scholarly journals Effect of Niacin on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Mucosal Immunity and Microbiota Composition in Weaned Piglets

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2186
Author(s):  
Shilong Liu ◽  
Xiaoping Zhu ◽  
Yueqin Qiu ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Xiuguo Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Mucosal Immunity ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth

This study aimed to investigate the effects of niacin on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal mucosal immunity, and colonic microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 96 weaned piglets (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), 21-d old, 6.65 ± 0.02 kg body weight (BW)) were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups (8 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 4 males; n = 32/treatment) for 14 d. Piglets were fed a control diet (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with 20.4 mg/kg niacin (NA) or an antagonist for the niacin receptor GPR109A (MPN). The results showed that NA or MPN had no effect on ADG, ADFI, G/F or diarrhea incidence compared with the CON diet. However, compared with piglets in the NA group, piglets in the MPN group had lower ADG (p = 0.042) and G/F (p = 0.055). In comparison with the control and MPN group, niacin supplementation increased the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (p < 0.05), while decreasing the crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05). Proteomics analysis of cytokines showed that niacin supplementation increased the expression of duodenal transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), jejunal interleukin-10 (IL-10) and ileal interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p < 0.05), and reduced the expression of ileal interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p < 0.05) compared with the control diet. Piglets in the MPN group had significantly increased expression of ileal IL-6, and jejunal IL-8 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (p < 0.05) compared with those in the control group. Piglets in the MPN group had lower jejunal IL-10 level and higher jejunal IL-8 level than those in the NA group (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of duodenal IL-8 and ileal granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) genes were increased (p < 0.05), and that of ileal IL-10 transcript was decreased (p < 0.05) in the MPN group compared with both the control and NA groups. Additionally, niacin increased the relative abundance of Dorea in the colon as compared with the control and MPN group (p < 0.05), while decreasing that of Peptococcus compared with the control group (p < 0.05) and increasing that of Lactobacillus compared with MPN supplementation (p < 0.05). Collectively, the results indicated that niacin supplementation efficiently ensured intestinal morphology and attenuated intestinal inflammation of weaned piglets. The protective effects of niacin on gut health may be associated with increased Lactobacillus and Dorea abundance and butyrate content and decreased abundances of Peptococcus.

scholarly journals Dietary chitosan-Cu chelate affects growth performance and small intestinal morphology and apoptosis in weaned piglets.

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
X. Yue ◽  
L. Hu ◽  
X. Fu ◽  
M. Lv ◽  
X. Han
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Epithelial Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Diarrhea Incidence ◽  
Small Intestinal

The effects of dietary chitosan-copper chelate (CS-Cu) on growth performance, diarrhea, intestinal morphology and epithelial cell apoptosis in weaned piglets was investigated. One hundred and sixty Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weanling barrows with an average body weight of 7.75 kg were randomly assigned to one of the following dietary treatments: (1) control, (2) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CuSO<sub>4</sub>, (3) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CuSO<sub>4</sub> mixed with chitosan (CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS), (4) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CS-Cu. The feeding trial lasted for 30 days. The results showed that the pigs receiving a diet containing CS-Cu had higher average daily gain and lower diarrhea incidence than the pigs receiving dietary CuSO<sub>4</sub> and CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS. Villus height and the ratio of villus height/crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were higher and crypt depth was lower in CS-Cu treated pigs than in pigs fed dietary CuSO<sub>4 </sub>or CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS. An apparent decrease of ileal epithelial cell apoptosis in pigs fed CS-Cu diet was found. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were higher in pigs fed dietary CS-Cu than in those fed other diets. The results indicated that dietary CS-Cu showed better biological and physiological function in improving small intestinal morphology and reducing diarrhea incidence.

scholarly journals Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharides on Growth and Gut Microbiota as Potential Replacements for Antibiotic in Weaning Piglets

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxia Chen ◽  
Yining Xie ◽  
Ruqing Zhong ◽  
Lei Liu ◽  
Changguang Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Short Chain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Weaning Piglets

