Effect of GUSTOR N’RGY and NATESSE on the Expression of Immune-related Genes in the Jejunum and Cecal Tonsils of Broilers with Necrotic Enteritis

The objective the study presented in the last AAAP in Denver by Bortoluzzi et al. (2018) was to determine the effects of GUSTOR N’RGY (N’RGY), and NATESSE (NAT) on the expression of immune-related genes in the jejunum and cecal tonsils of necrotic enteritidis challenged chicks. The birds were assigned to 4 treatments: basal diet and no challenge; basal diet and challenge; diet supplemented with N’RGY and challenge; diet supplemented with NAT and challenge. On d13, the challenged birds were inoculated with ~5,000 oocysts of Eimeria maxima by oral gavage. On d18-19, the same birds were inoculated with C. perfringens via drinking water. Jejunal and cecal tonsils samples were collected at d12, 18, 21, and 28 to analyze the expression of immune-related genes. On d12, NAT upregulated the expression of IL-6 (P=0.01) in the jejunum, and IgA (P=0.02), IL-6 (P=0.02), and TLR-2 (P=0.02) in the cecal tonsils, when compared to the unsupplemented groups. On d18, N’RGY supplementation upregulated IL-1β (P=0.01), and the E. maxima challenge downregulated the expression of IL-6 (P=0.03) in the jejunum. At d21, N’RGY decreased IL-10 expression (P=0.001), and NAT increased the expression of IgA (P=0.001) in the cecal tonsils. On d28, no effects were observed on the gene expression of any intestinal sections studied. In conclusion, NAT modulated the expression of genes prior to the challenge, and N’RGY or NAT supplementation showed immunomodulatory effects mainly on the jejunum after the E. maxima challenge