Salinity negatively correlates with the production and immunity of chicken: A molecular insight for food security and safety issues
Subrato Biswas,
Md Abdul Masum,
Sujan Kumar Sarkar,
Basant Saud,
Rupa Akter,
K.B.M. Saiful Islam,
Shah Jungy Ibna Karim,
Md Mostafizur Rahman,
Hossain M. Golbar,
Md. Emtiaj Alam,
Md Akhtarul Islam,
Maksuda Begum,
Mohammad Musfiqur Rahman,
Osamu Ichii,
Yasuhiro Kon
Affiliations
Subrato Biswas
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Physiology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Md Abdul Masum
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Physiology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.
Sujan Kumar Sarkar
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Physiology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Basant Saud
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Physiology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Rupa Akter
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Physiology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
K.B.M. Saiful Islam
Department of Medicine & Public Health, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Shah Jungy Ibna Karim
Department of Medicine & Public Health, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Md Mostafizur Rahman
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
Hossain M. Golbar
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md. Emtiaj Alam
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md Akhtarul Islam
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Maksuda Begum
Department of Poultry Science, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
Mohammad Musfiqur Rahman
Department of Oral Anatomy and Oral Physiology, Sapporo Dental College, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh
Osamu Ichii
Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 0600818, Japan; Laboratory of Agrobiomedical Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
Yasuhiro Kon
Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 0600818, Japan
Salinity intrusion into the freshwater system due to climate change and anthropogenic activities is a growing global concern, which has made humans and domesticated animals more susceptible to diseases, resulting in less productivity. However, the effects of salinity on domesticated and wild birds, especially in terms of production and immunity, have not been fully elucidated yet. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effects of salinity on the production and immunity of birds and the mechanisms by which immunity is compromised. Broiler chicks were subjected to different concentrations of salty water (control = normal water, treatment = 5 g/L, treatment = 10 g/L, and treatment = 15 g/L). The collected blood and organs from different groups of broilers were biochemically and histopathologically examined. Birds in salt-treated groups consumed significantly less feed than the control group, while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly higher. Body weight gain was significantly lower in salt-treated groups compared to control. Serum analysis revealed a lower systemic antibody titer in the salt-treated groups compared to the control. Primary lymphoid organs (thymus and bursa of Fabricius) were reduced in size in the salt-treated group due to cellular migration and depletion from these organs. Importantly, most of the parenchyma of lymphoid organs was replaced with fibrotic tissue. Gut microbes, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella spp., from salt-treated groups, showed less viability but developed antibiotic resistance. Levels of salinity were significantly and negatively correlated with feed intake, body weight gain, antibody titer, lymphoid organ size, and viable count of gut microbes, while FCR, fibrosis of lymphoid organs, and antibiotic resistance were significant positively correlated. In conclusion, increased salinity is a possible threat to food security and safety as it decreases body weight gain, reduces immunity, and influences the development of multi-drug resistance in gut microbes.
