Intestinal Microflora Of Broiler Chickens Research Articles

Preventing subclinical necrotic enteritis through Lactobacillus johnsonii BS15 by ameliorating lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Increasing studies have focused on the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii in certain diseases. Here, we studied the prevention ability of a probiotic strain, L. johnsonii BS15 on subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE), and its underlying mechanism. 180 male Cobb 500 chicks were randomly allotted into three groups and administrated with BS15 (1 × 106 cfu/g) or Man Rogosa Sharpe liquid medium throughout a 28-day experimental period. With the exception of the normal group, SNE infection was treated for the remaining experimental period after the chicks were fed with normal diet 14 days. Results showed that BS15 notably suppressed the SNE-induced loss of average daily gain and liver functional abnormality. Additionally, BS15 facilitated lipid metabolism of SNE boilers when the contents of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and adipose triglyceride lipase in adipose tissue and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased. BS15 also attenuated the hepatic lipid accumulation of stricken chicks by suppressing the genes expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c as well as stimulating the genes expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1. Moreover, BS15 enhanced the development of SNE gut by improving the intestinal development and digestion as well as adjusting the gut microflora. Therefore, BS15 may provide a promising natural preventative strategy against SNE, which may be contributed to the amelioration of lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Butyric Acid on Growth Performance and Intestinal Microbial Load in Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of using butyric acid (BA) in place of antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) on performance and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. Two hundred (200) day-old broiler chicks were housed and distributed randomly into four groups containing five replicates of 10 chicks in each replicate (4 treatments×5 replicates). The experiment had a randomized design. Four experimental diets T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated to contain no additive, Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD) at 20 mg/kg diet and BA at 0.3 and 0.4%, respectively. Body weight gain (g) increased (P 0.05). Significant reduction was observed in coliforms and Lactobacillus counts in cecal contents (28 and 42 d) and excreta (42 d), whereas, total plate counts (TPC) at 42 d were significantly reduced in BA supplemented groups as compared to other groups. From the results, it can be concluded that, BA could be a good alternative to AGP for growth performance and improving gut microbial status in broiler chickens.

Extensive Literature Search on the ‘Effects of Copper intake levels in the gut microbiota profile of target animals, in particular piglets’

Extensive Literature Search on the ‘Effects of Copper intake levels in the gut microbiota profile of target animals, in particular piglets’

Effects of dietary supplementation of nettle root extract and pumpkin seed oil on production traits and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Effects of dietary supplementation of nettle root extract and pumpkin seed oil on production traits and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Effect of dietary supplementation with fermented rice bran on the growth performance, blood parameters and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

Summary This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of fermented rice bran (FRB) as a dietary supplement by measuring the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 121 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments in cages containing 4 chicks each; each treatment had 6 replicate cages. Over a 35-day period, birds were given (1) a basal diet, formulated to be adequate in energy and nutrients and (2) 4 experimental diets, prepared by adding 1 of the 4 following treatments: 6Â mg/kg avilamycin, 10Â g/kg Lactobacillus fermented rice bran, 10Â g/kg Saccharomyces fermented rice bran and 10Â g/kg Bacillus fermented rice bran to the basal diet.

Evaluation of Digestarom and thyme as phytogenic feed additives for broiler chickens

Summary The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with phytogenic feed additives, Digestarom® 1317 and thyme, on the growth performance, oxidative stress and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. Approach: A total of 120 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four groups with three replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were the basal diet without phytogenic additives (control), basal diet supplemented with Digestarom® 1317 at 1.5Â g/10Â kg diet, basal diet supplemented with Digestarom® 1317 at 3.0Â g/10Â kg diet and basal diet supplemented with thyme at 100Â g/10Â kg diet.

