Dietary Chitooligosaccharide Inclusion as an Alternative to Antibiotics Improves Intestinal Morphology, Barrier Function, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Broilers at Early Age

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) inclusion as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers. In total, 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 3 groups and fed a basal diet free from antibiotics (control group) or the same basal diet further supplemented with either chlortetracycline (antibiotic group) or COS, for 21 days. Compared with the control group, inclusion of COS reduced the feed to gain ratio, the jejunal crypt depth, the plasma diamine oxidase activity, and the endotoxin concentration, as well as jejunal and ileal malondialdehyde contents, whereas increased duodenal villus height, duodenal and jejunal ratio of villus height to crypt depth, intestinal immunoglobulin G, and jejunal immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents were observed, with the values of these parameters being similar or better to that of the antibiotic group. Additionally, supplementation with COS enhanced the superoxide dismutase activity and IgM content of the duodenum and up-regulated the mRNA level of claudin three in the jejunum and ileum, when compared with the control and antibiotic groups. In conclusion, dietary COS inclusion (30 mg/kg), as an alternative to antibiotics, exerts beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers.

Chitosan oligosaccharide as an effective feed additive to maintain growth performance, meat quality, muscle glycolytic metabolism, and oxidative status in yellow-feather broilers under heat stress

“…(2009) reported dietary COS supplementation improved BW gain of broilers. Li et al. (2019) reported dietary COS supplementation increased G:F, accompanied with increasing intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity and immunity.…”

“…Similarly, in this study, we observed that heat stress increased muscle MDA content and decreased SOD and GSH-Px activity, which indicated a decreased muscle antioxidant capacity, alone with increased lipid peroxidation. Li et al. (2019) reported that dietary COS supplementation increased SOD activity in the duodenum and decreased MDA content in the jejunum of broilers.…”

“…In recent years, numerous nutritional strategies have been used to alleviate the detrimental effects of heat stress on animals, and dietary supplementation with functional oligosaccharides attracted increasing attention ( Cheng et al., 2019 ; Tavaniello et al., 2020 ). Chitosan oligosaccharides ( COS ), a functional oligosaccharide, are a natural alkaline polymer of glucosamine and obtained by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan ( Zou et al., 2016 ) and considered as an antibiotic alternative in animal production ( Zhou et al., 2009 ; Li et al., 2019 ). Previous studies reported that dietary COS supplementation could improve growth performance ( Li et al., 2007 ; Zhou et al., 2009 ), antioxidant capacity ( Li et al., 2017 ), intestinal morphology and barrier function, and immunity ( Li et al., 2019 ) of broilers under normal condition.…”

“…Chitosan oligosaccharides ( COS ), a functional oligosaccharide, are a natural alkaline polymer of glucosamine and obtained by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan ( Zou et al., 2016 ) and considered as an antibiotic alternative in animal production ( Zhou et al., 2009 ; Li et al., 2019 ). Previous studies reported that dietary COS supplementation could improve growth performance ( Li et al., 2007 ; Zhou et al., 2009 ), antioxidant capacity ( Li et al., 2017 ), intestinal morphology and barrier function, and immunity ( Li et al., 2019 ) of broilers under normal condition. Moreover, it also reported that dietary chitosan or COS could improve growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune response of animals exposed to various stressors ( Qiao et al., 2011 ; Xu et al., 2018 ).…”

Selenide Chitosan Sulfate Improved The Hepatocyte Activity, Growth Performance, and Anti-Oxidation Ability by Activating The Thioredoxin Reductase of Chickens In Vitro and In Vivo

“…Chemical modification of COS can improve its solubility, enhance its biological effects and hold a lower toxicity [15]. COS was widely used in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, and animal husbandry [14,16]. [17].…”