Effects of Dietary and Supplementation on the Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation, Immunity, and Ileal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens Challenged by Coccidia and .

This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary and supplementation on the intestinal stem cell proliferation, immunity, and ileal microbiota of broiler chickens challenged by coccidia and . A total of 336 one-day-old Ross 308 chickens were randomly assigned into four groups. Chickens in the control (CTR) group were fed basal diet, and chickens in the three challenged groups were fed basal diets supplemented with nothing (CCP group), 1.0 × 10 CFU/kg (LF_CCP group), and 1.0 × 10 CFU/kg (LP_CCP group), respectively. All challenged birds were infected with coccildia on day 9 and during days 13-18. The serum and intestinal samples were collected on days 13 and 19. The results showed that significantly increased jejunal gene expression of (one of the intestinal stem cell marker genes) on day 13. Additionally, significantly up-regulated mRNA levels of and and tended to increase mRNA expression in jejunum on day 19. In the cecal tonsil, both and decreased mRNA expression of on day 13, and down-regulated , , and gene expressions on day 19. Ileal microbiological analysis showed that coccidial infection increased the -, , and abundance and decreased richness on day 13, which were reversed by intervention. Moreover, increased ileal richness on day 19. In conclusion, alleviated the impairment of intestinal stem cell proliferation and immunity in coccidia- and -challenged birds via modulating JAK/STAT signaling and reshaping intestinal microflora.