title: Dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharide enhances neonatal immune responses in chickens during natural exposure to Eimeria spp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Control and eradication of intestinal infections caused by protozoa are important biomedical challenges worldwide. Prophylactic control of coccidiosis has been achieved with the use of anticoccidial drugs; however, the increase in anticoccidial resistance has raised concerns about the need for new alternatives for the control of coccidial infections. In fact, new strategies are needed to induce potent protective immune responses in neonatal individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of a dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharide (yeast cell wall; YCW) on the local, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and intestinal replication of coccidia were evaluated in a neonatal animal model during natural exposure to Eimeria spp. A total of 840 one-day-old chicks were distributed among four dietary regimens: A) Control diet (no YCW) plus anticoccidial vaccine); B) Control diet plus coccidiostat; C) YCW diet plus anticoccidial vaccination; and D) YCW diet plus coccidiostat. Weight gain, feed consumption and immunological parameters were examined within the first seven weeks of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary supplementation of 0.05% of YCW increased local mucosal IgA secretions, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and reduced parasite excretion in feces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall in neonatal animals can enhance the immune response against coccidial infections. The present study reveals the potential of YCW as adjuvant for modulating mucosal immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México. gagove@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gómez-Verduzco
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortes-Cuevas
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Coello
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avila-González
authors.forename: Gerardo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Nava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004539:Eimeria / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D008351:Mannans