Zinc oxide nanoparticles prevent multidrug resistant Staphylococcus-induced footpad dermatitis in broilers

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Nanotechnology in Animal Health
• Veterinary Pathology

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes significant economic losses in broiler production through footpad dermatitis (FPD).
• Understanding the impact of nanoparticles on broiler health and disease resistance is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of dietary zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) in mitigating the adverse effects of MRSA-induced FPD in broilers.
• To assess the impact of ZONPs on broiler behavior, performance, welfare indicators, and histopathological changes.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-four male Indian River broilers were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 ppm ZONPs from 7 to 49 days of age.
• At 28 days, 70 broilers were injected with MRSA in both footpads; 14 served as uninfected controls.
• Evaluated parameters included activity levels, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), latency to lie time (LLT), serum cortisol, object crossing, tonic immobility (TI), gait scores (GS), gross lesions, and histopathology.

Main Results:

• ZONP-supplemented and control groups exhibited improved activity and reduced resting compared to infected groups.
• MRSA infection significantly reduced BWG and increased FCR; ZONPs mitigated these effects.
• ZONPs improved behavioral indicators (TI, GS, LLT) and reduced serum cortisol levels in infected broilers, alongside improved lesion scores.

Conclusions:

• Dietary ZONPs supplementation effectively ameliorates the negative consequences of MRSA-induced FPD in broilers.
• ZONPs demonstrate potential as a therapeutic agent to enhance broiler welfare and performance under bacterial challenge.