An evaluation of fructooligosaccharide in diets for broiler chickens and effects on salmonellae contamination of carcasses

Dietary Supplementation of Fructooligosaccharides Enhanced Antioxidant Activity and Cellular Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

This study investigated the impact of various concentrations of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) prebiotic on the production performance, antioxidant status, and immune response of broiler chicken. The FOS was used at 0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7%. The cycle included 340 broilers distributed into 4 batteries, with 85 broiler chickens in each battery. There were 5 replicates with 17 broiler chickens each, and the analyses were triplicated. The studied parameters were production performance, antioxidant status, hematological measurements, cellular and humoral immune response, intestinal acidosis, intestinal microbial counts, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) level in the hindgut. Results showed that broiler chickens fed 0.7% of FOS had significantly higher body weight gain than the control group and the groups fed 0.3% and 0.5% of FOS. Supplementing broiler feed with FOS at all levels increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduced the malondialdehyde of the sera (P = 0.015 and 0.025, respectively). Liver catalase enzyme in the broiler chickens fed 0.5 and 0.7% of FOS was higher than that of the control group and the group fed 0.3% of FOS (P = 0.001). However, the liver MDA of the control group was higher than that of all the other groups (P = 0.031). The total WBC and heterophils % were the highest after supplementing broilers with 0.7% FOS (P = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively) at 3 wks of age. Conversely, lymphocytes and monocytes were the lowest for the 0.7% FOS group (P = 0.030 and 0.020, respectively). Dietary 0.05 and 0.7% of FOS induced the highest cellular response compared to the other treatments (P = 0.020). Thymus, bursa of Fabricious, and spleen weights were enhanced after FOS supplementation, which indicates a higher specific cellular response. To conclude, FOS prebiotic at all levels can be utilized safely to enhance the antioxidant activity and the cellular immune response of broiler chickens. Using 0.7% of FOS resulted in higher body weight of broilers. Accordingly, this amount of FOS is sufficient to reach the required results.

The potential mechanistic insights and future implications for the effect of prebiotics on poultry performance, gut microbiome, and intestinal morphology

Prebiotics may modify the biological processes in the chickens' gastrointestinal tract to improve poultry performance and health. Prebiotics are natural feed additives that offer many economic advantages by decreasing mortality rates, increasing growth rates, and improving birds' feed efficiency. Prebiotic action potentially affects the degradation of indigestible dietary compounds, the synthesis of nitrogen components and vitamins, and simplifies the removal of undesirable elements in the diet. Prebiotics could also induce desirable gut microbiome modifications and affect host metabolism and immune health. It is worth mentioning that gut bacteria metabolize the prebiotic compounds into organic compounds that the host can subsequently use. It is important to limit the concept of prebiotics to compounds that influence the metabolism of resident microorganisms. Any medicinal component or feed ingredient beneficial to the intestinal microecosystem can be considered a prebiotic. In this review, the impacts of prebiotics on the gut microbiome and physiological structure are discussed, emphasizing the poultry's growth performance. The current review will highlight the knowledge gaps in this area and future research directions.

Effects of dietary oligosaccharide supplementation on growth performance, concentrations of the major odor-causing compounds in excreta, and the cecal microflora of broilers

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with 4 types of oligosaccharides on the growth performance, concentrations of the major odor-causing compounds in excreta and cecal microflora of broilers. Three hundred 21-day-old Archer Abor broilers with an average initial live weight of 702.3 g were randomly divided into 5 dietary treatments: basal diet, basal diet + 5 g/kg of mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), basal diet + 1.2 g/kg of inulin, basal diet + 1.5 g/kg of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), and basal diet +1.25 g/kg of soybean oligosaccharide (SBOS), respectively. Each diet was fed to 6 replicates of 10 birds from d 21 to 42, and body weight and feed intake were recorded. Fresh excreta were sampled from each replicate on d 40, 41, and 42 and stored at -20 °C until further analysis. On d 42, the ceca of killed birds were aseptically removed, and the cecal contents were collected into sterile containers and stored at -80 °C until further analysis. Results showed that feeding inulin, FOS, and SBOS diets resulted in an improvement in daily gain (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the SBOS diet showed lower feed:gain ratio (1.84g:g) than the other groups (P > 0.05). Broilers fed the FOS diet showed the lowest volatile basic nitrogen, pH value, and indole and skatole contents in excreta, and broilers fed the SBOS diet had higher total volatile fatty acids concentrations than control (P < 0.05). The cecal microbial community was measured using the PCR-DGGE, which indicated that the cecal microflora Shannon-wiener index and richness of SBOS-fed broilers were significantly higher than that of the control (P < 0.05). The lowest evenness was recorded in the FOS group, which was significantly lower than the other groups (P < 0.05) except the SBOS group. Based on the sequences of the corresponding 16S rDNA of the DGGE bands, in combination with the contents of the major odor-causing compounds in excreta, it is suggested that uncultured Lachnospiraceae bacterium and Bacteroides sp. were associated with the production of major odor-causing compounds in excreta.

