Innate Immune Cocktail Partially Protects Broilers Against Cellulitis and Septicemia

Important Findings The objective of this study was to establish a therapeutic cocktail that protects against Escherichia coli-related disease and lesions in broilers. We injected a cocktail of six avian host defense peptides (A/ HDPs) with or without gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) into 3wk-old broilers by a subcutaneous or intramuscular route followed 24 hr later by challenge with a field isolate of serogroup O2 E. coli. Results indicated that this cocktail shows potential to protect against E. coli-related death, which is a major economic burden to the poultry industry.