scholarly journals Effects of encapsulated essential oils and organic acids on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and microflora count of hens during the early laying period

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (12) ◽  
pp. 6751-6760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Wang ◽  
Saisai Liang ◽  
Xueyuan Li ◽  
Xiaojun Yang ◽  
Fangyu Long ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Yun Gao ◽  
Xing-Li Zhang ◽  
Li-Hui Xu ◽  
Hui Peng ◽  
Chang-Kang Wang ◽  
...  

This study investigated effects of encapsulated blends of essential oils (EO) and organic acids (OA) on performance, intestinal morphology, cecal microflora, and jejunal mucosal enzyme activity and secretory IgA (s-IgA) level of broilers. Three hundred one-day-old male broilers were divided into 5 treatments with 5 replicates each. Control group received basal diet. Three additional groups received basal diets supplemented with 150, 200, or 250 mg/kg encapsulated blends of EO and OA. Antibiotic group received basal diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg bacitracin zinc. On days 21 and 70 of trial, 2 broilers from each replicate were weighed, and then blood, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum samples were collected. Results showed that broilers fed blends of EO and OA had greater average daily gain (ADG) (linear, P = 0.043) and gain-to-feed ratio (G : F) (linear, P = 0.052) at day 21 compared to broilers fed the control diet. Blends of EO and OA reduced cecal Escherichia coli and Salmonella level of 21- and 70-day-old broilers (linear, P < 0.01). Jejunum villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR) of 21-day-old broilers was elevated by blends of EO and OA (linear, P = 0.041) compared to control. Blends of EO and OA promoted chymotrypsin activity at day 21 (quadratic, P = 0.014), jejunal mucosal s-IgA content at day 70 (linear, P = 0.012), α-amylase activity at day 70 (quadratic, P = 0.043), and chymotrypsin activity at day 70 (quadratic, P = 0.037). Compared to control, antibiotic group increased ADG at day 21 (P = 0.039), decreased cecal Salmonella level at day 21 (P = 0.018), enhanced jejunum VCR at day 21 (P = 0.049), and elevated jejunal mucosal s-IgA content at day 21 (P = 0.016). It can be stated that EO and OA blends enhanced performance, increased jejunal s-IgA level and enzyme activity, improved intestinal morphology, and balanced intestinal microflora of broilers.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1681
Author(s):  
Aliyu Ibrahim Muhammad ◽  
Dalia Alla Mohamed ◽  
Loh Teck Chwen ◽  
Henny Akit ◽  
Anjas Asmara Samsudin