In ovo injection of prebiotics and synbiotics affects the digestive potency of the pancreas in growing chickens

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 2 prebiotics and 2 synbiotics on the digestive potency of pancreas in 1-, 3-, 7-, 14-, 21-, and 34-day-old cockerels. Prebiotics (inulin and Bi²tos) and synbiotics (inulin + Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Bi²tos + Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris) were injected in ovo into the air cell on the 12th d embryonic development. Their application increased the activity of amylase, lipase, and trypsin in the pancreas. The most pronounced changes were observed at the end of the investigated rearing period (d 34). The strongest stimulative effects on amylase were shown by both synbiotics, on lipase synbiotic Bi²tos + Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, and on trypsin all the used prebiotics and synbiotics. Simultaneously, neither the absolute nor the relative mass of the pancreas in comparison to control group were changed. Also, the injected in ovo compounds did not cause a deterioration in the posthatching condition of the chicken liver, as determined by measurement of the activity of marker enzymes in the blood (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase). Treatment with the prebiotics and synbiotics did not change the feed conversion ratio but Bi²tos (galacto-oligosaccharide) and inulin (fructan) + Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis significantly increased final BW.

Defined single-gene and multi-gene deletion mutant collections in Salmonella enterica sv Typhimurium

We constructed two collections of targeted single gene deletion (SGD) mutants and two collections of targeted multi-gene deletion (MGD) mutants in Salmonella enterica sv Typhimurium 14028s. The SGD mutant collections contain (1), 3517 mutants in which a single gene is replaced by a cassette containing a kanamycin resistance (KanR) gene oriented in the sense direction (SGD-K), and (2), 3376 mutants with a chloramphenicol resistance gene (CamR) oriented in the antisense direction (SGD-C). A combined total of 3773 individual genes were deleted across these SGD collections. The MGD collections contain mutants bearing deletions of contiguous regions of three or more genes and include (3), 198 mutants spanning 2543 genes replaced by a KanR cassette (MGD-K), and (4), 251 mutants spanning 2799 genes replaced by a CamR cassette (MGD-C). Overall, 3476 genes were deleted in at least one MGD collection. The collections with different antibiotic markers permit construction of all viable combinations of mutants in the same background. Together, the libraries allow hierarchical screening of MGDs for different phenotypic followed by screening of SGDs within the target MGD regions. The mutants of these collections are stored at BEI Resources (www.beiresources.org) and publicly available.

Effect of dietary levan fructan supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, relative organ weight, cecal microflora, and excreta noxious gas emission in broilers

A total of 720 1-d-old male Ross broilers (BW of 48.0±0.3 g) were used to evaluate the effects of dietary levan fructan supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, relative organ weight, cecal microflora, and excreta noxious gas emission in broilers. This experiment lasted 31 d. Broilers were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet, 2) CON+0.25% fructan (FC1), and 3) CON+0.50% fructan (FC2). Each treatment contained 16 pens with 15 chicks per pen. Broilers on levan fructan supplementation treatments (FC1+FC2) had a lower (P=0.005 for d 15 to 31) ADFI and greater (P=0.005 for d 15 to 31 and P=0.022 for d 1 to 31) G:F than those on the CON. A decreased (P=0.031) relative spleen weight was observed with levan fructan supplementation treatments compared with the CON. Cecal E. coli and C. perfringens concentrations in levan fructan treatments were decreased, while cecal Lactobacillus, as well as Bifidobacteria, concentrations in levan fructan treatments were increased compared with the CON. However, excreta NH3 concentrations were decreased (P=0.013) in levan fructan treatments compared with the CON. In conclusion, fructan supplementation improved later stage growth performance, increased cecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria concentrations, and decreased cecal E. coli and C. perfringens concentrations, as well as excreta NH3 concentrations, in broilers.

