Abstract
The effects of Enterococcus faecium on growth, intestinal barrier function, and immune response in Escherichia coli O78-challenged broiler chickens were investigated. Three hundred eight 1-day-old Ross male chickens were randomly assigned into three treatment groups: negative control (C), E. coli O78-infected positive (EP), and E. coli O78-infected with 200 mg/kg E. faecium dietary supplementation (EF). E. faecium significantly increased the body weight on day 10 (P < 0.05) and day 15. Furthermore, these birds had a greater average daily gain compared with the other groups during days 1–10 (P < 0.05). The death rate of the EF chickens dramatically declined. E. faecium supplementation improved the jejunal villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05) 3 and 7 days post-infection. The mRNA expression of claudin-1 significantly increased by E. faecium (P < 0.05) 3 and 7 days post-infection, and Mucin2 was markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) 3 days post-infection. E. faecium upregulated the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ and IL-10 (P < 0.05) and downregulated that of NF-κB, TLR4, and IL-1β (P < 0.05) in the spleen 3 and 7 days post-infection. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation index was markedly enhanced in the EF group (P < 0.05) 3 days post-infection. The increased liver E. coli number caused by the E. coli O78 challenge was significantly reversed by E. faecium (P < 0.05). E. faecium improved growth and reduced the death rate by regulating the immune response and maintaining the intestinal integrity in E. coli O78-challenged broiler chickens.
Highlights
Avian colibacillosis, caused by specific serotypes or opportunistically pathogenic Escherichia coli, is one of the crucial bacterial diseases of poultry [1, 2]
0 3 dpi birds fed with basal diet; E. coli O78-infected positive (EP), birds fed with basal diet and challenged with E. coli O78; E. faecium dietary supplementation (EF), birds fed a basal diet supplemented with E. faecium and challenged with E. coli O78
Three days post-infection, the E. coli challenge significantly increased the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-1β, and Probiotics have been proven to be beneficial for broiler breeding [14, 15]
Summary
Avian colibacillosis, caused by specific serotypes or opportunistically pathogenic Escherichia coli, is one of the crucial bacterial diseases of poultry [1, 2]. Enterococcus faecium, a lactic acid-producing Gram-positive bacterium found in the intestine of healthy animals and humans, is a probiotic that may be beneficial for animal health [6, 7]. Previous studies have indicated that E. faecium improves the metabolism of macronutrients [7], promotes growth performance [6, 9], inhibits pathogen proliferation [1, 10], improves intestinal morphology [6, 11], and enhances the immune response [12]. E. faecium prevents E. coli-induced intestinal disorders and Probiotics & Antimicro.
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