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 investigated 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 hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin-P. The clearance of intravenously 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. Percentages of myeloid and mononuclear-phagocytic cells before and after S. enteritidis infection were not affected by supplemental Zn-Met. Turkeys supplemented with Zn-Met showed enhanced in vitro phagocytosis of S. enteritidis by Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate cells. The phagocytosis of S. arizona was unaffected by Zn-Met.