الفهرس 
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Abstract
Two delivery routes of phytobiotic (Digestrom-PEP®) and synbiotic (Poultrystar®) via drinking water or feed were examined to study their effects on broiler chickens health and performance. Five dietary treatments of 3 replicates each were allocated using 750 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks of both sexes (50 chicks/replicate). The first group consumed water and basal broiler diets without any additive and served as a control group (G-A). Broiler chicks in the second and third groups (G-B and G-C) consumed basal broiler diets without additive and were received drinking water supplemented with Poultry-star® and Digestrom-PEP® respectively. Broiler chicks in the fourth and fifth groups (G-D and G-E) were received drinking water without supplement and reared on the basal diets containing Poultry-star® and Digestrom-PEP® respectively. Poultry-star® and Digestrom-PEP® were used either in drinking water or in the feeds according to the manufacturer recommendations doses. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum during 35 days experimental period. Body weights as well as the rest of feed were recorded weekly. Body weight gain and feed conversion were calculated. Blood samples were collected according to a time program to evaluate some health and immunological parameters. At day 16 of age 15 birds from each group (5 birds/replicate) were isolated and challenged orally with 1 ml containing Clostridium perferingens (107 cfu/ml) daily for 3 consecutive days. Post-challenge, lesion scores, mortalities and intestinal Clostridium perferingens levels were assessed. Tissue samples from duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, bursa and thymus were collected for histopathological examination. At the end of the experiment, fifteen birds were randomly selected from each group (5 birds/replicate) to evaluate carcass characteristics. The results reported that the two routes of phytobiotic (Digestrom-PEP®) and synbiotic (Poultrystar®) via drinking water or feed had significant effects (p<0.05) on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion compared with the control group. The best results were reported in G-C and G-B which received phytobiotic and synbiotic in drinking water. The results of immunological parameters measured revealed that phytobiotic and synbiotic treatments could enhance broiler chickens innate immunity as they significantly increased (p<0.05) phagocytic activity and humeral immune responses against vaccines used. In addition, phytobiotic and synbiotic treatments maintained oxidant/antioxidant balance. Results of the intestinal histopathology revealed that birds in the second and third groups showed the best results of intestinal integrity and tissue immunity. Mortality was reduced in the supplemented groups in contrast to the control group. On the other hand, carcass weights, dressing percent, carcass cuts and some organs weights were not affected by both supplements used. However, abdominal fat content was reduced significantly (P<0.05) in both supplemented groups either via drinking water or as feed supplement. In conclusion, using phytobiotic (Digestrom-PEP®) and synbiotic (Poultrystar®) via drinking water or feed could improve broiler chicken performance, enhance immune status and decrease prevalence of clostridial infection.