Effects of lactulose supplementation on performance, blood profiles, excreta microbial shedding of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli, relative organ weight and excreta noxious gas contents in broilers

This study was to evaluate the effects of lactulose supplementation on performance, blood profiles, excreta microbial shedding of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli, relative organ weight and excreta noxious gas contents in broilers. A total of 720 ROSS 308 broilers with a body weight of 46 ± 0.1 g (1 day of age) were used in a 28-d experiment. Broilers were randomly allotted to 4 experiment diets with 12 replicate pens and 15 birds per pen. Dietary treatments were as follows: NC, negative control (without antibiotic); PC, NC + 0.1% tiamulin; L1, NC + 0.1% lactulose; and L2, NC + 0.2% lactulose. Broilers were fed with phase 1 (1-8 day), phase 2 (9-18 day) and phase 3 (19-28 day) diets in the form of mash. During day 1-8, broilers fed the PC and L2 diets had higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain than those fed the NC diet. During day 19-28, broilers fed the L1 and L2 diets had lower (p < 0.05) feed intake than those fed the NC diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was decreased (p < 0.05) in L1 treatment compared with NC treatment. Overall, the FCR was improved (p < 0.05) in all supplementation treatments compared with NC treatment. The apparently metabolizable nitrogen in L1 treatment was higher (p < 0.05) than that in NC treatment at day 28. The excreta Lactobacillus was increased and E. coli was decreased in PC and L2 treatments compared with NC treatment at day 28 (p < 0.05). The excreta NH3, H2S and acetic acid contents were decreased (p < 0.05) in L1 and L2 treatments compared with NC treatment. The relative weight of abdominal fat of broilers fed the PC diet was lowest (p < 0.05) compared with other treatments. In conclusion, this study indicated that dietary supplementation of 0.1% or 0.2% lactulose could improve growth performance, decrease excreta E. coli and excreta NH3 and H2S contents.

Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: updating the concept of prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible (by the host) food ingredients that have a beneficial effect through their selective metabolism in the intestinal tract. Key to this is the specificity of microbial changes. The present paper reviews the concept in terms of three criteria: (a) resistance to gastric acidity, hydrolysis by mammalian enzymes and gastrointestinal absorption; (b) fermentation by intestinal microflora; (c) selective stimulation of the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria associated with health and wellbeing. The conclusion is that prebiotics that currently fulfil these three criteria are fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides and lactulose, although promise does exist with several other dietary carbohydrates. Given the range of food vehicles that may be fortified by prebiotics, their ability to confer positive microflora changes and the health aspects that may accrue, it is important that robust technologies to assay functionality are used. This would include a molecular-based approach to determine flora changes. The future use of prebiotics may allow species-level changes in the microbiota, an extrapolation into genera other than the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and allow preferential use in disease-prone areas of the body.

Effect of inulin supplementation and dietary fat source on performance, blood serum metabolites, liver lipids, abdominal fat deposition, and tissue fatty acid composition in broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding inulin to diets containing 2 different types of fat as energy sources on performance, blood serum metabolites, liver lipids, and fatty acids of abdominal adipose tissue and breast and thigh meat. A total of 240 one-day-old female broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 1 of 6 treatments with 8 replicates per treatment and 5 chicks per pen. The experiment consisted of a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments including 3 concentrations of inulin (0, 5, and 10 g/kg of diet) and 2 types of fat [palm oil (PO) and sunflower oil (SO)] at an inclusion rate of 90 g/kg of diet. The experimental period lasted from 1 to 34 d. Dietary fat type did not affect BW gain but impaired feed conversion (P < 0.001) in birds fed the PO diets compared with birds fed the SO diets. The diets containing PO increased abdominal fat deposition and serum lipid and glucose concentrations. Triacylglycerol contents in liver were higher in the birds fed PO diets. Dietary fat type also modified fatty acids of abdominal and i.m. fat, resulting in a higher concentration of C16:0 and C18:1n-9 and a lower concentration of C18:2n-6 in the birds fed PO diets. The addition of inulin to diets modified (P = 0.017) BW gain quadratically without affecting feed conversion. Dietary inulin decreased the total lipid concentration in liver (P = 0.003) and that of triacylglycerols and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (up to 31%) in blood serum compared with the control groups. The polyunsaturated fatty acid:saturated fatty acid ratio increased in abdominal and i.m. fat when inulin was included in the SO-containing diets. The results from the current study suggest that the addition of inulin to broiler diets has a beneficial effect on blood serum lipids by decreasing triacylglyceride concentrations The results also support the use of inulin to increase the capacity of SO for enhancing polyunsaturated fatty acid:saturated fatty acid ratio of i.m. fat in broilers.

