Figure 1

Effect of Artemisia argyi essential oil on growth performance and internal organs bacteria colonization of chicks challenged by S. pullorum. A Experimental protocol of the Artemisia argyi essential oil treatment. Chicks were treated with Artemisia argyi essential oil for 14 days, and challenged with S. pullorum on days 8–10. B–D Effect of Artemisia argyi essential oil on GH (B), Ghrelin (C), and IGF-1(D) levels in serum challenged with S. pullorum (n = 6). E–G Evaluation of S. pullorum colonised in the liver (E), spleen (F) and ileum (G) of chicks (n = 6). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs the uninfected (NC) group; ns P > 0.05, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs the S. pullorum infection (SP) group.