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Effects of pig antibacterial peptides on growth performance and intestine mucosal immune of broiler chickens

H. Bao^*, R. She^*,1, T. Liu^*, Y. Zhang^*, K. S. Peng, D. Luo^*, Z. Yue^*, Y. Ding^*, Y. Hu^*, W. Liu^* and L. Zhai

^* College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, P. R. China; and Department 3, Command and Engineering College of Chemical Defense of Chinese PLA, Beijing 102205, P. R. China

¹ Corresponding author: sheruiping{at}126.com

Currently, substitutions for antibiotic growth promoters in animals are attracting interest. This study investigated the effects of pig antibacterial peptides (PABP) on growth performance and small intestine mucosal immune responses in broilers. Three hundred 1-d-old Arbor Acre male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 5 groups with 60 birds per group. The groups were control group; PABP administered in drinking water at 20 and 30 mg/L of water; or PABP supplemented in feed at 150 and 200 mg/kg of diet. The birds were fed a corn-soybean based diet for 6 wk. Chickens were weighed weekly and killed after 42 d of feeding, and growth performance was measured. Samples of the duodenum and jejunum were collected. The villus height, mucosa thickness, alkaline phosphatase activity, and numbers of secreting IgA and goblet cells were evaluated. The PABP-treated groups had greater BW and average daily gain, greater height of villus and thickness of gut mucosa, greater activity of alkaline phosphatase, higher ratio of secreting IgA, and a greater number of goblet cells compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, PABP can improve the growth performance, increase the intestinal ability to absorb nutrients, and improve the mucosal immunity of the intestine.

Key Words: pig antibacterial peptide • growth performance • small intestine • mucosal immunity

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