An update on alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters for broilers

Livestock performance and feed efficiency are closely interrelated with the qualitative and quantitative microbial load of the animal gut, the morphological structure of the intestinal wall and the activity of the immune system. Antimicrobial growth promoters have made a tremendous contribution to profitability in intensive husbandry, but as a consequence of the increasing concern about the potential for antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, the European Commission decided to ban all commonly used feed antibiotics. There are a number of non-therapeutic alternatives, including enzymes, (in)organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, etheric oils and immunostimulants. Their efficacy and mode of action are briefly described in this review.

Effects of inulin and enzyme complex, individually or in combination, on growth performance, intestinal microflora, cecal fermentation characteristics, and jejunal histomorphology in broiler chickens fed a wheat- and barley-based diet

A study was undertaken to examine the effects of inulin, alone or in combination with enzyme complex (primarily xylanase and beta-glucanase), on growth performance, ileal and cecal microflora, cecal short-chain fatty acids, and d-lactic acid and jejunal histomorphology of broiler chickens fed a wheat- and barley-based diet from 7 to 35 d of age. A total of 240 seven-day-old male Cobb broilers were allocated to 1 of 6 treatments, with 8 replicate pens per treatment and 5 birds per pen. The experiment consisted of a 3x2 factorial arrangement of the treatments with 3 concentrations of inulin (0, 10, or 20 g/kg of diet) and 2 concentrations of enzyme complex (0 or 100 mg/kg of diet). At the end of the experiment, 8 birds per treatment (one from each pen) were randomly chosen and slaughtered. Birds fed inulin-containing diets exhibited significantly (P=0.043) improved final BW gain. Dietary inulin had a positive and significant (P<0.002 to 0.009) effect on bifidobacteria and lactobacilli counts in both ileal and cecal contents and, to an extent, also altered the fermentation patterns in the ceca, increasing the concentration of n-butyric and d-lactic acids and the n-butyric acid:acetic acid ratio. Inulin inclusion had no effect on villus height and crypt depth or microvillus length, width, and density in the jejunum. Enzyme supplementation of the control diet and inulin-containing diets had no effect on many of the variables studied and only resulted in a decrease in crypt depth and an increase in villus height:crypt depth ratio in the jejunum.

Effects of different feed additives alone or in combination on broiler performance, gut microflora and ileal histology

1. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effects of different xylanases, alone or in combination with different organic acid and oligosaccharide sources, on bird performance, gut microflora and ileal histology. 2. Birds were given a diet based on a commercial formulation, which was split into 8 batches. Batch 1 contained the antibiotic growth promoter Avilamycin and acted as the positive control. To batch 2 the enzyme Allzyme PT was added and to batch 3 Allzyme PT was added with the organic acid and oligosaccharide mixture Avimos. To batch 4, Allzyme PT was added with the oligosaccharide mixture Biomos. To batch 5, yeast extract 2012 was added with the organic acid mixture Gustor and the enzyme xylanase XP20. To batch 6, yeast extract 2012 and feed acidifier Gustor were added as before, with the enzyme Avizyme 1300. Batches 7 and 8 both acted as negative experimental controls, with no added growth promoters. 3. A total of 64 birds were housed in individual wire cages in each of three consecutive experimental replicates (24 birds/treatment). Birds were fed ad libitum from 7 to 28 d and a 7-d excreta collection was carried out to determine apparent metabolisable energy (AME) content. 4. At 28 d, the birds were killed and viscosity of jejunal digesta supernatant and gizzard weight were determined. Samples were taken from the crop, ileum and caecum and analysed for viable presumptive lactic acid bacteria and coliforms. The overall microbial flora was determined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S ribosomal DNA followed by DNA sequence analysis in order to assign amplicons to a bacterial species. Ileal sections were also collected for histological analysis. 5. Total live weight gain (12%) and gain:feed (9%) were significantly improved for all diets containing additives, compared to the negative control diets. All diets containing xylanases gave significantly lower in vivo viscosity values than the positive and negative controls. Diet treatment significantly affected viable coliform numbers in the ileum and also viable lactobacilli in the ileum and caecum. A substantial proportion of the bacteria present in the GI tract (40%) belong to unknown species. No effects of diet treatment on histological measurements were observed in this study. 6. All the additive combinations studied were at least as effective as the antibiotic growth promoter and the results for Allzyme PT suggest that xylanase alone is as effective as any of the combinations studied.

