Effect of Dietary Organic Selenium on Growth Performance, Gut Health, and Coccidiosis Response in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A total of 252 one-day-old Ross broilers were randomly allocated to one of six treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with respective Eimeria challenges (non-infection and infection) and three different selenium (Se) diets. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) Se un-supplemented control (CON), (2) inorganic Se treatment (SS; 0.3 mg/kg as sodium selenite), and (3) organic Se treatment (SY; 0.3 mg/kg as selenized yeast). Six replicate cages were allocated per treatment. Chickens in the respective Eimeria infection groups were infected with an E. acervulina, E. tenella, and E. maxima oocyst mixture (15,000 oocysts/chicken) on day 16. Growth performance was measured on days 16, 22, and 24. On day 22, intestinal samples were collected from randomly selected chickens to evaluate gut lesion scores, antioxidant enzymes, and tight junction gene expression. Blood, breast, and liver samples were collected to analyze the Se concentrations on day 24. Dietary SY supplementation improved (p < 0.05) the growth performance of the chickens regardless of the Eimeria challenge. Moreover, independent of Eimeria infection, Se supplementation elevated (p < 0.05) the heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) expression in jejunal mucosa at 6 days post-infection (dpi). Duodenal junctional adhesion molecule 2 (JAM-2) expression and jejunal occludin (OCLN) were elevated (p < 0.05) with dietary SY supplementation at 6 dpi. Among Se sources, broiler chickens fed with the SY diet showed higher (p < 0.05) Se concentrations in breast muscle and serum on 8 dpi. These results confirmed the beneficial effects of dietary Se and the efficiency of organic Se compared with inorganic Se for growth improvement and muscle Se enrichment in broiler chickens regardless of coccidiosis infection.

Assessing the effects of a mixed Eimeria spp. challenge on performance, intestinal integrity, and the gut microbiome of broiler chickens

“…In contrast to other studies that have evaluated the expression of other tight junctions ( 35 , 36 ), there were no significant differences in tight junction expression for junctional adhesion molecule A (JAMA), occludin (OCLN), lipcalin 2 (LCN2), gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1), PALS1-associated tight junction protein (PATJ), and zonula occludens 1–3 (ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3) in chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima , Eimeria acervulina , and Eimeria tenella compared with the non-challenged chickens in the current study. Tight junction proteins such as JAMA, OCLN, and ZO1 play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and function of epithelial cell barriers, including those found in the intestines of chickens.…”

Efficacy of Dietary Supplementation with Zinc-Chromium Mixture, Organic Selenium, or Their Combinations on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Profiles of Broilers under Heat Stress Conditions

“…In either inorganic or organic form, selenium has been added to broiler meals to satisfy the needs of the birds [13]. Selenium is a crucial trace element for poultry rearing at high temperatures by participating in several biochemical pathways and physiological functions as a vital part of a range of important selenoproteins that are related to body metabolism, cellular homeostasis, and antioxidant defense [14,15]. Naturally, Se can be present in two main chemical forms: (1) organic form found in tissues of animals and natural plants that are typically selenocysteine (SeCys), selenomethionine (SeMet), and Se-enriched yeast (SY); and (2) inorganic form including selenate, selenite, and selenide [16].…”