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Does Early Antibiotic Administration To Turkeys Receiving A Coccidiostat In The Diet Affect The Yolk Sac Absorption Rate, The Maternal Antibody Levels, And The Immune System Efficiency?* Cover

Does Early Antibiotic Administration To Turkeys Receiving A Coccidiostat In The Diet Affect The Yolk Sac Absorption Rate, The Maternal Antibody Levels, And The Immune System Efficiency?*

Open Access
|Sep 2026

Figures & Tables

Table 1.

Ingredient composition and nutrient content of turkey diets (g/100 g, as-fed basis) (presented in Mikulski et al., 2022)

1–45–89–12
Ingredients
  wheat37.0045.1346.18
  maize10.0010.0015.00
  soybean meal, 46% CP42.6533.9525.75
  rapeseed meal full fat 20.7% CP4.005.006.00
  soybean oil1.211.363.00
  sodium bicarbonate0.150.150.15
  sodium chloride0.200.200.20
  limestone1.411.401.28
  monocalcium phosphate1.871.541.15
  L Lysine HCL0.520.450.44
  DL Methionine0.320.210.21
  L-Threonine0.140.080.11
  Ronozyme P0.010.010.01
  Ronozyme WX0.020.020.02
  vitamin-mineral premix10.500.500.50
Calculated nutrient content
  metabolizable energy, kcal/kg275028503050
  crude protein26.5023.5020.50
  lysine1.751.501.30
  methionine0.680.540.51
  Met + Cys1.120.950.88
  threonine1.080.900.82
  calcium1.201.100.95
  available phosphorus0.580.500.40
  Na0.140.140.14
Analyzed chemical composition
  dry matter89.0989.5688.43
  crude protein26.5924.1621.49
  crude fat4.425.416.82

1 Provided per kg diet (feeding periods: weeks 0–4, 5–8, 9–12): mg: retinol 3.78, 3.38 and 2.88, cholecalciferol 0.13, 0.12 and 0.10, α-tocopheryl acetate 100, 90 and 80, vit. K3 5.8, 5.6 and 4.8, thiamine 5.4, 4.7 and 4.0, riboflavin 8.4, 7.5 and 6.4, pyridoxine 6.4, 5.6 and 4.8, cobalamin 0.032, 0.028 and 0.024, biotin 0.32, 0.28 and 0.24, pantothenic acid 28, 24 and 20, nicotinic acid 84, 75 and 64, folic acid 3.2, 2.8 and 2.4, Fe 64, 60, 56 and 48, Mn 120, 112 and 96, Zn 110, 103 and 88, Cu 23, 19 and 16, I 3.2, 2.8 and 2.4, Se 0.30, 0.28 and 0.24, respectively.

Table 2.

Experiment scheme

CON (without antibiotic)ENR (enrofloxacin)DOX (doxycycline)
Monensin− (without)CON−ENR−DOX−
+ (present)CON+ENR+DOX+

[i] CON− = group without monensin and receiving no antibiotics; CON+ = group with monensin and receiving no antibiotics; ENR− = group without monensin and receiving enrofloxacin; ENR+ = group with monensin and receiving enrofloxacin; DOX− = group without monensin and receiving doxycycline; DOX+ = group with monensin and receiving doxycycline.

Table 3.

Primer sequences and their corresponding Tm values

TargetSequence (5′→3′)Tm (°C)
GAPDHCCCTGAGCTCAATGGGAAGC55.9
TCAGCAGCAGCCTTCACTAC53.8
ACTBTACCCCATTGAACACGGCAT51.8
CTCCTCAGGGGCTACTCTCA55.9
18S rRNACGAAAGCATTTGCCAAGAAT47.7
GGCATCGTTTATGGTCGG50.3
IgYGAATGGTTGGTGGACGGAGT53.8
GCATCCCTTGACGTGATCCT53.8
IFN-gammaCTGACAAGTCAAAGCCGCAC53.8
AGTCATTCATCTGAAGCTTGGC53.0
IL-6AAGGCGTGGATAGAGAAG48.0
TGACAGATCGGTAACAGAG48.9
Table 4.

