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]
Summary
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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