Effects of Dietary Doum Palm Fruit Powder on Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Response, and Disease Resistance of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (B.)

Application of herbal immune-stimulants for modulation of fish growth and immune response has received great interest during the past decades. With several pharmacological properties, Doum palm, Hyphaene thebaica (Mart.) is known to be a beneficial medicinal plant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the dietary addition of doum palm fruit powder (DPFP) on growth performance, non-specific immune response, and antioxidant parameters of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (B.). A total of 120 fish (average initial weight 60.50 ± 0.04 g) were randomly allocated to four groups (three replicates/group, 10 fish/aquarium); a basal diet without DPFP supplementation was used as a control, and three other diets were prepared by supplementing 5, 10, or 15 g kg−1 DPFP for a ten-week feeding period. Following ten weeks of feeding, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (as an immune challenge test), and mortalities were recorded. In comparison to the control diet, dietary DPFP significantly improved growth parameters, including final body weight, body weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER), along with an increase in the content of dry matter of the whole body, in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the heights of intestinal villi, numbers of goblet cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) exhibited marked escalation in all parts of the intestine by increasing the level of DPFP, except for numbers of IEL in the proximal part. The decline in serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels was prominent in DPFP10 and DPFP15 groups respective to the DPFP0 group. Furthermore, DPFP boosted the hepatic level of catalase (CAT) in the fish, in a dose-dependent manner; meanwhile, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were also augmented in DPFP10 and DPFP15 groups respective to the DPFP0 group. Dietary DPFP (DPFP15 followed by DPFP10 then DPFP5) led to a pronounced enhancement in the innate immune response (phagocytic percent and index, lysozyme activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, and sialoglycans, namely α 2,3-sialyltransferase and α 2,6-sialyltransferase content); however, the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was reduced. Significantly higher relative percentage survival (RPS, 88.56%) of the fish, following the A. hydrophila challenge, was observed for the DPFP15 group. We can suggest that DPFP can beneficially influence fish growth, intestinal histomorphology, hepatic levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content, immune response, and disease resistance against A. hydrophila challenge

Antioxidant Status, Blood Constituents and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens Fed Two Types of Diets with or without Different Concentrations of Active Yeast

Probiotics, such as active yeasts, are widely used to enhance poultry production and reduce feeding costs. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and immune responses of broilers to different concentrations of active Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) when supplemented to two types of diets. A total of 216 1-day-old Arbor Acres unsexed chicks were used in a factorial design, involving two feeds (regular- versus low-density diet) and three concentrations of SC (0%, 0.02% and 0.04%). The results revealed that the low-density diet reduced the body weight and production index of broilers. The addition of SC improved the production index more than the control diet. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and eosinophils were significantly higher in response to the regular-density diet than the low-density diet; however, phagocytic activity (PA), lymphocyte and lysozyme activity (LYS) were lower. Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduced ALT, AST, malondialdehyde (MAD) and TAC more than the standard set, but improved packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hgb), red blood cells (RBCs), lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, phagocytic index (PI) and the immune response to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian influenza (AI). In conclusion, supplementation of a regular- or low-density diet with SC at a concentration of 0.02% or 0.04% improved the antioxidant parameters, immune status and production index of broilers against stress and infectious agents

Black Pepper or Radish Seed Oils in a New Combination of Essential Oils Modulated Broiler Chickens’ Performance and Expression of Digestive Enzymes, Lipogenesis, Immunity, and Autophagy-Related Genes

Optimal combinations of essential oils (EOs) can enhance performance and maintain poultry productivity. The effects of EOs with black pepper oil (BPO) or radish seed oil (RSO) on performance and the expression of digestive enzymes, lipogenesis, immunity, and autophagy-related genes in broiler chickens were explored. Six dietary treatments for 300 one-day-old chicks were allocated as follows: controls were fed a basal diet, one group was fed an EO-supplemented diet (1.5 g/kg diet of parsley, mint, and carrot seed oils (1:1:1)), and other groups received Eos + BPO0.25, Eos + BPO0.5, Eos + RSO0.25, and Eos + RSO0.5 treatments, with a basal diet containing EOs plus BPO or RSO at the level of 0.25 or 0.5 g/kg, respectively. Supplementation with 0.5 g/kg of EOs plus BPO or RSO resulted in the most improved maximum BWG and FCR in broiler chickens. The lactobacilli population was increased in Eos + BPO0.5, followed by EOs + RSO0.5, unlike in the control. The highest expression of the CCK and PNLIP genes was identified in the Eos + BPO group. The FAS and ACC genes were upregulated, while the IgA and IL-10 genes were downregulated, with EOs plus RSO or BPO. The group that received Eos + BPO0.5, followed by Eos + RSO0.5, displayed patterns of higher expression for atg5, atg7, and atg12, with lower expression of mTOR. In summary, a new combination of EOs with 0.5 g/kg BPO had potential growth-promoting and immune-boosting effects in broiler chickens

Promising Role of Growth Hormone-Boosting Peptide in Regulating the Expression of Muscle-Specific Genes and Related MicroRNAs in Broiler Chickens

