The effects of a galactoglucomannan oligosaccharide-arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) complex in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria acervulina.

Abstract

Fermentable carbohydrates may enhance the ability of the gastrointestinal tract to defend against pathogenic infection. We hypothesized that a mannose-rich, galactoglucomannan oligosaccharide-arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) complex would positively impact immune status and prevent weight loss resulting from acute coccidiosis (Eimeria acervulina) infection of chicks. Using a completely randomized design, 1-d-old commercial broiler chicks (n = 160; 4 replications/treatment; 5 chicks/replication) were assigned to one of 4 corn-soybean meal-based diets containing supplemental GGMO-AX (0, 1, 2, or 4%) that replaced dietary cellulose. On d 9 posthatch, an equal number of chicks on each diet were inoculated with either distilled water (sham control) or E. acervulina (1 × 10(6) oocysts). All birds were euthanized on d 7 postinoculation (PI) for collection of cecal contents and duodenal tissue. Overall, BW gain of chicks was not affected by diet PI, whereas infection decreased (P < 0.01) weight gain on d 0 to 7 PI. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but infection decreased (P < 0.01) feed intake on d 0 to 7 PI. Overall, infection, but not diet, decreased (P < 0.01) G:F on d 0 to 7 PI. Cecal propionate concentrations were independently affected by infection and diet, while butyrate concentrations were affected only by infection (P = 0.02). Cecal Bifidobacterium spp. populations were affected (P < 0.01) by diet, with the 2% GGMO-AX resulting in the highest cfu/g of cecal contents (on a DM basis). Messenger RNA expression of all duodenal cytokines evaluated was affected by infection status (P ≤ 0.02) but not by dietary treatment alone. Supplementing 4% GGMO-AX consistently resulted in the greatest fold change in proinflammatory cytokine expression, while inhibiting antiinflammatory cytokine expression, which indicates a more robust innate immune response. Despite decreasing performance, 4% dietary GGMO-AX improved select fermentation indices and the innate intestinal immune response to an acute E. acervulina infection.

• Authors: T A Faber, R N Dilger, A C Hopkins, N P Price, G C Fahey Jr
• Journal: Poultry science (Poult Sci) Vol. 91 Issue 5 Pg. 1089-96 (May 2012) ISSN: 0032-5791 [Print] England
• PMID: 22499865 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Mannans
• RNA, Messenger
• Xylans
• galactoglucomannan
• arabinoxylan

Topics

• Animal Feed (analysis)
• Animals
• Bifidobacterium
• Chickens
• Coccidiosis (parasitology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Cytokines (genetics, metabolism)
• Diet (veterinary)
• Dietary Supplements
• Eimeria (classification)
• Fermentation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation (physiology)
• Lactobacillus
• Male
• Mannans (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Poultry Diseases (prevention & control)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Weight Gain (drug effects)
• Xylans (chemistry, pharmacology)