Zahra Alimohammadi; Hassan Shirzadi; Kamran Taherpour; Ali Khatibjoo
Volume 26, Issue 1 , March 2024, , Pages 73-86
Abstract
Introduction: With the increase of the population in the last century, the need for protein sources, especially protein with animal origin, has increased. One of the important and inexpensive sources of animal proteins is poultry products. However, many food-borne diseases that are among the most obvious ...
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Introduction: With the increase of the population in the last century, the need for protein sources, especially protein with animal origin, has increased. One of the important and inexpensive sources of animal proteins is poultry products. However, many food-borne diseases that are among the most obvious problems related to human health are transmitted to humans through poultry products. Generally, poultry are sensitive to pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the main causes of bacterial enteritis in humans and account for about 90% and less than 10% of deaths in people with campylobacteriosis, respectively. Poultry farmers use antibiotic growth promoters to prevent the colonization of pathogenic bacteria, but their use has been banned in European Union since 2006 due to antibiotic resistance. However, in order to prevent the reduction of growth performance and mortality caused by the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to introduce suitable alternatives. The antimicrobial potential of several medicinal plants, some plant-derived bioactive compoundsas well as some organic acids against a suspension of two Campylobacter serotypes (including 8 strains of C. jejuni and 3 strains of C. coli) has been investigated, under in vitro study. It has been revealed that oregano, rosemary, and cinnamon have a higher potential in reducing campylobacter colonization, among other phytobiotic compounds. Considering that under in vivo conditions, no research has been conducted on these medicinal plants with broiler chickens exposed to Campylobacter colonization. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the growth performance, excreta microbiota, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens challenged with C. jejuni and evaluating the potential of oregano, rosemary, and cinnamon in reducing the negative effects of this pathogen.
Material and Methods: A total of 192 one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to 6 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates of 8 birds. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1-negative control (NC; basal diet without additive and without of C. jejuni); 2-positive control (PC; basal diet without additives but challenged with C. jejuni); 3-basal diet + Erythromycin (55 mg/kg); 4-basal diet + oregano powder (3 g/kg); 5- basal diet + rosemary powder (3 g/kg) and 6-basal diet+cinnamon powder (3 g/kg). All chickens were orally gavaged once a day with a suspension of C. jejuni live culture (2×108 cfu/mL, 1 mL/bird) on days 21 to 25, with the exception of those fed the NC. Throughout the experimental period, the birds were fed ad libitum and had free access to water.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the C. jejuni, while weakening performance during the growth period, caused an increase in campylobacter colonization and a decrease in lactobacilli counts of the excreta (P<0.05). The reason for the improvement of the microflora can be due to the presence of antibacterial compounds such as thymol, carvacrol, verbenone, and cinnamaldehyde in the composition of the mentioned medicinal plants. Campylobacter jejuni also decreased the digestibility of organic matter and led to a decrease in villous height, villous height to crypt depth ratio, and villi surface area in the jejunum (P<0.05). The reason for the improvement of the intestinal morphology by herbal additives can be due to the improvement of the microflora of the digestive tract. All the negative effects arising from C. jejuni were alleviated by dietary treatments containing feed additives (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that oregano and rosemary have the potential to reduce the pathogenic effects of Campylobacter jejuni and can be used as suitable alternatives to antibiotics in feeding broilers.
zahra nooreh; Kamran Taherpour; Mohammad Akbari Gharaei; Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Ali Ghasemi
Volume 22, Issue 4 , December 2020, , Pages 645-657
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hydro alcoholic extract of Ferulago angulata, antibiotic, probiotic, and vitamin-selenium mixture on growth performance and immune responses of broiler chickens under heat-stress conditions. A total of 350 day-old male broiler chickens (Ross ...
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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hydro alcoholic extract of Ferulago angulata, antibiotic, probiotic, and vitamin-selenium mixture on growth performance and immune responses of broiler chickens under heat-stress conditions. A total of 350 day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with 7 dietary treatments and 5 replicates (10 chicks/replicate). Experimental treatments were as follow: no heat stress, without any additive in the diet (negative control; NC); challenged with heat stress, without any additive in the diet (positive control; PC); PC + antibiotic; PC + probiotic; PC + vitamin and selenium mixture; and PC + 200 or 400 mg/kg of Ferulago angulata extract. The results showed that all dietary supplements decreased the negative effects of heat stress on growth performance (P<0.05). All experimental diets(except diet containing antibiotic ) increased the lymphocyte counts, but decreased hetrophil counts and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio compared with the PC group (P<0.05). Secondary total titer and IgG titer against SRBC were higher in broilers receiving dietary supplements under heat stress conditions (P<0.05). The 400 mg/kg of Ferulago angulata extract increased the cell-mediated immune response after an intradermal injection with phytohaemagglutinin-P in the toe web (P<0.05). According to the results of this experiment, the use of 400 mg/kg of Ferulago angulata extract in broiler diets improves growth performance and immune response under heat stress conditions, and can be used as a suitable alternative to antibiotics and common supplements under the heat stress conditions.
Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Nasermanesh; Ali Khatibjoo; Kamran Taherpour; Mohammadi Akbari Gharaei
Volume 21, Issue 1 , April 2019, , Pages 151-163
Abstract
The effect of sweet wormwood essence (SWE) and Lactobacillus acidophilus on performance, ileal microbiology, ileal morphology and ileal nutrient digestibility of laying Japanese quails was investigated in 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail that were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely ...
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The effect of sweet wormwood essence (SWE) and Lactobacillus acidophilus on performance, ileal microbiology, ileal morphology and ileal nutrient digestibility of laying Japanese quails was investigated in 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail that were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely random design with 4 replicates and 9 birds per each. The experimental diets were as follows: basal diet as control group (without additive), basal diet plus Oxytetracycline (200mg/kg), basal diet plus SWE (250mg/kg), and basal diet plus lactobacillus acidophilus (4 cfu per kg diet). Results showed that the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus increased the egg mass per hen-housed compared to control and SWE treatments (P<0.05). The number of lactobacilli in the ileal digest was also significantly increased by Lactobacillus acidophilus and SWE treatments, when compared with control treatment (P<0.05). In addition, birds fed with diets containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Oxytetracycline showed a significant increase in villous height and villous height:crypt depth, when compared with those on the control diet (P<0.05). It can be concluded that the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus as an alternative to antibiotics is more appropriate than SWE.
Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Nasermanesh; Ali Khatibjoo; Kamran Taherpour; Mohammadi Akbari Gharaei
Volume 20, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 613-623
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Artemisia annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on egg and carcass quality of laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized ...
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The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Artemisia annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on egg and carcass quality of laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old female Japanese quail were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with five replicates and nine birds per each. The experimental diets were: 1) basal diet as control group (without additive), 2) basal diet plus oxytetracycline (200 mg/kg), 3) basal diet plus AAEO (250 mg/kg) and 4) basal diet plus probiotic (4 CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus per kg diet). Results showed that the use of probiotic caused to an increase in the cumulative egg weight and daily egg mass, when compared with control and AAEO treatments (P<0.05). In comparison to control group, supplementing the basal diet with AAEO resulted in decreases on MDA level of egg yolk (P<0.05) and liver weight (P=0.06). In addition, the F3 and F2 follicles weights were increased when the basal diet supplemented with each of the feed additives (P <0.05). It can be concluded that, Lactobacillus acidophilus can be used as an alternative to antibiotics for increasing the egg production, and AAEO can be used to produce healthy products in feeding laying Japanese quails.
Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Nasermanesh; Ali Khatibjoo; Kamran Taherpour; Mohammadi Akbari Gharaei
Volume 20, Issue 3 , November 2018, , Pages 451-462
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of Artemisia Annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (lactobacillus acidophilus) as an alternative to antibiotic in feeding laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old laying Japanese quails were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments ...
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The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of Artemisia Annua L. essential oil (AAEO) and probiotic (lactobacillus acidophilus) as an alternative to antibiotic in feeding laying Japanese quails. A total of 180 46-d-old laying Japanese quails were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates of 9 birds, and the experiment lasted up to 109 days of age. The experimental diets were: 1–basal diet as control group (without additive), 2–basal diet plus oxytetracycline (200 ppm), 3–basal diet plus AAEO (250 ppm) and 4– basal diet plus probiotic (4 CFU per kg diet). Results showed that the use of probiotic caused an increase in the egg mass, when compared with control and AAEOtreatments at entire period (P<0.05). The groups fed probiotic and AAEO showed a significant decrease in the serum glucose, cholesterol and LDL levels when compared with those fed antibiotic (P<0.05). Moreover, the group fed AAEO had low lymphocyte and high heterophil counts when compared with those fed diet supplemented with probiotic and antibiotic (P<0.05). In addition, the number of white blood cells and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio in AAEO group were higher than other groups (P<0.05). It can be concluded that lactobacillus acidophilus could be used as a growth promoter in feeding laying Japanese quails.