Effects of Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation on Campylobacter jejuni colonisation, performance and gut health following an experimental challenge in 10 day old chicks

This study explores the use of Ascophyllum nodosum extract as a natural strategy to reduce Campylobacter jejuni colonization in young broiler chickens—an important food safety concern. The researchers found that supplementing feed with the seaweed extract significantly reduced bacterial load in the cecum, a key site for contamination. However, this antimicrobial benefit came with a trade-off: treated birds showed reduced growth performance at 10 days of age. Regarding the gut health, the lower inclusion level (500 ppm) maintained normal ideal morphology, while the higher dose (1000 ppm) showed potential disruptive structural effects despite significantly upregulating genes linked to intestinal barrier function (OCLN, CLND-1) and mucosal protection (MUC2). The findings highlight the strong potential of seaweed-derived compounds as alternatives to antibiotics, but also underscore the need to optimize dosage and timing to avoid negative impacts on performance. Overall, this work contributes to ongoing efforts to improve poultry health and food safety using natural feed additives.