scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Supplementation With Bacillus subtilis, as an Alternative to Antibiotics, on Growth Performance, Serum Immunity, and Intestinal Health in Broiler Chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Qiu ◽  
Cheng-liang Li ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Guang-hai Qi ◽  
Jun Gao ◽  
...  

Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) as in-feed probiotics is a potential alternative for antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in the poultry industry. The current study investigated the effects of B. subtilis on the performance, immunity, gut microbiota, and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens. A 42-day feeding trial was conducted with a total of 600 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers with similar initial body weight, which was randomly divided into one of five dietary treatments: the basal diet (Ctrl), Ctrl + virginiamycin (AGP), Ctrl + B. subtilis A (BSA), Ctrl + B. subtilis B (BSB), and Ctrl + B. subtilis A + B (1:1, BSAB). The results showed significantly increased average daily gain in a step-wise manner from the control, B. subtilis, and to the AGP groups. The mortality rate of the B. subtilis group was significantly lower than the AGP group. The concentrations of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G (IgG), IgA, and IgM in the B. subtilis and AGP groups were higher than the control group, and the B. subtilis groups had the highest content of serum lysozyme and relative weight of thymus. Dietary B. subtilis increased the relative length of ileum and the relative weight of jejunum compared with the AGP group. The villus height (V), crypt depth (C), V/C, and intestinal wall thickness of the jejunum in the B. subtilis and AGP groups were increased relative to the control group. Dietary B. subtilis increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1, the same as AGP. The contents of lactic acid, succinic acid, and butyric acid in the ileum and cecum were increased by dietary B. subtilis. Dietary B. subtilis significantly increased the lactobacillus and bifidobacteria in the ileum and cecum and decreased the coliforms and Clostridium perfringens in the cecum. The improved performance and decreased mortality rate observed in the feeding trial could be accrued to the positive effects of B. subtilis on the immune response capacity, gut health, and gut microflora balance, and the combination of two strains showed additional benefits on the intestinal morphology and tight junction protein expressions. Therefore, it can be concluded that dietary B. subtilis A and B could be used as alternatives to synthetic antibiotics in the promotion of gut health and productivity index in broiler production.

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 681-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiu Jue Wu ◽  
Qin Yu Wang ◽  
Tian Wang ◽  
Yan Min Zhou

Abstract The effects of natural clinoptilolite (NCLI) and modified clinoptilolite (MCLI) were evaluated in broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a 21-d feeding trial. A total of 288 one-day-old chickens were allocated into three treatment groups: control, NCLI (2%) and MCLI (2%). Half of the birds from each treatment group were challenged with either 0.9% NaCl solution or LPS (250 μg/kg body weight, orally administered) at 16, 18 and 21 d of age. Before the LPS challenge, no dietary effect on bird growth performance was found (P>0.05). When LPS was orally administered, no significant changes in growth performance of broilers was found (P>0.05). However, small intestinal morphology and development, malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the jejunual and ileal mucosa, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of the ileal mucosa were significantly affected (P<0.05). Supplementation with NCLI and MCLI significantly decreased the MDA contents of the jejunual and ileal mucosa and improved the SOD activity of the ileal mucosa and the development of the small intestine compared with the control group (P<0.05). The results indicated that NCLI and MCLI additions in feed had protective effects on the gut health of broilers against LPS challenge.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhilong Tian ◽  
Xiaodan Wang ◽  
Yehui Duan ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Wenming Zhang ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) on the growth and gut health of weaned piglets. A total of 160 piglets were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (a basal diet), BS-A group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis A at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), BS-B group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis B at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), and BS-C group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis C at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed). All groups had five replicates with eight piglets per replicate. On days 7, 21, and 42 of the trial, blood plasma and intestinal tissues and digesta samples were collected to determine plasma cytokine concentrations, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota community and metabolic activity, and the expression of genes related to gut physiology and metabolism. The results showed that dietary B. subtilis supplementation improved (P &lt; 0.05) the body weight and average daily gain (in BS-B and BS-C groups) of weaned piglets and decreased (P &lt; 0.05) the diarrhea rates (in BS-A, BS-B, and BS-C groups). In the intestinal morphology analysis, B. subtilis supplementation improved (P &lt; 0.05) the size of villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum of weaned piglets. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes were the most dominant microflora in piglets' colon whatever the trial group and time of analysis. Dietary BS-C supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05) the relative abundances of Anaerovibrio and Bulleidia and decreased (P &lt; 0.05) the relative abundances of Clostridium and Coprococcus compared with the control group. In addition, dietary B. subtilis supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05) the indicators of intestinal health, including plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, as well as the colonic levels of short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, dietary B. subtilis supplementation also up-regulated (P &lt; 0.05) the expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation. In conclusion, these findings suggest that a diet containing BS-B or BS-C can efficiently promote growth performance, decrease diarrhea incidence, and ameliorate several indicators of intestinal health through the modulation of gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity in weaned piglets.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. A. Duarte ◽  
C. Eyng ◽  
A. E. Murakami ◽  
T. C. Santos

