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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #278026

Title: Effects of oligosaccharides in a soybean meal-based diet on fermentative and immune responses in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria acervulina

Author
item FABER, T - University Of Illinois
item DILGER, R - University Of Illinois
item HOPKINS, A - Templeinland Corporation
item Price, Neil
item FAHEY, G - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2012
Publication Date: 7/19/2012
Citation: Faber, T.A., Dilger, R.N., Hopkins, A.C., Price, N.P., Fahey, G.C. 2012. Effects of oligosaccharides in a soybean meal-based diet on fermentative and immune responses in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria acervulina [abstract]. American Society of Animal Sciences.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fermentable oligosaccharides, particularly those found in soybean meal (SBM), may modulate fermentation in the ceca, thus affecting intestinal immune responses to intestinal pathogens. We hypothesized that fermentable oligosaccharides found in SBM would positively impact cecal fermentation and intestinal immune status in chicks challenged with an acute coccidiosis (Eimeria acervulina) infection and fed either a SBM-based diet or a semi-purified soy protein isolate- (SPI) based diet. Using a completely randomized design, day-old broiler chicks (n=200; 5 replications/treatment; 5 chicks/replication) were assigned to one of four SBM- or SPI-based diets containing either dietary cellulose (4%) or a fermentable carbohydrate, galactoglucomannan oligosaccharide-arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) complex (4%). On d 9 post-hatch, an equal number of chicks on each diet were inoculated with either distilled water (sham control) or E. acervulina (1x10**6 oocysts) and then euthanized on d 7 post-inoculation (PI). Overall, body weight gain and feed intake were greater (P < 0.01) for SBM-fed chicks, regardless of infection status. Gain:feed ratio was greater (P = 0.05) for SPI-fed chicks except during d 3-7 PI. Infection status, but not fiber source, affected propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and total BCFA concentrations (P = 0.02). Soybean meal-based diets resulted in greater (P = 0.04) SCFA and BCFA concentrations than SPI-based diets. Messenger RNA fold changes of all duodenal cytokines were greater (P = 0.01) for infected chicks, and SBM-fed chicks had greater (P < 0.01) IFN-y and IL-12ß expression compared with SPI-fed chicks. Cecal tonsil cytokine expression was also affected (P = 0.02) by infection; however, protein source only affected (P < 0.01) IL-1ß expression in this tissue. Overall, a SBM-based diet, compared to a semi-purified SPI-based diet, resulted in greater weight gain, feed intake, and SCFA production regardless of infection status, and also greater duodenal cytokine expression in E. acervulina- infected chicks, which is hypothesized to be related to the oligosaccharides found in SBM.