scholarly journals Microbiota, Gut Health and Chicken Productivity: What Is the Connection?

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan M. Diaz Carrasco ◽  
Natalia A. Casanova ◽  
Mariano E. Fernández Miyakawa
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Commercial Broiler ◽  
Pathogenic Microbes ◽  
Chicken Gut Microbiota

Gut microbiota and its relationship to animal health and productivity in commercial broiler chickens has been difficult to establish due to high variability between flocks, which derives from plenty of environmental, nutritional, and host factors that influence the load of commensal and pathogenic microbes surrounding birds during their growth cycle in the farms. Chicken gut microbiota plays a key role in the maintenance of intestinal health through its ability to modulate host physiological functions required to maintain intestinal homeostasis, mainly through competitive exclusion of detrimental microorganisms and pathogens, preventing colonization and therefore decreasing the expense of energy that birds normally invest in keeping the immune system active against these pathogens. Therefore, a “healthy” intestinal microbiota implies energy saving for the host which translates into an improvement in productive performance of the birds. This review compiles information about the main factors that shape the process of gut microbiota acquisition and maturation, their interactions with chicken immune homeostasis, and the outcome of these interactions on intestinal health and productivity.

scholarly journals Gut Microbiota Dynamics, Growth Performance, and Gut Morphology in Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Varying in Energy Density with or without Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 787
Author(s):  
Deborah Adewole ◽  
Fisayo Akinyemi
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Intestinal Health

High-energy-density diet could increase body weight at the expense of the intestinal health of the animals. In order to optimize production without negatively influencing the gut health of chickens, dietary supplementation with bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) is a common feeding strategy adopted to enhance production performance and intestinal health. Studies have suggested that BMD could improve chicken growth performance and gut health through modulation of the gut microbiota. The current study investigated the effect of BMD supplementation in a normal-energy (NE) or high-energy (HE) diet on growth performance, organ weights, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota of broiler chickens at different growth stages. Birds were allocated to four treatments: normal-energy basal diet (NE-BAS), normal-energy BMD diet (NE-BMD), high-energy basal diet (HE-BAS), and high-energy BMD diet (HE-BMD). In the starter phase, body weight and body weight gain were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in chickens fed HE diets compared to those fed NE diets. The FCR was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed HE-BMD diets in the starter phase but lower (p < 0.05) during the grower phase when compared to other treatments. Moreover, the relative bursa weight increased significantly (p = 0.0220) among birds that received HE diets. Birds fed HE-BMD had greater villus height (p = 0.054) than NE-BMD group. Among the chickens fed the HE diets, those that received BMD treatment had a significantly increased (p = 0.003) villus width (13.3% increase) compared to those that received the basal diet. Improved population of Firmicutes was observed in chickens fed HE-BMD diet when compared to HE-BAS. Our results imply that BMD may be more effective in improving intestinal health when supplemented in a high-energy diet for broiler chickens.

scholarly journals Otitis and meningoencephalitis associated with infectious coryza (Avibacterium paragallinarum) in commercial broiler chickens

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 784-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Crispo ◽  
C. Gabriel Sentíes-Cué ◽  
George L. Cooper ◽  
Grace Mountainspring ◽  
Charles Corsiglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Laboratory System ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Infectious Coryza ◽  
Avibacterium Paragallinarum ◽  
Commercial Broiler

Infectious coryza, caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, is an acute respiratory disease of poultry that can result in substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. In March 2017, the Turlock branch of the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory system encountered an unusual clinical and pathologic presentation of infectious coryza in 6 live, 29-d-old, commercial broiler chickens that were submitted for diagnostic investigation. Antemortem evaluation revealed severe neurologic signs, including disorientation, torticollis, and opisthotonos. Swollen head–like syndrome and sinusitis were also present. Histologically, severe sinusitis, cranial osteomyelitis, otitis media and interna, and meningoencephalitis were noted, explaining the clinical signs described. A. paragallinarum was readily isolated from the upper and lower respiratory tract, brain, and cranial bones. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was also detected by PCR, and IBV was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs. Based on sequencing analysis, the IBV appeared 99% homologous to strain CA1737. A synergistic effect between A. paragallinarum and IBV, resulting in exacerbation of clinical signs and increased mortality, may have occurred in this case. A. paragallinarum should be considered among the possible causes of neurologic signs in chickens. Appropriate media should be used for bacterial isolation, and the role of additional contributing factors and/or complicating agents should be investigated in cases of infectious coryza.