Growth performance parameters of turkeys (from 1 to 85 days of life)

ItemnBW 1d, gBW 85d, kgBWG, kgDBWG, gDFI, gFCR, kg/kgBird mortality/%
Antibiotic1
  CON1660.88.0457.98490.2187.72.0810 / 0.0
  ENR1660.98.1748.11391.5192.82.10911 /2.5
  DOX1660.78.2268.16692.5192.82.0852 / 0.4
Monensin2
    −2460.98.1298.06891.0192.42.115 a8 / 1.2
  +2460.88.1688.10791.8189.82.069 b5 / 0.7
Group
  CON−860.88.0157.95589.8189.52.1100 / 0.0
  CON+860.88.0748.01390.5185.92.0530 / 0.0
  ENR−861.28.2068.14591.5195.72.1416 / 2.7
  ENR+860.78.1438.08291.4189.82.0775 / 2.2
  DOX−860.78.1668.10691.6191.92.0942 / 0.9
  DOX+860.88.2878.22693.3193.62.0770 / 0.0
  SEM0.1390.0400.0400.4921.0600.007
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.8950.1830.1820.1810.0730.205NA
  monensin (M)0.6700.6370.6360.4400.2040.001NA
  A × M interaction0.6240.6480.6490.7780.2860.309NA

NA = not analyzed.

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +. BW – body weight, BWG – body weight gain, DBWG – daily body weight gain, DFI – daily feed intake, FCR – feed conversation ratio.

Table 5.

Body weight (BW) of turkeys, total yolk sac weight (TYS), and relative yolk sac weight (RYS) at 1, 3 and 5 days of life

ItemnDay 1Day 3Day 5
BW, gTYS, gRYS, % of BWBW, gTYS, gRYS, % of BWBW, gTYS, gRYS, % of BW
Antibiotic1
  CON4871.022.673.7591.150.971.07117.80.260.23
  ENR4867.532.744.0591.240.890.98117.80.250.22
  DOX4869.402.794.0692.790.810.88114.40.210.18
Monensin2
  −7270.362.733.9193.56 a0.860.93116.10.240.21
  +7268.282.734.0089.90 b0.921.02117.30.240.21
Group
  CON−2471.652.623.6592.050.860.94116.20.250.23
  CON+2470.392.733.8690.251.081.20119.50.270.23
  ENR−2469.872.984.2794.890.961.02118.00.240.21
  ENR+2465.202.503.8387.590.820.94117.60.260.23
  DOX−2469.562.613.8193.750.760.83114.10.230.20
  DOX+2469.242.964.3291.840.860.93114.80.180.16
  SEM0.5960.0100.1470.7200.0360.0391.1300.0310.028
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.0530.8950.6770.5650.1800.1740.3790.7600.884
  monensin (M)0.0750.9910.7910.0100.4090.2600.5870.9930.798
  A × M interaction0.2790.2240.3360.1940.0960.2760.7890.8530.844

Relative sac weight percentage values were subjected to the Bliss (arc sine) transformation for statistical comparisons. The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 6.

Anti-aMPV (TRT) antibody titers in the yolk sac (at 1, 3 and 5 days of life) and blood serum (at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 56 days of life) of turkeys

ItemnYolk sacBlood serum
1d3d5d1d3d5d7d56d
Antibiotic1
  CON481101.3179.8132.223446.42024.12228.81006.2239.5
  ENR481174.8169.1233.323624.51558.41954.21437.4154.5
  DOX48858.0222.654.123345.91363.51810.91956.9117.3
Monensin2
  −721119.1230.9203.223247.31689.22431.2 a1615.5207.5
  +72970.3150.176.563697.21608.21564.8 b1318.2133.4
Group
  CON−24997.9112.7191.823051.91977.22415.31281.4284.7
  CON+241204.6246.972.613840.92071.02042.3731.0194.3
  ENR−241381.2246.8320.544219.51531.72446.81106.6197.8
  ENR+24968.491.44146.093029.61585.11461.61768.3111.2
  DOX−24978.2333.197.292470.71558.62431.32458.5139.9
  DOX+24737.8112.010.964221.11168.41190.51455.394.63
  SEM121.937.4637.02299.8159.7192.6196.239.82
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.5460.8260.1400.9290.2290.6640.1390.409
  monensin (M)0.5460.2820.0870.4550.8010.0250.4450.333
  A × M interaction0.5700.1220.8850.1290.7920.6370.1980.965

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 7.