Duarte, C. R. A., Eyng, C., Murakami, A. E. and Santos, T. C. 2014. Intestinal morphology and activity of digestive enzymes in broilers fed crude propolis. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 105–114. Propolis is a resin produced by bees that has been investigated for its potential to increase the performance of broiler chickens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of crude propolis in the diets of broiler chickens from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 1020 male chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design into six treatments (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm of crude propolis), with five replications, and 34 birds per experimental unit. The experimental diets were provided from 1 to 21 d of age and subsequently (from 22 to 42 d of age) the birds were fed a nutritionally complete ration based on corn and soybean meal. All supplemented groups showed similar growth performance in all growth phases (P>0.05); however, there was a linear increase in carcass yield at 42 d of age according to increase in crude propolis inclusion from 1 to 21 d of age (P<0.05). At 7 d of age, relative weight of the gizzard increased linearly (P<0.05) with increasing propolis, and at 21 d of age, relative weight of the large intestine showed a quadratic (P<0.05) response, with the lowest value predicted to occur at 278 ppm of crude propolis. The ileum crypt depth at 21 d of age was affected by propolis, with a quadratic response (P<0.05) and highest value estimated at 323 ppm. At 21 d of age, sucrase activity in the jejunum increased linearly with increasing propolis and maltase activity in the ileum showed a quadratic (P<0.05) response, which predicted highest activity at 292 ppm. Amylase activity was lower in animals supplemented with 100 and 400 ppm of propolis at 21 d of age (P<0.05) compared with the control group. Thus, the crude propolis supplementation is not recommended in broiler diets from 1 to 21 d old given that it does not influence the performance, despite small changes in intestinal morphophysiology at 21 d of age.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsayed O.S. Hussein ◽  
Shamseldein H. Ahmed ◽  
Alaeldein M. Abudabos ◽  
Gamaleldin M. Suliman ◽  
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack ◽  
...  

The poultry industry needs efficient antibiotic alternatives to prevent necrotic enteritis (NE) infections. Here, we evaluate the effects of probiotic and/or prebiotic dietary supplementation on performance, meat quality and carcass traits, using only an NE coinfection model, in broiler chickens. Three hundred and twenty-four healthy Ross 308 broiler chicks are allocated into six groups. Taking a 35 d feeding trial, the chicks are fed a basal diet with 0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.12, 0.5 + 0.12, and 0.2 g Kg−1 for the control (T1), Avilamycin (Maxus; T2), live probiotic (CloStat (Bacillus subtilis);T3), natural phytobiotic compounds (Sangrovit Extra (sanguinarine and protopine); T4), CloStat + Sangrovit Extra (T5), and spore probiotic strain (Gallipro Tect (Bacillus subtilis spores); T6) treatments, respectively. Occurring at 15 days-old, chicks are inoculated with Clostridium perfringens. The obtained results reveal that all feed additives improve the performance, feed efficiency, and survival rate, and reduces the intestinal lesions score compared with the control group. The T6 followed by T3 groups show a significant (p < 0.05) increase in some carcass traits, such as dressing, spleen, and thymus percentages compared with other treatments. Also, T5 and T6 have significantly recorded the lowest temperature and pHu values and the highest hardness and chewiness texture values compared to the other treated groups. To conclude, probiotics combined with prebiotic supplementation improves the growth, meat quality, carcass characterization and survival rate of NE-infected broiler chickens by modulating gut health conditions and decreasing lesion scores. Moreover, it could be useful as an ameliorated NE disease alternative to antibiotics in C. perfringens coinfected poultry.


