Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens

This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation in drinking water on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and cecal microbiota of broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis. During the 20-day experiment, two hundred and forty 1-day-old male Arbor Acres b...

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Main Authors: Yong Lin, Jiansen Gong, Colin Buttimer, Xiaoqing Pan, Yimin Jia, Zongchun Bai, Ran Wang, Haibing Tong, Hongduo Bao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002950
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author Yong Lin
Jiansen Gong
Colin Buttimer
Xiaoqing Pan
Yimin Jia
Zongchun Bai
Ran Wang
Haibing Tong
Hongduo Bao
author_facet Yong Lin
Jiansen Gong
Colin Buttimer
Xiaoqing Pan
Yimin Jia
Zongchun Bai
Ran Wang
Haibing Tong
Hongduo Bao
author_sort Yong Lin
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation in drinking water on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and cecal microbiota of broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis. During the 20-day experiment, two hundred and forty 1-day-old male Arbor Acres birds were randomly assigned into a 2 × 2 factorial design with four groups: a non-challenged control (CON), an S. Enteritidis-challenged group (SA), a group receiving AST treatment (AST), and an S. Enteritidis-challenged group receiving AST treatment (SA+AST). Each treatment comprised six replicate groups, and challenged groups were inoculated with S. Enteritidis from day 2 to day 4. The results indicated that S. Enteritidis infection significantly reduced the average daily feed intake (ADFI) in broilers and adversely affected average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by day 20. AST supplementation significantly improved FCR. While S. Enteritidis infection did not significantly affect ileal mucosa antioxidation, it significantly decreased villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR), and significantly downregulated mRNA expression of ZO-1 and Occludin. However, AST supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), increased villus height and VCR in the ileum, and notably upregulated ZO-1 and MUC2 expression levels, particularly mitigating the adverse effects of S. Enteritidis infection on ileal crypt depth. Furthermore, S. Enteritidis infection significantly affected both the α- and β-diversity of cecal microbiota. Infection with S. Enteritidis was associated with changes at the phylum level, including significant increases in Alistipes, unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae, and bacteria of the Clostridia UCG-014 grouping, alongside notable decreases in Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Blautia, and Butyricicoccus. AST supplementation significantly decreased the abundance of norank_f__Ruminococcaceae and increased the abundance of Lachnoclostridium and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae in the challenged group. In conclusion, AST supplementation in drinking water could improve growth performance and intestinal health in broilers challenged with S. Enteritidis.
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series Poultry Science
spelling doaj-art-054399ef58d643209f0e3255b748090d2025-08-20T03:49:45ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-05-01104510505610.1016/j.psj.2025.105056Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickensYong Lin0Jiansen Gong1Colin Buttimer2Xiaoqing Pan3Yimin Jia4Zongchun Bai5Ran Wang6Haibing Tong7Hongduo Bao8Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment & Key Laboratory of Protected Agriculture Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair& Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Facility Waterfowl Health Breeding Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR ChinaKey Laboratory for Poultry Genetics and Breeding of Jiangsu Province, Poultry Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR ChinaAPC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork T12 YT20, IrelandInstitute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment & Key Laboratory of Protected Agriculture Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair& Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Facility Waterfowl Health Breeding Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR ChinaInstitute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Key Lab of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR ChinaKey Laboratory for Poultry Genetics and Breeding of Jiangsu Province, Poultry Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR ChinaInstitute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Key Lab of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Corresponding author.This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation in drinking water on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and cecal microbiota of broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis. During the 20-day experiment, two hundred and forty 1-day-old male Arbor Acres birds were randomly assigned into a 2 × 2 factorial design with four groups: a non-challenged control (CON), an S. Enteritidis-challenged group (SA), a group receiving AST treatment (AST), and an S. Enteritidis-challenged group receiving AST treatment (SA+AST). Each treatment comprised six replicate groups, and challenged groups were inoculated with S. Enteritidis from day 2 to day 4. The results indicated that S. Enteritidis infection significantly reduced the average daily feed intake (ADFI) in broilers and adversely affected average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by day 20. AST supplementation significantly improved FCR. While S. Enteritidis infection did not significantly affect ileal mucosa antioxidation, it significantly decreased villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR), and significantly downregulated mRNA expression of ZO-1 and Occludin. However, AST supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), increased villus height and VCR in the ileum, and notably upregulated ZO-1 and MUC2 expression levels, particularly mitigating the adverse effects of S. Enteritidis infection on ileal crypt depth. Furthermore, S. Enteritidis infection significantly affected both the α- and β-diversity of cecal microbiota. Infection with S. Enteritidis was associated with changes at the phylum level, including significant increases in Alistipes, unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae, and bacteria of the Clostridia UCG-014 grouping, alongside notable decreases in Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Blautia, and Butyricicoccus. AST supplementation significantly decreased the abundance of norank_f__Ruminococcaceae and increased the abundance of Lachnoclostridium and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae in the challenged group. In conclusion, AST supplementation in drinking water could improve growth performance and intestinal health in broilers challenged with S. Enteritidis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002950AstaxanthinIntestinal barrierCecal microbiotaBroilerSalmonella Enteritidis
spellingShingle Yong Lin
Jiansen Gong
Colin Buttimer
Xiaoqing Pan
Yimin Jia
Zongchun Bai
Ran Wang
Haibing Tong
Hongduo Bao
Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
Poultry Science
Astaxanthin
Intestinal barrier
Cecal microbiota
Broiler
Salmonella Enteritidis
title Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
title_full Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
title_fullStr Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
title_full_unstemmed Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
title_short Effects of astaxanthin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, and microbiota in Salmonella Enteritidis-infected chickens
title_sort effects of astaxanthin on growth performance intestinal integrity and microbiota in salmonella enteritidis infected chickens
topic Astaxanthin
Intestinal barrier
Cecal microbiota
Broiler
Salmonella Enteritidis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002950
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