Fig. 1

DCA prevented subclinical NE-induced ileal inflammation. Cohorts of 16 birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg DCA. Birds were challenged with E. maxima at d 18 and C. perfringens at d 23, 24, and 25. Randomly selected five birds from each treatment groups were sacrificed and ileal tissue samples were collected. a Representative images of H&E-stained ileal tissue sections showing immune cell infiltration (yellow arrow) and blunted villi (green arrow). b Histopathology score of ileal tissue. c Fitting curve for histopathology scores in response to different doses of DCA. All graphs showed mean ± SEM. Different letters of a, b and c mean P < 0.05. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments. Scale bar is 200 μm