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Association of Probiotic Supplementation with Improvements in the Gut Microbes, Blood Lipid Profile and Caecal Villus Morphology of Broilers

  • Research Article-Biological Sciences
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Abstract

The effects of probiotic supplementation vary among species or strains, and the dose and feeding timeline could alter the intestinal environment of broilers. A fresh culture of Bacillus subtilis CE330 and multiple lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains was administered to hatched broilers to investigate their synergistic and long-term effects. One-day-old Cobb broilers (n = 30) were randomly distributed into five groups (six chicks per group) and orally fed dH2O (control), B. subtilis CE330, or mixed cultures of B. subtilis CE330 and LAB at different doses and times. The simultaneous oral feeding B. subtilis CE330 and 4 LAB strains (ratio equal to 1:4) resulted in the best improvements in growth and health performance in broilers raised without antibiotics. The probiotic-fed group showed a 32.3% higher body weight gain and a 30.2% increase in high-density lipids. One of the 22 Bacillus-like isolates showed similar properties to B. subtilis CE330, including inhibition of bacterial pathogens, presence of the subtilosin gene, digestive enzyme activity, and antibiotic susceptibility. PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that the control group exhibited a diverse bacterial population of pathogen-related species that was not detected in the caecum of the B. subtilis CE330-fed group. The villus number and the morphology of the epithelial cells in the caecum were obviously increased and improved the nutrient adsorption in the probiotic-fed groups. The administration of three doses of a probiotic mixture early after hatching was sufficient for a long-term health benefit on broilers. The most effective probiotics could be further developed for the production of antibiotic-free broilers.

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Abbreviations

CA4:

Enterococcus faecium CA4

CE330:

Bacillus subtilis CE330

CH24:

Lactobacillus salivarius CH24

CH33:

Enterococcus durans CH33

SH8:

Pediococcus acidilactici SH8

BS:

Bacillus subtilis CE330

BWG:

Body weight gain

CFU:

Colony-forming unit

CHL:

Cholesterol

DFMs:

Direct-fed microbials

HDL:

High-density lipid

LDL:

Low-density lipid

LAB:

Lactic acid bacteria

LB:

Luria-Bertani

MRS:

De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe

PCR-DGGE:

Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kuru Aood Farm for supporting the animal experiment, Peerapol Sukon for providing animal care supervision, and Miss Alisa Naladta for the assistance provided with the PCR-DGGE technique. This study was supported by the Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) Ph.D. Program and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) (No. 4.M.KK/58/B.1.N.XX to Nalisa Khochamit and PHD/0069/2558 to Wilailak Siripornadulsil). This project was partly funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT; NRCT5-RSA63003-02 to Wilailak Siripornadulsil).

Funding

Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) Ph.D. Programme, 4.M.KK/58/B.1.N.XX, Nalisa Khochamit, PHD/0069/2558, Wilailak Siripornadulsil, National Research Council of Thailand, NRCT5-RSA63003-02, Wilailak Siripornadulsil

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Nalisa Khochamit, Juthamas Buahom, Surasak Siripornadulsil & Wilailak Siripornadulsil

  2. Research Center for Environmental and Hazardous Substance Management, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Surasak Siripornadulsil & Wilailak Siripornadulsil

  3. The Center for Alternative Energy Research and Development, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Wilailak Siripornadulsil

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  1. Nalisa Khochamit
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  2. Juthamas Buahom
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Correspondence to Wilailak Siripornadulsil.

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Khochamit, N., Buahom, J., Siripornadulsil, S. et al. Association of Probiotic Supplementation with Improvements in the Gut Microbes, Blood Lipid Profile and Caecal Villus Morphology of Broilers. Arab J Sci Eng 47, 6807–6819 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-06390-0

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