Anti-NDV antibody titers in the yolk sac (at 1, 3 and 5 days of life) and blood serum (at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 56 days of life) of turkeys

ItemnYolk sacBlood serum
1d3d5d1d3d5d7d56d
Antibiotic1
  CON48262.4144.7561.81967.4798.81221.5462.9283.3
  ENR48537.566.6646.461267.6528.4915.4655.3303.0
  DOX48264.961.2149.381123.8526.61028.8670.9376.1
Monensin2
  −72274.2105.9284.15 a1064.8666.21217.1647.9373.8 a
  +72435.675.8320.95 b1174.4569.6893.3544.9267.8 b
Group
  CON−24152.2150.5493.17942.5776.31287.0456.6335.3
  CON+24372.6138.9730.45992.3821.21156.0469.3231.3
  ENR−24410.596.1763.631418.4705.61001.8770.4335.8
  ENR+24664.537.1529.291116.7351.2829.0540.3270.3
  DOX−24260.071.0595.65833.3516.61362.6716.8450.4
  DOX+24269.951.363.101414.3536.5695.0625.1301.7
  SEM64.1717.9914.65100.869.63108.169.4427.01
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.1340.1080.9020.4790.1880.5070.4030.335
  monensin (M)0.2080.4040.0320.5870.4880.1370.4630.049
  A × M interaction0.7000.8470.7190.2020.4240.5320.7770.819

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 8.

Anti-ORT antibody titers in the yolk sac (at 1, 3 and 5 days of life) and blood serum (at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 56 days of life) of turkeys

ItemnYolk sacBlood serum
1d3d5d1d3d5d7d56d
Antibiotic1
  CON48459.2179.0119.142991.8 b2120.43105.01455.717649.8
  ENR48725.5180.6329.674597.6 a1640.22535.4915.618348.9
  DOX48407.2166.0181.383480.1 ab1878.72664.01191.517759.8
Monensin2
  −72491.9163.1178.723488.02081.73303.3 a1359.418334.7
  +72569.4187.3241.413891.61677.82233.0 b1015.817504.4
Group
  CON−24500.6201.4164.60 b3464.42523.73284.71465.319110.2
  CON+24417.8156.573.67 b2519.21717.02925.41446.016189.4
  ENR−24726.1216.784.06 b4025.91935.03263.31047.617867.9
  ENR+24724.9144.5575.28 a5169.21345.41807.6783.718830.0
  DOX−24248.971.18287.49 ab2973.81786.53362.11565.218025.9
  DOX+24565.4260.875.27 b3986.41971.01965.9817.917493.6
  SEM75.0338.9555.15262.1158.7233.0108.8540.0
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.1820.9860.2660.0350.4690.5730.1260.853
  monensin (M)0.6060.7590.5630.4330.2050.0220.1120.446
  A × M interaction0.5190.3300.0200.1810.4100.5530.3740.342

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 9.