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) is a well-known kind of oligosaccharide and extensively applied as a prebiotic. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of XOS supplementation substituting chlortetracycline (CTC) on growth, gut morphology, gut microbiota, and hindgut short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of weaning piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments for 28 days, as follows: control group (basal diet, CON), basal diet with 500 mg/kg (XOS500) XOS, and positive control (basal diet with 100 mg/kg CTC). Compared with the CON group, the piglets in the XOS500 group improved body weight (BW) on days 28, average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed: gain ratio during days 1–28 (P &lt; 0.05). The XOS500 supplementation increased Villus height and Villus height: Crypt depth ratio in the ileum (P &lt; 0.05). Villus Height: Crypt Depth of the ileum was also increased in the CTC treatment group (P &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the XOS500 supplementation increased significantly the numbers of goblet cells in the crypt of the cecum. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed distinct differences in microbial compositions between the ileum and cecum. XOS500 supplementation significantly increased the bacterial diversity. However, CTC treatment markedly reduced the microbial diversity (P &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, XOS500 supplementation in the diet significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus genus compared to the CON and CTC group in the ileum and cecum (P &lt; 0.01), whereas the level of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Escherichia-Shigella, and Terrisporobacter genus in the XOS500 group were markedly lower than the CON and CTC group (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, dietary supplementation with XOS500 significantly increased the total short-chain fatty acids, propionate and butyrate concentrations and decreased the acetate concentration compared to the CON group in the cecum (P &lt; 0.05). In summary, dietary supplemented with XOS500 could enhance specific beneficial microbiota abundance and decrease harmful microbiota abundance to maintain the structure of the intestinal morphology and improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Thus, XOS may potentially function as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets in modern husbandry.

scholarly journals Bacteriophage as an Alternative to Antibiotics Promotes Growth Performance by Regulating Intestinal Inflammation, Intestinal Barrier Function and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongdi Zeng ◽  
Zirui Wang ◽  
Tiande Zou ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Guanhong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Weaned Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary bacteriophage supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets fed antibiotic-free diet. A total of 120 weaned piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments with five pens/treatment and six piglets/pen in a 21-d feeding trial. The control diet was supplemented with 25 mg/kg quinocetone and 11.25 mg/kg aureomycin in the basal diet, while the three treatment diets were supplemented with 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg bacteriophage in the basal diet, respectively. There was no difference for growth performance and all measured indices of serum and intestinal tissues between 200 mg/kg bacteriophage group and the control group with antibiotics (P &gt; 0.05). More importantly, compared with the control diet, dietary 400 mg/kg bacteriophage inclusion increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake, and decreased feed/gain ratio and diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets (P &lt; 0.05). Also, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had elevated villi height (VH) in jejunum and ileum, reduced crypt depth (CD) in jejunum and ileum, and elevated VH/CD ratio in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P &lt; 0.05). Compared to the control group, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had lower interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and higher interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration in serum, and higher secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), and tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) content in the ileal mucosa (P &lt; 0.05). Besides, dietary addition with 400 mg/kg bacteriophage decreased the D-lactate concentration and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum, and increased the relative mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, as well as the relative protein expression of Occludin in the jejunum (P &lt; 0.05). However, the growth performance and all analyzed parameters in serum and intestinal tissues were not further improved when piglets fed 600 vs. 400 mg/kg bacteriophage (P &gt; 0.05). MiSeq sequencing analysis showed that bacteriophage regulated the microbial composition in caecum digesta, as indicated by higher observed_species, Chao1, and ACE richness indices, as well as changes in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes (P &lt; 0.05). Collectively, 400 mg/kg bacteriophage can be used as an antibiotics alternative for promoting the growth of weaned piglets. The underlying mechanism is associated with a positive effect of bacteriophage on intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

scholarly journals Dietary chitosan-Cu chelate affects growth performance and small intestinal morphology and apoptosis in weaned piglets

