Figure 5

Heat map demonstrating the total aerobic bacterial (a), Enterobacteriaceae (b) and lactobacillus (c) total anaerobic bacterial (d) populations (log₁₀ CFU) in the cecum of broiler chickens preinfection, d 22 and 7 and 14 days postinfection (7 and 14 dpi) with S. Typhimurium in response to supplementation with different levels of thymol and thymol nanoemulsion. *Red and green squares corresponded to significant counts increased (↑) and decreased (↓) relative to the control groups (p < 0.05). Other squares with no (*) denoted no significant changes in the bacterial counts among the experimental groups. At d 22 preinfection: NC (negative control) = birds fed basal diet, thymol 0.25, 0.5 and 1% = birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.5 and 1% thymol, thymol nanoemulsion 0.25, 0.5 and 1% = birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.5 and 1% thymol nanoemulsion. At 7 and 14 dpi: NC (negative control): birds fed basal diet; PC (positive control): birds fed basal diet and challenged with S. Typhimurium at d 23 of age; thymol 0.25, 0.5 and 1%: birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.5 and 1% thymol; thymol nanoemulsion 0.25, 0.5 and 1%: birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.5 and 1% thymol nanoemulsion. All groups except NC group were challenged with S. Typhimurium at d 23 of age.