How chicory fructans contribute to zootechnical performance and well-being in livestock and companion animals

Animalia typically have a digestive tract for digestion of food and absorption of water. The intestinal tract is a nutrient-rich environment, as the digestive system of the host often lacks enzymes necessary to degrade certain food components. Other sources of nutrients originate from the high turnover of epithelial cells covering the intestinal surface and from the production of mucus. As the lining of the intestine is continuous with the skin, the interior intestinal space (chyme) of the intestine is external environment. There, as a consequence, is a continuous contamination pressure by bacteria that during evolution proved to be useful for further metabolism of nutrients, which the host failed to utilize. Intestinal flora coevolved with its host and the selection was driven by the intestinal architecture (morphology and transit scheme) and dietary habits of the host. Different animal species have different typical profiles of intestinal bacterial populations. The pertinently existing inter-individual differences between members of certain species are a variation on this typical profile. Animals in general seem not to be able to hydrolyze beta-glycoside bonds, such as the chicory inulin beta(2-1) bond. Chicory fructans were shown to be prebiotic (selectively interacting with intestinal bacterial ecosystem) (1) in humans and in animals, including livestock and pets. This article describes how prebiotic feeding contributes to zootechnical performance of livestock (pig, calf, horse, broiler, laying hen, and fish), which is driven by intestinal functioning, and to animal well-being (mainly pets but also livestock,) which has intestinal but also derived systemic origins.

Application of inulin-type fructans in animal feed and pet food

The inulin-type fructans are non-digestible oligosaccharides that are fermented in the gastrointestinal tract of farm animals and pets. This review focuses on the various effects of inulin-type fructans in pigs, poultry, calves and companion animals. Effects of the inulin-type fructans on gut microflora, digestion and availability of nutrients, gut morphology, fermentation characteristics and animal performance are discussed. Inulin-type fructans can support animal performance and health by affecting nutrient digestion, gut microflora and gut morphology, although results vary depending on composition of the basal diet, inclusion level, type of fructan, adaptation period and experimental hygienic conditions.

Isomaltooligosaccharide increases cecal Bifidobacterium population in young broiler chickens

A newly developed compound derived by fermentation, isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO), was hypothesized to enrich cecal bifidobacterial populations and reduce colonization levels of Salmonella in the ceca of broiler chickens. Broiler starter diets were prepared with final IMO concentrations of 1% (wt/wt), 2% (wt/wt), and 4% (wt/wt) and a control diet without IMO supplementation. Chickens were divided into 4 groups and challenged with 10(8) cell of Salmonlella enterica ser. Typhimurium with 200 microg/mL nalidixic acid resistant (S. Typhimurium Nalr) after 7 d of placement. The experiment was done in 3 replications. IMO-supplemented diets resulted in significantly higher cecal bifidobacteria compared with the control diet (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in bifidobacteria counts among the treatment groups. Chickens fed diets with 1% IMO had a significant 2-log reduction in the level of inoculated S. Typhimurium Nalr (P < 0.05) present in, the ceca compared with the control group, but no differences were found between the control group and the groups fed 2 or 4% IMO for S. Typhimurium Nalr. No differences in feed consumption, feed conversion, or feed efficiency compared with the control group were observed; however, the result showed a significant reduction in weight for birds fed 1% IMO diet compared with those fed the control diet.

The impact of prebiotics and salmonellosis on apparent nutrient digestibility and Salmonella typhimurium var. Copenhagen excretion in adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

The effects of lactose or fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation on the excretion of salmonellae, apparent digestibilities and excreta consistency were studied. Thirty-two male pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: 3 of 4 groups were orally infected with 10(9) Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen, after being offered a drinking water supplement of 2% FOS, 2% lactose, or no supplement, respectively, for 2 wk. Pigeons in the fourth group were not challenged with S. Typhimurium and remained unsupplemented. Initially, FOS increased water intake, resulting in more watery excreta. After infection, supplementation showed no major effects on S. Typhimurium excretion, nitrogen retention, or apparent nutrient digestibilities, although lactose--and to a lesser extent FOS--improved apparent fiber digestibility during recovery from the S. Typhimurium infection. The excreta consistency of all pigeons returned to normal when recovering from the Salmonella infection. In this trial, neither FOS nor lactose was successful in tempering the negative aspects of Salmonella infection in pigeons. Nevertheless, it should be stated that future investigations should clarify the importance of duration and level of prebiotic supplementation and infection level.

