The experimental trial was carried out to evaluate the impact of a mixture of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis probiotic supplementation via the drinking water (AVI-GROW®) on growth performance, carcass traits, gut microbiome, intestinal histomorphology, blood biochemical indices, and litter quality of broiler chickens. A total of 480 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (as hatch) were randomly allocated into two groups, each with three replicates (80 chicks/replicate). The control group (T1) and the supplemented group (T2) were fed a basal diet, however, T2 was supplemented with (AVI-GROW®) via the drinking water at the rate of 1mL/L drinking water every 12 hours for 2 days after every vaccination and change of diet. The experiment lasted 31 days. Supplementation of (AVI-GROW®) via the drinking water in T2 significantly (P≤0.05) improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR), as well as villus crypt ratio of the small intestine as compared to the control. The dressing percent, breast, thigh and drumstick yields were improved in T2 than in control. Additionally, blood cholesterol, triacylglycerol, ALT, and AST concentrations were reduced, while total protein concentration was significantly (P≤0.05) increased in T2 as compared to control. Moreover, cecal clostridial counts were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T2 as compared to control. Supplementation of (AVI-GROW®) in (T2) reduced nitrogen content in birds' excreta and litter. Conclusively, the supplementation of (AVI-GROW®) via the drinking water could improve growth performance, carcass characteristics, gut microbiome, intestinal histomorphology, blood biochemical indices, and litter quality in broiler chickens.

The current study was designed to investigate the impacts of heat stress (HS) on performance parameters of broiler chicken reared at different stocking densities, also study assessed the effects of anti-stress (vitamin) supplementation in the mitigation of different levels of stress. A total of 720 7th-day-old Cobb ® chicks were randomly distributed into 18 groups, (two replicates within each group). The experiment with a factorial arrangement of treatments (3x3x2), 3 levels of stocking densities (RSD: 10 chicks/m2, MSD: 14 chicks/m2, and HSD: 18 chicks/m2), 2 levels of vitamin supplementation (0 mg/l and combination of 250 mg/l ascorbic acid plus 0.5 ml/l Vit E + Se) and three temperatures (Thermoneutral temperature (TN), sudden chronic heat stress exposure (CHS) and gradual chronic heat stress exposure). Broilers were kept either under thermoneutral conditions (24 ± 1 ºC) during the whole life period or slowly introduced to CHS from 7th to 21st d of age and kept at high temperature thereafter and the third chamber had chicks that were exposed to CHS (32 ± 2 ºC for 8 h/day) during the period from 21st: 42nd day of age. Chicks were reared on a deep litter system and had free access to feed and water. Performance parameters (FI, BW, BWG, and FCR) were determined on the 42nd day of age. The results showed HSD had adverse effects on the growth performance of broilers reared under thermoneutral or CHS conditions where the differences between densities were significant (P<0.05) under TN and sudden CHS conditions and insignificant in case of gradual CHS exposure conditions for most of the performance parameters. Vitamins supplementation had improved growth performance (BW and FCR) of broilers kept under MSD or HSD and exposed to thermoneutral or sudden CHS conditions as compared to corresponding not supplemented birds. While it was effective in combating the adverse effects of gradual HS exposure in RSD and MSD kept broilers only. In addition, there was no significant difference between RSD not supplemented broilers and MSD-supplemented birds under TN conditions; concluding that broilers can be stocked at MSD under thermoneutral conditions if they were supplemented with vitamins.

Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis globally. A total of 182 fully identified strains of Campylobacter species (42 C. coli and 140 C. jejuni) collected from 6 broiler farms were subjected to studying the antimicrobial resistance pattern and molecular typing of virulence (cadF, ctdA, dnaJ waaC,iam, and fla) and antimicrobial resistance genes (blaOXA-61, gyrA, tetA, tetO, and IR) with sequencing of gyrA region of one strain of fluroquinolones resistant C. coli and C. jejuni. The identified isolates were highly resistant to erythromycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Furthermore, both meropenem and imipenem were effective against the recovered isolates. The tested C. jejuni and C. coli strains had 100%, 83.3%, and 83.3% prevalence of cadF, ctdA, and dnaJ virulence genes, respectively, while waaC, iam, and fla genes couldn’t be detected. The blaOXA-61 resistance gene was found in all of the Campylobacter spp. examined. Furthermore, gyrA, tetA, tetO, and IR resistance genes were found in 100%, 83.3%, 83.3%, and 66.7% of the retrieved C. jejuni strains, respectively.  Likewise, resistance genes were found in 83.3%, 83.3%, 83.3%, and 66.7% of the retrieved C. coli strains, respectively. Approximately 58% (7/12) of the Campylobacter spp. recovered were MDR. Furthermore, 50% (3/6) of the C. jejuni strains recovered were MDR, while 66.7% (4/6) of the C. coli isolates recovered were MDR with MARI(0.22-0.55). For detection of mutations of the gyrA gene, the sequence data of two isolates (C. jejuni and C.coli) were analyzed against the reference sequence on the gene bank where the C. jejuni strain had six mutations, while the C. coli strain had twenty-three. The current findings suggest that MDR Campylobacter strains in poultry may be able to transmit highly virulent Campylobacter as a foodborne pathogen.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the impacts of dietary supplementation of extracted oregano essential oils on the physical, chemical properties of meat and the carcass properties of broilers, 180 one day old chicks (Ross 308)  arranged into3 dietary groups with 3 replicates (20 birds for each replicate). The experimental groups as follows: Group 1 (G1) control (basal diet), Group 2 (G2) included basal diet + 300 μl of oregano plant extract per kg of diet,  Group 3 (G3) contained basal diet + 600 µl of oregano plant extract for kg of diet. The period of experiment was 35 days. Results revealed that the % of dressed weight as well as % weight of breast was significantly (P ˂0.05) increased in groups which feeding with essential oil of oregano compared to a control diet. In contrast, there were no significant (P ˃ 0.05) influences of essential oils of oregano on (heart, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, gizzard) relative weights and intestinal length. However, supplemented groups with oregano essential oils showed a significant decrease in % of pH, TVN and TBA, as well as a significant (P ˂ 0.05) reductions in % of cooking loss, % of drip loss and shear force of the pectoral muscles when compared to the group feeding control diet. A higher significant increase in WHC was found in the group supplemented with 600 μl of OEO compared to the 300µl OEO and control group. OEO had non-significant influence on breast meat color (a, b, l) compared to the group feeding control diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of essential oils of oregano plant extract can improve carcass quality, physical and chemical meat quality of broiler chickens.

