Immune and anti-oxidant effects of in ovo selenium proteinate on post-hatch experimental avian necrotic enteritis.

•In ovo selenium proteinate (BT) enhanced protection against avian necrotic enteritis.•BT-treatment increased body weights and levels of serum antibodies against α-toxin and NetB toxin.•BT-treatment decreased levels of serum MDA and affected serum CAT and SOD activities.•BT-treatment increased intestinal levels of gene transcripts encoding IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and PRDX6.