Effects of dietary fructooligosaccharide on digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora and morphology of male broilers

Two hundred forty male Avian Farms broiler chicks, 1 d of age, were randomly allocated to four treatments, each of which had five pens of 12 chicks per pen. The chicks were used to investigate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microflora and morphology. The chicks received the same basal diet based on corn-soybean meal, and FOS was added to the basal diet at 0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 g/kg diet at the expense of corn. Addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS to the basal diet significantly increased average daily gain of broilers. The feed-to-gain ratios were significantly decreased for the birds fed diets with 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg FOS versus the control. Addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS enhanced the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, but inhibited Escherichia coli in the small intestinal and cecal digesta. Supplementation of 2.0 or 4.0 g/kg FOS to chicks significantly improved the activities of amylase compared to the control (12.80 or 14.75 vs. 8.42 Somogyi units). A significant increase in the activities of total protease was observed in 4.0 g/kg FOS-treated birds versus controls (83.91 vs. 65.97 units). Morphology data for the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed no significant differences for villus height, crypt depth, or microvillus height at the duodenum. By contrast, addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS significantly increased ileal villus height, jejunal and ileal microvillus height, and villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratios at the jejunum and ileum and decreased crypt depth at the jejunum and ileum. However, addition of 8.0 g/kg FOS had no significant effect on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora, or morphology.

Dietary mannan-oligosaccharides and their effect on chicken caecal microflora in relation to Salmonella Enteritidis colonization

This study first investigates the effects of mash diet, or mash supplemented with either 2.5% mannose-oligosaccharide (MOS) or palm kernel meal (PKM), on the microflora of the hen caecal contents. Second, it investigates the effect of caecal contents of hens (HCC) fed mash or mash supplemented with MOS or PKM on the major microflora groups of chicks, and their inhibitory effect on Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (PT4) colonization. Finally, this study investigates the effect over time of diets supplemented with MOS or PKM on S. Enteritidis colonization and the microflora of chicks. In hens, supplemented diets increased Bifidobacterium spp., while decreasing members of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp., compared with the mash diet. Chicks dosed with the HCC showed, on average, increased numbers of anaerobes, while the numbers of aerobes decreased including coliforms and S. Enteritidis compared with controls without HCC. In chicks fed the MOS-supplemented or PKM-supplemented diets, S. Enteritidis colonization decreased over time, compared with mash alone. Four-week-old PKM birds showed an increase in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., with a decrease in S. Enteritidis compared with week 2. Generally, the HCC and diets supplemented with MOS or PKM affected the birds intestinal microflora by increasing the Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., while decreasing the Enterobacteriaceae groups. They also reduced susceptibility in young chickens to colonization by S. Enteritidis.

Evaluation of the influence of supplementing the diet with mannose or palm kernel meal on Salmonella colonisation in poultry

1. The dietary inclusion of 15 and 25 g/kg mannose was associated with a reduction in the numbers of Salmonella enteritidis (PT4) in the caecal contents of chicks challenged by the food. The same benefit was not recorded for S. infantis, possibly because this strain, unlike S. enteritidis PT4, lacked mannose-sensitive fimbriae. 2. The addition of 25 g/kg palm kernel meal (PKM), but not 20 g/kg desiccated coconut, to the food reduced the degree of salmonella colonisation in the intestinal tract of broiler chicks given diets contaminated with S. kedougou or S. enteritidis from the day of their arrival from the hatchery. 3. The beneficial effect of PKM was also demonstrated at an inclusion rate of 5 g/kg and was similar for preparations with a particle size of either < 150 microns or < 300 microns. 4. Day-old birds challenged orally with S. enteritidis and given food supplemented with 25 g/kg PKM, became clear of infection by 3 weeks of age while birds given unsupplemented food remained infected. 5. These preliminary results suggest that the inclusion of PKM, which contains inter alia, oligosaccharides containing mannose, in the diet of chicks may reduce the extent to which the intestine is contaminated with salmonellas.

