Rehearsal For Thesis Presentation

Necrotic enteritis is an critical intestinal disease in the poultry industry, and its occurrence is closely associated with the overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens (Cp) and the immune status of the host. With the trend toward reducing antibiotic use and developing sustainable poultry production, alternative phytogenics with safety and practical application have become an important focus in poultry industry. Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, a plant resource native to eastern Taiwan, contains various bioactive compounds and possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, suggesting its potential as a phytogenic feed additive. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Z. ailanthoides leaf powder on growth performance and intestinal health in Red-feather country chickens under C. perfringens challenge. A total of 200 one-day-old commercial male chicks were randomly assigned to five groups: a non-challenged control group, Cp-challenged control group, and group supplemented with 0.25%, 0.5%, or 1% Z. ailanthoides leaf powder. Each group consisted of four replicates with 10 birds per replicate. At 3, 5, and 8 weeks of age, birds i were orally administered 2 mL of Cp (2 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), whereas birds in the non-challenged control group received an equal volume of saline. Birds were sacrificed for sample collection at 4, 7, and 12 weeks of age. The results showed that dietary supplementation with 0.25% Z. ailanthoides improved body weight as compared with the challenged control group. Supplementation with 0.25% and 0.5% Z. ailanthoides alleviated jejunal and ileal injury as shown by significantly reduced lesion scores, with the 0.5% group exhibiting the most pronounced alleviation. In immune response, inflammation, and intestinal barrier function, CP challenge increased IL-1β levels in the serum, jejunum, and ileum, whereas Z. ailanthoides supplementation reduced this provocation. In addition, supplementation with 0.25% and 0.5% Z. ailanthoides increased intestinal IgA concentrations and regulated antimicrobial peptide gene expressions, suggesting enhanced mucosal immunity and maintenance of the intestinal mucus barrier. Furthermore, Z. ailanthoides supplementation reduced intestinal permeability, as indicated by serum FITC-dextran concentrations, and increased Claudin-1 protein expression in the jejunum and ileum, indicating improved mucosal integrity and barrier stability.
In conclusion, Z. ailanthoides, as a locally sourced phytogenic feed additive, has a great potential to improve growth performance, alleviate intestinal damage, reduce inflammatory responses, and maintain intestinal barrier function in red-feathered country chickens under Cp infection. Among the tested supplementation levels, 0.25% and 0.5% demonstrated superior beneficial effects. These findings suggest that Z. ailanthoides has a considerable potential as a alternative natural feed additive for antibiotic-reduced poultry production systems.
 
 
Keywords: Zanthoxylum ailanthoides; Clostridium perfringens; necrotic enteritis; red-feathered country chicken; intestinal health, growth performance

• Okagu, I. U., Ndefo, J. C., Aham, E. C., and Udenigwe, C. C. 2021. Zanthoxylum species: A comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and nutraceutical applications. Molecules, 26: 4023.
• Fathima, S., Hakeem, W. G. A., Shanmugasundaram, R., and Selvaraj, R. K. 2022. Necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens: A review on the pathogen, pathogenesis, and prevention. Microorganisms, 10: 1958.
• Mora, Z. V., Macías-Rodríguez, M. E., Arratia-Quijada, J., González-Torres, Y. S., Núñez-Gastélum, J. A., Villarruel-López, A., and Miranda, J. M. 2020. Clostridium perfringens as foodborne pathogen in broiler production: Pathophysiology and potential strategies for controlling necrotic enteritis. Animals, 10: 1718.
• Emami, N. K., Calik, A., White, M. B., Young, M., and Dalloul, R. A. 2019. Necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens: The role of tight junctions and mucosal immune responses in alleviating the effect of the disease. Microorganisms, 7: 231.
• Lee, K. W., and Lillehoj, H. S. 2021. Role of Clostridium perfringens necrotic enteritis B-like toxin in disease pathogenesis. Vaccines, 10: 61.
• Prescott, J. F., Parreira, V. R., Mehdizadeh Gohari, I., Lepp, D., and Gong, J. 2016. The pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens: What we know and what we need to know: A review. Avian Pathol. 45: 288–294.
• Chen, X., Li, Y., Zheng, A., Wang, Z., Wei, X., Li, S., Purba, A., Chen, Z., and Liu G. 2024. Effects of replacing soybean meal with Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed meal on growth performance, blood parameters, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens. Animals, 14: 1420.