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
X. Yue ◽  
L. Hu ◽  
X. Fu ◽  
M. Lv ◽  
X. Han
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Epithelial Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Diarrhea Incidence ◽  
Small Intestinal

The effects of dietary chitosan-copper chelate (CS-Cu) on growth performance, diarrhea, intestinal morphology and epithelial cell apoptosis in weaned piglets was investigated. One hundred and sixty Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weanling barrows with an average body weight of 7.75 kg were randomly assigned to one of the following dietary treatments: (1) control, (2) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CuSO<sub>4</sub>, (3) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CuSO<sub>4</sub> mixed with chitosan (CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS), (4) 100 mg Cu/kg diet from CS-Cu. The feeding trial lasted for 30 days. The results showed that the pigs receiving a diet containing CS-Cu had higher average daily gain and lower diarrhea incidence than the pigs receiving dietary CuSO<sub>4</sub> and CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS. Villus height and the ratio of villus height/crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were higher and crypt depth was lower in CS-Cu treated pigs than in pigs fed dietary CuSO<sub>4 </sub>or CuSO<sub>4</sub>+CS. An apparent decrease of ileal epithelial cell apoptosis in pigs fed CS-Cu diet was found. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were higher in pigs fed dietary CS-Cu than in those fed other diets. The results indicated that dietary CS-Cu showed better biological and physiological function in improving small intestinal morphology and reducing diarrhea incidence.

scholarly journals Effects of Combined Supplementation of Macleaya cordata Extract and Benzoic Acid on the Growth Performance, Immune Responses, Antioxidant Capacity, Intestinal Morphology, and Microbial Composition in Weaned Piglets

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Wang ◽  
Yexin Yin ◽  
Mei Yang ◽  
Jiashun Chen ◽  
Chenxing Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benzoic Acid ◽  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Macleaya Cordata

Because the use of antibiotics is forbidden, piglets experience a considerable weanling stress, resulting in increased incidence of diarrhea and death. Macleaya cordata extract or benzoic acid have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities that makes them potential antibiotic alternatives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of feed supplemented with Macleaya cordata extract and benzoic acid on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and microflora in weaned piglets. Twenty-four weaned piglets [Duroc × (Large White × Landrace)] 28 days of age and weighing 8.41 ± 0.13 kg were randomly divided in equal numbers (n = 8) into three groups fed a basal diet (CON), CON + 20 mg/kg flavomycin + 50 mg/kg quinocetone (AGP), or CON + 50 mg/kg Macleaya cordata extract + 1,000 mg/kg benzoic acid (MB). Compared with the CON diet, dietary MB or AGP increased the final weight and average daily gain, and reduced feed efficiency and the diarrhea rate (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with the CON diet, MB supplementation increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD activity) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P &lt; 0.05). Serum interleukin (IL)-10 IgA and IgM were higher (P &lt; 0.05) in MB-fed piglets than in CON-fed piglets. Piglets fed the MB diet had greater villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio (VC) in the duodenum, villus height in the ileum, and lower crypt depth in the jejunum than did piglets given the CON diet (P &lt; 0.5). Piglets in the MB group had increased concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids in the ileum or cecum compared with the CON and AGP groups (P &lt; 0.05). Streptococcus proportion was lower in the MB than in the AGP group. Dietary MB increased the Lactobacillus and decreased Escherichia-Shigella populations compared with the CON group (P &lt; 0.05). The study results indicate that MB can be used to replace AGP as a feed supplement for weaned piglets.

