Effect of 125% and 135% arginine on the growth performance, intestinal health, and immune responses of broilers during necrotic enteritis challenge

Authors: FATHIMA, SHANA - University Of Georgia; HAKEEM, WALID, AL - University Of Georgia; Shanmugasundaram, Revathi; PERIYANNAN, VASANTHAKUMAR - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; VARADHAN, RANGANATHAN - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; SELVARAJ, RAMESH - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2024
Publication Date: 5/7/2024
Citation: Fathima, S., Hakeem, W., Shanmugasundaram, R., Periyannan, V., Varadhan, R., Selvaraj, R. 2024. Effect of 125% and 135% arginine on the growth performance, intestinal health, and immune responses of broilers during necrotic enteritis challenge. Poultry Science. 103(7):103815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103826.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103826

Interpretive Summary: This research explored how arginine could support chickens facing an infection known as necrotic enteritis (NE). The study tested the effects of providing the chickens with additional arginine (125% and 135% extra) and observed its impact on their health. Chickens were examined how different diets affected them when they induced with NE. The NE infection posed difficulties for the chickens – hindering their growth and negatively affecting their health. The diet with 125% more arginine showed some positive effects by increasing the chickens' food intake and preventing weight loss. Arginine also enhanced the chickens' immune system, boosting specific antibodies and immune cells. However, it couldn't fully resolve all the problems caused by NE. In summary, incorporating 125% more arginine into the diet might aid in better growth and strengthen the chickens' immune system, but it cannot entirely counteract the adverse effects of NE. The researchers recommend combining it with other supplements instead of antibiotics to promote healthier growth in chickens.

Technical Abstract: Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is the substrate for nitric oxide and ornithine biosynthesis. Arginine can modulate the immune response of birds to the Eimeria challenge by regulating macrophage differentiation and subsequent inflammatory pathways. This study evaluated the effects of 125% and 135% L-arginine on the production parameters and immunological responses in necrotic enteritis (NE) challenged broilers. A total of 480 day-old chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups- the non-infected group fed basal diet, NE group fed basal diet, NE group fed 125% arginine diet and NE group fed 135% arginine diet. NE was induced by inoculating 1×104 Eimeria maxima on day 14 and 1×108 CFU C. perfringens on days 19,20, and 21 of age. All data were analyzed by ANOVA and the means were compared by Tukey’s HSD and were considered significantly different at P = 0.05. NE infection significantly increased the feed conversion ratio (p = 0.01), intestinal permeability (p = 0.01), jejunal lesion score (p < 0.01), decreased body weight gain (p < 0.01), and the expression of tight junction proteins occludin (p < 0.01) and claudin-4 (p = 0.01). 125% arginine diet increased the feed intake by 30g (p = 0.02) and reversed the NE-induced loss in BWG by 70g (p = 0.12). 125% arginine diet significantly increased the bile anti-C. perfringens IgA concentration by 39.74% (p < 0.01). Arginine supplementation significantly increased the ratio of CD8+:CD4+ cells in the spleen on days 28 (p=0.01) and day 35 (p < 0.01). 125% arginine supplementation also significantly increased the mRNA expression of iNOS and IFN-' on day 21. Different levels of arginine supplementation did not reverse the NE-induced loss in intestinal permeability nor restore the loss in production performance caused by NE. It can be concluded that owing to the growth-promoting and immunomodulatory effects, the 125% arginine diet may be used in combination with other feed additives to replace antibiotic growth promoters in broilers.