육계 사료 내 클로렐라의 첨가·급여가 생산성, 장내미생물 및 면역력에 미치는 영향

본 실험은 액상 클로렐라, 분말 클로렐라 및 클로렐라 사료 첨가제 0.5%, 1.0%를 육계 사료 내 첨가 급여하였을 때 생산성, 혈액 성상 및 장내 미생물에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 시험을 실시하였다. 육계(Ross) 초생추 총 720수를 공시하여 6처리 4반복, 반복 당 30수씩 공시하여 5주간 시험을 실시하였다. 처리구로는 항생제를 첨가하지 않은 처리구(NC, negative control), 항생제 처리구(PC, positive control), 액상 클로렐라 1.0% 첨가구 (T1), 분말 클로렐라 1.0% 첨가구 (T2), 클로렐라 사료 첨가제 1.0% 첨가구 (T3) 그리고 클로렐라 0.5%(T4)로 나누어 실험하였다. 종료 시 체중은 무항생제 처리구(NC, negative control)에서 1,635 g 항생제 처리구(positive control) 1,655 g, 액상 클로렐라 첨가구 1,654 g, 분말 클로렐라 첨가구 1,653 g 그리고 클로렐라 사료 첨가제 1.0% 및 0.5%에서 각각 1,672 g, 1,670 g으로 나타나, 클로렐라 사료 첨가제 처리구에서 무항생제 처리구와 비교 시 평균 2% 이상 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 장내 미생물 조사에서는 클로렐라 사료 첨가제 첨가구에서 유산균수는 각각 7.65 CFU/g, 7.49 CFU/g으로 나타나 유의적으로 증가하였으나 E. coli 및 Samonella 함량은 차이가 없었다. 혈액 내 IgG, IgA 그리고 IgM 역시 클로렐라 함유 사료 첨가제에서 유의적으로 개선되었다(P<0.05). 결과적으로 육계사료 내 클로렐라 함유 사료첨가제의 첨가 급여는 장내 미생물 중 유산균 함량과 혈액 면역 물질을 유의적으로 증가시킴으로써 육계 생산성을 개선시키는 것으로 나타났다. 하지만 국내 외적으로 가축 사료 내 클로렐라를 활용한 연구가 많지 않기 때문에, 앞으로 보다 진보적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of feedstuff of Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) to replace of antibiotic in the diets of broiler chickens. A total of 720 1-d-old straight run broiler chicks (Ross <TEX>${\times}$</TEX> Ross) was randomly assigned into six treatments with four replicate pens (30 birds/replicate pen) for 5-wk. A corn-soy bean meal basal diet was formulated, the treatment groups were negative group (NC, antibiotic-free diet) and 0.1% virginiamycin in as antibiotic growth promoters (PC), 1.0% fresh liquid Chlorella (T1), 1.0% dried Chlorella powder (T2), 1.0% commercial Chlorella product and 1.0% (T3) and commercial Chlorella product 0.5% (T4) were added to the basal diet to form six dietary treatments. No significant differences were found among the treatments for feed intake and feed conversion of broiler chickens during the whole experimental period, but the BW gain was significantly higher (P<0.05) in commercial Chlorella product supplemental groups than the control group (NC and PC groups). Dietary supplementation of Chlorella significantly (P<0.05) increased the plasma IgA, IgM and IgG concentration of chicks compared to NC and PC groups. Supplemental AGPs and commercial chlorella product did not affect the E. coli and Salmonella concentration in the intestinal microflora of broiler chicks; however, the population of Lactobacillus was significantly increased (P<0.05) when birds were fed commercial Chlorella product groups. It is concluded that commercial Chlorella product supplementation could be used as an alternative of antibiotics to promote growth and immune response by increasing the production of lactic acid bacteria in the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens.

Effect of various forms of dietary Chlorella supplementation on growth performance, immune characteristics, and intestinal microflora population of broiler chickens

SUMMARY A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) to replace antibiotics in the diets of broiler chickens. A total of 600 1-dold male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 5 treatments with 4 replicate pens per treatment (30 birds/replicate pen) for 4 wk. A corn-soybean meal basal diet (control) was formulated, and 0.1% virginiamycin as antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), 1.0% dried Chlorella powder (DCP), 1.0% Chlorella growth factor (CGF), and 1.0% fresh liquid Chlorella (FLC) were added to the basal diet to form 5 dietary treatments. No significant differences were found among the treatments for feed intake or feed conversion of broiler chickens during the whole experimental period, but the BW gain was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in AGP and Chlorella-supplemented groups compared with the control group. The number of white blood cells was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in broilers fed FLC compared with DCP, and the number of lymphocytes was also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the FLC treatment compared with AGP and DCP treatments; however, supplemental AGP and Chlorella had no effect on other blood leucocytes of broiler chickens. Dietary supplementation of Chlorella significantly (P < 0.05) increased the plasma IgA concentration of chickens compared with AGP and control. In addition, plasma IgM concentration was higher in DCP and FLC treatments than the control treatment, and plasma IgG concentration was also higher in the FLC treatment compared with other treatments. Supplemental AGP and various forms of Chlorella did not affect the Escherichia coli and Salmonella concentration in the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens, but the population of Lactobacillus was significantly increased (P < 0.05) when birds were fed FLC. It is concluded that dietary supplementation of FLC improves BW gain, immune characteristics, and the production of Lactobacillus bacteria in the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens.

