effects of euphorbia hirta and acidifiers supplement on resistance of broiler chickens against salmonella enteritidis infection: oral challenge model

the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of euphorbia hirta and acidifiers supplement on resistance of broiler chickens against salmonella enteritidis infection. a total of 120 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments. 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg organic acid (oa) and 3) basal diet supplemented with 7.5 g/kg e. hirta (eh7.5). at d 3, all chicks were inoculated by 1 ml s. enteritidis (1.5×108 cfu/bird). cloacal swabs were taken from the inoculated chicken on d 2, 10, 17, 23 and 28 post inoculation and the chicks were killed for microbiological examination on d 7, 14 and 28 after challenge. at seven and 14 days after challenge, the number of s. entritidis was significantly (p