Chitosan Supplementation may Improve the Digestive Physiology and Health of Captive Leiothrix lutea. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le, Wang; Ting-Ting, Liao; Xi-Long, Wang; Gui-Ping, Yuan; Shi-Bin, Yuan
• Is Part Of: Avian biology research. Volume 8:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: chitosan -- Leiothrix lutea -- nutrient metabolism -- intestinal histology -- digestive enzymes; Ornithology -- Research -- Periodicals; 598.05
• DOI: 10.3184/175815515X14424111706317
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-1559

Abstract

We investigated the effects of supplemental chitosan on digestibility of feed nutrients, intestinal histology and digestive enzyme activity in the pancreas, duodenum and jejunoileum in Leiothrix lutea. Sixty-four adult birds were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments (basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% chitosan). The experiment lasted for 30 days, of which the last 4 days involved metabolic experiments. Compared with the control group, the addition of 0.5% chitosan enhanced the apparent metabolism rate of dry matter, metabolisable energy, crude fat and phosphorus, and decreased apparent metabolism rate of calcium; crude protein was unaffected. Compared with the control group, the villous height of the duodenum and ileum supplemented with 0.5% chitosan increased by 12.11% and 15.03%, while the crypt depth in the duodenum deepened by 6.48%. Supplemental chitosan decreased lipase and amylase activities; trypsin and chymotrypsin activities increased first and then decreased as the level of chitosan increased. These data suggest that dietary chitosan (0.5%) may improve the digestive physiology of L. lutea in captivity by increasing the apparent metabolic rate of most nutrients, improving intestinal health and enhancing digestive enzyme activity.