Basal diet composition contributes to differential performance, intestinal health, and immunological responses to a microalgae-based feed ingredient in broiler chickens

Novel feed ingredients may improve poultry health, but functionality of these ingredients may vary across basal diet formulations. This study evaluated a proprietary algae ingredient's effects on broiler performance, intestinal health, systemic immunity, and metabolic/immune kinotypes between corn- or wheat-based diets. Ross 308 broilers were housed in 80 floor pens (14 birds/pen) and assigned to 1 of 4 corn or wheat-based diets +/- 0.175% algae ingredient for 42 d. At the end of each 14 d starter, grower, and finisher period, 10 birds/treatment were euthanized for tissue collection to assess intestinal histomorphology, systemic immune cell populations by flow cytometry and kinotypes by peptide arrays. On d 28 and 29, forty-three birds/treatment underwent a 12 h feed restriction challenge followed by a fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran intestinal permeability assay. For the entire 42 d study, wheat-based diets improved feed conversion rate (FCR) by 5 points compared to corn-based diets (P < 0.0001). Performance benefits related to algae inclusion were diet dependent, with algae inclusion improving 42 d FCR by 6 points only in corn-based diets (P = 0.006). Birds fed wheat-based diets had reduced splenic monocyte/macrophage, CD1.1(+), and T cell populations in the first 14 d (P < 0.0001) and reduced serum fluorescence on d 28/29 (P = 0.0002). Algae inclusion in the corn-based diet increased villus height in the duodenum on d 28 and jejunum on d 42, while reducing splenic CD3(+) CD8 alpha(+) cytotoxic T cells 13.4 to 27.5% compared to the corn-based control at the same timepoints (P < 0.0001). Kinome results showed a significant innate immune toll-like receptor (TLR) response via MyD88 at d 14 in the small intestine of birds fed corn-based diets with algae that shifted to a more growth factor and adaptive immune-oriented response by d 42. Concurrent with immune changes, signaling changes indicative of lipid metabolism in the small intestine, ceca, and liver were seen in birds fed the corn-based diet with algae. The observed differential responses to basal diet composition and algae inclusion emphasize the need to comparatively evaluate feed ingredients in various diet formulations.