DIETARY ZINC-METHIONINE ENHANCES MONONUCLEAR-PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTION IN YOUNG TURKEYS - ZINC-METHIONINE, IMMUNITY, AND SALMONELLA

The ability of dietary zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) to enhance mononuclear -phagocytic function against Salmonella arizona and enteritidis was in vestigated in young turkeys. Feed/gain and body wt gain at 21 d of age were not affected by Zn-Met. The addition of 30 or 45 ppm Zn from Zn- Met to a Zn adequate diet significantly increased cutaneous basophil h ypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin-P. The clearance of intravenousl y administered S. enteritidis from blood was not affected by 30 ppm of supplemental Zn from Zn-Met. However, 30 ppm Zn from Zn-Met increased the reduction of intravenously administered S. arizona from spleen. P ercentages of myeloid and mononuclear-phagocytic cells before and afte r S. enteritidis infection were not affected by supplemental Zn-Met. T urkeys supplemented with Zn-Met showed enhanced in vitro phagocytosis of S. enteritidis by Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate cells. The ph agocytosis of S. arizona was unaffected by Zn-Met.