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Microorganisms
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Gut Health in Poultry Production
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Gut Health in Poultry Production

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Gut Microbiota".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2019) | Viewed by 86102

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Michael H. Kogut

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Interests: Salmonella; immunity; chickens; turkeys; innate immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimal gut health is of vital importance to the performance of poultry. There is a direct relationship between bird performance and a “healthy” gastrointestinal tract (GIT), with the GIT responsible for regulating physiological homeostasis that provides an animal with the ability to withstand infectious and non-infectious stressors. Gut health encompasses a number of physiological and functional features, including nutrient digestion and absorption, host metabolism and energy generation, a stable microbiome, mucus layer development, barrier function, and mucosal immune responses, all of which are required to interact so that a bird is able to perform its physiological functions and perform as close as possible to 100% of its genetic potential. The comprehension of gut health requires the elucidation of the interactions between all of these components. Understanding the interactions between these diverse physiological features emphasizes the extent of areas encompassed by gut health and the ability to regulate poultry production. Furthermore, worldwide public concerns about poultry production’s dependency on the use of growth-promoting antibiotics (AGPs) have resulted in the ban of AGPs by the European Union and a dramatic reassessment of their use in the United States. Thus, a great deal of current research is focused on the development of alternatives to antibiotics for sustainable poultry production.  Thus, understanding gut health has been a primary focus of the poultry industry worldwide as a means of increasing production of meat and eggs, reducing the use of antibiotics, and enhancing animal welfare. The poultry industry has been at the forefront of advances in the development of pre- and probiotics, nutritional antioxidants, essential oils, anti-nutritional enzymes, and immune modulators for the regulation of gut health and functionality. This Special Issue will focus on the impact of a healthy gut on poultry health, pathology, diseases, physiology, and production. All studies that will help demonstrate the regulation and/or dysregulation of gut health in poultry by infectious and non-infectious stressors are welcome.

Dr. Michael H. Kogut
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbiota
  • chickens
  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • mucosal immunity
  • alternatives to antibiotics