AMB Express ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Deng ◽  
Jie Wu ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Xiaoming Men ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present study was conducted to investigate effects of Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, serum parameters, digestive enzymes, intestinal morphology, and colonic microbiota in piglets. A total of 72 piglets were weighed and randomly allotted into three treatments (four replication pens per treatment with six piglets/pen) for a 28-day experiment. The dietary treatments were as follows: basal diet (control group, CTR), basal diet supplementation with antibiotic (antibiotic group, ABT), and basal diet supplementation with 0.1% Bacillus subtilis (probiotic group, PBT). The average daily gain of body weight increased in both the ABT and PBT groups, and dietary antibiotics decreased the feed:gain ratio (F:G), as compared to the CTR group (P < 0.05). Both ABT and PBT piglets had increased serum triglycerides and lipase, amylase, maltase activities and villus height:crypt depth ratio (V/C) in ileum (P < 0.05). The PBT group also showed an increase in serum glucose and villus height in the ileum (P < 0.05). Dietary antibiotics increased Lactobacillus johnsonii, as compared to the CTR group, but decreased bacterial diversity and increased Escherichia coli, as compared to the PBT group (P < 0.05). Piglets dietary with B. subtilis modulated the microbiota by increasing the abundance of Firmicutes (L. johnsonii, L. reuteri) and decreasing the abundance of E. coli, as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary of B. subtilis improves growth performance and intestinal health and can be a promising alternative to antibiotics in piglets diet.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Akhlaghi ◽  
M. J. Zamiri ◽  
Y. Jafari Ahangari ◽  
M. R. Mollasalehi ◽  
H. Shojaie ◽  
...  

An association between induced maternal hyperthyroidism and a decreased incidence of cold-induced ascites in broiler chickens has been reported recently. There are also reports suggesting that thyroid hormones have an effect on intestine, a high oxygen-demanding organ. The present study aimed to determine whether the ascites-attenuating effect of maternal hyperthyroidism is associated with morphological changes in intestine and with probable adverse effects on growth performance in progeny chicks. Eighty-eight broiler breeder hens were allotted to control or hyperthyroid [HYPER; thyroxine-treated] groups, and artificially inseminated. Hatching eggs (n = 924) were incubated and day-old male chicks (n = 288) were reared for 42 days under standard or low ambient temperature. Plasma thyroxine was higher in the HYPER hens and their embryos at internal pipping. Maternal hyperthyroidism did not adversely affect the feed : gain ratio and carcass weight, whereas cold stress impaired them. A higher relative weight was found at 42 days of age for all intestinal regions at low ambient temperature. The duodenal and jejunal crypt depths (CD) were lower in HYPER group at 7 days of age. Cold exposure decreased the duodenal and jejunal villus height and CD, and increased the ileal goblet cell number at 21 days. On Day 42, higher values were recorded for CD, goblet cell number, and epithelial thickness of different intestinal regions in cold-exposed birds. In conclusion, growth performance was not adversely influenced by maternal hyperthyroidism and its minimal early effect on intestinal morphology does not appear to be the underlying mechanism for decreased incidence of ascites in broilers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dafei Yin ◽  
Youli Wang ◽  
Liqun Wang ◽  
Yuqin Wu ◽  
Xiaoyi Bian ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe use of newly harvested corn in feed causes wet droppings in broilers and increased feed cost which was termed as “new season grain problem”. The present study was conducted to evaluate the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and the subsequent influence on intestinal microbiol community for broiler chickens. MethodsNewly harvested corn stored for either half a month (HM) or two months (TM) was used, and the pasting properties, total soluble sugars, and proteomic analysis technology was used to explore the influence of storage on natural aging corn properties. Additionally, seventy-two 7d Ross 308 male broiler chicken were fed with different stored corn. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME), digesta viscosity, intestinal morphology and microbiota were examined to explore the influence of feed corn storage on broiler chickens. ResultsPasting properties in the TM corn exhibited decreased viscoelastic properties. Proteomic studies found a total of 26 proteins that were differentially expressed between the two treatment groups. Proteins involved in starch and polysaccharides biosynthesis were upregulated in TM compared with HM. Chickens fed on TM diet had higher relative energy utilization compared to the HM birds. With increased corn storage, the relative digesta viscosity decreased significantly (P≤0.05). The total number of goblet cells and lymphocytes was lower in chickens fed the TM diet. The microbiota data showed that the TM chickens had decreased abundance of diarrheal bacteria such as Hungatella hathewayi and Bacteroides fragilis, and increased butyrate-producing bacteria such as Alistipes compared to the HM chickens. ConclusionsStorage of newly harvested corn induced the synthetic reaction of large molecules and changed the solubility of starch and protein with increasing soluble sugars and decreasing pasting properties that may improve the fermentation of intestinal microbiota, improve the energy utilization and protect gut health without the risk of diarrhea.


