Enhancing effect of oregano essential oil and Bacillus subtilis on broiler immune function, intestinal morphology and growth performance

• Published in: BMC veterinary research 2024-03, Vol.20 (1), p.112-112, Article 112
• Main Authors: El-Sayed, Yehia, Khalil, Waleed, Fayez, Nada, Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, Abdel-Fattah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Analysis; Animals; Antibiotics; Anticoagulants; Bacillus subtilis; Birds; Body weight gain; Broiler; Broilers (Poultry); Diet; Drinking water; Essences and essential oils; Essential oils; Experiments; Feed additives; Feeds; Food; Growth; Growth performance; Health aspects; Hematology; Humoral immunity; Immune response; Immunity; Intestine; Lymphocytes; Oils & fats; Oregano; Phagocytes; Phagocytosis; Physiological aspects; Phytobiotic; Phytochemicals; Poultry; Probiotic; Probiotics; Small intestine; Software; Toxins; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03960-w

The present study evaluated the effect of two categories of feed additives on chicken performance through immunological and intestinal histo-morphometric measurements. A total of 150 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I received a non-supplemented basal diet. While groups II and III were treated with a basal diet supplemented with oregano essential oil (OEO) and Bacillus subtilis, respectively, in water for 28 days. Blood samples were taken at 6, 18 and 28 days for hematological analysis, phagocytosis, lymphocyte proliferation and measuring antibody responses. Additionally, growth performance indices were recorded weekly. The results showed that groups supplemented with OEO and B. subtilis improved growth performance expressed by a significant increase in weight gain (P