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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Biosciences & Biotechnology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304304
Title: Role of dietary phytochemicals in modulating local innate immunity and as alternatives to growth promoting antibiotics to reduce inflammation

Author
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item Lee, Sung
item BRAVO, DAVID - Pancosma Sa

Submitted to: Coccidiosis International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The global animal industry needs to address the increasing regulatory restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in animal production. Many AGPs have already been restricted by animal farms in the EU and soon other countries are expected to be under increasing scrutiny as consumers’ concerns about drug resistant superbugs increase. Accordingly, scientific evidence-based publications are supporting the possibility of sustaining intensive modern farming without the use of AGPs, especially in the area of disease control. Multiple alternatives, including prebiotics, probiotics, phytonutrients, hyperimmune antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, and toll-like receptor agonists, have already been used by the animal industry for various claims, but it is generally accepted that none of these alternatives are known to be as effective as AGPs in field application. However, a combination of additives or novel feed additives have shown some efficacy to compensate for production loss, in the absence of AGPs, with economic returns. "Phytonutrients" are plant- or fruit-derived chemical compounds possessing health benefits, including, promoting tumor killing and increased resistance to infectious diseases. While numerous studies have shown disease prevention or immune enhancing effects of phytonutrients, very few reports have examined the underlying mechanisms for their specific immune modulating effects in models of animal disease. Many phytochemicals are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and an increasing number of studies have indicated that diets rich in anti-inflammatory phytochemicals may have beneficial effects in ameliorating tissue damage caused by pathogens. This presentation will highlight recent progress in understanding the immunomodulatory properties of phytonutrients and developing dietary immune enhancing strategies to mitigate the use of antibiotics in avian coccidiosis.