Dietary Eugenol Nanoemulsion Potentiated Performance of Broiler Chickens: Orchestration of Digestive Enzymes, Intestinal Barrier Functions and Cytokines Related Gene Expression With a Consequence of Attenuating the Severity of E. coli O78 Infection

Abstract

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.

Impacts of Fortifying Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Diet with Different Strains of Microalgae on Its Performance, Fillet Quality and Disease Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila Considering the Interplay between Antioxidant and Inflammatory Response

“…In accordance, dietary feeding on Schizochytrium species for Nile tilapia [ 11 ] and Nannochloropsis species for European sea bass [ 64 ] improved their growth rates to certain limits, while feeding of Nile tilapia in our study on a combination of selected microalgae enhanced the growth performance parameters of Nile tilapia more prominently, especially with increasing their inclusion levels (up to 3%). Besides, more efficient digestion due to higher digestive enzymes’ activities was detected in groups exhibiting improved growth-related parameters and those fed higher levels of microalgae mixtures, which came in the same line with the findings stated previously [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. These positive outcomes in allover growth performance parameters could be attributed to the high contents of microalgae DHA and EPA fatty acids those are linked with the improved health condition of fish, especially those reared under intensive farming conditions [ 70 ].…”

Exploring the Interactive Effects of Thymol and Thymoquinone: Moving towards an Enhanced Performance, Gross Margin, Immunity and Aeromonas sobria Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…In line with the improved growth performance in Thy and ThQ mixture group, the expression levels of digestive enzymes (pepsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, α-amylase and lipase) encoding genes were also provoked. Digestive enzymes synthesis can be modified by genes, hormones and nutritional aids [ 67 ] and their higher expression levels reflect the important function of specific dietary feed additives or even their adaptations by animals [ 69 , 70 ]. Herein, the upregulated expression of pepsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, α-amylase and lipase genes after feeding on Thy and ThQ mixture indicated their promising roles in enhancing the formation of such digestive enzymes, which in turn have a positive influence on the digestive process and feed utilization.…”

Nigella sativa Extract Potentially Inhibited Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Induced Infection in Rabbits: Potential Immunomodulatory and Growth Promoting Properties

“…Weaning is the most critical issue during rabbits’ life as it greatly affects their health and growth performance throughout the fattening period. For many years, antibiotics and other chemotherapeutic agents used to control several bacterial diseases associated with weaning period accelerate the evolution of antimicrobial resistance [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) is one of the most serious bacterial pathogens facing rabbits under stressful conditions and causing life-threatening infections in both animals and humans.…”