Appropriate skeletal muscle development in poultry is positively related to increasing its meat production. Synthetic peptides with growth hormone-boosting properties can intensify the effects of endogenous growth hormones. However, their effects on the mRNA and miRNA expression profiles that control muscle development post-hatching in broiler chicks is unclear. Thus, we evaluated the possible effects of synthetic growth hormone-boosting peptide (GHBP) inclusion on a chicken’s growth rate, skeletal muscle development-related genes and myomiRs, serum biochemical parameters, and myofiber characteristics. A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into four groups supplied with GHBP at the levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300 μg/kg for 7 days post-hatching. The results showed that the highest levels of serum IGF-1 and GH at d 20 and d 38 post-hatching were found in the 200 μg/kg GHBP group. Targeted gene expression analysis in skeletal muscle revealed that the GHBP effect was more prominent at d 20 post-hatching. The maximum muscle development in the 200 μg/kg GHBP group was fostered by the upregulation of IGF-1, mTOR, myoD, and myogenin and the downregulation of myostatin and the Pax-3 and -7 genes compared to the control group. In parallel, muscle-specific myomiR analysis described upregulation of miR-27b and miR-499 and down-regulation of miR-1a, miR-133a, miR-133b, and miR-206 in both the 200 and 300 μg/kg GHBP groups. This was reflected in the weight gain of birds, which was increased by 17.3 and 11.2% in the 200 and 300 μg/kg GHBP groups, respectively, when compared with the control group. Moreover, the maximum improvement in the feed conversion ratio was achieved in the 200 μg/kg GHBP group. The myogenic effects of GHBP were also confirmed via studying myofiber characteristics, wherein the largest myofiber sizes and areas were achieved in the 200 μg/kg GHBP group. Overall, our findings indicated that administration of 200 μg/kg GHBP for broiler chicks could accelerate their muscle development by positively regulating muscle-specific mRNA and myomiR expression and reinforcing myofiber growth

Potential Effects of Anthocyanin-Rich Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Extract on the Growth, Intestinal Histomorphology, Blood Biochemical Parameters, and the Immune Status of Broiler Chickens

The potential effects of anthocyanin-rich roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. extract (ARRE) on the growth, carcass traits, intestinal histomorphology, breast muscle composition, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, and immune status of broiler chickens were evaluated. In the present study, Hibiscus acidified ethanolic extract was reported to have a total anthocyanin content of about 359.3 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/100 g DW, total polyphenol concentration (TPC) of about 598 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g DW, and total flavonoids (TFs) of about 100 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g DW. Two-hundred-fifty one-day-old chicks (Ross 308 broiler) (87.85 gm ± 0.32) were randomly allotted to five experimental groups and fed on basal diets supplemented with five levels of ARRE: 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg Kg−1 for 35 days. Dietary ARRE addition did not improve the birds’ growth and carcass traits. Supplemental ARRE increased the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (ω-3) percentage in the breast muscle. Dietary ARRE increased the villous height, and the ARRE100 group raised the villus height to crypt depth ratio. Dietary ARRE increased the immunoexpression of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the spleen. The serum thyroxine hormone (T4) level was higher in the ARRE200 group. The serum growth hormone level was increased by ARRE addition in a level-dependent manner. According to the broken-line regression analysis, the optimum inclusion level of ARRE was 280 mg Kg−1. All levels of supplemental ARRE decreased the serum triglyceride level. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was increased in the ARRE100-ARRE400 groups, the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was increased in the ARRE200 group, and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level was decreased by increasing the ARRE level. Supplemental ARRE significantly increased the serum levels of lysozymes and IL10. The serum complement 3 (C3) level was increased in ARRE200 and ARRE400 groups. It can be concluded that dietary ARRE addition had many beneficial effects represented by the improvements in the bird’s metabolic functions, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, antioxidant activity, immune status, and higher ω-3 content in the breast muscles. However, it had no improving effect on the birds’ growth

Modulating the Growth, Antioxidant Activity, and Immunoexpression of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Apoptotic Proteins in Broiler Chickens by Adding Dietary <i>Spirulina platensis</i> Phycocyanin

This study investigated the dietary effect of Spirulina platensis phycocyanin (SPC) on growth performance (body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR)) at starter, grower, and finisher stages, intestinal histomorphology, serum biochemical parameters, inflammatory and antioxidant indices, and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and caspase-3) immune expression in broiler chickens. In total, 250 one-day-old chicks (Ross 308 broiler) were randomly allotted to five experimental groups (5 replicates/group, 10 chicks/replicate) and fed basal diets supplemented with five levels of SPC (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 g kg–1 diet) for 35 days. Compared with SPC0 treatment, different SPC levels increased the overall BW and BWG without affecting the total feed consumption. However, the FCR decreased linearly with an increase in supplementation level. The serum levels of total proteins, albumin, globulins, and growth hormone increased linearly by increasing levels of SPC supplementation. Further, SPC supplementation increased the thyroxin hormones without affecting serum glucose and leptin levels. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values decreased in broilers fed SPC0.250 and SPC1 diets. Triglycerides (TG) decreased in SPC0.25-, SPC0.75-, and SPC1-treated groups. Though antioxidant enzyme activities (total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) increased linearly and quadratically, malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased linearly by increasing the SPC level. There was no effect on serum proinflammatory cytokines IL1β levels. Immunolabelling index of caspase-3 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were downregulated by SPC supplementation. The intestinal histomorphology is represented by increased villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and numbers of goblet cells in different sections of the small intestine. In conclusion, SPC supplementation is beneficial in broiler chicken diets due to its growth-promoting, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties