Zinc-loaded montmorillonite alleviates avian pathogenic Escherichia coli-induced intestinal barrier damage in broiler chickens

Lay Summary Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a major bacterial pathogen causing severe intestinal damage and systemic infections in broilers. APEC exposure triggers acute inflammation, compromises intestinal tight junctions, induces epithelial apoptosis, elevates gut permeability, disrupts microbial balance, and facilitates bacterial translocation, resulting in growth retardation, higher mortality, and carcass condemnation in broilers. Zinc-loaded montmorillonite (Zn-MMT), an aluminosilicate-based antibacterial agent, has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing growth performance, digestive health, antioxidant status, immunity, and intestinal barrier integrity in poultry and swine. This study investigated Zn-MMT's protective effects against APEC-induced intestinal dysfunction in broilers. Findings revealed that Zn-MMT supplementation effectively counteracted APEC-induced damage by suppressing inflammatory responses, restoring tight junction proteins, reducing epithelial apoptosis through gene regulation, maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, and improving antioxidant capacity. These results support the potential application of Zn-MMT as a dietary strategy to control APEC infections and enhance intestinal health in broiler production.