scholarly journals The Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol (DON) Promotes Campylobacter jejuni Multiplication in the Intestine of Broiler Chickens With Consequences on Bacterial Translocation and Gut Integrity

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ruhnau ◽  
Claudia Hess ◽  
Bertrand Grenier ◽  
Barbara Doupovec ◽  
Dian Schatzmayr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Paracellular Permeability ◽  
Growth Effect ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Inner Organs ◽  
Intestinal Pathogens

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the major health concern in poultry production as it targets epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and contributes to the loss of the epithelial barrier function. It is well-documented that DON severely compromises various important intestinal functions in coincidence with aggravated clinical symptoms in livestock. In addition, a prolonged persistence of intestinal pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Clostridium) in the gut has also been reported in pigs and chickens, respectively. Similar to DON, recent studies demonstrated that an experimental Campylobacter infection has severe consequences on gut health. Through experimental infection, it was found that Campylobacter (C.) jejuni negatively affects the integrity of the intestine and promotes the translocation of bacteria from the gut to inner organs. So far, no data are available investigating the simultaneous exposure of DON and C. jejuni in broilers albeit both are widely distributed. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the interaction between DON and C. jejuni which is of a significant public and animal health concern as it may affect the prevalence and the ability to control this pathogen. Following oral infection of birds at 14 days of age with C. jejuni NCTC 12744, we show that the co-exposure to DON and C. jejuni has a considerable consequence on C. jejuni loads in chicken gut as well as on gut permeability of the birds. A reduced growth performance was found for DON and/or C. jejuni exposed birds. Furthermore, it was found that the co-exposure of DON and C. jejuni aggravated the negative effect on paracellular permeability of the intestine already noticed for the bacteria or the mycotoxin alone by the Ussing chamber technique at certain times or intestinal segments. Furthermore, the increased paracellular permeability promotes the translocation of C. jejuni and E. coli to inner organs, namely liver and spleen. Interestingly, C. jejuni loads in the intestine were higher in DON-fed groups indicating a supportive growth effect of the mycotoxin. The actual study demonstrates that co-exposure of broiler chickens to DON and C. jejuni has not only considerable consequences on gut integrity but also on bacterial balance. These findings indicate that the co-exposure of broiler chickens to DON and C. jejuni could have a significant impact on gut health and bacteria translocation leading to an increased risk for public health.

scholarly journals The role of added feed enzymes in promoting gut health in swine and poultry

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Kiarie ◽  
Luis F. Romero ◽  
Charles M. Nyachoti
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Pathogen Challenge ◽  
Nutrient Utilisation ◽  
Host Nutrition ◽  
Feed Enzymes ◽  
The Impact

The value of added feed enzymes (FE) in promoting growth and efficiency of nutrient utilisation is well recognised in single-stomached animal production. However, the effects of FE on the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are largely unrecognised. A critical role in host nutrition, health, performance and quality of the products produced is played by the intestinal microbiota. FE can make an impact on GIT microbial ecology by reducing undigested substrates and anti-nutritive factors and producing oligosaccharidesin situfrom dietary NSP with potential prebiotic effects. Investigations with molecular microbiology techniques have demonstrated FE-mediated responses on energy utilisation in broiler chickens that were associated with certain clusters of GIT bacteria. Furthermore, investigations using specific enteric pathogen challenge models have demonstrated the efficacy of FE in modulating gut health. Because FE probably change the substrate characteristics along the GIT, subsequent microbiota responses will vary according to the populations present at the time of administration and their reaction to such changes. Therefore, the microbiota responses to FE administration, rather than being absolute, are a continuum or a population of responses. However, recognition that FE can make an impact on the gut microbiota and thus gut health will probably stimulate development of FE capable of modulating gut microbiota to the benefit of host health under specific production conditions. The present review brings to light opportunities and challenges for the role of major FE (carbohydrases and phytase) on the gut health of poultry and swine species with a specific focus on the impact on GIT microbiota.

