Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
BMC Vet Res. 2024 Mar 22;20(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03960-w.
The present study evaluated the effect of two categories of feed additives on chicken performance through immunological and intestinal histo-morphometric measurements. A total of 150 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I received a non-supplemented basal diet. While groups II and III were treated with a basal diet supplemented with oregano essential oil (OEO) and Bacillus subtilis, respectively, in water for 28 days. Blood samples were taken at 6, 18 and 28 days for hematological analysis, phagocytosis, lymphocyte proliferation and measuring antibody responses. Additionally, growth performance indices were recorded weekly. The results showed that groups supplemented with OEO and B. subtilis improved growth performance expressed by a significant increase in weight gain (P < 0.05), with a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in feed conversion ratio (FCR). Hematological findings indicated a significant increase in blood parameters as well as a significant increase in phagocytic % & phagocytic index at all time points with a greater probiotic effect. On the other hand, OEO produced a significant increase in lymphocyte proliferation at 18 & 28 days. Humoral immunity revealed a significant increase in serum antibody titer phytobiotic & probiotic-fed groups at time points of 18 & 28 days with a superior phytobiotic effect. The histological examination showed a significant increase in villi length, villi width, crypt depth & V/C ratio. In conclusion, these results indicated positive effects of B. subtilis & OEO on both growth and immunity and could be considered effective alternatives to the antibiotic.
本研究通过免疫和肠道组织形态计量学测量评估了两类饲料添加剂对鸡生产性能的影响。将 150 只 1 日龄雄性肉鸡（科布）随机分为 3 组。第 1 组接受未补充基础日粮。第 2 组和第 3 组分别在基础日粮中添加牛至精油（OEO）和枯草芽孢杆菌，并在水中连续添加 28 天。分别在第 6、18 和 28 天采血进行血液学分析、吞噬作用、淋巴细胞增殖和抗体反应测量。此外，每周记录生长性能指标。结果表明，补充 OEO 和 B. subtilis 的组在增重方面表现出更好的生长性能（P < 0.05），饲料转化率（FCR）显著降低（P < 0.05）。血液学发现血液参数显著增加，吞噬作用百分比和吞噬作用指数在所有时间点均显著增加，且益生菌效果更大。另一方面，OEO 在第 18 和 28 天导致淋巴细胞增殖显著增加。体液免疫显示，在第 18 和 28 天，植物性和益生菌喂养组的血清抗体滴度显著增加，植物性效果更好。组织学检查显示，绒毛长度、绒毛宽度、隐窝深度和 V/C 比均显著增加。总之，这些结果表明 B. subtilis 和 OEO 对生长和免疫均有积极影响，可以被认为是抗生素的有效替代品。
