control diets, further supplemented with a premix (1 g/kg feed) containing the oregano (50 g/kg premix) and garlic (5 g/kg premix) essential oils. At day 37, all birds were slaughtered under commercial conditions, and intestinal samples were collected. ORE-GAR treatment had improved final body weight (1833.9 vs. 1.685.9 g; p < 0.01), improved feed conversion ratio (1.489 vs. 1.569; p < 0.01), and reduced fecal oocyst excretion (day 28: 3.672 vs. 3.989 log oocysts/g, p < 0.01; day 37: 3.475 vs. 4.007 log oocysts/g, p < 0.001). In the caecal digesta, ORE-GAR treatment had lower total anaerobe counts (8.216 vs. 8.824 CFU/g; p < 0.01), whereas in the jejunum digesta the ORE-GAR treatment had higher counts of E. coli (5.030 vs. 3.530 CFU/g; p = 0.01) and Enterobacteriaceae (5.341 vs. 3.829 CFU/g; p < 0.01), and lower counts of Clostridium perfringens (2.555 vs. 2.882 CFU/g; p < 0.01). In conclusion, the combined supplementation of oregano and garlic essential oils had a potent anticoccidial effect in vitro and a growth-promoting effect in broilers reared in the absence of anticoccidial drugs.