Xylanase and beta-glucanase improve performance parameters and footpad dermatitis and modulate intestinal microbiota in broilers under an Eimeria challenge

Abstract

<p>Coccidiosis is an enteric disease of poultry worldwide that compromises gut health and growth performance. The current research investigated the effects of 2 doses of a multienzyme preparation on broilers' performance, gut health, and footpad dermatitis (<b>FPD</b>) under an <i>Eimeria</i> challenge. A total of 512 mixed-sex day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments of 8 replicates. Treatments were: 1) nonchallenged control (<b>NC</b>); 2) NC + <i>Eimeria</i> challenge (<b>CC</b>); 3) CC + recommended level of xylanase and glucanase (<b>XG</b>, 100 g/t feed [on top]); 4) CC + double XG (2XG, 200 g/t feed). <i>Eimeria</i> spp. vaccine strains were gavaged on d 9 to induce coccidiosis in chickens. Performance parameters were evaluated during starter, grower, and finisher phases, and 4 birds per pen were euthanized on d 16 for sampling, FPD was scored on d 35, and litter moisture was analyzed on d 17 and 35. The data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA with Tukey's test to separate means, and Kruskal-Wallis test was used for non-normally distributed parameters. The results showed that the <i>Eimeria</i> challenge was successful based on reduced weight gain and feed intake during grower phase, and higher FITC-d concentration, lesion score (female), and oocyst counts (d 14) in CC group compared to N.C. group, while XG and 2XG increased (<i>P</i> < 0.001) weight gain and improved FCR compared to CC and NC groups during finisher phase. The addition of X.G. and 2XG decreased litter moisture (<i>P</i> = 0.003) and FPD (<i>P</i> < 0.001) in challenged broilers compared to the N.C. group (d 35). Supplementing XG and 2XG reestablished the population of <i>Lactobacillus</i> in the cecum of challenged birds to an intermediate level between the NC and CC groups (<i>P</i> > 0.05). The inclusion of XG tended to increase the expression of <i>Junctional adhesion molecule 2</i> (JAM2), which was not different from CC and NC groups (<i>P</i> > 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of xylanase and glucanase (Natugrain TS) improved the performance and modulated jejunal microbiota of broilers under mild <i>Eimeria</i> challenge.</p>