Abstract
Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements that promote growth and health to the host by minimizing non-essential and pathogenic microorganisms in the host’s gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The campaign to minimize excessive use of antibiotics in poultry production has necessitated development of probiotics with broad application in multiple poultry species. Design of such probiotics requires understanding of the diversity or similarity in microbial profiles among avian species of economic importance. Therefore, the objective of this research was to establish and compare the microbial profiles of the GIT of Guinea fowl and chicken and to establish the microbial diversity or similarity between the two avian species. A metagenomic approach consisting of the amplification and sequence analysis of the hypervariable regions V1-V9 of the 16S rRNA gene was used to identify the GIT microbes. Collectively, we detected more than 150 microbial families. The total number of microbial species detected in the chicken GIT was higher than that found in the Guinea Fowl GIT. Our studies also revealed phylogenetic diversity among the microbial species found in chicken and guinea fowl. The phylum Firmicutes was most abundant in both avian species whereas Phylum Actinobacteria was most abundant in chickens than Guinea fowls. The diversity of the microbial profiles found in broiler chickens and Guinea fowls suggest that the design of effective avian probiotics would require species specificity.
Highlights
The increased demand for poultry and poultry products has contributed to attempts to raise poultry in confinements and in large numbers and smaller floor space
The mash feed and water did not contain probiotics and were provided at free choice. Both chickens and Guinea fowls were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and whole gastrointestinal tract (GIT) content was collected with sterile forceps and a sterile knife
In this study we compared the gut microbiota of age matched chicken and guinea fowls with no history of disease housed in similar condition and fed identical diets
Summary
The increased demand for poultry and poultry products has contributed to attempts to raise poultry in confinements and in large numbers and smaller floor space. This predisposes birds to stress and vulnerability to poultry diseases, especially those caused by bacterial infections. The use of low doses of antibiotics is the primary cause of antimicrobial drug resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria. Such resistance can be transferred to the consumer and create resistance to common antibiotics treating human infections. There is concerted effort to reduce the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry, inviting the use of alternatives to antibiotics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call