Effects of copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on growth and immunity in broilers

Abstract

Effects of dietary copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticle (CNP-Cu) supplementation on growth performance, hematological and immunological characteristics, and the cecal microbiota in broilers were investigated. Three hundred healthy Avian × Avian (1-d-old) broilers were randomly assigned into 5 dietary groups (20 birds per replicate with 3 replicates per group). Birds were fed with 0 (the control group), 50, 100, 150 mg/kg of CNP-Cu and 50 mg/kg chlorotetracycline (CTC, a positive control group) for 42 d. Results indicated that supplemental CNP-Cu could improve growth performance, affect the immune system, enhance protein synthesis, and be beneficial to cecal microbiota of Avian broilers, especially the dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg of CNP-Cu. Supplementation with 100 mg/kg of CNP-Cu increased the average daily gain(P < 0.05) and the contents of IgA (P < 0.01), IgG (P < 0.01), IgM (P < 0.01), complement C3 (P < 0.05), and complement C4 (P < 0.05). Thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricus indexes and the populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in cecal digesta were increased (P < 0.05) by 100 mg/kg of CNP-Cu supplementation, and the population of coliforms was decreased (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg of CNP-Cu increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of serum total protein and albumin, and decreased (P < 0.05) the content of urea nitrogen in serum. Effects of dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg of CNP-Cu were similar to 50 mg/kg of CTC supplementation. These results may indicate that CNP-Cu could be a new substitute for CTC in dietary supplementation.

The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood

“…This is consistent with results reported by Wang et al . (), who found that administration of nano‐Cu to chickens with chitosan in the amounts of 50, 100, 150 mg/kg of feed caused an increase in the level of IgA, IgM and IgG as well as complements C3 and C4 in the blood. Another experiment (Pineda et al .…”

Extensive Literature Search on the ‘Effects of Copper intake levels in the gut microbiota profile of target animals, in particular piglets’

“…Both copper sources significantly reduce the incidences of diarrhoea compared to the control fed pigs. In study P116(Wang et al, 2011), significantly lower diarrhea incidence was observed in piglets fed a diet supplemented with 1.5 mg/kg Cu as Cu-Chitosan nanoparticles compared to the control fed piglets. However, although numerical lower, the incidence of diarrhoea was not significantly lower than in piglets fed copper free Chitosan nanoparticles.…”

Nano-Copper as a New Growth Promoter in the Diet of Growing New Zealand White Rabbits

“…Also, Lien (2009) found that the bioavailability of copper improved in pigs fed diets supplemented with 50 mg Nano-Cu/kg diet. In broilers, Wang et al (2011) showed that supplementation of Nano-Cu at level of 50 or 100 mg/kg diet improves growth performance, strengthen the immune system, enhance protein synthesis and activates the cecal microbiota. Studies so far have indicated that the application of nano minerals in animal production and immunity is promising.…”