Effects of long-term heat stress in an experimental model of avian necrotic enteritis

Author(s)

Calefi, Atilio Sersun ^[1] ; Bueno Honda, Bruno Takashi ^[1] ; Costola-de-Souza, Carolina ^[1] ; de Siqueira, Adriana ^[2] ; Namazu, Lilian Bernadete ^[1] ; Quinteiro-Filho, Wanderley Moreno ^[1] ; da Silva Fonseca, Juliana Garcia ^[1] ; Arrais Aloia, Thiago Pinheiro ^[1] ; Piantino-Ferreira, Antonio Jose ^[1] ; Palermo-Neto, Joao ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Neuroimmunomodulat Res Grp, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Pathol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: POULTRY SCIENCE; v. 93, n. 6, p. 1344-1353, JUN 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

Stressful conditions are predisposing factors for disease development. Heat stress is one of the most important stressors in poultry production. The reemergence of some previously controlled diseases {[}e.g., avian necrotic enteritis (NE)] has been extensively reported. The combination of bacterial infection and certain environmental factors have been reported to trigger the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of long-term heat stress (35 +/- 1 degrees C) on the development of NE in broiler chickens. For this purpose, 60 male broiler chickens were divided into the following 6 groups: control group (C), heat stressed control group (C/HS35), thioglycolate group (T), thioglycolate heat-stressed group (T/HS35), infected group (I), and infected heat-stressed group (I/HS35). The poultry of groups I and I/HS35 were experimentally infected with Clostridium perfringens via their feed from 15 to 21 d of life. Heat stress (35 +/- 1 degrees C) was constantly applied to the birds of the stressed groups from 14 to 21 d of life. The infected and heat-stressed broiler chickens presented a trend toward a decrease in gross lesion scores and significantly lower microscopic scores of necrosis in the duodenum and jejunum (P < 0.05), lower fusion of villi in the duodenum (P < 0.05), and lower congestion scores in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05) in relation to infected and non-heat-stressed chickens. Broilers of I/HS35 group also exhibited small number of heterophils in the duodenum and jejunum compared with those of the I group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the duodenum and jejunum of infected and heat-stressed broilers showed lower number of clostridia on the intestinal mucosa (P < 0.05). Data were discussed in light of a heat stress induced reduction on intestinal inflammation via a decrease in heterophil migration to the intestinal mucosa, which in turn might have reduced tissue damage during inflammation, hence preventing the development of a more severe form of NE. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/03103-2 - Evaluation of heat stress on the development of necrotic enteritis due to Clostridium perfringens in broilers
• Grantee: Atilio Sersun Calefi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 09/51886-3 - Neuroimmunomodulation: drugs, stress and cytokines on nervous, endocrine and immune systems relationships
• Grantee: João Palermo Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants