Search

Necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens ( C. perfringens ) is characterized by poor performance and higher mortality rates in poultry farms. Novel dietary intervention involving bioactive molecules loaded into smart magnetized nano-system with a potent antioxidant function (quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs), was evaluated for their impact on growth performance, intestinal immune and antioxidant defenses, and resistance against Clostridium perfringens in a necrotic enteritis challenge model. Four experimental groups comprising a total of 200 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were fed different diets: a control basal diet, a diet supplemented with quercetin (300 mg/kg), a diet with Fe 3 O 4 -NPs (60 mg/kg), and a diet with quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs (300 mg/kg). These groups were then challenged with C. perfringens during the grower period. Dietary inclusion of quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs prominently reduced C. perfringens colonization and its associated virulence genes expression, which subsequently restored the impaired growth performance and intestinal histopathological changes in challenged broilers. Quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs supplemented group displayed higher Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts, upregulation of intestinal host defense antimicrobial peptides related genes (avian β -defensin 6 and 12) and downregulation of intestinal inflammatory regulated genes (Interleukin-1 beta, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8, tumor necrosis factor- α , chemokine C-C motif ligand 20, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cycloox-ygenase-2). Intestinal redox balance was boosted via upregulation of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and heme Oxygenase 1 genes along with simultaneous decrease in hydrogen peroxide , reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde contents in groups fed quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs. Overall, new nutritional intervention with quercetin-loaded Fe 3 O 4 -NPs impacted better immune and antioxidant defenses, attenuated C. perfringens induced necrotic enteritis and contributed to better performance in the challenged birds., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Al-Nasser, El-Demerdash, Ibrahim, Abd El-Hamid, Al-Khalaifah, El-borady, Shukry, El-Azzouny, Ibrahim, Badr, Elshater, Ismail and El Sayed.)

Phytochemical nanoemulsions, such as thymoquinone nanoemulsions (TQN), are regarded as innovative alternatives to antimicrobials that significantly improve the performance, digestion, antioxidant potential and immunity of rabbits. Thus, the potential effects of TQN on growth, digestibility, antioxidant potential, immunity and resistance against Pasteurella multocida ( P. multocida ) in rabbits were assessed. Herein, 240 rabbits were offered either a basal diet or diets fortified with three TQN-graded concentrations. At 60 days of age, rabbits were challenged with multidrug-resistant (MDR) virulent P. multocida strain. Our outcomes described that dietary inclusion of TQN, especially at higher concentrations, significantly enhanced the growth performance of rabbits, which was supported by increasing the levels of jejunal lipase, amylase and trypsin enzymes. Of note, the levels of muscle and jejunal antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)], serum immunological markers (IgG, IgG, IgM and total Igs) and blood phagocytic percentage were significantly provoked after TQN fortification; meanwhile, the levels of muscle and jejunal MDA, serum biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, TG and LDL), abdominal fat percentage, breast and thigh cholesterol were significantly decreased following TQN supplementations. Our findings showed that TQN protected rabbits against P. multocida experimental challenge as evidenced by reducing P. multocida counts in rabbits' lungs, downregulating the transcription levels of P. multocida virulence-related genes ( ptfA, toxA and nanB ) at 48 and 96 h post-infection and ameliorating the expression levels of cytokines-related genes ( IL-1β , IL-10, IL-8, IL-6 , DEFB1 , TNF-α , TLR-4 and TLR-2 ) at 96 h post-infection. Our findings suggest the utilization of TQN in rabbits' diets due to their stimulating effects on digestibility as well as their growth-promoting, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-virulence and immunostimulant properties, which enhance the rabbits' P. multocida resistance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Abd El-Hamid, El-Azzouny, El-Malt, Elkenawy, Abdelwarith, Younis, Youssef, Dawod, Elged, Habaka, El Oksh, Mekawy, Davies and Ibrahim.)

Recently, the use of essential oils (EOs) or their bioactive compounds encapsulated by nanoparticles as alternative supplements for in-feed antimicrobials is gaining attention, especially in organic poultry production. Focusing on eugenol, its incorporation into the nanoformulation is a novel strategy to improve its stability and bioavailability and thus augment its growth-boosting and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, we explored eugenol nanoemulsion activities in modulating growth, digestive and gut barrier functions, immunity, cecal microbiota, and broilers response to avian pathogenic E. coli challenge (APEC) O78. A total of 1,000 one-day-old broiler chicks were allocated into five groups; negative control (NC, fed basal diet), positive control (PC), and 100, 250, and 400 mg/kg eugenol nanoemulsion supplemented groups. All groups except NC were challenged with APEC O78 at 14 days of age. The results showed that birds fed eugenol nanoemulsion displayed higher BWG, FI, and survivability and most improved FCR over the whole rearing period. Birds fed 400 mg/kg of eugenol nanoemulsion sustained a higher growth rate (24% vs. PC) after infection. Likely, the expression of digestive enzymes' genes ( AMY2A, CCK, CELA1 , and PNLIP ) was more prominently upregulated and unaffected by APEC O78 challenge in the group fed eugenol nanoemulsion at the level of 400 mg/kg. Enhanced gut barrier integrity was sustained post-challenge in the group supplemented with higher levels of eugenol nanoemulsion as evidenced by the overexpression of cathelicidins-2, β-defensin-1, MUC -2, JAM -2, occludin, CLDN -1, and FABP -2 genes. A distinct modulatory effect of dietary eugenol nanoemulsion was observed on cytokine genes (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL -6, IL -8, and IL -10) expression with a prominent reduction in the excessive inflammatory reactions post-challenge. Supplementing eugenol nanoemulsion increased the relative cecal abundance of Lactobacillus species and reduced Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteriods counts. Notably, a prominent reduction in APEC O78 loads with downregulation of papC, iroN, iutA , and iss virulence genes and detrimental modifications in E. coli morphological features were noticed in the 400 mg/kg eugenol nanoemulsion group at the 3rd-week post-challenge. Collectively, we recommend the use of eugenol nanoemulsion as a prospective targeted delivery approach for achieving maximum broilers growth and protection against APEC O78 infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ibrahim, Eldemery, Metwally, Abd-Allah, Mohamed, Ismail, Hamed, Al Sadik, Neamat-Allah and Abd El-Hamid.)