Lactobacillus johnsonii CPN23 vis-à-vis Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15 Improves Gut Health, Intestinal Morphometry, and Histology in Weaned Wistar Rats

The present investigation was carried out with the aim to establish the comparative efficacy of a canine-sourced probiotic meant for canine feeding and a conventional dairy-sourced probiotic. For this purpose, canine-origin Lactobacillus johnsonii CPN23 and dairy-origin Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15 were evaluated for potential probiotics health benefits in the rat model. Forty-eight weaned Wistar rats enrolled in this experiment of 8 weeks were fed a basal diet and divided into three dietary treatments. Rats of group I enrolled as control (CON) were given MRS placebo at 1 mL/head/day, while rats of group II (LAJ) and III (LAC) were administered with overnight MRS broth grown-culture of L. johnsonii CPN23 and L. acidophilus NCDC15, respectively, at 1 mL/head/day (108 cfu/mL). The average daily gain and net gain in body weight were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in LAJ and LAC than in CON. Fecal and digesta biochemical attributes altered (p < 0.05) positively in response to both probiotics. Total fecal and pooled digesta SCFAs were higher (p < 0.05) in both LAJ and LAC than in CON. The microbial population in cecal and colonic digesta responded (p < 0.05) positively to both probiotics. The diameter of intestinal segments was higher (p < 005) in LAJ as compared to CON. The number and height of villi in jejunum tended to be higher in LAJ as compared to CON. The humoral immune response to sheep erythrocytes as well as chicken egg-white lysozyme was higher in LAJ as compared to CON. Overall, the results of the study have demonstrated the effectiveness of the canine-sourced L. johnsonii CPN23 as a potential probiotic, with a comparatively better response than the dairy-sourced L. acidophilus NCDC15. It could thus be recommended for use in feeding dogs to help augment their health.

Evaluation of Natural Antimicrobial Substances Blend as a Replacement for Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Broiler Chickens: Enhancing Growth and Managing Intestinal Bacterial Diseases

In recent years, commercial use of antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) has restrictions due to drug resistance against intestinal pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens. Currently there is no single non-antibiotic treatment approach that is effective against intestinal illnesses in broiler chicken. Hence, present study aimed to analyze efficacy of blend of natural antimicrobial substances (probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and essential oils blend named as AGPR) as replacers of AGPs (BMD and CTC) for promoting growth and controlling bacterial diseases in aforementioned three microbes challenged broiler chickens. Effects of treatments (5) and microbes (3) on growth and health performances in experimental birds were analyzed using two factorial ANOVA. Health performance like pathogen loads, morbidity and mortality was considerably reduced by AGPR. Similarly small intestine villi morphometry, nutrition utilization, serum immune response, and carcass yield, was improved significantly by AGPR equivalent to AGPs. Further, growth performance like body weight gain, feed efficiency was also improved by AGPR compared to control but, non-significantly. Among three microbes, E. coli infections had higher morbidity and mortality rates. It was concluded that AGPR blend could be used to improve growth and control the intestinal bacterial infections in broiler chickens as an alternative for AGPs.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum IKP 111 reduces pathogen load and improves immunity of broilers when challenged with Salmonella enteritidis

In this study, we checked the effectiveness of L. fermentum IKP 111 in treating S. enteritidis infection in an in vivo study. Its oral administration to broiler chicks significantly reduced the colonization of S. enteritidis in the gut and there was a lower bacterial count of S. enteritidis in the droppings after infection. The administration of the probiotic L. fermentum IKP 111 also led to increase in weight gain in the broiler chicks as well as their immunomodulation against avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as compared to the chicks challenged only with S. enteritidis. Our study provides evidence that the probiotic strain L. fermentum IKP 111 could be an alternate for controlling S. enteritidis infection while enhancing the gut health as well as the immune response of broiler chickens against viral infections.

