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Table 5 Effect of Bacillus coagulans on jejunal morphology and goblet cell numbers of broiler chickens challenged with NE (n = 6)

From: Effects of Bacillus coagulans supplementation on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis

 

Villous height, μm

Crypt depth, μm

VH/CDf

GC cellsg

Items

NEe

d 28

d 42

d 28

d 42

d 28

d 42

d 28

d 42

Bacillus coagulans, mg/kg

 0

–

1248

1161

281

218

4.65

5.45

44.3

45.5

 0

+

1048

1139

294

239

3.65

4.89

42.3

42.0

 400

–

1289

1527

241

202

5.99

7.93

52.5

53.3

 400

+

1208

1290

233

209

5.41

6.55

53.0

47.0

 SEMh

 

34.5

29.8

8.9

7.2

0.292

0.208

1.37

0.68

Main effect

 400

 

1249

1409a

237b

206

5.70a

7.24a

52.8a

50.1a

 0

 

1148

1150b

288a

228

4.15b

5.17b

43.3b

43.8b

 Challenged

 

1128

1215

264

224

4.53

5.72d

47.6

44.5d

 Non-challenged

 

1269

1344

261

211

5.32

6.69c

48.4

49.4c

P-valuesi

 Bacillus coagulans

 

0.169

<0.001

0.015

0.141

0.019

<0.001

0.005

0.001

 Challenged

 

0.065

0.051

0.877

0.363

0.196

0.028

0.788

0.004

 Challenged ×Bacillus coagulans

 

0.408

0.096

0.551

0.645

0.724

0.306

0.656

0.329

  1. a, b, c, d Means within the same column with different superscripts differ significantly (P < 0.05)
  2. eNE = Co-challenged with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens; −, without NE challenge; +, with NE challenge
  3. fVH/CD = villus height to crypt depth ratio
  4. gGC cells = goblet cells numbers per mm2
  5. hSEM, standard error of the mean
  6. iP-values represent the main effect of the diet, the main effect of NE challenge, and the interaction between the dietary treatments and NE challenge