Effects of probiotics on some acute phase proteins in broilers exposed to Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharides 1 , 2 Einfluss von Probiotika auf einige leberspezifische Blutproteine beim Broiler nach Belastung mit Salmonella typhimurium

Probiotics are defined as selected and concentrated amounts of live lactic acid bacteria (i.e. Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus spp.) by VANBELLE et al. (1990). Also the definition “direct fed microbials” (DFM) was proposed by American Food and Drug Association (FDA) instead of the definition “probiotic”. DFM are defined as live originated natural formed microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Some microbial species which are containing Bacillus spp. , Bifidobacterium spp. , Enterococcus faecium (Ent. faecium), Enterococcus faecalis (Ent. feacalis), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus), Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), Lactobacillus lactis (L. lactis), Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius), Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), Lactobacillus spp. , Streptococcus thermophilus (Str. thermophilus), several yeasts and undefined culture mixtures are used as probiotics (FULLER, 1989; PATTERSON and BURKHOLDER, 2003). JIN et al. (1997) suggested that probiotics can be an useful alternative to antibiotics if the correct bacteria is given with the optimal concentration to chicks that are under stress conditions. There are a number of reports investigated the effects of using probiotics in broilers for control of Salmonella (NURMI and RANTALA, 1973; PALMU and CAMELIN, 1997; SCHNEITZ et al., 1998). However, to our knowledge, there is no published data evaluating the effects of using probiotics on acute phase proteins (APPs) in chickens exposed to Salmonella or Salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Acute phase response is characterized by changes in concentrations of some liver-synthesized plasma proteins, and it is a nonplastic reaction to maintain homeostasis in case of immune deficiency, infection, inflammation, tissue damage and tumor formations (KENT, 1992). Despite an increase in recent years, the numbers of studies on changes of acute phase proteins induced by inflammation in poultry are more limited compared to those conducted in mammalian species (XIE et al., 2001). The relationship between avian APP levels and inflammatory (pathogens, inflammation) and non-inflammatory (gender, age, nutritional status) factors is of importance. KORVER and KLASING (1997) diagnosed some avian diseases (which are difficult to diagnose postmortem) by using APP levels that were increased during acute phase response. SAINI and WEBERT (1991) used APPs for determining early-inflammatory changes which occur prior to antibody synthesis and cannot be detected by visual inspection of poultry meat. APPs are used for selection of poultry lines on high immune response (CHAMANZA et al., 1999). 12 The most significant positive APPs in avian species are ceruloplasmin, α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), amyloid A, transferrin, mannan-binding protein, haptoglobin, hemopexin, fibrinogen and fibronectin (CHAMANZA et al., 1999). The acute phase proteins which were investigated in this study are: fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, total protein and albumin. Fibrinogen has an active role with tromboplastin by blood clotting (KANEKO, 1989). Ceruloplasmin is the most important plasma protein in the copper metabolism (HARRIS et al., 1997). The changes in the plasma total protein levels are used to diagnose several diseases (BELL, 1977). Transferrin has an important role in the iron metabolism (CHAMANZA et al., 1999). On the other hand, albumin was reported as a negative APP in poultry (TAKAHASHI et al., 1995). Acute phase response in various animal species under different pathological conditions requires further studies and classifications of APPs (CHAMANZA et al., 1999). The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of commercial probiotics (Broilact, Bioplus 2B) on immune response in Salmonella LPS-sensitized-broilers using APPs.