Total IgY antibody levels in the yolk sac (at 1, 3 and 5 days of life) and blood serum (at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 56 days of life) of turkeys

ItemnYolk sac (mg/total yolk sac)Blood serum (mg/mL)
1d3d5d1d3d5d7d56d
Antibiotic1
  CON4821.1610.0792.9533.2825.6217.594 a5.133 b5.718 a
  ENR4827.237.1692.8513.6065.4506.913 ab4.760 b3.622 b
  DOX4832.028.5482.1473.8655.9586.524 b6.174 a2.842 b
Monensin2
  −7220.67 b7.156 b2.5273.190 b5.4997.1145.2133.794
  +7232.93 a10.042 a2.7753.979 a5.8546.9075.4984.328
Group
  CON−2416.886.735 b3.3652.839 b5.7608.0755.1855.259
  CON+2425.4313.424 a2.5423.7265.4827.1135.0826.178
  ENR−2423.417.046 b2.0443.2655.4746.4384.1673.095
  ENR+2431.047.292 b3.6593.9475.4277.3895.3534.149
  DOX−2421.737.688 b2.1713.4655.2626.8286.2873.028
  DOX+2442.309.409 ab2.1234.2646.6536.2196.0602.657
  SEM2.3550.5560.3130.1600.1700.1750.1870.297
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.1570.0850.5220.3220.4590.0380.0050.000
  monensin (M)0.0090.0070.6930.0140.2940.5460.4320.345
  A × M interaction0.4410.0370.2720.9650.0950.0550.2140.524

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 10.

Total IgM antibody levels in the yolk sac (at 1, 3 and 5 days of life) and blood serum (at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 56 days of life) of turkeys

ItemnYolk sac (μg/total yolk sac)Blood serum (μg/mL)
1d3d5d1d3d5d7d56d
Antibiotic1
  CON48264.1141.07 a22.1848.6442.50 a72.2761.32 b49.45
  ENR48243.090.21 b24.8433.9740.44 a61.3261.57 b52.89
  DOX48239.797.93 b15.0948.6931.53 b64.4688.28 ab49.40
Monensin2
  −72242.8100.3019.4635.62 b44.44 a70.1567.7751.98
  +72255.1119.1821.9451.91 a31.87 b61.8873.0049.19
Group
  CON−24225.5121.6826.7938.59 ab47.4775.1459.3751.35
  CON+24302.7160.4617.5858.70 ab37.5269.4163.2747.56
  ENR−24266.393.1517.9436.62 b46.5160.1464.4950.97
  ENR+24219.687.2731.7331.33 b34.3762.5158.6454.81
  DOX−24236.486.0613.6731.66 b39.3375.1879.4653.62
  DOX+24243.1109.8016.5165.72 a23.7353.7397.1045.19
  SEM12.166.3222.8973.0671.5903.6653.9321.726
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.6740.0010.3680.0620.0060.4570.0050.643
  monensin (M)0.6120.1210.6700.0060.0000.2620.4950.422
  A × M interaction0.1170.3110.2730.0220.7310.4060.4540.348

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 11.

Effects of treatments on immunocompetent organ weights (spleen and bursa of Fabricius) at 7 and 56 days of turkeys' life

Itemn7 days56 days
Body weight, gSpleenBursa of FabriciusBody weight, gSpleenBursa of Fabricius
total weight, grelative weight, % of bwtotal weight, grelative weight, % of bwtotal weight, grelative weight, % of bwtotal weight, grelative weight, % of bw
Antibiotic1
  CON16158.7 ab0.1130.0710.2740.1743203.8540.0894.4580.103
  ENR16168.3 a0.1240.0740.3070.1843563.7820.0874.3110.099
  DOX16154.4 b0.1120.0730.2560.1642743.9520.0924.2960.101
Monensin2
  −24165.1 a0.1160.0700.300 a0.1843163.6340.0844.4960.104
  +24155.9 b0.1170.0750.258 b0.1743174.0910.0954.2150.097
Group
  CON−8162.90.1060.0650.2840.1742863.5610.0844.4100.103
  CON+8154.50.1200.0770.2650.1743544.1460.0954.5070.104
  ENR−8175.20.1280.0730.3440.2043963.5760.0814.4960.102
  ENR+8161.40.1210.0750.2700.1743163.9890.0934.1260.095
  DOX−8157.10.1140.0730.2730.1742663.7660.0884.5810.108
  DOX+8151.70.1100.0730.2390.1642814.1370.0964.0110.093
  SEM2.2090.0060.0030.0100.00533.210.1210.0030.1090.002
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.0220.9890.9890.0790.4290.6220.8520.6450.8040.696
  monensin (M)0.0280.5550.5550.0260.1120.9900.0700.0710.2110.177
  A × M interaction0.6900.8540.8540.4520.5100.6770.9310.9650.4580.515

Relative spleen and bursa of Fabricius mass percentage values were subjected to the Bliss (arc sine) transformation for statistical comparisons. The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 12.

Percentages of T-cell and B-cell subpopulations in the blood of turkeys

Itemn7 days56 days
CD4+CD8+CD4+CD8+IgM+CD4+CD8+CD4+CD8+IgM+
Antibiotic1
  CON1620.081.6730.5335.23423.54 a2.6750.3417.231
  ENR1619.011.4420.5735.14421.71 a2.2050.3196.077
  DOX1621.421.8010.6045.58815.49 b1.8070.2406.039
Monensin2
  −2423.07 a1.885 a0.5945.30421.132.3960.3086.789
  +2417.27 b1.393 b0.5465.33919.362.0620.2926.108
Group
  CON−826.512.1030.5145.04118.80 b2.353 ab0.2907.091
  CON+813.651.2430.5535.42628.28 a2.998 a0.3917.370
  ENR−821.351.4930.6605.04129.34 a2.886 a0.3817.198
  ENR+816.661.3910.4855.24614.08 b1.524 b0.2564.956
  DOX−821.352.0590.6095.83015.26 b1.950 ab0.2536.079
  DOX+821.491.5440.6005.34515.73 b1.664 b0.2285.999
SEM1.3780.1060.0200.0991.2290.1610.0290.292
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.7560.3390.3250.1480.0010.0640.3540.155
  monensin (M)0.0330.0180.2150.8560.3180.2600.7870.231
  A × M interaction0.1370.3090.0690.1590.0000.0270.3030.151

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 13.

Percentages of T-cell and B-cell subpopulations in the spleen of turkeys

Itemn7 days56 days
CD4+CD8+CD4+CD8+IgM+CD4+CD8+CD4+CD8+IgM+
Antibiotic1
  CON1643.5613.951.5778.07436.6619.30 b1.91714.27
  ENR1646.5914.201.7398.64833.6923.96 a2.05315.25
  DOX1645.9314.401.7408.62634.2024.04 a2.22114.60
Monensin2
  −2446.0314.971.836 a8.29335.5020.75 b2.02112.61 b
  +2444.6813.391.534 b8.60634.2024.12 a2.10616.80 a
Group
  CON−845.7113.761.7357.39435.0021.14 ab2.064 ab12.84
  CON+841.4114.141.4198.75438.3117.46 b1.770 b15.71
  ENR−847.1514.561.9169.00634.2920.46 b2.123 ab13.18
  ENR+846.0313.831.5618.29033.0927.46 a1.984 ab17.31
  DOX−845.2416.591.8588.47837.2020.65 b1.878 b11.80
  DOX+846.6112.221.6238.77531.2027.44 a2.565 a17.39
SEM0.9630.6740.0500.2690.8270.8060.0750.623
P value
  Antibiotic (A)0.4210.9640.2530.6260.2750.0040.2080.774
  Monensin (M)0.4930.2550.0020.5680.4190.0100.5410.001
  A × M interaction0.4990.3420.8600.3090.0680.0010.0130.621

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

Table 14.