Temporal stability and community assembly mechanisms in healthy broiler cecum

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented advancement in in situ analytical approaches that contribute to the mechanistic understanding of microbial communities by explicitly incorporating ecology and studying their assembly. In this study, we have analyzed the temporal profiles of the healthy broiler cecal microbiome from day 3 to day 35 to recover the stable and varying components of microbial communities. During this period, the broilers were fed three different diets chronologically, and therefore, we have recovered signature microbial species that dominate during each dietary regime. Since broilers were raised in multiple pens, we have also parameterized these as an environmental condition to explore microbial niches and their overlap. All of these analyses were performed in view of different parameters such as body weight (BW-mean), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and age (days) to link them to a subset of microbes that these parameters have a bearing upon. We found that gut microbial communities exhibited strong and statistically significant specificity for several environmental variables. Through regression models, genera that positively/negatively correlate with the bird's age were identified. Some short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria, including Izemoplasmatales, Gastranaerophilales, and Roseburia, have a positive correlation with age. Certain pathogens, such as Escherichia-Shigella, Sporomusa, Campylobacter, and Enterococcus, negatively correlated with the bird's age, which indicated a high disease risk in the initial days. Moreover, the majority of pathways involved in amino acid biosynthesis were also positively correlated with the bird's age. Some probiotic genera associated with improved performance included Oscillospirales; UCG-010, Shuttleworthia, Bifidobacterium, and Butyricicoccaceae; UCG-009. In general, predicted antimicrobial resistance genes (piARGs) contributed at a stable level, but there was a slight increase in abundance when the diet was changed. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies looking at the stability, complexity, and ecology of natural broiler microbiota development in a temporal setting.

Phytogenic Ingredients from Hops and Organic Acids Improve Selected Indices of Welfare, Health Status Markers, and Bacteria Composition in the Caeca of Broiler Chickens

Simple Summary

The selection for the rapid growth rate in broiler chickens that has been carried out over the years has negatively influenced their health and welfare status. In recent years, a number of reports have been delivered on the use of additives that improve broilers’ intestinal peristalsis and production results. The authors of this paper have proved that applying a mixture with 50% hops (manifesting strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties) may bring benefits to the quantity and quality of the final product. This may refer to the production performance, flock health status, and welfare of birds. The thematic scope of this research is currently of significant importance, as veterinary inspections pay particular attention to the quality of litter and the welfare of birds, and this motivates producers to improve breeding conditions, which will contribute to better production systems.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of phytogenic product-supplemented, organic acid-supplemented, and prebiotic-supplemented diets on the production results, antioxidative status, and selected welfare indices in broiler chickens. A total of 1155 one-day old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group C, no additives; Group A, supplemented with phytogenic supplement (50% hop); and Group P, supplemented with 65% organic acids and their salts, and 30% prebiotic complex. Health condition and production results were monitored during the entire experiment. After 42 days, 10 birds from each dietary treatment group were selected for blood sampling and slaughter analysis. The results obtained revealed that over the whole feeding period, none of the investigated additives significantly affected broiler performance indices. However, feeding the birds treatment-A increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in caecal digesta compared to the other treatments, whereas feeding treatment-P increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus compared to the control treatment. Overall, treatment-A was more effective at increasing relative abundance of Clostridia in birds at 42 days of age than treatment-P. Finally, there were no changes in blood levels of antioxidant indices or liver function indicators.

Effect of total replacement of inorganic with organic sources of key trace minerals on performance and health of high producing dairy cows

The aim of this trial was to compare the effect of complete replacement of certain inorganic trace minerals with organic, chelated minerals (Bioplex®, Selplex®; Alltech Inc, USA) against standard and reduced inorganic mineral levels in feed on the performance and health of dairy cows during a 10-week trial (W0-W10) period. Three treatment groups, each containing 36 dairy cows, were assigned to one of three diets that varied only in mineral feed composition: (1) Inorganic (CON) Cu (1,042 mg/kg), Se (26 mg/kg) and Zn (4,200 mg/kg) as per normal industry inclusion levels; (2) Inorganic (INORG) Cu (-35%: 680 mg/kg), Se (-60%; 10 mg/kg) and Zn (-66%; 1,360 mg/kg) (based on the lower organic levels in diet 3); and (3) Organic (proteinates and selenium-enriched yeast) minerals (ORG) Cu, Se and Zn as per INORG levels. The cows in the ORG group had the highest milk yield (32.6 kg; P=0.0165) with the INORG group the least (31.3 kg), production (energy corrected milk 31.5 kg (P=0.008) vs CON 31.0 kg and INORG 30.7 kg), protein synthesis (ORG 1,024 g/d (P<0.0001) vs CON 1,013 g/d and INORG 982 g/d) and ORG had the highest (P<0.01) milk lactose content. There were no differences between treatments in plasma Zn, Cu and GSH-PXE levels. Pregnancy rate and number of artificial insemination services appeared improved. Mastitis rates were lowest for the ORG group (two cows affected), vs four cows for the INORG group and six cows for the CON group. Somatic cell counts were consistently lower in the ORG cows (P<0.05), being less than 300,000 cell counts, compared to peaks of 380,000 counts in the INORG and 550,000 counts in the CON groups. Five cows were affected by lameness in the INORG group, compared to three for the CON and one in the ORG groups.

