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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216900
Title: Effects of a dietary yeast extract on hematological parameters, heterophil function, and bacterial clearance in turkey poults challenged with Escherichia coli and subjected to transport stress

Author
item Huff, Geraldine
item FARNELL, MORGAN - TEXAS A&M UNIV
item Huff, William
item Rath, Narayan
item SOLIS DE LOS SANTOS, FAUSTO - UNIV OF ARKANSAS
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There is a need to develop nutritional methods for controlling pathogens in poultry production. A standardized yeast extract supplement, Alphamune™ (YE), was added to turkey poult diets. Male poults were challenged by air sac injection with 60 cfu of E. coli at 1 week of age. At 3 weeks of age challenged birds were subjected to transport stress and birds were bled and necropsied the following morning. Blood cell numbers and percentages and hematological parameters were determined. Oxidative burst activity of isolated heterophils was measured using stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and a 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. Data was analyzed using GLM and LS Means procedures of the SAS® program. The percentage of heterophils in peripheral blood was increased and their oxidative burst activity was stimulated by YE. Transport stress also increased oxidative burst and this increase was modulated by YE treatment. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and triglycerides were decreased and uric acid levels, erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin and hematocrit were increased by YE supplementation. Bacteria were isolated from the air sac and liver of a lower percentage of birds provided with YE. These results suggest that dietary YE has potential as a non-antibiotic alternative for decreasing bacterial pathogens in turkey production.