The effect of vitamin E on cellulitis in broiler chickens experiencing scratches in a challenge model.
Two experiments are described; each experiment contained five treatments with each treatment consisting of a specific diet and vitamin E at 8.82 mg, 41.89 mg, 74.96 mg, 108.03 mg, or 141.10 mg vitamin E per kilogram of feed. Birds were raised with continuous feed containing the various levels of vitamin E available throughout the experiment. At 4 wk of age, the birds were scratched on the breast and placed onto avian cellulitis Escherichia coli-seeded litter. One week later, the birds were euthanatized and lesion presence was noted. There appeared to be a positive correlation between vitamin E and the inhibition of cellulitis formation when the birds were fed a diet containing 74.96 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Conflicting results were seen in the two experiments when the birds were fed 41.89 and 108.03 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Both experiments had a high incidence of cellulitis in birds whose diets consisted of 141.10 mg vitamin E/kg feed.
Macklin
K S
KS
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, AL 36849-5416, USA.
Norton
R A
RA
Hess
J B
JB
Bilgili
S F
SF
D000818:Animals; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*
D014810:Vitamin E