Effects of glutamine on performance and intestinal mucosa morphometry of broiler chickens vaccinated against coccidiosis
Scientia Agricola. 2016;73(4):322-327 DOI 10.1590/0103-9016-2015-0114
Journal Title: Scientia Agricola
ISSN: 0103-9016 (Print); 1678-992X (Online)
Publisher: Universidade de São Paulo
Society/Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura
LCC Subject Category: Agriculture: Agriculture (General)
Country of publisher: Brazil
Language of fulltext: Portuguese, Spanish; Castilian, English
Full-text formats available: PDF, HTML, XML
AUTHORS
Brenda Carla Luquetti
Miguel Frederico Fernandez Alarcon
Raquel Lunedo
Daniel Mendes Borges Campos
Renato Luís Furlan
Marcos Macari
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
Time From Submission to Publication: 16 weeks
Abstract | Full Text
ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the effects of glutamine as feed additive on performance and intestinal mucosa morphometry of broiler chickens vaccinated against coccidiosis. A total of 400 day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments (NVNG – no vaccination, no glutamine supplementation; NVG – no vaccination, glutamine supplementation (10 g kg−1); VNG – vaccination, no glutamine supplementation; VG – vaccination, glutamine supplementation) replicated four times with 25 birds per replicate. A commercial sprayed-on vaccine against coccidiosis containing Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, E. mivati, and E. tenella was administered at the hatchery. Broiler performance was evaluated from 1-28 days, and morphometric parameters were analyzed at 14, 21, and 28 days of age. Body weight gain and feed intake were negatively affected by vaccination, but not by glutamine. Vaccination increased crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum at 21 and 28 days. In conclusion, this study showed that glutamine was not able to increase weight gain of broiler chickens, irrespective of whether the animals were vaccinated or not against coccidiosis. Glutamine supplementation was able to improve feed conversion in vaccinated birds suggesting trophic effect on intestinal epithelium improving.