Effects of probiotics and antibiotics on diversity and structure of intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Probitics and antibiotics are all used as growth promoters in domestic animal breeding and poultry raising. In the present study, the effects of probiotics and antibiotics on structure and diversity of the intestinal microflora of broiler 817 was investigated. Ammonia and sulfured hydrogen in fecal were detected. Then the intestinal microflora was analyzed by the pour plate method and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis. The results showed that the probiotics used significantly reduced the fecal emission of ammonia and sulfured hydrogen in broilers, and increased the number of lactic acid bacteria whereas antibiotics reduced it. Diversity analysis of cecal microflora by PCR-DGGE DNA fingerprinting revealed that the richness and variety of microflora in probiotics were obviously better than that in antibiotics group and control group. Key words: Probitics, intestinal microflora, polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), diversity.

Effects of probiotic, Clostridium butyricum, on growth performance, immune function, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens

Four hundred and fifty 1-d-old male Lingnan Yellow broiler chickens were used to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum on growth performance, immune function, and cecal microflora. The birds were randomly assigned to 5 treatments and offered the same antibiotic-free basal diets for 42 d. The treatments were as follows: no addition (control), 1 × 10(7) cfu C. butyricum/kg of diet (CB1), 2 × 10(7) cfu C. butyricum/kg of diet (CB2), 3 × 10(7) cfu C. butyricum/kg of diet (CB3), and 10 mg of colistine sulfate/kg of diet (antibiotic). Birds fed either CB2 or antibiotic had greater overall BW than those in the control group. During d 1 to 7, d 21 to 42, and d 1 to 42, birds fed either CB2 or CB3 or the antibiotic diet had greater ADG compared with those in the control group. No significant differences were observed in BW or ADG among the CB2, CB3, and antibiotic groups. Birds fed the CB2 or CB3 diet had greater concentrations of IgA and IgG in the serum from d 14 to 42 and greater IgM in the serum from d 21 to 42 than those in the control group. Birds fed the CB3 diet had a greater concentration of complement component 3 in the serum than those in the control group from d 7 to 42. Dietary C. butyricum decreased (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli in cecal contents on d 14 and 42, and both CB2 and CB3 decreased (P < 0.05) cecal Salmonella and Clostridium perfringen from d 14 to 42 compared with the control. Broilers fed either CB2 or CB3 had greater cecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts from d 21 to 42, and birds fed C. butyricum had greater cecal C. butyricum counts during the whole period compared with those in the control group. The results indicate that C. butyricum promotes growth performance and immune function and benefits the balance of the intestinal microflora in broiler chickens.

Comparison of broiler performance, carcass yields and intestinal microflora when fed diets containing transgenic (Mon-40-3-2) and conventional soybean meal

This study was conducted to analyze the effects of transgenic glyphosate-tolerant soybeans on the performance, carcass yields and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. Three hundred and sixty oneday-old Abor Aerec broilers were randomly divided into two dietary treatments, adding genetically modified (GM) glyphosate-tolerant soybean meal or conventional soybean meal, respectively. Broiler body weight and feed intake were recorded at regular intervals (day 0, 21 and 42). Chickens were slaughtered at day 42 for carcass yield measurement and sampling. Diversity of the ileum and cecum microflora was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique and DNA sequencing. No treatment differences (P > 0.05) were detected among dietary treatments for any measured performance and carcass parameters. The microbial population in ileum and cecum also had no significant difference between the two treatments ( P>0.05). The similarity of the total ileum and cecum microflora between the two treatments was about 62 and 58%, respectively. The DNA-DGGE electrophoresis pattern bands of intestine microbe were divided into two groups because of the different diet. Fifteen DGGE DNA bands were identified, of which five of them were identified as known bacteria. The current study showed that there were no adverse effects of the transgenic soybean meal on the intestinal microflora of broilers.

Effects of supplemental copper-methionine chelate and copper-soy proteinate on the performance, blood parameters, liver mineral content, and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

SUMMARY In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Cu-Met chelate (CuMet) and Cu-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) on the performance, blood parameters, liver mineral content, and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 1,008 hatched Ross broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (T): T1, control; T2, antibiotic (6 ppm of avilamycin); T3, 50 ppm of Cu as Cu-Met; T4, 100 ppm of Cu as Cu-Met; T5, 50 ppm of Cu as Cu-SP; and T6, 100 ppm of Cu as Cu-SP. Each treatment had 3 replicates of 56 birds (28 birds of each sex). During the 4-wk feeding period, the BW increase of birds in the antibiotic treatment was 3.25% and those of birds in the 100 ppm of Cu treatments were 2.67% on average compared with the control group. The production efficiency factor {[livability (%) × live weight (kg)/age (d) × FCR] × 100} was increased by 5.23% for birds in the antibiotic treatment and by 0.7 to 7.8% for birds in Cu treatments, among which the treatment with 100 ppm of Cu as Cu-SP was highest. The red blood cell level, hematocrit level, and mean corpuscular volume of birds in the Cu treatments were lower than were those of birds in the control group. Copper concentration in the liver increased as the level of Cu supplementation increased. The populations of lactobacilli and total bacteria increased, and that of Escherichia coli decreased as the level of Cu increased, whereas all microbes, including Clostridium perfringens, decreased in the antibiotic treatment.

