Change of Serum Metabolome and Cecal Microflora in Broiler Chickens Supplemented With Grape Seed Extracts

Grape seed is rich in vitamin E, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins and has the potential to be used as an antibiotic substitute in broilers. We investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on growth performance, immune responses, cecal microflora, and serum metabolism in early stage broilers. Data indicated that GSPE improved broiler growth performance by strengthening antioxidant capacity, enhancing immune responses, and increasing cecal short chain fatty acids. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that GSPE changed the predominant cecal microflora and induced the metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. An UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics analysis identified 23 serum metabolites (mainly related to lipid, amino acid, and alkaloid) were extremely changed by GSPE treatment. The correlations between the changes of cecal microflora and serum metabolites in birds fed with GSPE were analyzed. Hence, GSPE potentially provides active ingredients that may be used as antibiotic substitute and reduces environmental pollution by grape by-products.

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Effects of Clostridium butyricum- and Bacillus spp.-Based Potential Probiotics on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Immune Responses, and Caecal Microbiota in Broilers

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10060624 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 624

Author(s):

Xinfu Zeng ◽

Qing Li ◽

Caimei Yang ◽

Yang Yu ◽

Zixian Fu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Clostridium Butyricum ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Body Weights ◽

Bacillus Spp

We aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum-, Bacillus subtilis-, and Bacillus licheniformis-based potential probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune responses, and caecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial structure in broiler chickens. Three treatment groups containing a total of 1200 one-day-old AA broilers were included: birds fed with a basal diet only (Con), birds fed with added 1010 probiotics cfu/kg (ProL), and birds fed with added 1011 probiotics cfu/kg (ProH). The dietary probiotics significantly improved the final and average body weights and serum immunoglobulins A, M, and Y. The probiotics also enhanced the ileal morphology and improved the caecal acetate, butyrate, and propionate contents. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary compound probiotics modulated the caecal microflora composition as follows: (1) all birds shared 2794 observed taxonomic units; (2) treatment groups were well separated in the PCA and PCoA analysis; (3) the relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Barnesiella, Odoribacter, [Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group], [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, and Butyricimonas significantly varied between treatments. The compound probiotics improved the growth performance, serum immune responses, the ratio of ileal villus height to crypt depth, and major caecal SCFAs in broiler chickens. The dietary C. butyricum-, B. subtilis-, and B. licheniformis-based probiotics improved overall broiler health and would benefit the poultry industry.

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