Dietary supplementation with vitamin C ameliorates the adverse effects of Salmonella Enteritidis-challenge in broilers by shaping intestinal microbiota

Abstract

Salmonella Enteritidis ( SE ) infection is not only a leading cause of poor production performance and compromised animal welfare in broilers but also a potential threat to public health. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplemental vitamin C ( VC ) on SE challenged-broilers. In experiment 1, one hundred eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acre broilers were randomly allocated into 3 treatments, with 0, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg VC included in the diet. In experiment 2, dietary VC at 0 or 500 mg/kg, with or without SE challenge was applied in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in 6 randomized complete blocks. In experiment 1, addition with 500 mg/kg VC increased BW and infectious bursal disease ( IBD ) titer of broilers on 35 D ( P < 0.05), whereas 1,000 mg/kg VC had no effects on the IBD titer ( P > 0.05) compared with the control group. In experiment 2, SE challenge depressed BW on 11 and 21 D ( P < 0.05 and P = 0.088, respectively), whereas increased mortality and hepatic bacterial translocation ( P < 0.05) on 21 D. Further, SE challenge resulted in lower villus height in jejunum, lower microbial richness, and diversity, whereas higher abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in cecum ( P < 0.05). Importantly, supplementation with VC increased BW on both 21 and 35 D ( P < 0.05 and P = 0.088, respectively) and enhanced the intestinal health by improving villus morphology and microbial structure as indicated by higher cecal microbial richness and Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, while lower abundance of Enterobacteriaceae ( P < 0.05). In addition, birds fed with 500 mg/kg VC in the diet had significantly increased jejunal secretory immunoglobulin A levels, T lymphocytes stimulation index, and serum total antioxidant capability compared with groups without VC ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, SE challenge induced lower production performance and higher mortality in broilers. However, dietary supplementation with VC ameliorated SE-caused damage in broilers by improving the intestinal health, partly mediated by shaping the structure of cecal microbiota.

Vitamin K alleviates bone calcium loss caused by Salmonella Enteritidis through carboxylation of osteocalcin

“…There are no reports so far on the effect of supplemental VK on performance of laying hens challenged with SE, but similar to our findings in non-challenged birds [18] did not observe any effect of 10 mg/kg VK addition to the diet of LSL White Leghorn laying hens on birds' egg production. If birds were challenged with SE, however, a higher mortality rate was obtained in the present study which is in agreement with observations in Arbor Acre broilers [5].…”

“…Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis ( Salmonella Enteritidis), a Gram-negative bacterium, is the prevalent egg-product-related foodborne pathogen [ 3 ]. Infections with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) are known to affect the health conditions of chickens [ 4 , 5 ] resulting in the loss of homeostasis which, in turn, will reduce chickens’ production performance.…”

In ovo threonine supplementation affects ileal gene expression of nutrient transporters in broilers inoculated post‐hatch with Salmonella Enteritidis

“…The inoculation of Eimeria spp decreased the expression of PepT1 in the jejunum of broilers (Khatlab et al, 2019). Gan et al (2020) reported decreased villus height in the jejunum after Salmonella Enteritidis challenge. Fasina et al (2010) reported decreased villus surface area in the jejunum of broiler chicks infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.…”

The Role of Nutraceuticals and Phytonutrients in Chickens’ Gastrointestinal Diseases

“…Vitamin C can alleviate the effects of multiple stressors in animals and, alone or with other compounds such as curcumin, allows a reduction in Salmonella spp. count [ 89 , 90 , 91 ] and an improvement of the intestinal health [ 92 ]. Feed supplementation with vitamin E results in reduction in oxidative and immune stress that occurs during the infection [ 93 ] and its combination with arginine increases resistance against bacterial colonization, although there is no reduction in the concentration of S. Typhimurium in ceca [ 94 ].…”