Effects of a Campylobacter jejuni Infection on the Development of the Intestinal Microflora of Broiler Chickens

The effect of a Campylobacter jejuni colonization on the development of the microflora of the cecum and the ileum of broiler chickens was studied using molecular methods. The infection did affect the development and complexity of the microbial communities of the ceca, but we found no permanent effect of a C. jejuni infection on the ileal microflora of the broilers. In addition, denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles generated from cecal and ileal contents revealed several DGGE bands that were present in the control chickens, but not in the chickens colonized with C. jejuni. Some of these DGGE bands could be affiliated with Lactobacillus reuteri, Clostridium perfringens, and the genus Klebsiella.

Spatial and temporal variation of the intestinal bacterial community in commercially raised broiler chickens during growth.

The objective of this study was to determine whether host, compartment, or environmental specific factors play an important role in the establishment of the intestinal microflora in broiler chickens during growth. This objective was addressed using a 16S rDNA approach. PCR-amplicons from the V6 to V8 regions of the 16S rDNA of intestinal samples were separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The number of bands in all intestinal compartments increased when broilers grew older, indicating that the dominant bacterial community becomes more complex when chickens age. Each chicken had a unique banding pattern for all locations in the intestinal tract, irrespective of the age of chickens. This suggests that host-related factors affect the establishment of the dominant bacterial community. Banding patterns of intestinal compartments within one chicken were different from each other for broilers older than 4 days, except for both ceca which were highly similar. In 4-day-old broilers, banding patterns from crop, duodenum, and ileum were very similar. We conclude that (unknown) host specific factors play an important role in the development of the intestinal bacterial community in each broiler chicken. Furthermore, compartment-specific factors play an important role in the bacterial development of each intestinal compartment within one chicken.

Effect of sucrose thermal oligosaccharide caramel, dietary vitamin-mineral level, and brooding temperature on growth and intestinal bacterial populations of broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of sucrose thermal oligosaccharide caramel (STOC) and dietary vitamin-mineral (V/M) level on growth performance and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, Peterson x Arbor Acres male broilers (n = 384) were randomly allocated into four groups that were fed either the control diet or diets containing the antibiotic virginiamycin (11 mg/kg), 3.7% STOC or 7.5% STOC for 4 wk at brooding temperatures of 32 to 29.7 C. Weight gains for broilers in Experiment 1 were greater (P < 0.001) for birds fed STOC diets, with weight gains of 763, 822, 1,124, and 1,080 g for birds on the control, antibiotic, 3.7% STOC, and 7.5% STOC diets, respectively. Feed intake and feed conversion by birds fed STOC diets were also significantly improved. Cecal bifidobacterial numbers were increased (P < 0.03) over the control diet with numbers being 5.98, 6.99, 7.47, and 7.39 log10 cfu/g cecal DM, respectively. In Experiment 2, Peterson x Hubbard male broilers (n = 384) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of V/M premix (0.5 or 1% of the diet), two levels of STOC (0 or 3.5% of the diet), and two brooding temperatures, normal (32 to 23.6 C) or high (32 to 29.7 C) for 4 wk. Feeding the STOC diet improved (P < 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion of broilers. The effect of STOC on animal performance was less evident when broilers were fed twice the NRC recommended levels of V/M. Feeding the STOC diets resulted in a significantly greater increase in weight gain at high brooding temperatures than at normal brooding temperatures. There was also a reduction (P < 0.05) in numbers of total aerobes and coliforms in the ceca of birds fed diets containing STOC. Feeding STOC has potential to improve growth performance of broiler chickens.

In vitro activity of chloropolysporin-C, a new glycopeptide-group antibiotic, on Clostridium perfringens isolates and its in vivo activity against C perfringens and other intestinal microflora of the caeca of broiler chickens

The influence of chloropolysporin-C, a new glycopeptide antibiotic, on in vitro activity of Clostridium perfringens isolates and its effects on the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens was examined. The in vitro sensitivity of 88 isolates of C perfringens to four antimicrobial agents, including chloropolysporin-C, was tested by an agar dilution method. The antibiotics used all had minimum inhibitory concentration levels of 6.25 micrograms ml-1 or less against this organism. Changes were examined in the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens fed a diet containing chloropolysporin-C to obtain basic data on the mechanisms by which the antibiotic aided livestock production. No clinical findings were recognised in chickens tested during the period of antibiotic administration. A decrease in viable cells of the clostridia was the principal response recognised during the period of drug administration in feed. Among the other microflora, chloropolysporin-C led to a significant response among Gram-positive bacteria, but no changes in the total bacterial count.