Abstract
BackgroundInfection of the digestive track by gastro-intestinal pathogens results in the development of symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to more severe clinical signs such as dysentery, severe dehydration and potentially death. Although, antibiotics are efficient to tackle infections, they also trigger dysbiosis that has been suggested to result in variation in weight gain in animal production systems.ResultsHere is the first study demonstrating the metabolic impact of infection by a gastro-intestinal pathogen (Brachyspira pilosicoli) and its resolution by antibiotic treatment (tiamulin) on the host (chicken) systemic metabolism and gut microbiota composition using high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and 16S rDNA next generation sequencing (NGS). Clear systemic metabolic markers of infections such as glycerol and betaine were identified. Weight loss in untreated animals was in part explained by the observation of a modification of systemic host energy metabolism characterized by the utilization of glycerol as a glucose precursor. However, antibiotic treatment triggered an increased VLDL/HDL ratio in plasma that may contribute to reducing weight loss observed in treated birds. All metabolic responses co-occurred with significant shift of the microbiota upon infection or antibiotic treatment.ConclusionThis study indicates that infection and antibiotic treatment trigger dysbiosis that may impact host systemic energy metabolism and cause phenotypic and health modifications.
Highlights
Infection of the digestive track by gastro-intestinal pathogens results in the development of symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to more severe clinical signs such as dysentery, severe dehydration and potentially death
In a recent study [15], the efficiency of three doses of TiamulinTM to treat laying hens orally challenged with B. pilosicoli B2904 was evaluated and revealed that infection was associated with decreased growth rate and that birds treated with TiamulinTM recovered from infection regardless of the dose used while weight maintenance was only observed in response to the two highest doses
This work demonstrates that gut microbiota composition can be associated with perturbations of host systemic metabolism that lead towards phenotypical changes
Summary
Infection of the digestive track by gastro-intestinal pathogens results in the development of symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to more severe clinical signs such as dysentery, severe dehydration and potentially death. We concluded that this study represented an interesting infection model to understand host systemic metabolic and gut microbiota response to colonization of the digestive tract by a pathogen. As the gut microbiota are inextricably linked to host’s metabolic responses, its composition in response to infection and treatment was monitored using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (16S NGS). Both analyses provided new insights into the impact of infection and antibiotic treatment on host health, explaining physiological response to both bacterial and chemical exposure
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