Abstract

Simple SummaryCoccidiosis is an important health problem in broilers, caused by infection with a highly contagious intestinal parasite of the genus Eimeria. Anti-coccidial drugs are widely used for the prevention of coccidiosis in broilers. However, multi-resistance coccidia is a potential threat to poultry production. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (BLFP) and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptide, surfactin, on the prevention of coccidiosis in broilers. Results demonstrate that BLFPs and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptide, surfactin, exhibit anti-coccidial activity in vitro and in vivo.This study aimed to investigate the potential of Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (BLFP) and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptide, surfactin, for the prevention of coccidiosis in broilers. Broilers were fed BLFP at 1.25 and 5 g/kg under Eimeria tenella challenge. At the end of experiment (35 days), the growth performance, survival rate, cecal morphology, cecal lesion scores, oocyst-count index, and anti-coccidial index were analyzed. The effects of the BLFP-derived surfactin on oocyst sporulation and sporozoite morphology in Eimeria species were also investigated in vitro. Results showed that BLFP supplementation at 1.25 and 5 g/kg improved cecal morphology and increased the survival rate of broilers under E. tenella challenge. Supplementation with 1.25 g/kg of BLFP reduced the lesion scores in the cecum of E. tenella-challenged broilers, while the oocyst-count index was reduced in broilers given 5 g/kg of BLFP. The anti-coccidial index of the 1.25 g/kg of BLFP-treated group was greater than 160, compared with the E. tenella-challenge-only group. Furthermore, surfactin inhibited Eimeria oocyst sporulation and disrupted sporozoite morphology. These results demonstrate that BLFPs and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptide, surfactin, exhibit anti-coccidial activity in vitro and in vivo. BLFP may be used as a natural feed additive for the prevention of coccidiosis in broilers, and 1.25 g/kg can be considered the optimum dosage.

Highlights

  • Coccidiosis is one of the most prevalent enteric diseases in poultry, caused mainly by genus Eimeria species

  • We investigated the effectiveness of Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (BLFP) and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptides in controlling coccidiosis in vivo and in vitro

  • It has been reported that B. licheniformis supplementation alleviates intestinal-lesion scores, reduces fecal oocyst counts, and improves the body-weight gain in broilers challenged with mixed coccidia infection [13]

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Summary

Introduction

Coccidiosis is one of the most prevalent enteric diseases in poultry, caused mainly by genus Eimeria species. Coccidiosis is estimated to cause up to USD 3 billion in economic loss per year in poultry production due to high mortality and reduced growth performance [1]. Anti-coccidial drugs are available for the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis, the multiple-drug-resistant strain of Eimeria species has become a potential threat to poultry production worldwide [2]. Probiotics have been used as an alternative to antibiotics in broilers due to their benefits in improving growth, as well as preventing infection [3,4]. A Gram-positive endospore-forming probiotic strain, was found in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens and exhibits antibacterial activity against pathogens in vitro through the production of antimicrobial lipopeptides [5,6]. The precise mechanisms by which B. licheniformis confers protection against Eimeria species in broilers are still unclear

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