A Novel Strategy to Support Environmental Protection Against Salmonella
Ali Maddahian
1
(
)
Reza Naseri Harsini
2
(
Animal Science Research Department, Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Rasht, Iran
)
hooshang Dehghanzadeh
3
(
استادیار علوم دامی مرکز تحقیقات و آموزش کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی استان گیلان
)
Seyed Mousa Saadatmirghadim
4
(
Animal Science Research Department, Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran
)
Marzieh Alidoust
5
(
Department of Horticulture Crops Research, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Rasht, Iran
)
Hamed Kioumarsi
6
(
بخش تحقیقات علوم دامی، مرکز تحقیقات و آموزش کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی استان گیلان، سازمان تحقیقات، آموزش و ترویج کشاورزی، رشت، ایران
)
Keywords: Contamination, Immunity, Salmonella, Feed restriction,
Abstract :
Salmonella bacteria naturally exist in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and can be transmitted to humans via contaminated food, water, and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and Salmonella challenge on broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each with six replicates, in a completely randomized design: (1) Control (C), (2) Feed Restriction (FR), (3) Salmonella challenge without feed restriction (S), and (4) Combined Feed Restriction and Salmonella challenge (FR+S). Parameters measured included cecal bacterial counts, growth performance, humoral immunity, and intestinal morphology. Feed restriction was implemented during the second week of rearing by limiting feed intake to 80% of that of ad libitum-fed groups. Results showed that in the second week, birds in the FR+S group exhibited significantly lower weight gain compared to other groups (P<0.05). Additionally, this group showed reduced antibody titers and cellular immune responses, indicating potential adverse effects on bird health and overall productivity (P<0.05). The weights of lymphoid organs were also decreased in response to the combined stressors (P<0.05). At 42 days of age, the group challenged with Salmonella and subjected to feed restriction showed the highest Salmonella shedding compared to the group challenged with Salmonella without feed restriction. These findings highlight the importance of optimized nutritional and sanitary management in minimizing the spread of environmental contaminants.