Selective enrichment of bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract of broilers by thermally produced kestoses and effect on broiler performance

A series of kestose oligosaccharides have been produced from pyrolysis of sucrose and the effects of feeding these thermal kestoses on broiler performance and cecal microbial populations were evaluated. Eighty-four broiler chicks (day-old Hubbard x Hubbard) were fed either a nutritionally complete basal starter diet (control), the starter diet dressed with 8% of other sugars found in the thermal kestoses mixture (glucose, sucrose, and fructose), or the starter diet dressed with 10% crude thermal kestoses (2% kestoses, 8% other sugars) for a 4-wk period. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly. After 4 wk the birds were killed, cecal contents were collected, and selected microbial populations were enumerated. Weight gains were 938, 968, and 989 g for control, other sugars, and thermal kestoses groups, respectively. There were no dietary effects on weight gain, feed conversion, or concentrations of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, aerobically enumerated lactobacilli, total anaerobes, or clostridia. Cecal bifidobacterial concentrations were increased (P < 0.001) 24-fold in kestose-treated birds compared with controls, with bifidobacterial concentrations being 8.98, 9.09, and 10.36 log10 cfu/g cecal DM in birds fed the control, other sugars, and thermal kestoses diets, respectively. Anaerobically enumerated lactobacilli concentrations in kestose-treated birds were increased (P < 0.007) sevenfold compared with controls, with lactobacilli concentrations being 9.56, 9.53, and 10.36 log10 cfu/g cecal contents, respectively. Thermally produced kestoses altered intestinal bacterial populations in broilers and may have potential to enhance health and performance under the appropriate conditions.

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.

The influence of complex carbohydrates on Salmonella typhimurium colonization, pH, and density of broiler ceca

Salmonella typhimurium colonization, pH, and density of ceca were measured in 3-, 5-, and 6-wk-old broilers fed either a control ration or rations with added fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or lactose derivatives (LD). The purpose was to compare dietary crude FOS from Jerusalem artichokes with refined FOS and two LD for ability to reduce Salmonella colonization as determined by semi-quantitative procedures. Chicks were challenged commencing at 5 d, by exposure to chicks orally infected with S. typhimurium. With the exception of chicks fed crude FOS, the high prevalence of Salmonella infection at 3 wk declined as chicks aged. At 6 wk, broilers fed crude FOS had higher Salmonella counts than all other broiler groups, whereas broilers fed refined FOS had lower infections than control broilers. The decline of Salmonella infection of broilers fed either refined FOS or LD ceased after dietary additives were discontinued at 5 wk of age. At 6 wk, infection rates of the latter groups were at least as high as those of control broilers. Both FOS and LD reduced cecal pH and density. Broilers fed the control ration had higher pH at 5 and 6 wk and higher cecal densities at 3 and 5 wk than those of broilers fed rations containing 5% (wt/wt) carbohydrates. Treatment differences for cecal pH and density disappeared within 1 wk of withdrawal of carbohydrates from 5-wk-old broilers. No consistent effect of cecal pH and density on Salmonella infection was observed. Density was dependent on cecal volume, and at 6 wk of age, on broiler size.

Effects of dietary supplementation with lactosucrose (4G-beta-D-galactosylsucrose) on cecal flora, cecal metabolites, and performance in broiler chickens

The effects of dietary lactosucrose on cecal flora, cecal metabolites, and performance were studied in eight 20-d-old and eight 62-d-old broiler chickens fed a basal diet (control) or a diet with .15% lactosucrose added. On Day 20 of age, the frequency of occurrence of lecithinase-negative clostridia were decreased (P < .05) by lactosucrose consumption. On Day 62 of age, the numbers of bifidobacteria were increased (P < .05) by lactosucrose consumption, but the counts of lecithinase-positive clostridia, including Clostridium perfringens, bacteriodaceae, and staphylococci, total anaerobic bacteria, and the frequency of occurrence of pseudomonads were decreased (P < .05). No detectable change was observed in counts of other organisms throughout the experimental period. Cecal concentration of ammonia (P < .01), phenol (P < .05), and cresol (P < .05) were decreased on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption. Acetic acid and butyric acid were increased (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively) on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption. Environmental ammonia and odor of chicken ceca were greatly reduced by lactosucrose consumption.