Abstract
Simple SummaryProbiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may be used as feed additives instead of banned antibiotic-based growth promoters. These bioactive compounds applied in ovo have beneficial effects on intestinal bifidobacteria, decrease the number of detrimental bacteria in the gut, stimulate the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), and modulate the development of lymphoid organs. The aim of our study was to determine whether the specific in ovo-delivered prebiotics and synbiotics affected the lymphocyte subsets of the bursa of the Fabricius, thymus, and spleen in non-immunized chicken broilers and in birds immunized with T-dependent (sheep red blood cells—SRBC) and T-independent (dextran—DEX) antigens. This study demonstrated that in ovo administration of prebiotics and synbiotics is a promising approach for enhancing chicken immune system functions. We conclude that a combination of inulin and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IBB SL1 was the most effective of the tested compounds in the stimulation of the chicken immune system.The effects of in ovo-delivered prebiotics and synbiotics on the lymphocyte subsets of the lymphoid organs in non-immunized 7-day-old broiler chickens and in non-immunized, sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-immunized, and dextran (DEX)-immunized 21- and 35-day-old birds were studied. The substances were injected on the 12th day of egg incubation: Prebiotic1 group (Pre1) with a solution of inulin, Prebiotic2 group (Pre2) with a solution of Bi2tos (non-digestive transgalacto-oligosaccharides), Synbiotic1 group (Syn1) with inulin and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IBB SL1, and Synbiotic2 group (Syn2) with Bi2tos and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris IBB SC1. In 7-day-old chicks, a decrease in T splenocytes was noticed in all groups. The most pronounced effect in 21- and 35-day-old birds was an increase in TCRγδ+ cells in Syn1 and Syn2 groups. A decrease in bursal B cells was observed in DEX-immunized Pre1 group (21-day-old birds), and in the Syn1 group in non-immunized and SRBC-immunized 35-day-old birds. An increase in double-positive lymphocytes was observed in Pre1 (35-day-old birds) and Pre2 (immunized 21-day-old birds) groups. In Pre1 and Syn1 groups (21- and 35-day-old), an increase in B splenocytes and a decrease in T splenocytes were observed. We concluded that Syn1 was the most effective in the stimulation of the chicken immune system.
Highlights
Nowadays, in the absence of antibiotic-based growth promoters used in poultry farming, there is a continuing need to search for alternatives
Neither prebiotics nor synbiotics changed the percentage of B and T lymphocytes in 21-day-old non-immunized and sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-immunized chickens
The tested prebiotics and synbiotics did not affect the total count of bursal lymphocyte subsets in 21-day-old birds (Figure 1, Tables S2 and S3)
Summary
In the absence of antibiotic-based growth promoters used in poultry farming, there is a continuing need to search for alternatives. Novel feed additives should positively affect the host and improve its intestinal health and general performance by promoting probiotic and prebiotic effects. Probiotics are live microorganisms beneficial to the host, prebiotics are non-digestible substances that selectively stimulate growth and/or the metabolic activity of beneficial intestinal microflora, while synbiotics are defined as synergistic combinations of prebiotics with probiotic bacteria [1,2]. Both commensal intestinal bacteria and probiotic bacteria have various health benefits. Beneficial gut microbiota play an important role in the development of the immune system by interacting with the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) [5,6]
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