The use of toxic and less bioavailable inorganic selenium can now be supplemented with an alternative organic source from bacterial species in nutrition for human and animal benefit. This study investigated the effects of selenium sources on laying performance, egg quality characteristics, intestinal morphology, caecum microbial population, and digesta volatile fatty acids in laying hens. One hundred and forty-four Lohman Brown Classic laying hens, at 23 weeks of age, were divided into four experimental groups (36 hens in each), differing in form of Se supplementation: no Se supplementation (Con), 0.3 mg/kg of inorganic Se in the form of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), 0.3 mg/kg of organic Se from selenium yeast (Se-Yeast), and 0.3 mg/kg of organic Se from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (bacterial organic Se, ADS18). The results showed that different dietary Se sources significantly affected laying rate, average egg weight, daily egg mass, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and live bodyweight (LBW) (p < 0.05). However, average daily feed intake and shell-less and broken eggs were unaffected (p > 0.05) among the treatment groups. The findings revealed that selenium sources had no (p > 0.05) effect on egg quality (external and internal) parameters. However, eggshell breaking strength and Haugh unit were significantly (p < 0.05) improved with organic (ADS18 or Se-yeast) Se-fed hens compared to the control group. In addition, egg yolk and breast tissue Se concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in the dietary Se supplemented group compared to the control. Intestinal histomorphology revealed that hens fed ADS18 or Se-Yeast groups had significantly (p < 0.05) higher villi height in the duodenum and jejunum compared to those fed Na2SeO3 or a basal diet. However, when compared to organic Se fed (ADS18 or Se-Yeast) hens, the ileum villus height was higher (p < 0.05) in the basal diet group; with the lowest in the SS among the treatment groups. A significant increase (p < 0.05) of Lactobacilli spp. and Bifidobacteria spp., and a decrease of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. population were observed in the organic (ADS18 or Se-yeast) compared to inorganic supplemented and control hens. The individual digesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) was significantly different, but with no total VFA differences. Thus, bacterial selenoprotein or Se-yeast improved the performance index, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk and tissue Se contents, and intestinal villus height in laying hens. Moreover, caecum beneficial microbes increased with a decrease in the harmful microbe population and affected individual cecal volatile fatty acids without affecting the total VFA of the laying hens digesta.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janghan Choi ◽  
Lucy Wang ◽  
Shangxi Liu ◽  
Peng Lu ◽  
Xiaoya Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective was to study the effects of microencapsulated organic acids (OA) and essential oils (EO) on growth performance, immune system, gut barrier function, nutrient digestion and absorption, and abundance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (ETEC F4) in the weaned piglets challenged with ETEC F4. Twenty-four ETEC F4 susceptible weaned piglets were randomly distributed to 4 treatments including (1) sham-challenged control (SSC; piglets fed a control diet and challenged with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)); (2) challenged control (CC; piglets fed a control diet and challenged with ETEC F4); (3) antibiotic growth promoters (AGP; CC + 55 mg·kg–1 of Aureomycin); and (4) microencapsulated OA and EO [P(OA+EO); (CC + 2 g·kg−1 of microencapsulated OA and EO]. The ETEC F4 infection significantly induced diarrhea at 8, 28, 34, and 40 hr postinoculation (hpi) (P &lt; 0.05) in the CC piglets. At 28 d postinoculation (dpi), piglets fed P(OA+EO) had a lower (P &lt; 0.05) diarrhea score compared with those fed CC, but the P(OA+EO) piglets had a lower (P &lt; 0.05) diarrhea score compared with those fed the AGP diets at 40 dpi. The ETEC F4 infection tended to increase in vivo gut permeability measured by the oral gavaging fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 70 kDa (FITC-D70) assay in the CC piglets compared with the SCC piglets (P = 0.09). The AGP piglets had higher FITC-D70 flux than P(OA+EO) piglets (P &lt; 0.05). The ETEC F4 infection decreased mid-jejunal VH in the CC piglets compared with the SCC piglets (P &lt; 0.05). The P(OA+EO) piglets had higher (P &lt; 0.05) VH in the mid-jejunum than the CC piglets. The relative mRNA abundance of Na+-glucose cotransporter and B0AT1 was reduced (P &lt; 0.05) by ETEC F4 inoculation when compared with the SCC piglets. The AGP piglets had a greater relative mRNA abundance of B0AT1 than the CC piglets (P &lt; 0.05). The ETEC F4 inoculation increased the protein abundance of OCLN (P &lt; 0.05), and the AGP piglets had the lowest relative protein abundance of OCLN among the challenged groups (P &lt; 0.05). The supplementation of microencapsulated OA and EO enhanced intestinal morphology and showed anti-diarrhea effects in weaned piglets challenged with ETEC F4. Even if more future studies can be required for further validation, this study brings evidence that microencapsulated OA and EO combination can be useful within the tools to be implemented in strategies for alternatives to antibiotics in swine production.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1673
Author(s):  
Yi Wan ◽  
Huan Yang ◽  
Hongyi Zhang ◽  
Ruiyu Ma ◽  
Renrong Qi ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effects of plastic-net housing system (NRS) and floor-litter housing system (LRS) on the production performance, serum parameters and intestinal morphology of Shendan laying hens. A total of 1200 30-week-old hens were randomly allocated to the NRS and LRS groups, each of which included five replicates with 120 chickens in each replicate. The experiment was conducted from 32 to 40 weeks of age. Indoor airborne parameters were measured every 2 weeks, and indoor ground contamination was measured monthly. The laying rate and mortality of hens were recorded daily, and egg quality traits and serum parameters were measured every 2 weeks. At 40 weeks of age, four birds per replicate from each experimental group were selected for intestinal morphological observation. The results showed that the airborne bacteria number in the LRS was significantly higher than that in the NRS (p < 0.05) for most of the experimental period (except at 32 and 38 weeks of age), and the bacterial numbers on the surfaces of the floor and floor eggs in the LRS were approximately 10 times higher than those in the NRS (p < 0.05). Compared with the LRS, the NRS improved the laying rate (p < 0.05), reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05) and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations and increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, indicating favourable effects on antioxidative status. The NRS was significantly associated with an increased villus height (VH), villus height to crypt depth ratio (VCR) in the small intestine (p < 0.05) and increased VCR in the caecum (p < 0.05). Overall, the lower rate of bacterial contamination in the NRS than in the LRS indicated better environmental hygiene. The NRS enhanced the laying performance and antioxidant capacity of hens and was superior to the LRS in improving intestinal health. The current findings support the advantages of the NRS for the health and welfare of Shendan chickens during the peak laying period.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayu Ma ◽  
Shenfei Long ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jie Gao ◽  
Xiangshu Piao

