Intestinal changes and immune responses during Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

Poultry Science

Ali Javadmanesh¹  Hassan Kermanshahi¹  Marzieh Alizadeh¹  Monireh Ahmadian¹  Mohammad Hadi Sekhavati¹  Ali Daneshmand¹  Jamshid Razmyar²  Javid Mohammed³  Raveendra R. Kulkarni³ 

[1] Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran;Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 1419963111, University of Tehran, Iran;Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA;

关键词: Necrotic enteritis;    Clostridium perfringens;    broiler chicken;    histomorphometry;    immune response;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of broiler chickens. The present study evaluated the effect of C. perfringens on the intestinal histomorphometry, enteric microbial colonization, and host immune responses using 3 experimental NE reproduction methods. The experimental groups consisted of 1) unchallenged Control diet (corn-soybean meal), 2) Control diet + Eimera inoculation at d 11 followed by C. perfringens challenge at d 15 (ECp), 3) Wheat-based diet + C. perfringens challenge (WCp), and 4) Wheat-based diet + Eimeria inoculation followed by C. perfringens challenge (WECp). The results showed that chickens receiving ECp and WECp had reduced (P < 0.05) bird performance coupled with enteric gross lesions and epithelial damage at d 17 and 24 of age compared to unchallenged control birds. These ECp and WECp administered birds also had increased (P < 0.05) ileal colonization by clostridia and E. coli at d 17 and 24, while the resident Lactobacillus counts were reduced (P < 0.05) at d 24 of age. Furthermore, at d 24, jejunal transcription of IL-6, IL-10, annexin-A1 and IL-2 genes was upregulated (P < 0.05) in the ECp group, whereas the transcription of TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF)-3 gene was increased (P < 0.05) in WECp treated birds when compared to unchallenged control group. Additionally, stimulation of chicken splenocytes and cecal tonsilocytes with virulent C. perfringens bacilli or their secretory proteins resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) frequency of T cells and their upregulation of MHC-II molecule, as determined by flow cytometry. These findings suggest that C. perfringens, while inducing epithelial damage and changes in microbiota, can also trigger host immune responses. Furthermore, NE reproduction methods using coccidia with or without the wheat-based dietary predisposition seem to facilitate an optimal NE reproduction in broiler chickens and thus, may provide better avenues for future C. perfringens research.

【 授权许可】

Unknown