Immunological parameters in the blood plasma of turkeys at 7 days of life

ItemnIgA total, ng/mLTLR-4, ng/mLIL-2, ng/mLIL-4, pg/mLIL-6, ng/LIL-8, pg/mLIL-12, ng/mLIL-13, pg/mLIL-1ß, pg/mLTNFα, g/mLIFN-γ, pg/mLNF-kB, ng/mLCRP, ng/ml
Antibiotic1
  CON16630.01.506 a5.01152.78 ab34.467.578 b14.77 b20.4166.56 b382.1113.19 a2.69410.680 a
  ENR16593.50.847 b4.96047.53 b36.828.234 b18.66 a18.9973.64 ab382.277.70 b2.5904.918 b
  DOX16521.60.900 b5.32556.44 a38.3111.192 a16.60 ab19.3587.36 a371.7120.59 a2.4389.130 a
Monensin2
  −24526.41.279 a4.71750.6538.148.85116.0018.6869.12365.5112.57 a2.6849.221 a
  +24637.10.889 b5.48153.8534.919.15217.3520.4882.59391.895.08 b2.4657.264 b
Group
  CON−8578.52.268 a4.084 b52.0735.41 ab7.63913.96 c19.7966.38 b365.4142.28 a3.346 a12.520 a
  CON+8681.60.744 b5.938 ab53.4833.50 ab7.51815.58 bc21.0366.74 b398.884.11 bc2.042 b8.841 abc
  ENR−8568.30.807 b5.679 ab49.3642.61 a7.25621.19 a18.2570.67 b383.872.01 c2.726 ab8.236 bc
  ENR+8618.70.888 b4.241 b45.7031.03 b9.21216.12 bc19.7376.61 b380.583.39 bc2.455 ab1.599 d
  DOX−8432.50.764 b4.388 b50.5236.41 ab11.65912.85 c18.0070.30 b347.2123.42 a1.979 b6.906 c
  DOX+8610.81.036 b6.263 a62.3640.21 ab10.72520.36 ab20.69104.42 a396.1117.75 ab2.897 ab11.353 ab
SEM28.420.0990.2321.4961.2500.4360.6280.6612.9359.3005.0020.1180.632
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.2770.0000.7350.0370.4110.0010.0060.6740.0030.8730.0000.5800.000
  monensin (M)0.0520.0040.0700.2490.1770.6950.1520.1890.0060.1700.0180.2800.016
  A × M interaction0.6410.0000.0020.0740.0350.2890.0000.8960.0120.5180.0010.0000.000

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–d Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +. IgA – immunoglobulin A, TLR-4 – Toll-like receptor 4, IL-2 – interleukin 2, IL-4 – interleukin 4, IL-6 – interleukin 6, IL-8 – interleukin 8, IL-12 – interleukin 12, IL-13 – interleukin 13, IL-1ß – interleukin 1ß, TNFα – tumor necrosis factor α, IFN-γ – interferon γ, NF-kB – nuclear factor kappa light chain, CRP – C-reactive protein.

Table 15.

Immunological parameters in the blood plasma of turkeys at 56 days of life

ItemnIgA total, ng/mLTLR-4, ng/mLIL-2, ng/mLIL-4, pg/mLIL-6, ng/LIL-8, pg/mLIL-12, ng/mLIl-13, pg/mLIL-1ß, pg/mLTNFα, pg/mLIFN-γ, pg/mLNF-kB, mg/mLCRP, ng/ml
Antibiotic1
  CON16654.31.1796.726 y82.45 a47.359.69425.93 b17.14103.9223.6 a46.36 b2.8060.821
  ENR16673.71.1448.464 x83.64 a45.2010.58335.55 a19.99128.5171.8 b52.89 ab3.3650.860
  DOX16779.81.2658.541 x58.00 b47.629.85930.02 ab19.09123.7174.7 b57.66 a2.8490.850
Monensin2
  −24795.6 a1.1387.40980.52 a44.988.448 b30.3716.84 b97.1 b199.242.47 b2.457 b0.905
  +24609.6 b1.2538.41268.87 b48.4611.642 a30.6320.64 a140.3 a180.962.13 a3.556 a0.783
Group
  CON−8773.2 abc0.766 c5.86879.69 a48.647.87012.64 b11.85 b58.3 b210.4 a21.64 c1.725 c0.615 b
  CON+8535.4 bc1.593 a7.58385.22 a46.0611.51839.22 a22.44 a149.5 a236.9 a71.07 a3.886 a1.028 a
  ENR−8843.9 a1.303 ab8.34391.31 a46.469.56238.88 a22.05 a114.1 a173.4 ab46.36 b3.335 ab1.048 a
  ENR+8503.4 c0.984 bc8.58675.97 a43.9411.60432.21 a17.93 ab142.9 a170.3 ab59.41 ab3.394 ab0.672 ab
  DOX−8769.6 abc1.346 ab8.01570.56 ab39.837.91339.58 a16.60 ab118.8 a213.9 a59.40 ab2.309 bc1.050 a
  DOX+8790.0 ab1.183 abc9.06745.43 c55.4011.80520.45 b21.57 a128.7 a135.6 b55.91 ab3.388 ab0.649 ab
SEM31.800.0590.3263.1861.8220.4301.8410.9515.9658.2732.7260.1560.047
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.1320.5580.0320.0000.8320.5870.0040.3590.0600.0060.0230.1140.916
  monensin (M)0.0010.2250.1090.0250.3340.0000.9070.0250.0000.2020.0000.0000.126
  A × M interaction0.0250.0000.6200.0480.0680.5490.0000.0030.0010.0120.0000.0030.000

