Monoglyceride Blend Reduces Mortality, Improves Nutrient Digestibility, and Intestinal Health in Broilers Subjected to Clinical Necrotic Enteritis Challenge

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of monoglyceride blend (MG) and buffered formic acid (FA) as alternatives to antibiotics in the performance and intestinal health of broilers under clinical necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge. A total of 544 as-hatched Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 32-floor pens housing 17 birds per pen. The four treatments were: NC—non-additive control; ZBS—antibiotic group supplemented with zinc bacitracin and salinomycin; MG—additive MG supplementation in the starter phase only; and MGFA—additive MG in starter phase and FA in grower and finisher phases. All birds were challenged with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens. Results showed that the NC group had lower BWG and higher FCR than the ZBS group in the grower and overall period (p < 0.05). The NC group had higher NE-caused mortality (days 14 to 17) than the ZBS group (p < 0.05). Birds fed MG had lower NE-caused mortality than the NC group (p < 0.05). Birds fed MG had upregulated jejunal tight junction protein1 (TJP1) and immunoglobulin (IgG) on day 16 and improved gross energy digestibility on day 24 than the NC group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that supplementation of MG may improve intestinal health and protect birds from clinical NE occurrence.

A Microencapsulated Mixture of Eugenol and Garlic Tincture Supplementation Mitigates the Effect of Necrotic Enteritis on Intestinal Integrity and Increases Goblet Cells in Broilers

“…Furthermore, birds fed PE and AM had downregulated CLDN5 gene compared to the CC group in male birds but the expression of CLDN5 gene was not different between birds fed PE and AM. These results were consistent with previous findings in broilers where birds fed antimicrobials had downregulated CLDN5 gene compared to the birds fed without additives under sub-clinical NE [ 11 ] and clinical NE challenged conditions [ 43 ]. These results indicate the similar effects of PE supplementation to AM implying its positive role in protecting the intestinal barrier of birds from pathogenic bacterial infection.…”

Antimicrobial monoglycerides for swine and poultry applications

“…In another study with a similar Eimeria spp. and C. perfringens challenge model, feeding broilers the monoglyceride blend only in the starter phase (0 to 10 days of age), at a rate of 0.5% of the diet, significantly reduced NErelated mortality compared to broilers that were not fed the monoglyceride blend (Kumar et al, 2021). In addition, feeding the monoglyceride blend to broilers in the starter phase increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of jejunal genes related to tight junction protein (TJP1) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), which are important proteins that support gut integrity and immune health, respectively.…”

“…As described in the previous example, the cecal levels of C. perfringens in the treated group were not reduced compared to the control group, suggesting that the monoglyceride blend mainly exerted positive health effects by supporting immune functions, such as increased expression of jejunal tight junction and immunoglobulin genes associated with gut barrier functions, that may have counteracted the initial Eimeria spp. challenge prior to C. perfringens challenge (Kumar et al, 2021).…”

Short and Medium Chain Fatty Acids and Their Derivatives as a Natural Strategy in the Control of Necrotic Enteritis and Microbial Homeostasis in Broiler Chickens

“…Higher doses (0.2%) of monoglyceride MCFA supplementation appear to be beneficial in grower phase (d 10–24) and low doses (0.075%) improved the performance in the finisher phase (d 24–35) ( 96 ). In another study, a blend of Monoglyceride of MCFA (Butyric, Caprylic, and Capric acids) and buffered Formic acid, used at 0.03 to 0.05% inclusion rate in the diet, showed the potential to improve intestinal health and reduce the mortality caused by NE induced by inoculation of a blend of field isolated Eimerias ( E.acervulina, E.maxima and E.brunetti ) followed by a CP challenge ( 97 ).…”