Abstract
Due to the global spread of antibiotic resistance, there is a strong demand to replace antimicrobial growth promotors in livestock. To identify suitable additives that inhibit the growth of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O1/O18 and Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis strains, an ex vivo screening was performed. Inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were investigated as prebiotics. Enterococcus faecium and Bacillus coagulans served as probiotic strains. Firstly, the pathogen was anaerobically incubated in caecal digesta from different broiler breeder flocks with the addition of feed additives. Secondly, subsamples of these suspensions were incubated in an antibiotic medium for selective growth of the pathogen. During this step, turbidity was recorded, and lag times were calculated for each pathogen as readout of growth inhibition. Combinations of E. faecium with inulin or FOS significantly extended the lag time for E. coli compared to control. Moreover, older age was a significant factor to enhance this inhibitory effect. In contrast, the combination of FOS and B. coagulans showed shorter lag times for S. Enteritidis. Our results indicate that the E. faecium strain with prebiotics may inhibit the pathogen proliferation in the studied poultry flocks. Furthermore, our results suggest that prophylactic treatments should be assigned by feed additive, age and animal origin.
Highlights
Accepted: 5 January 2022The intensification of agriculture has led to a steady increase in poultry meat production over the last few years [1]
This increase in poultry production comes with challenges, as larger holding sizes can pose a risk for infections with pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella [2]
It was the aim of this screening study to identify beneficial prebiotics and/or probiotics sufficient to inhibit the growth of an avian pathogenic E. coli serotype O1/O18 and S
Summary
The intensification of agriculture has led to a steady increase in poultry meat production over the last few years [1]. Antibiotic resistant bacteria in livestock pose a global hazard to health, which has led to the ban of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) in the European Union [10]. In addition to the different strains and dosages applied in the studies, these varying treatment outcomes could be due to uneven microbial compositions in the treated animals, which are influenced by host and farm specific environmental factors such as infections [19], feed composition, age, breed and housing conditions [20]. Ex vivo assays with digesta content can serve as a suitable preselection method for feed additives to accomplish this approach [21] It was the aim of this screening study to identify beneficial prebiotics and/or probiotics sufficient to inhibit the growth of an avian pathogenic E. coli serotype O1/O18 and S.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