scholarly journals Butyric and Citric Acids and Their Salts in Poultry Nutrition: Effects on Gut Health and Intestinal Microbiota

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10392
Author(s):  
Mebratu Melaku ◽  
Ruqing Zhong ◽  
Hui Han ◽  
Fan Wan ◽  
Bao Yi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Poultry Products ◽  
Poultry Nutrition

Intestinal dysfunction of farm animals, such as intestinal inflammation and altered gut microbiota, is the critical problem affecting animal welfare, performance and farm profitability. China has prohibited the use of antibiotics to improve feed efficiency and growth performance for farm animals, including poultry, in 2020. With the advantages of maintaining gut homeostasis, enhancing digestion, and absorption and modulating gut microbiota, organic acids are regarded as promising antibiotic alternatives. Butyric and citric acids as presentative organic acids positively impact growth performance, welfare, and intestinal health of livestock mainly by reducing pathogenic bacteria and maintaining the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) pH. This review summarizes the discovery of butyric acid (BA), citric acid (CA) and their salt forms, molecular structure and properties, metabolism, biological functions and their applications in poultry nutrition. The research findings about BA, CA and their salts on rats, pigs and humans are also briefly reviewed. Therefore, this review will fill the knowledge gaps of the scientific community and may be of great interest for poultry nutritionists, researchers and feed manufacturers about these two weak organic acids and their effects on intestinal health and gut microbiota community, with the hope of providing safe, healthy and nutrient-rich poultry products to consumers.

Gut Microbial Shifts By Synbiotic Combination of Pediococcus Acidilactici and Lactulose In Weaned Piglets Challenged With Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin B. Guevarra ◽  
Jae Hyoung Cho ◽  
Jin Ho Cho ◽  
Minho Song ◽  
Jun Hyung Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Swine Industry

Abstract Background: Development of alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in the swine industry have been the focused of many pig gut microbiota studies to improve animal health. In this study, we evaluated the effects of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici (PRO), prebiotic lactulose (PRE), and their synbiotic combination (SYN) on weaned pig gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in weaned piglets challenged with Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Results: Our data showed that prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics improved the intestinal health in weaned piglets. No significant differences were observed in species richness and species diversity in weaned piglets fed prebiotics, probiotics and their synbiotic combination. However, beta diversity analysis revealed distinct clustering of the microbiota of according to dietary treatment and by oral challenge of STEC. At the phylum level, Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was lower in the dietary treatment groups than the control group. Oral supplementation of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics enriched the abundance of Prevotella and Roseburia. Succinivibrio was elevated in PRO group; however, Phascolarctobacterium was depleted with STEC challenge regardless of dietary treatment. Overall, our data showed that administration of synbiotics in piglets improved intestinal health through gut microbiota modulation. Conclusions: Our data indicated that prebiotics, probiotics and their synbiotic combination could promote intestinal health through gut microbiota modulation in weaned piglets.

