FIG 4.

Effect of EcN treatment on the intestinal villus height, crypts depth, and the villus height to crypts depth ratio (VH:CD) of the (A) jejunum and (B) ileum of treated chickens. Samples from 12 chickens were included in each group. Approximately 2 cm of the ileum and jejunum were collected individually from each chicken and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. The tissues were embedded in paraffin, and 3.5 μm sections were sliced and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The villus height and crypt depth were determined using the NIH ImageJ program. *, P < 0.05 (significantly decreased villus height, crypt depth, and VH:CD ratio in the PC group compared to the noninfected, nontreated group [NC] by a one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test).