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–c Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +.

IgA – immunoglobulin A, TLR-4 – Toll-like receptor 4, IL – 2-interleukin 2, IL-4 – interleukin 4, IL-6 – interleukin 6, IL-8 – interleukin 8, IL-12 – interleukin 12, IL-13 – interleukin 13, IL-1ß – interleukin 1ß, TNFα – tumor necrosis factor α, IFN-γ – interferon γ, NF-kB – nuclear factor kappa light chain, CRP– C-reactive protein.

Table 16.

Expression of genes in the blood of 7-day-old and 56-day-old turkeys

Itemn7 days56 days
IgYIL-6IFN-γIgYIL-6IFN-γ
Antibiotic1
  CON160.558 a0.330 b0.975 b0.586 a0.295 b0.989 a
  ENR160.541 b0.349 a0.995 a0.575 b0.292 b0.975 b
  DOX160.544 b0.342 ab0.985 ab0.577 b0.305 a0.983 ab
Monensin2
  −240.5480.3380.9850.5820.2990.980
  +240.5470.3420.9850.5770.2950.985
Group
  CON−80.5570.3260.9720.5900.2990.987
  CON+80.5600.3330.9780.5830.2910.991
  ENR−80.5420.3470.9970.5760.2960.973
  ENR+80.5390.3510.9940.5750.2880.977
  DOX−80.5460.3410.9880.5810.3030.980
  DOX+80.5410.3430.9820.5720.3070.986
SEM0.0030.0020.0030.0020.0020.002
P value
  antibiotic (A)0.0100.0020.0090.0110.0030.025
  monensin (M)0.7290.3200.8870.0750.1670.291
  A × M interaction0.7870.8970.6400.4910.1740.963

The tables present the original mean and the pooled standard error of the mean (SEM).

a–b Means within the same column with different letters differ significantly (P<0.05).

1 Treatment: CON, untreated control; MON, treated with monensin at a dose rate of 90 mg/kg feed for 56 days; ENR, treated with enrofloxacin via drinking water at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life; DOX, treated with doxycycline via drinking water at a dose rate of 50 mg/kg BW for the first 5 days of life.

2 Denotes without monensin − or with monensin +. IgY – immunoglobulin Y, IL-6 – interleukin 6, IFN-γ – interferon γ.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2025-0125 | Journal eISSN: 2300-8733 (formerly 1642-3402) | Journal ISSN: 1642-3402
Language: English
Page range: 1271 - 1287
Submitted on: May 13, 2025
Accepted on: Oct 29, 2025
Published on: Sep 6, 2026
Published by: National Research Institute of Animal Production
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Related subjects:

© 2026 Radosław Smagieł, Katarzyna Ognik, Ewelina Cholewińska, Przemysław Sołek, Dariusz Mikulski, Bartłomiej Tykałowski, Jan Jankowski, Krzysztof Tutaj, published by National Research Institute of Animal Production
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.