Humic substances improve intestinal mucosal integrity in broiler chickens fed two different diets and challenged with a lipopolysaccharide

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate tibial measurements, microscopic alterations, and goblet cell (GC) counts in the jejunal villi, as well as serum liver biochemical profiles, interleukin responses, and jejunal integrity indices in broilers supplemented with humic substances (HS) derived from vermicompost, subjected to dietary formulation changes and challenged with lipopolysaccharides. Design/Methodology/Approach: From 7 to 21 days of age, broilers were assigned to four treatments in a factorial arrangement involving two growth promoters AGP: 0.05% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and 0.05% nicarbazin; or HS: 0.33% HS and two feeding systems: Continuous diet, consisting of Diet A (corn-soybean meal-based) offered continuously; or Alternating diets, with Diet A alternated every two days with Diet B (sorghum, soybean meal, and canola meal-based). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Results: Broilers receiving HS exhibited significantly higher productivity parameters (P < 0.05), greater tibial dimensions, more pronounced microscopic alterations, and higher GC counts in the jejunal villi compared to the AGP group, irrespective of the feeding system. Additionally, HS supplementation upregulated mucin-2 and occludin gene expression in the jejunum, whereas claudin-1 (CLDN-1) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels remained unaffected (P > 0.05). Limitations/Implications: Limitations include the small sample size, absence of replication under commercial production conditions, and assessment of only a single HS dose over a short experimental period. Findings/Conclusions: HS supplementation enhanced the mucoprotective barrier of the jejunal epithelium.