This work compared the antibacterial activity and in vivo effects of nitazoxanide and tylosin against infected broilers with antibiotic resistant Clostridium perfringens field strain to control necrotic enteritis disease. Both in vitro and in vivo assessment studies were used. Firstly, C. perfringens was isolated with a total rate of 46% from liver and intestine samples of diseased broilers. By using PCR molecular typing all tested isolates were type A (produced only alpha-toxin (cpa virulence gene)) and included Bla and tetK (resistant genes). Using antibiotic sensitivity test they showed multi-drugs resistance against amoxiclave, tetracycline, gentamicin, clindamycin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim and cefoxitin. Minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (μg/ml) were 0.4 and 12 for nitazoxanide and 0.7 and 49 for tylosin respectively. Then, a total of 90 one-day-old-chicks were divided into 6 groups; G1: negative-control, G2: infected-control, G3: non-infected (nitazoxanide 15.4 mg/kg body weight), G4: non-infected (tylosin 20 mg/kg body weight), G5: infected-nitazoxanide (15.4 mg/kg), and G6: infected-tylosin (20 mg/kg). Treatments lasted for 5 days in drinking water. No adverse effects on liver or kidney parameters were recorded in non-infected treated groups. Both treatments overcome the infection signs, C. perfringens count and revealed a significant improvement in most of inflammatory and biochemical parameters to their normal levels especially, G5 reflected a significant increase in total protein, albumin, globulin while reduced alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities, C-reactive protein, uric acid, and creatinine levels than G2. Finally, nitazoxanide revealed a significant anti-clostridial activity as tylosin for the control of necrotic enteritis in broilers.

The study investigated the effect of the administration of chitosan–nanoparticles (ChNP) on body performance, gut microbiota, some immunological parameters, expression of digestibility, and antioxidant-related genes in broilers. A total of 80 one-day-old Ross mixed-sex chicks were divided into two groups (40 birds each) in open door system: Chicks in group 1 were fed a basal diet as control, whereas chicks in group 2, were fed a basal diet, and drinking water supplemented with 50-mg ChNP/L. The experimental period lasted three weeks with a daily observation of body performance. Serum and tissue samples were collected for immunological evaluation, microbiota counts, and estimation of mRNA expression levels. ChNPs supplementation significantly increased beneficial microbiota and diminished coliforms, improved growth performance, kidney functions, total antioxidant capacity, and gene expressions of Glut, CAT1, CAT, SOD, and GPX1 in broilers. In conclusion, supplementation of ChNP led to an upregulation of body performance and antioxidant activity of broiler chicks phenotypically and genotypically.

The importance of searching for natural alternatives away from chemicals in poultry health and treatment has benefits for humans in many directions, as we control the bad effect of the accumulation of harmful chemicals in their meat, as well as reduce the risk of zoonotic infection and preserve the environment from chemical pollution. Enormous fungi induce a considerable level of annihilation in the poultry industry and human consumers due to their zoonotic implications. This study is designed to explore the effects of keratogenic and toxigenic skin fungal affection and the effects of dietary-essential oils in broilers -chicken (n-120). Skin scrapings and feather samples were examined mycologically in association with PCR sequencing for genomes of the culturally detected fungi (in South Korea) based on phylum tree and all Sequences data was deposited in GenBank and each was assigned an accession number. Sera samples of the tested broilers were examined by ELIZA against biogenic amine mainly histamine during the summer season, also a histopathological examination of skin sections before and after taking feed additives (essential oils) as anti-fungal for thirty days, the broiler-fed diet was supplemented with peppermint, thyme, and Carvacrol 70 mg/kg (w/w) in dietary feed. The isolated fungi were: Fifteen fungal species belonging to 9 genera of filamentous fungi which were isolated from skin scrapings and feathers of chickens. Aspergillus niger and A. flavus are the most prevalent species (20 samples representing 100% of total samples for each. Rhizopus oryze 20% and Fusarium oxysporum 15% were cultured from total samples respectively. Four fungal species appeared in 10% of the tested samples which are Aspergillus qudrilineatus, Paecilomyces variotii (Byssochlamys spectabilis), Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Exserohilum rostratum. Finally, the other seven fungi presented as 5% from tested samples. The average level of serum histamine before treatment was 16.6 ng/ml and after feeding was 12.3 ng/ml (significant decrease, P < 0.05) referring to the significant role of the essential oils in broilers ration.