MINTREXTM Zn and MINTREXTM Cu organic trace minerals improve intestinal strength and immune response to coccidiosis infection and/or vaccination in broilers

Cobb 500 broilers were fed diets that were zinc deficient (35ppm), supplemented with 70ppm zinc sulfate, or 70ppm zinc sulfate + 35ppm organic zinc (MINTREXTM Zn or zincmethionine). Half the birds were given a coccidiosis vaccine (ADVENT® coccidiosis control) at day of age, and challenged with all three species on day 24. MINTREX Zn and zinc-methionine both significantly increased intestinal breaking strength (IBS) in vaccinated + challenged birds. Only MINTREX Zn increased IBS in unvaccinated + unchallenged birds. Only birds fed MINTREX Zn exhibited significantly improved post-vaccination antibody responses. In another experiment, broilers were fed a low copper (9ppm) diet, or a diet supplemented with 25ppm copper from copper sulfate, a copper proteinate, copper lysine, or MINTREX Cu. All birds were vaccinated and challenged. Birds fed MINTREX Cu exhibited significantly greater IBS than all other treatments. Only MINTREX Cu gave a significant improvement in anti-coccidial (MIC2 antigen) antibody response. TMMINTREX is a trademark of Novus International, Inc. ®ADVENT is a trademark of Viridus Animal Health, LLC and is registered in the United States and other countries Introduction Zinc and copper are both essential micronutrients, and are required for a variety of biochemical and cellular processes in all animals. Zinc is the most common metal constituent of cellular enzymes, and as such plays an essential role in cell proliferation and death, immune development and response, reproduction, gene regulation, and defense against oxidative stress and damage (Shankar and Prasad, 1998; Underwood and Suttle, 1999; Blanchard, et al., 2001; Ho, et al., 2003). Therefore, zinc deficiency can negatively impact these functions. Furthermore, zinc-deficiency results in the aberrant expression of a wide variety of genes, which in turn can lead to a number of health and performance problems (Underwood and Suttle, 1999; Blanchard, et al., 2001). For example, genes encoding uroguanylin and inducible nitric oxide synthase can both be upregulated during zincdeficiency, which can lead to diarrhea and intestinal inflammation (Cui, et al., 2003). In contrast, collagen synthesis rates are decreased during zinc-deficiency, indicating a role for zinc in the synthesis of this protein (Starcher, et al., 1980). Furthermore, collagen turnover rates are also decreased, presumably because the collagenases are zinc-dependent enzymes (Starcher, et al., 1980; Pardo and Selman, 2005). Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix and connective tissues, and serves to provide tissue and bone strength. Thus, a zinc deficiency may negatively impact tissue and bone strength. Zinc is also required for the synthesis of keratin, which is a structural protein of feathers, skin, beaks and claws (Underwood and Suttle, 1999). Finally, zinc is required for the proper functioning of the immune system (Underwood and Suttle, 1999). Like zinc, copper is essential for a wide variety of health and performance-related functions in poultry. For example, hens on a severely deficient diet display defective shell formation and reduced egg production and hatchability (Savage, 1968; Baumgartner, et al., 1978). Copper often works as a constituent of metalloenzymes, and often is required for proper enzymatic structure or function. Copper and zinc are both required constituents of the copper and zincdependent form of superoxide dismutase (Underwood and Suttle, 1999). Furthermore, the enzyme that crosslinks collagen and elastin, lysyl oxidase, is copper-dependent (Rucker, et al.,