RESUMEN
The effects of dietary supplementation with two particle sizes of nano zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, immune function, intestinal morphology, and the gut microbiome were determined in a 42-day broiler chicken feeding experiment. A total of 75 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomized and divided into three groups with five replicates of five chicks each, including the conventional ZnO group (NC), the nano-ZnO group with an average particle size of 82 nm (ZNPL), and the nano-ZnO group with an average particle size of 21 nm (ZNPS). Each group was supplemented with 40 mg/kg of ZnO or nano-ZnO. Our results revealed that birds in the ZNPS group had a higher average daily gain and a lower feed-to-gain ratio than those in the NC group. ZNPS significantly increased the thymus index and spleen index, as well as the levels of serum metallothionein (MT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LZM). The ZNPS treatments reduced interleukin (IL)-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and increased IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ levels compared to that in the NC group. Additionally, compared with the birds in the NC group, those in the nano-ZnO group had a higher villus height to crypt depth ratio of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Bacteroides increased in the ZNPS group at the genus level. Further, unidentified_Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, Lachnoclostridium, unidentified_Erysipelotrichaceae, and Intestinimonas were significantly increased in the ZNPL group. In conclusion, nano-ZnO improved the growth performance, promoted the development of immune organs, increased nonspecific immunity, improved the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the small intestine, and enriched the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Notably, the smaller particle size (21 nm) of nano-ZnO exhibited a more potent effect.