Effect of capsaicin and capsaicin plus DL-methionine hydroxy analog in diet on growth performance and gastrointestinal conditions of nursery pigs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siriporn Namted ◽  
Theerawit Poeikhampha ◽  
Choawit Rakangthong ◽  
Chaiyapoom Bunchasak
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nursery Pigs ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Gastrointestinal Conditions ◽  
Dietary Treatments

The study was conducted to determine the effect of supplemental capsaicin (CS) or capsaicin plus DL-methionine hydroxy analog (CS+LMA) in diets on growth performance and gastrointestinal conditions of nursery pigs. Seventy-two castrated male piglets (BW 7.79 ± 0.02 kg) were offered diets for 6 weeks as follows: 1) control diet, 2) control diet with capsaicin 2.5 ppm (CS), and 3) control diet with capsaicin 2.5 ppm plus DL-LMA 0.05 % (CS+LMA). The dietary treatments did not influence growth performance, gastrointestinal pH and the bacterial population in the caecum (P>0.05). However, in the caecum, number of Lactobacillus spp. tended to increase (P=0.09), and lactic acid concentration was increased (P less than 0.05) by CS+LMA supplementation. The supplemental CS or CS+LMA increased the villus height (P less than 0.01), and CS+LMA supplementation increased the crypt depth (P less than 0.05) in the segment of duodenum compared to the control group. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was not influenced by CS or CSLMA supplementations (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing CS improved the small intestinal morphology, and there were synergistic effects on the duodenal crypt depth and caecal lactic acid when LMA was combined with CS.

scholarly journals Dietary Chitooligosaccharide Inclusion as an Alternative to Antibiotics Improves Intestinal Morphology, Barrier Function, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Broilers at Early Age

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Yefei Cheng ◽  
Yueping Chen ◽  
Hengman Qu ◽  
Yurui Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Antibiotic Group

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) inclusion as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers. In total, 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 3 groups and fed a basal diet free from antibiotics (control group) or the same basal diet further supplemented with either chlortetracycline (antibiotic group) or COS, for 21 days. Compared with the control group, inclusion of COS reduced the feed to gain ratio, the jejunal crypt depth, the plasma diamine oxidase activity, and the endotoxin concentration, as well as jejunal and ileal malondialdehyde contents, whereas increased duodenal villus height, duodenal and jejunal ratio of villus height to crypt depth, intestinal immunoglobulin G, and jejunal immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents were observed, with the values of these parameters being similar or better to that of the antibiotic group. Additionally, supplementation with COS enhanced the superoxide dismutase activity and IgM content of the duodenum and up-regulated the mRNA level of claudin three in the jejunum and ileum, when compared with the control and antibiotic groups. In conclusion, dietary COS inclusion (30 mg/kg), as an alternative to antibiotics, exerts beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers.

scholarly journals Dietary supplementation with Bacillus mixture promotes the gut health of weaned piglets

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodan Wang ◽  
Zhilong Tian ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Wenming Zhang ◽  
Zhanbin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Relative Abundances

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with a mixture of Bacillus on the intestinal health of weaned piglets. We randomly assigned 120 piglets to three groups; a control group (basal diet), a probiotics group (supplemented with 4 × 109 CFU/g Bacillus licheniformis-B. subtilis mixture; BLS mix), and an antibiotics group (supplemented with 0.04 kg/t virginiamycin, 0.2 kg/t colistin, and 3000 mg/kg zinc oxide). All groups had five replicates with eight piglets per replicate. On days 7, 21, and 42 of the trial, intestine and digesta samples were collected to determine the intestinal morphology, gut microbiota and metabolites, and the expression of genes related to gut health. The results showed that the BLS mix decreased the jejunum crypt depth, increased the ileum villus height, and increased the jejunum and ileum villus height to crypt depth ratio. The BLS mix also increased the expression levels of E-cadherin and Occludin in the colon and pro-inflammatory cytokines and TLR4 in ileum and colon. The BLS mix also increased Simpson’s diversity index in the gut microbiota and the relative abundances of o_Bacteroidetes and f_Ruminococcaceae, but it decreased the relative abundances of Blautia, and Clostridium. Collectively, these findings suggested that dietary BLS mix supplementation efficaciously promotes intestinal health through the modulation of gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

