{
  "abstract": "Background Gut microbiota significantly influences poultry immunity and health, following its role in mammals. Microbial polysaccharides like levan and dextran act as prebiotics to foster beneficial microbes, yet their specific impacts on broiler hematology remain largely unexplored. This study investigated how dietary levan and dextran affect key blood parameters, exploring their capacity to strengthen systemic immune function through gut-mediated mechanisms.Methods One-day-old Ross broiler chicks (n=36) were randomly allocated to three groups (n=12 each): control (basal diet), levan-supplemented (basal + 0.1 % levan), and dextran-supplemented (basal + 0.1 % dextran). Birds were raised under standard conditions until day 42, when they were humanely euthanized. Blood samples, obtained via brachial veins, were subjected to automated analysis of red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and total leukocyte count (TLC).Results Prebiotic supplementation significantly enhanced hematological profiles compared to control groups. Total leukocyte count increased significantly (P<0.05), alongside elevated hemoglobin and packed cell volume, indicating improved immunity in prebiotic-fed groups. Red blood cell counts rose by 10% (levan) and 9% (dextran), while mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin showed modest gains. These findings indicate the potential of microbial prebiotic exopolysaccharides in optimizing poultry blood parameters and health without antibiotics.Conclusions Levan and dextran supplementation optimizes broiler hematological profiles by elevating RBC parameters and improving leukocyte balance, likely via prebiotic modulation of gut microbiota. These microbial polysaccharides emerge as effective, antibiotic-free enhancers of poultry immune health.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates"
      ],
      "name": "Nayla Munawar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Iqra Jawad"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Kainat Umar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Waseem Akram"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong"
      ],
      "name": "Nayyab Qureshi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Munir Ahmad Anwar"
    }
  ],
  "title": "IDDF2026-ABS-0277 From gut to blood: prebiotics improve hematological and immune indices in broilers",
  "uid": "16bb537a-8954-53d2-a18d-0e0891d503b0"
}