2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 399-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Pisarikova ◽  
Z. Zraly ◽  
S. Kracmar ◽  
M. Trckova ◽  
I. Herzig

The objective of our study was to test amaranth grain or dried biomass in the diet for broiler chickens as a resource of protein replacing animal protein. Further, the effect of amaranth on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality were assessed in a feeding trial. The experimental groups of broilers were fed feed mixtures with crude amaranth grain (AC), heat processed amaranth grain (AP) or dried above-ground biomass (AB). Control groups (C) received the diet containing animal proteins. The results obtained in the experimental groups of broiler chickens can be compared to the control group in all the production indicators under investigation. On day 42 of the experiment, live weight (g) of female broilers ranged from 2 205.1 &plusmn; 152.5 (AP) to 2 254.0 &plusmn; 136.5 (C), and that of male broilers from 2 375.1 &plusmn; 233.0 (AC) to 2 506.0 &plusmn; 286.0 (C). Feed conversion ranged from 1.80 kg in control group of male broiler chickens to 1.91 kg in experimental group of male broilers (AB). Percentage yield in female broiler chickens ranged from 70.8 &plusmn; 1.74 (AB) to 72.4 &plusmn;3.34(AC) or 72.4 &plusmn; 1.98 (C), and in male broilers from 72.8 &plusmn;3.55(AP) to 75.1 &plusmn;2.44(AB). Our results showed that amaranth can fully replace meat-and-bone meals in the diets for broiler chickens.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Daneshmand ◽  
Hassan Kermanshahi ◽  
Mohammad Hadi Sekhavati ◽  
Ali Javadmanesh ◽  
Monireh Ahmadian ◽  
...  

Abstract Three hundred and sixty 1-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 4 treatments of 6 replicates to evaluate the effects of cLFchimera, a recombinant antimicrobial peptide (AMP), on gut health attributes of broiler chickens under necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge. Treatments were as follows: (T1) unchallenged group fed with corn-soybean meal (CSM) without NE challenge and additives (NC); (T2) group fed with CSM and challenged with NE without any additives (PC); (T3) PC group supplemented with 20 mg cLFchimera/kg diet (AMP); (T4) PC group supplemented with 45 mg antibiotic (bacitracin methylene disalicylate)/kg diet (antibiotic). Birds were sampled for villi morphology, ileal microbiota, and jejunal gene expression of cytokines, tight junctions proteins, and mucin. Results showed that AMP ameliorated NE-related intestinal lesions, reduced mortality, and rehabilitated jejunal villi morphology in NE challenged birds. While the antibiotic non-selectively reduced the count of bacteria, AMP restored microflora balance in the ileum of challenged birds. cLFchimera regulated the expression of cytokines, junctional proteins, and mucin transcripts in the jejunum of NE challenged birds. In conclusion, cLFchimera can be a reliable candidate to substitute growth promoter antibiotics, while more research is required to unveil the exact mode of action of this synthetic peptide.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1097
Author(s):  
Mousa Ayoub ◽  
Hamada Ahmed ◽  
Kadry Sadek ◽  
Mahmoud Alagawany ◽  
Mohamed Abd El-Hack ◽  
...  

This study was done to determine the impacts Yucca schidigera supplementation to drinking water on the excretion of nitrogen, and subsequently the level of ammonia, intestinal bacterial count, hematological and biochemical parameters, and some performance parameters. A total of 270 one-day old Cobb 500 chicks were equally divided into three groups (90 chicks/group). The first control group (G1) was fed on the basal diets without any yucca supplementation. The 2nd and 3rd groups (G2 and G3) were fed on basal diets with Yucca Plus liquid®, at an 8 h/day supplementation rate of 0.5, and 1 mL/L to drinking water, respectively. The chicks that received yucca showed significant decreases in litter nitrogen content, when compared to controls. The chicks that received liquid yucca had reduced counts of total bacteria (TBC) (p < 0.05), Escherichia coli, and a non-significant increase in the number of lactic acid producing bacteria. They also showed increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, increased levels of immunoglobulins M and G, and decreased levels of lipid peroxidation biomarkers, without a harmful effect on liver and kidney function. The chicks that received yucca showed a better feed conversion ratio. In conclusion, the use of natural additives is necessary to decrease nitrogen losses, feed cost, and environmental pollution; without adverse impacts on animal performance. Liquid supplementation of saponins is valuable for the performance, gut health, and welfare of broiler chickens.


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