Effects of dietary rosemary extract supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and microbiota of weaning pigs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Yang ◽  
Yexin Yin ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Xuetai Bao ◽  
Lina Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Crypt Depth

Abstract Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract (RE) has multiple pharmacological and biological activities, including use as a food additive and medicine. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary RE supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and microbiota of weaning piglets. A total of 192 crossbred weaned piglets [Duroc × (Large White × Landrace)] (initial body weight = 6.65 ± 0.33 kg, weaned days = 23 ± 1 d) were group housed (six pigs per pen; n = 8 pens/treatment). Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based control diet or the basal diet supplemented with 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg RE. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to fed for 21-d. The growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and intestinal morphology and antioxidant status were evaluated. The components of the microbial microflora were also determined in the cecal samples. Compared with the control, dietary supplementation with RE increased the final body weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake (linear, P = 0.038, 0.016, and 0.009, respectively), and decreased the diarrhea ratio in piglets (linear, P &lt; 0.05). The digestibility of crude protein (linear, P = 0.034) and gross energy (linear, P = 0.046) increased with treatment with RE. Piglets fed RE showed longer villus height (linear, P = 0.037 and 0.028, respectively) and villus height/crypt depth (linear, P = 0.004 and 0.012; quadratic, P = 0.023 and 0.036, respectively) in the jejunum and ileum, in addition to a lesser crypt depth in the jejunum (linear, P = 0.019) and ileum (quadratic, P = 0.042). The addition of RE increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (linear, P = 0.035 and 0.008 respectively) and glutathione peroxidase activity (linear, P = 0.027 and 0.039 respectively), and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (linear, P = 0.041 and 0.013; quadratic, P = 0.023 and 0.005 respectively) in the serum and liver. Dietary RE supplementation, compared with the control, increased the number of Bifidobacterium (linear, P = 0.034) and Bacteroidetes (linear, P = 0.029), while decreased Escherichia coli (linear, P = 0.008; quadratic, P = 0.014) in the cecal contents. Thus, dietary RE supplementation can improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and the microbiota in weaned piglets, and 200 mg/kg may be considered the optimum dosage.

scholarly journals Dietary Enteromorpha Polysaccharide Enhances Intestinal Immune Response, Integrity, and Caecal Microbial Activity of Broiler Chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teketay Wassie ◽  
Zhuang Lu ◽  
Xinyi Duan ◽  
Chunyan Xie ◽  
Kefyalew Gebeyew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Marine Algae ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Caecal Microbiota

Marine algae polysaccharides have been shown to regulate various biological activities, such as immune modulation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic. However, litter is known about the interaction of these polysaccharides with the gut microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of marine algae Enteromorpha (Ulva) prolifera polysaccharide (EP) supplementation on growth performance, immune response, and caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 200 1-day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into two treatment groups with ten replications of ten chickens in each replication. The dietary treatments consisted of the control group (fed basal diet), and EP group (received diet supplemented with 400 mg EP/kg diet). Results showed that chickens fed EP exhibited significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) body weight and average daily gain than the chicken-fed basal diet. In addition, significantly longer villus height, shorter crypt depth, and higher villus height to crypt depth ratio were observed in the jejunal and ileal tissues of chickens fed EP. EP supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of NF-κB, TLR4, MyD88, IL-2, IFN-α, and IL-1β in the ileal and jejunal tissues (P &lt; 0.05). Besides, we observed significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) short-chain volatile fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in the caecal contents of the EP group than in the control group. Furthermore, 16S-rRNA analysis revealed that EP supplementation altered gut microbiota and caused an abundance shift at the phylum and genus level in broiler chicken. Interestingly, we observed an association between microbiota and SCFAs production. Overall, this study demonstrated that supplementation of diet with EP promotes growth performance, improves intestinal immune response and integrity, and modulates the caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. This study highlighted the application of marine algae polysaccharides as an antibiotic alternative for chickens. Furthermore, it provides insight to develop marine algae polysaccharide-based functional food and therapeutic agent.

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