Abstract
Preventative effects of Lactobacillus fermentum and Bacillus coagulans against Clostridium perfringens infection in broilers have been well-demonstrated. The present study was conducted to investigate the modulation of these two probiotics on intestinal immunity and microbiota of C. perfringens-challenged birds. The 336 one-day-old broilers were assigned to four groups with six replicates in each group. Birds in the control were unchallenged and fed a basal diet, and birds in the three challenged groups were dietary supplemented with nothing (Cp group), 1 × 109 CFU/kg of L. fermentum (Lf_Cp group), or 1 × 1010 CFU/kg of B. coagulans (Bc_Cp group). Challenge was performed from days 14 to 20, and samples were collected on days 21 and 28. Challenge upregulated interleukin (IL)-1β and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β4 mRNA expression in jejunum on day 21, which was downregulated by B. coagulans and L. fermentum, respectively (P < 0.05). Both probiotic groups upregulated jejunal IL-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-17, and TGF-β4 on day 28 as well as IFN-γ on day 21 (P < 0.05). The Bc_Cp group increased CD3+ T cell counts in the jejunal crypt on day 21 (P < 0.05). Challenge decreased the ileal ACE index on day 21 and cecal microbial richness on day 28, which were increased by probiotic treatments, and ileal bacterial richness decreased in the Bc_Cp group on day 28 (P < 0.05). Only ileal microbiota on day 21 was distinctly affected with an R-value at 0.3116 by ANOSIM analysis (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, ileal Firmicutes increased on day 21, and ileal Bacteroidetes and cecal Proteobacteria decreased on day 28 in challenged groups (P < 0.05). Challenge increased Romboutsia spp. in the ileum as well as unclassified f_Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcus_torques group in the cecum, and decreased Lactobacillus spp. in the ileum on day 21, which were all conversely modulated by L. fermentum (P < 0.05). Challenge increased amino acid metabolism of ileal microbiota and membrane transport of cecal microbiota, and decreased amino acid metabolism of cecal microbiota on day 21, which were conversely regulated by both probiotics (P < 0.05). In conclusion, L. fermentum and B. coagulans attenuated the intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis soon after C. perfringens challenge.
Highlights
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most important enteric diseases in poultry and causes huge economic losses to the industry worldwide [1]
It has been reported that daily oral administration of Lactobacillus fermentum 1.2029 reduced the severity of NE lesions and ameliorated inflammation by upregulating interleukin (IL)10 mRNA expression and downregulating interferon (IFN)γ and toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 expression in the ileum of C. perfringens-challenged broiler chickens [10]
The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of L. fermentum and B. coagulans on the intestinal immunity and microbiota of broiler chickens infected with C. perfringens
Summary
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most important enteric diseases in poultry and causes huge economic losses to the industry worldwide [1]. With the increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use in poultry production, the incidence of NE has been increasing in recent years [5] and alternative nutritional strategies are in urgent need Probiotics, such as lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Enterococcus, are potentially alternative strategies to prevent or mitigate NE in birds [6]. High-throughput sequencing technologies have been used to analyze the bacterial communities in different intestinal segments of chickens [12] Using this technology, Li et al [13] reported that dietary addition with L. acidophilus decreased the Shannon index of ileal microbiota and restored the intestinal microbial community in C. perfringens-challenged broiler chickens by increasing relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and decreasing abundance of pathogens such as Escherichia-Shigella. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of L. fermentum and B. coagulans on the intestinal immunity and microbiota of broiler chickens infected with C. perfringens
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