Chickens represent one of the most important sources of animal protein for the human population. However, chickens also represent one of the most important reservoirs of Salmonella for humans. Measures to decrease the Salmonella incidence in chickens are therefore continuously sought. In this study, we tested feed supplementation with a mixture of C1 to C12 monoacylglycerides. At 0.7 and 1.5 kg per ton of feed, such supplementation significantly decreased Salmonella counts in the caecum but not in the liver. The chickens were infected on day 4 and the protective effect in the caecum was recorded on day 22 and 23 of life. Supplementation also decreased the inflammatory response of chickens to Salmonella infection determined by avidin, SAA, ExFABP, MMP7, IL1β, IL4I and MRP126 gene expression but did not affect immunoglobulin expression in the caecum. C1 to C12 monoacylglycerides can be used as a feed supplement which, if continuously provided in feed, decrease Salmonella counts in chickens just prior slaughter.

• Keywords
• Caecum, Chicken, Monoacylglyceride, Salmonella,
• MeSH
• Cecum microbiology   MeSH
• Diet veterinary   MeSH
• Animal Feed analysis   MeSH
• Chickens * MeSH
• Monoglycerides * administration & dosage   metabolism   MeSH
• Random Allocation MeSH
• Poultry Diseases * immunology   microbiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Disease Resistance * drug effects   MeSH
• Dietary Supplements analysis   MeSH
• Salmonella enteritidis * physiology   MeSH
• Salmonella Infections, Animal * immunology   microbiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Monoglycerides * MeSH

Chickens can be infected with Salmonella enterica at any time during their life. However, infections within the first hours and days of their life are epidemiologically the most important, as newly hatched chickens are highly sensitive to Salmonella infection. Salmonella is initially recognized in the chicken caecum by TLR receptors and this recognition is followed by induction of chemokines, cytokines and many effector genes. This results in infiltration of heterophils, macrophages, B- and T-lymphocytes and changes in total gene expression in the caecal lamina propria. The highest induction in expression is observed for matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). Expression of this gene is increased in the chicken caecum over 4000 fold during the first 10 days after the infection of newly hatched chickens. Additional highly inducible genes in the caecum following S. Enteritidis infection include immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1), serum amyloid A (SAA), extracellular fatty acid binding protein (ExFABP), serine protease inhibitor (SERPINB10), trappin 6-like (TRAP6), calprotectin (MRP126), mitochondrial ES1 protein homolog (ES1), interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 5 (IFIT5), avidin (AVD) and transglutaminase 4 (TGM4). The induction of expression of these proteins exceeds a factor of 50. Similar induction rates are also observed for chemokines and cytokines such as IL1β, IL6, IL8, IL17, IL18, IL22, IFNγ, AH221 or iNOS. Once the infection is under control, which happens approx. 2 weeks after infection, expression of IgY and IgA increases to facilitate Salmonella elimination from the gut lumen. This review outlines the function of individual proteins expressed in chickens after infection with non-typhoid Salmonella serovars.

• MeSH
• Cecum metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression * MeSH
• Chickens * MeSH
• Poultry Diseases genetics   microbiology   MeSH
• Avian Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Salmonella physiology   MeSH
• Salmonella Infections, Animal genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Avian Proteins MeSH