Influence of GT001 on Performance, Meat Quality, Immune Function, Antioxidant and Cecum Microbial in Broiler Chickens Challenged by .

This study evaluated the effects of GT001 on ()-challenged broiler chickens. Two hundred Ross 708 broiler day-old chicks with comparable weight were distributed at random into four treatments with five replicates and ten chicks per replicate. The following were the treatment groups: (B) basal diet (control); (B + S) basal diet and birds were challenged with at 1.0 × 10 cfu/g; (B + P) basal diet + GT001 at 4.0 × 10 cfu/g; (B + P + S) basal diet + GT001 at 4.0 × 10 cfu/g and birds were challenged with at 1.0 × 10 cfu/g. There was a significant reduction ( < 0.05) in the body weight of the -infected birds compared to the other treatment groups. However, the FCRs of the broilers were comparable among the different treatment groups ( > 0.05). The lipid profile and liver function indices measured were significantly enhanced in the GT001-supplemented groups (B + P and B + P + S) compared to the group that was -challenged ( < 0.05) but were similar to those in the control group. The serum antioxidant activities, such as the T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GHS-Px and MDA, were significantly improved in the GT001-supplemented groups (B + P and B + P + S) ( < 0.05). The MDA was similar in the B + P and B + P + S groups, but both were significantly lower than the control and the groups. The administration of GT001 enhanced the lipase and amylase levels in both the serum and intestine of the broilers ( < 0.05). The immunoglobin (IgA, IgG, IgM) and cytokine (IL-10 and IL-6) levels in the serum were significantly higher in the B, B + P and B + P + S treatment groups ( < 0.05). The immune-related organs (bursa and spleen) were significantly influenced in the birds fed with GT001. No significant variation was noted among all the dietary treatments in terms of the measured meat quality indices. The small intestinal digesta content of the load was below a detectable range after 14 days of infection ( < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the different treatment groups in terms of the breast pH, drip loss and meat color ( > 0.05). The inclusion of GT001 also modified the community structure in the cecum. This indicates that it has health benefits and could be incorporated in the broiler diet.