Abstract
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of compound probiotics on intestinal microflora and metabolome of Shaoxing ducks. A total of 640 1-day-old Shaoxing ducks were randomly divided into two treatments with eight replicates and forty ducks for each replicate. The ducks were fed basal diet (Ctrl) and basal diet supplemented with 0.15% compound probiotics (MixP). The experiment lasted for 85 days. The results showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides in MixP was higher than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). However, the abundance of Firmicutes and Oscillospira and Desulfovibrio in MixP was lower than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). Concentrations of 71 metabolites differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the MixP and the Ctrl groups; for example, Pyridoxal (Vitamin B6), L-Arginine, and Betaine aldehyde were up-regulated (P < 0.05), and 7-oxocholesterol, 3-hydroxy-L-kynureni-ne, and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine were down-regulated (P < 0.05). KEGG was enriched in 15 metabolic pathways. The pathways of Vitamin B6 metabolism, Vascular smooth muscle contraction, Vitamin digestion and absorption, and Protein digestion and absorption were influenced by compound probiotics supplementation. Thus, supplementation of compound probiotics improved cecal heath through shifts in the cecal microbiome and metabolome.
Highlights
The microbes in the intestinal tract of animals are composed of bacteria, archaea, and fungi
We focused on evaluating the effects of probiotics on intestinal microflora and metabolome of Shaoxing ducks
There were 6,828 Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the MixP and the control group (Ctrl), and the number of OTU in the MixP was higher than that in Ctrl, indicating that the probiotics preparation interfered with the species and quantity of cecal flora of Shaoxing ducks
Summary
The microbes in the intestinal tract of animals are composed of bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Studies have shown that the diversity of flora in an animal’s digestive tract can reflect the digestive and absorption capacity of the animal, and intestinal flora plays a key role in maintaining intestinal function (Psscale et al, 2018). Normal intestinal flora can promote the development and maturity of the host immune system and maintain the healthy state. Gut microbiota are crucial for animal health and development by aiding digestion, regulating the immune system (Nicholson et al, 2012), and preventing pathogen invasion (Franchi et al, 2012). Probiotics are mainly through colonization in the host, adjust the immune function or host mucous membrane and system regulating intestinal flora balance; they promote nutrient absorption maintain intestinal health (Hill et al, 2014)
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