Efficacy of phytobiotic and toxin binder feed additives individually or in combination on the growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, and microbial population in broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin B1

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of phytobiotic and antifungal feed additives on the growth performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota activity of broiler chickens under aflatoxicosis challenge. A total of 250 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed sex) were reared on the littered floor with a completely randomized design by five treatments and five replicates for 35 days. Treatments included positive control (without AFB1), negative control-AFB1 (1 ppm), negative control-phytobiotic (Entex, 0.5 kg/t), negative control-Mycofix Plus (0.5 kg/t), and negative control-phytobiotic + Mycofix Plus. Dietary phytogenic and toxin binder improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens (p<0.05). Serum concentration of AST increased in broilers which received AFB1 without additives, while the blood concentration of total protein decreased (p<0.05). In jejuna morphometric indices, it was observed that the broiler chickens fed phytobiotic additive in combination with toxin binder had a greater villus length and crypt depth (p<0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on the cecal microbial population in broiler chickens. In conclusion, the present results indicated that phytobiotic and toxin binder supplement improved growth performance and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens exposed to AFB1 challenge.

Effects of oregano (Lippia origanoides) essential oil supplementation on the performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphometry of Isa Brown laying hens

Background and Aim:

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the feed of poultry, has contributed to an increase in the antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens worldwide. Hence, the development of new effective alternatives to antibiotics that do not hinder productivity is imperative. For this, the aim of the present study was to determine whether oregano essential oil (OEO) extracted from Lippia origanoides is a suitable alternative to growth-promoting antibiotics (GPAs) for improving the performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphometry of ISA Brown laying hens.

Materials and Methods:

A total of ninety-six 70-week-old ISA Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups with four replicates per treatment and six hens per replicate. The treatments consisted of four different diets that were formulated according to the nutritional requirements of the genetic line and the production phase with and without the addition of GPA and OEO: NC, which did not contain OEO or GPA; GPA, which included 50 ppm zinc bacitracin as a GPA; 80OEO, which included 80 ppm OEO and no GPA; and 150OEO, which included 150 ppm OEO and no GPA.

Results:

All of the OEO and GPA treatment groups had a better feed conversion ratio than the NC group. However, the addition of 150 ppm OEO to the diet improved the percentage egg production and egg mass, as well as the external and internal quality of the egg compared with the other treatments. In addition, both the 80OEO and 150OEO treatments improved the yolk color, shell thickness, and shell color, as well as parameters related to the intestinal morphometry compared with the NC group.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study indicate that 150 ppm OEO can be used as a substitute for GPA to improve the performance, egg quality, and parameters related to the intestinal morphometry of ISA Brown laying hens.

Effects of dietary supplemental phytoncide instead of zinc oxide on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and faecal microflora in growing pigs

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of phytoncide (PTC) instead of zinc oxide on growth performance, blood profile, nutrient digestibility and faecal microflora in growing pigs. A total of 120 growing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with initial body weight 24.48 ± 1.62 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments for a 6 weeks feeding trials, the treatments as follow: CON (base diet)，ZO (CON + 0.03% Zinc Oxide), PTC1 (CON + 0.5% PTC), PTC2 (CON + 1.0% PTC). Compared to basal diet, during weeks 1-3, 3-6, and overall experimental period, the ADG of growing pigs fed phytoncide diet trend to be increased, and fed ZO diet was significantly increased (p < 0.05). During weeks 3-6 and overall experiment period, pigs fed the ZO diet showed improvement in feed intake compared to pigs fed basal diet as a trend. Compared with basal diet, the pigs receiving phytoncide diet significantly increased the digestibility of DM and reduced the concentration of aspartate transaminase in pigs receiving 1.0% phytoncide diet. These results suggested that dietary supplement of phytoncide, Korean pine extract, could be used as an alternative to zinc oxide by decreasing detoxify to soil and plants without influencing the performance of growing pigs. Further study is needed to determine the systemic estimation of the dose of phytoncide.