Abstract Background The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a combination of microencapsulated essential oils and organic acids (MOA) on growth performance, immuno-antioxidant status, intestinal barrier function and microbial structure of the hindgut in piglets. A total of 120 piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; weighted 7.66 ± 1.79 kg, weaned at d 28) were randomly selected and allocated to 3 treatments with 4 replicates per group and 10 piglets per replicate according to the initial body weight and gender. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1) basal diet (Ctrl); 2) Ctrl + chlortetracycline (75 mg/kg) (AGP); 3) Ctrl + MOA (1,500 mg/kg). The experiment period was lasted for 21 d. Results Compared to the Ctrl group, dietary supplemented MOA alleviated (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rate from d 12 to 21, enhanced (P < 0.05) the concentration of serum interlukin-10 and glutathione peroxidase in piglets on d 11 after weaning and serum superoxide dismutase in 21d-piglets. The MOA group also improved (P < 0.05) the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and gross energy (GE), up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression level of occludin, claudin-1 and mucin-2 in ileum and increased (P < 0.05) the contents of propionic and butyric acids in the cecum of piglets. The MOA group modulated the cecal and colonic microbial community structure and increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Faecalibacterium and Muribaculaceae in cecum and Streptococcus and Weissella in colon. Additionally, AGP group decreased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility of DM, OM and GE as well as down-regulated (P < 0.05) relative gene expression level of claudin-1 in duodenum and jejunum, ZO-1 and mucin-1 in jejunum of piglets. Conclusion In brief, dietary supplemented MOA alleviated diarrhea and improved nutrient apparent digestibility in piglets via enhancing immuno-antioxidant properties, increasing digestive enzyme activity, up-regulating the expression of intestinal barrier-related genes, and modifying the microbial community structure of the cecum and colon. Therefore, dietary supplementation with MOA as an alternative to antibiotics was feasible to improve intestinal health of piglets in practical production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2063
Author(s):  
David Huyben ◽  
Marcia Chiasson ◽  
John S. Lumsden ◽  
Phuc H. Pham ◽  
Mohiuddin A. Kabir Chowdhury

A study was conducted on 500 juvenile rainbow trout (122 ± 4 g) fed either a control diet or a treatment diet containing 300 mg/kg of a microencapsulated blend of organic acids and essential oils to elucidate effects on intestinal morphology and microbiome. Proximal intestinal villi length was significantly increased in fish fed the treatment diet. Despite no differences in gut inflammation scores, edema, lamina propria inflammation and apoptosis were completely absent in the distal intestine of fish fed the treatment diet. Next-generation sequencing of the 16S rDNA showed no differences in alpha and beta diversity, and gut bacteria were mainly composed of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. On the genus level, LefSe analysis of indicator OTUs showed Bacteroides, Sporosarcina, Veillonella, Aeromonas and Acinetobacter were associated with the control diet whereas Streptococcus, Fusobacterium and Escherichia were associated with the treatment diet. Aeromonas hydrophila and Acinetobacter spp. are opportunistic pathogens and several strains have been found to be resistant to antibiotics. The increase in villi length and reduction of specific pathogens indicates that feeding a microencapsulated blend of organic acids and essential oils improves gut health and may serve as a part of an effective strategy to reduce antibiotic use in aquaculture.


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