Evaluation of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles as potential alternatives to antibiotics for managing fowl typhoid in broilers
Muhammad Atif Raza, Eungyung Kim, Muhammad Shakeel, Muhammad Fiaz, Lei Ma, Hyeonjin Kim, Chae Yeon Kim, Zhibin Liu, Ke Huang, Kanghyun Park, Muhammad Tariq Javed, Myoung-Ok Kim
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance poses challenges to humans and animals, especially to the poultry sector in control of fowl typhoid with antibiotics, leading to increased mortality and food insecurity. Therefore, it is essential to develop more effective medications as alternatives to antibiotics. Currently, zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles are of such significant interest due to their antibacterial properties. This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles against fowl typhoid in broilers. Ninety broiler chicks were raised under suitable management conditions. On day 10 of age, chicks were divided into six groups: control negative, control positive, T<sub>1</sub>, T<sub>2</sub>, T<sub>3</sub>, and T<sub>4</sub>. On day 19 of age, chicks in all groups except control negative were infected with <italic>Salmonella gallinarum </italic>(0.2 mL, 10<sup>8</sup> CFU/mL). After appearance of clinical signs, the treatments (Florfenicol; 50 mg/L drinking water (T<sub>1</sub>), and zinc oxide + copper oxide nanoparticles; 25+10 mg/Kg/d (T<sub>2</sub>), 37.5+15 mg/Kg/d (T<sub>3</sub>), and 50+20 mg/Kg/d (T<sub>4</sub>)) were administered to chicks. Chicks were sacrificed on 26th and 30th day of age, and samples of blood and tissue were obtained. Hematological analysis with gross and histopathological examination of spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius was performed. Results revealed that there was no visible congestion in spleen and thymus of T<sub>3</sub> and T<sub>4</sub> at 11<sup>th</sup> day post infection. Antibody level against new castle