Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 16 (Lac16) and Paenibacillus polymyxa 10 (BSC10) against Clostridium perfringens (Cp) infection in broilers. A total of 720 one-day-old chicks were randomly divided into four groups. The control and Cp group were only fed a basal diet, while the two treatment groups received basal diets supplemented with Lac16 (1 × 108 cfu·kg−1) and BSC10 (1 × 108 cfu·kg−1) for 21 days, respectively. On day 1 and days 14 to 20, birds except those in the control group were challenged with 1 × 108 cfu C. perfringens type A strain once a day. The results showed that both Lac16 and BSC10 could ameliorate intestinal structure damage caused by C. perfringens infection. C. perfringens infection induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of Bax and p53 and decreasing Bcl-2 expression and inflammation evidence by higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, and IL-10 in the ileum mucosa, and NO production in jejunal mucosa, which was reversed by Lac16 and BSC10 treatment except for IL-1β (P < 0.05). Besides, the two probiotics restored the intestinal microbiota imbalance induced by C. perfringens infection, characterized by the reduced Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and the increased Bacteroidetes at the phyla level and decreased Bacteroides fragilis and Gallibacterium anatis at the genus level. The two probiotics also reversed metabolic pathways of the microbiota in C. perfringens-infected broilers, including B-vitamin biosynthesis, peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and pyruvate fermentation to acetate and lactate II pathway. In conclusion, Lac16 and BSC10 can effectively protect broilers against C. perfringens infection through improved composition and metabolic pathways of the intestinal microbiota, intestinal structure, inflammation, and anti-apoptosis.
Highlights
Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a severe gastrointestinal disease responsible for the annual loss of at least $ 6 billion in the poultry industry worldwide [1, 2]
Hematoxylin–eosin staining showed that the damaged intestinal structure and shorter villus were observed in C. perfringens-infected birds, which were recovered by probiotics treatment (Figure 1A)
The result of Bax immunohistochemistry demonstrated that compared with the control group, C. perfringens infection increased the number of Bax positive cells, while Lactobacillus plantarum 16 (Lac16) restored them to a normal level
Summary
Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a severe gastrointestinal disease responsible for the annual loss of at least $ 6 billion in the poultry industry worldwide [1, 2]. The disease usually occurs in two forms, including clinical and subclinical forms. The clinical form is characterized by a sudden rise in flock mortality with no premonitory signs, while the subclinical form is associated with intestinal damage, impaired absorption of nutrients, and poor overall performance in poultry [3]. Due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome [6], there is an urgent need to find suitable alternatives to reduce the incidence of necrotic enteritis and maintain animal and human health in the postantibiotics era
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