The use of exogenous enzymes to optimize gut function in pigs

2022 ◽  
pp. 285-338
Author(s):  
David Torrallardona ◽  
◽  
Joan Tarradas ◽  
Núria Tous ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Barrier Integrity ◽  
Feed Manufacturing ◽  
Gut Function ◽  
Exogenous Enzymes ◽  
Fattening Pigs

Exogenous enzymes are used in pig diets to improve the availability and digestibility of some non-accessible nutrients. As result of this enhanced digestion, short fragments of these molecules may become available in the distal foregut and the hindgut and modulate microbiota composition, gut barrier integrity, and overall animal health. This chapter reviews the effects of different exogenous enzymes (carbohydrases, phytases, proteases and lipases) on nutrient digestibility, gut microbial ecology, and barrier function and immunity of pigs at different ages (sows, weaned piglets, growing/fattening pigs). Exogenous enzymes are usually included into feeds as blends so they can complement each other’s activities and further improve the accessibility to non-digestible structures. Exogenous enzymes used in feed manufacturing for more than 30 years, initially to improve the digestive function of non-digestible nutrients (i.e. fibre, phytic acid, etc.), more recently other indirect actions on the regulation of gut microbiota and gut health have gained interest.

scholarly journals Managing Gut Microbiota through In Ovo Nutrition Influences Early-Life Programming in Broiler Chickens

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3491
Author(s):  
Abdelrazeq M. Shehata ◽  
Vinod K. Paswan ◽  
Youssef A. Attia ◽  
Abdel-Moneim Eid Abdel-Moneim ◽  
Mohammed Sh. Abougabal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Pathogen Resistance ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
In Ovo ◽  
Host Interaction ◽  
Early Life Programming ◽  
Pathogen Colonization

The chicken gut is the habitat to trillions of microorganisms that affect physiological functions and immune status through metabolic activities and host interaction. Gut microbiota research previously focused on inflammation; however, it is now clear that these microbial communities play an essential role in maintaining normal homeostatic conditions by regulating the immune system. In addition, the microbiota helps reduce and prevent pathogen colonization of the gut via the mechanism of competitive exclusion and the synthesis of bactericidal molecules. Under commercial conditions, newly hatched chicks have access to feed after 36–72 h of hatching due to the hatch window and routine hatchery practices. This delay adversely affects the potential inoculation of the healthy microbiota and impairs the development and maturation of muscle, the immune system, and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Modulating the gut microbiota has been proposed as a potential strategy for improving host health and productivity and avoiding undesirable effects on gut health and the immune system. Using early-life programming via in ovo stimulation with probiotics and prebiotics, it may be possible to avoid selected metabolic disorders, poor immunity, and pathogen resistance, which the broiler industry now faces due to commercial hatching and selection pressures imposed by an increasingly demanding market.

scholarly journals No-Antibiotic-Pectin-Based Treatment Differently Modified Cloaca Bacteriobiome of Male and Female Broiler Chickens

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Svetlana B. Lysko ◽  
Olga A. Baturina ◽  
Natalia B. Naumova ◽  
Nadezhda A. Lescheva ◽  
Valentina I. Pleshakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Separate Factor ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Chicken Gut Microbiota

As the information about the effect of pectin prebiotics on chicken gut microbiota is scarce, by using high throughput metagenomic sequencing with Illumina Miseq we examined the cloaca bacteriobiome of male and female chickens receiving antibiotic- or pectin-containing drinking water. The bacteriobiome was dominated by two phyla (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) and three classes (Clostridia, Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria), with the difference displayed by the relative abundance of 42 OTUs. At the level of the major dominant OTUs, prebiotic supplementation drastically increased Enterococcus abundance (from 0 to 11% and 23% in males and females, respectively). The better feed use efficiency and growth performance of the pectin-receiving chickens implied their better health and corroborated putative beneficial role of the altered bacteriobiome, although its ecophysiological and/or pathogenic importance could not be readily inferred. Notably, the gut microbiota response to antibiotics showed more sex-related differential OTUs as compared to the pectin prebiotic (19 vs. 4), suggesting different mechanisms of the studied supplementations in shaping the gut bacteriobiome in different sexes. Therefore, we recommend targeting sex as a separate factor in interventional studies to account for sex-specific peculiarities in the microbiome response and taking into account the male/female ratio of industrial flocks prior to choosing a production technology. The studied prebiotic (pectin) can be used in developing new pre/symbiotic preparations and supplementation regimes as alternatives to antibiotics for stimulating broiler chicken production.

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