2019, Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part B

author(s)
Muralidhar S Talkad, Prashanth D’souza and Saravanakumar Marimuthu

abstract
The present study was conducted with objective to evaluate the effect of Stodi^® on ileum and Meckel’s diverticulum gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) proliferation by histomorphometry analysis. 960 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided into four groups: normal control group, negative control group and two Stodi^® treatment groups (500 g/ton and 750 g/ton). All the groups except normal control were challenged with MgCl₂.6H₂O to increase the cecal moisture content and subsequently to disturb the cecal microbiota. At day 42, samples were taken from different parts of small intestine (ileum and Meckel’s diverticulum) and fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde (pH 7.4). Sections of 4 μm thickness were made using microtome and stained by H&E. The results of the present study revealed that area of GALT (μm²) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the lamina propria of ileum and Meckel’s diverticulum in Stodi^® (750 g/ton) treated group as compared to negative control. The knowledge gained from this research study is that dietary supplementation of Stodi^® at 750 g/ton of feed caused proliferation of morphology and associated immune structures of GALT in both ileum and Meckel’s diverticulum proving Stodi^® as a potential immunomodulatory candidate to enhances the performance traits in Ross 308 broiler chickens.