Effects of Alphamune G on the performance, serum and haematological parameters of Escherichia coli-challenged turkey poults

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the response of turkey poults to levels of Alphamune G (0.00+, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.00 %-) when challenged with Escherichia coli orally for 7 days. The levels were the  treatments; 0.00%+ , Alphamune G at 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06% and 0.00%-. Each treatment was allotted 3 replicates of 6 poults. The experiment which was conducted for 56 days employed a completely  randomized design. E. coli was isolated from the intestinal digesta of a colisepticaemic chicken. 108  turkey poults were used in this study. Poults were infected with E. coli for 7 days through the drinking water. The cumulative weight, Feed intake and weight gain were highest for turkey poults fed 0.06% Alphamune G. The birds given the negative treatment (0.00 %-) had relatively poor performance  compared to the other treatments. The specific enzymes studied were significantly affected (p<0.05) by the treatments. ALT and AST were significantly highest for turkey poults fed the negative control. Enzyme values became optimum at 0.05% Alphamune G supplementation. At 0.06% of Alphamune G supplementation, cellular mitigations of the effects of E. coli were measurable. Urea and creatinine were not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the treatments. Haematological indices such as WBC and specific differential counts (lymphocytes and neutrophils) were affected significantly (P<0.05) by supplemental  levels of Alphamune G. The Inclusion of Alphamune G at 0.06% in the diets improved performance of turkey poults when challenged with Escherichia coli.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, Alphamune G, Poults, treatments, enzymes