Intestinal Microflora, Morphology, and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens Fed Various Organic Selenium and Probiotic Sources

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), selenium-chitosan (SeCh), and selenized glucose (SeGlu) as organic selenium sources, probiotics, and the interactions between selenium sources and probiotics on the intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology, and immune response in broilers. In a 3×2 factorial treatment design, 300 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six experimental groups. Selenium sources (0.3 mg/kg SeY, SeCh, and SeGlu) and probiotic levels (0 and 100 mg/kg) were among the factors investigated. Five-floor pens with 10 birds each have been used to replicate the treatments. Compared to SeY, broiler chickens fed SeCh or SeGlu had lower coliform bacteria counts, higher lactic acid bacteria counts, and lactic acid bacteria/coliform ratios in the ileum (p<0.05). Interaction results showed that birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu plus probiotics had higher villus height per crypt depth, villus surface area, and goblet cell density, as well as lower epithelial cell layer thickness in the ileum (p<0.05). At 28 and 42 days, birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu had the highest total antibody response to sheep red blood cells, IgG, and IgM titers (p<0.05). Birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu plus Probiotic had higher IgG levels than SeY without Probiotic (p<0.05). As a result, it is possible to conclude that SeCh and SeGlu, as novel and simple Se sources plus Probiotic, can improve intestinal microflora, morphology, and immune response in broiler chickens when compared to SeY alone.