Manganese Gluconate as a Safe Trace Element Supplement Enhances Immune Function and Resistance to Staphylococcus aureus Infection in Broilers
In brief
Manganese gluconate improves survival of broilers challenged with Staphylococcus aureus
Oral manganese gluconate up to 10 mg per kilogram was safe for young broilers and markedly enhanced immune markers-including lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine expression, antioxidant capacity, specific IgG, and macrophage phagocytosis. After a massive Staph aureus challenge, treated birds showed lower bacterial loads in liver, spleen and kidney and higher survival rates, suggesting a practical nutritional strategy to boost disease resistance in poultry.
- Journal
- Biological trace element research (Q2)
- Published
- 10 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Changquan Liu, Shuyu Wei, Ming Xu, Mingyang Tao, Youxi Fu, Kexin Liu, et al.
- PMID
- 42572106
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12011-026-05291-3
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Biochemistry (medical) (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): Ranked by evidence level and journal quartile
Abstract
Manganese is an essential trace element with known immunomodulatory properties, yet the effects of organic manganese supplementation on disease resistance in poultry remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the safety and immunoprotective efficacy of orally administered manganese gluconate in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 120 seven-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to four groups and orally administered either vehicle control or manganese gluconate at 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. No adverse health responses were observed across all treatment groups, confirming the safety of manganese gluconate within this dosage range. At the optimal dosage, manganese gluconate significantly promoted splenic lymphocyte proliferation (CCK-8 assay), upregulated the expression of key cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α), improved serum antioxidant status (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-PX, MDA), enhanced specific anti-S. aureus IgG production, and strengthened peritoneal macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of S. aureus. Following intraperitoneal challenge with S. aureus Newman strain (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/bird), manganese gluconate effectively reduced bacterial colonization in the liver, spleen, and kidney, and improved the survival rate of infected broilers. These findings demonstrate that manganese gluconate is a safe and effective nutritional supplement that enhances immune function and increases resistance to bacterial infection in broiler production.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.