Effect of different phytogenic additives on oxidation stability of chicken meat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the oxidative stability (TBARS method) of breast and thigh muscle after application of feed mixtures enriched by phytogenic additives. The experiment started with 150 pieces one-day-old chicks of Cobb 500 hybrid combination. They were divided into one control (C) and two experimental groups (1st EG and 2nd EG). Each group included 50 chicks. In experimental groups, feed additives were applied as followed: 100 mg.kg-1 Agolin Poultry (in the 1st EG) and 500 mg.kg-1 Agolin Tannin Plus (in the 2nd EG). Experimental broiler chickens were fed during 42 days by ad libitum. Chicken meat samples of breast and thigh muscle were analysed in the 1st day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th month of storage in frozen storage at -18 °C. We recorded positive influence on chicken meat oxidative stability in all experimental groups with application of phytogenic feed additives. Obtained results showed that applied phytogenic additives had positive influence on oxidative stability of breast and thigh muscles. At the end of frozen storage (in 6th month), we found higher malondialdehyde (MDA) values and lower oxidative stability (p <0.05) of breast muscle in control group (0.167 mg.kg-1) compared to experimental groups (from 0.150 mg.kg-1 in 1. EG to 0.155 mg.kg-1 in 2. EG). In the thigh muscle, we found similar tendency of oxidative changes as in the breast muscle. At the end of frozen storage (in the 6th month), MDA average values of thigh muscle were higher (p <0.05) in control group (0.181 mg.kg-1) compared to experimental groups (1. EG 0.164 mg.kg-1 and 2. EG 0.169 mg.kg-1). Significant differences (p <0.05) between the control and experimental groups were found from the 5th month of storage in thigh and breast muscle. Obtained results indicate positive influence of phytogenic additives applied in chicken nutrition, namely on stabilization of fatty substance to degradation processes.

Modulation of intestinal mucin composition and mucosal morphology by dietary phytogenic inclusion level in broilers

The effect of a dietary phytogenic feed additive (PFA) inclusion level in mucin monosaccharide composition, mucosal morphometry and mucus histochemistry along the broiler intestinal tract was studied. Cobb male broilers (n = 525) were allocated into five experimental treatments that, depending on the type of addition in the basal diet (BD), were labeled as follows: C (BD based on maize-soybean meal with no other additions), E1 (80 mg PFA/kg BD), E2 (125 mg PFA/kg BD), E3 (250 mg PFA/kg of BD) and A (2.5 mg avilamycin/kg BD). Samples from duodenum, ileum and cecum of 14- and 42-day-old broilers were collected and analyzed. In 14-day-old broilers, treatments E2 and E3 had higher (P < 0.01) duodenal mannose than treatments C, E1 and A. Ileal mannose was lower (P < 0.05) in treatment C compared with PFA treatments, and ileal galactose (Gal) was higher (P < 0.01) in treatments E2 and E3 compared with C and A. Polynomial contrast analysis with respect to PFA inclusion level showed that in 14-day-old broilers there was a linear increase (P = 0.001) in duodenal mannose and a quadratic effect (P = 0.038) in duodenal N-acetyl-galactosamine with increasing PFA level. Ileal Gal and mannose increased linearly (P = 0.002 and P = 0.012, respectively) with PFA inclusion level. There were no significant differences between treatments in mucin monosaccharide molar ratios of 42-day-old broilers. However, increasing PFA inclusion level resulted in a linear decrease of ileal fucose (P = 0.021) and cecal N-acetylgalactosamine (P = 0.036). Experimental treatments did not differ (P > 0.05) regarding duodenal villus height (Vh), crypt depth (Cd) and Vh/Cd ratio, irrespective of broiler age and the intestinal segment examined. However, increasing dietary PFA inclusion level showed a pattern of linear increase of duodenal Vh/Cd ratio in 14-day-old broilers and ileal Vh in 42-day-old broilers (P = 0.039 and P = 0.039, respectively). Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid-Schiff (pH 2.5) staining of neutral and acidic mucins showed that the staining intensity of mucus layer in villi was fragment (i.e. tip, midsection and base) dependent, whereas in crypts it was dependent both on intestinal segment (i.e. duodenum, ileum and cecum) and fragment. Finally, mucus layer thickness did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments, yet a pattern of linear increase (P < 0.05) with PFA inclusion level was observed in the duodenum of 42-day-old broilers. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion level of PFA modulated broiler intestinal mucin composition and morphology. Further studies are required to elucidate the physiological implications of such changes in host-microflora interactions.