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1461 KiB  
Article
Incidence of Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (Femoral Head Necrosis) Induced by a Model of Skeletal Stress and its Correlation with Subclinical Necrotic Enteritis
by Irene Rojas-Núñez, Ashli F. Moore and A. Gino Lorenzoni
Microorganisms 2020, 8(2), 205; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8020205 - 01 Feb 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3513
Abstract
Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a septic necrosis of the skeletal system of unknown origin and an important cause of lameness in broiler chickens. Epithelial inflammation has been proposed as an avenue for bacterial translocation leading to BCO. We evaluated the effect [...] Read more.
Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a septic necrosis of the skeletal system of unknown origin and an important cause of lameness in broiler chickens. Epithelial inflammation has been proposed as an avenue for bacterial translocation leading to BCO. We evaluated the effect of subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE), an intestinal inflammatory event, with the development of BCO. In each of two experiments, chickens were divided into three treatments: (1) SNE challenge, including both dietary (wheat- and fish-based diet) and intestinal pathogenic challenges (Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens), (2) dietary challenge only, and (3) control diet (corn-and soy-based diet). Floor ramps were introduced as part of an established method for increasing the frequency of BCO. The efficacy of the SNE challenge was corroborated by necropsy evaluation of a representative sample of the population. At the end of each experiment, all birds were evaluated for BCO. A high incidence of BCO was found, even in birds with no external signs of lameness. However, the incidence of BCO was not correlated with the intestinal challenge. Conclusions: under the conditions used in these studies, a treatment that is associated with severe damage to the intestinal mucosa does not change the incidence of BCO in broiler chickens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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16 pages, 1114 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Different Invasive and Non-Invasive Methods to Characterize Intestinal Microbiota throughout a Production Cycle of Broiler Chickens
by Jannigje G. Kers, Egil A.J. Fischer, J. Arjan Stegeman, Hauke Smidt and Francisca C. Velkers
Microorganisms 2019, 7(10), 431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7100431 - 10 Oct 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4980
Abstract
In the short life of broiler chickens, their intestinal microbiota undergoes many changes. To study underlying biological mechanisms and factors that influence the intestinal microbiota development, longitudinal data from flocks and individual birds is needed. However, post-mortem collection of samples hampers longitudinal data [...] Read more.
In the short life of broiler chickens, their intestinal microbiota undergoes many changes. To study underlying biological mechanisms and factors that influence the intestinal microbiota development, longitudinal data from flocks and individual birds is needed. However, post-mortem collection of samples hampers longitudinal data collection. In this study, invasively collected cecal and ileal content, cloacal swabs collected from the same bird, and boot sock samples and cecal droppings from the litter of the broilers’ poultry house, were collected on days 0, 2, 7, 14 and 35 post-hatch. The different sample types were evaluated on their applicability and reliability to characterize the broiler intestinal microbiota. The microbiota of 247 samples was assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Analyses of α and β measures showed a similar development of microbiota composition of cecal droppings compared to cecal content. Furthermore, the composition of cecal content samples was comparable to that of the boot socks until day 14 post-hatch. This study shows that the value of non-invasive sample types varies at different ages and depends on the goal of the microbiota characterization. Specifically, cecal droppings and boot socks may be useful alternatives for cecal samples to determine intestinal microbiota composition longitudinally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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13 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Mode of Action of Dietary Dexamethasone May Not Be Dependent Upon Microbial Mechanisms in Broilers
by Audrey F. Duff, Mikayla F. A. Baxter, B. Danielle Graham, Billy M. Hargis and Lisa R. Bielke
Microorganisms 2019, 7(9), 346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7090346 - 12 Sep 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2496
Abstract
Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), in feed has been shown to increase gut permeability via stress-mediated mechanisms, but the exact mode of action on gut barrier function is not fully understood. Stress has been reported to alter the profile and virulence of [...] Read more.
Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), in feed has been shown to increase gut permeability via stress-mediated mechanisms, but the exact mode of action on gut barrier function is not fully understood. Stress has been reported to alter the profile and virulence of intestinal flora predisposing for opportunistic disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary Dex and recoverable intestinal microbial profile in broilers to better understand mode of action and refine future uses of the model. Three experiments were conducted that administered Dex-treated feed for one week in conjunction with the antibiotics BMD (bacitracin methylene disalicylate) or Baytril® (enrofloxacin) to evaluate if enteric microbial mechanisms were important in Dex-induced permeability. Serum fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) and bacterial translocation (BT) have been reported to increase after Dex treatment and were used to assess gut epithelial leakage. Shifts in bacterial profiles were also measured on selective agar. Combining Dex with BMD or Baytril resulted in increased (P < 0.05) serum FITC-d versus Dex-only. Additionally, Baytril did not reduce aerobic BT and bacterial profiles remained similar after Dex. These results suggest a minimal role of intestinal microbes in Dex-induced changes to intestinal barrier function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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13 pages, 3074 KiB  
Article
Differential Impact of Subtherapeutic Antibiotics and Ionophores on Intestinal Microbiota of Broilers
by Kelsy Robinson, Sage Becker, Yingping Xiao, Wentao Lyu, Qing Yang, Huiling Zhu, Hua Yang, Jiangchao Zhao and Guolong Zhang
Microorganisms 2019, 7(9), 282; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7090282 - 22 Aug 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4232
Abstract
Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) are commonly used in the livestock industry at subtherapeutic levels to improve production efficiency, which is achieved mainly through modulation of the intestinal microbiota. However, how different classes of AGPs, particularly ionophores, regulate the gut microbiota remains unclear. In [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) are commonly used in the livestock industry at subtherapeutic levels to improve production efficiency, which is achieved mainly through modulation of the intestinal microbiota. However, how different classes of AGPs, particularly ionophores, regulate the gut microbiota remains unclear. In this study, male Cobb broiler chickens were supplemented for 14 days with or without one of five commonly used AGPs including three classical antibiotics (bacitracin methylene disalicylate, tylosin, and virginiamycin) and two ionophores (monensin and salinomycin) that differ in antimicrobial spectrum and mechanisms. Deep sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed that two ionophores drastically reduced a number of rare bacteria resulting in a significant decrease in richness and a concomitant increase in evenness of the cecal microbiota, whereas three antibiotics had no obvious impact. Although each AGP modulated the gut microbiota differently, the closer the antibacterial spectrum of AGPs, the more similarly the microbiota was regulated. Importantly, all AGPs had a strong tendency to enrich butyrate- and lactic acid-producing bacteria, while reducing bile salt hydrolase-producing bacteria, suggestive of enhanced metabolism and utilization of dietary carbohydrates and lipids and improved energy harvest, which may collectively be responsible for the growth-promoting effect of AGPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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19 pages, 1878 KiB  
Article
Administration of a Postbiotic Causes Immunomodulatory Responses in Broiler Gut and Reduces Disease Pathogenesis Following Challenge
by Casey N. Johnson, Michael H. Kogut, Kenneth Genovese, Haiqi He, Steve Kazemi and Ryan J. Arsenault
Microorganisms 2019, 7(8), 268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7080268 - 17 Aug 2019
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 4960
Abstract
With the reemergence of poultry diseases such as necrotic enteritis following the restriction of in-feed antibiotics, the search for antibiotic alternatives has become critically important. Postbiotics are non-viable bacterial products or metabolic byproducts from probiotic microorganisms that have positive effects on the host [...] Read more.
With the reemergence of poultry diseases such as necrotic enteritis following the restriction of in-feed antibiotics, the search for antibiotic alternatives has become critically important. Postbiotics are non-viable bacterial products or metabolic byproducts from probiotic microorganisms that have positive effects on the host or microbiota. These are a promising alternative to antibiotics. Here, we describe the mechanism of action of a postbiotic in the context of a Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) challenge model. By using performance measurements and a peptide array kinome analysis, we describe the kinotypes and signal transduction changes elicited by the postbiotic with and without C. perfringens challenge. The postbiotic improves lesion scores, C. perfringens counts and mortality compared to challenge groups without the postbiotic, and it improves weight gain in the most severely challenged birds. The postbiotic predominantly affects the innate immune response and appears immunomodulatory. In the context of infection, it reduces the proinflammatory responses and generates a homeostatic-like response. This postbiotic is a viable alternative to antibiotics to improve poultry health in the context of C. perfringens pathogen challenge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 991 KiB  
Article
Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens: The Role of Tight Junctions and Mucosal Immune Responses in Alleviating the Effect of the Disease
by Nima K. Emami, Ali Calik, Mallory B. White, Mark Young and Rami A. Dalloul
Microorganisms 2019, 7(8), 231; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7080231 - 31 Jul 2019
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6075
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) continues to present major challenges to the poultry industry, and the etiologic agent Clostridium perfringens is the fourth leading cause of bacterially-induced food- borne illnesses in the US. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a probiotic during [...] Read more.
Necrotic enteritis (NE) continues to present major challenges to the poultry industry, and the etiologic agent Clostridium perfringens is the fourth leading cause of bacterially-induced food- borne illnesses in the US. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a probiotic during naturally occurring NE. On day of hatch, 1080 Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly allocated to three groups (12 replicate pens/treatment, 30 birds/pen) including (1) negative control (NC): corn-soybean meal diet; (2) positive control (PC): NC + 20 mg virginiamycin/kg diet (0.450 kg Stafac®20/ton); and (3) NC + PrimaLac (1.36 and 0.91 kg/ton from 1–21 and 22–42 days, respectively). One day (d) post placement, all birds were challenged by a commercial live oocyst coccidia vaccine as a predisposing factor to NE. Body weight and feed intake were measured at the onset of NE (d 8) and end of each feeding phase. On d 8, small intestines of two birds/pen were examined for NE lesions, and jejunum samples from one bird were collected for mRNA gene expression analysis of tight junction proteins, cytokines, and nutrient transporters. Data were analyzed using the JMP software and significance between treatments identified by LSD (p < 0.05). Compared to NC, supplementation of probiotic reduced d 1–42 mortality; however, PC was the only group with significantly lower mortality. Despite significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) in PC and probiotic groups during d 1–42, average daily gain was only higher in PC (77.69 g/bird) compared with NC (74.99 g/bird). Furthermore, probiotic and PC groups had significantly reduced lesion scores in the duodenum and jejunum compared to NC. Expression of claudin-3 was higher, while expression of zonula occluden-2 tended (p = 0.06) to be higher in probiotic-supplemented birds compared to NC. Moreover, birds fed the probiotic diet had significantly higher expression of IL-10, IL-17, AMPK-α1, and SGLT1 mRNA compared to NC birds. The expression of PepT1 was higher for the probiotic-supplemented group compared to PC. IFN-γ expression was lower in PC compared to NC, while there was no difference between probiotic and NC. There were no differences in gene expression of sIgA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-22 among treatments. Collectively, these data indicate that in a naturally occurring NE model, supplementation of a probiotic helps to improve FCR and reduce lesions, potentially due to the improvements in mRNA expression of tight junctions, cytokines, and nutrient transporters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 1858 KiB  
Communication
Microbial and Functional Profile of the Ceca from Laying Hens Affected by Feeding Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Synbiotics
by Carolina Pineda-Quiroga, Daniel Borda-Molina, Diego Chaves-Moreno, Roberto Ruiz, Raquel Atxaerandio, Amélia Camarinha-Silva and Aser García-Rodríguez
Microorganisms 2019, 7(5), 123; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7050123 - 06 May 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4251
Abstract
Diet has an essential influence in the establishment of the cecum microbial communities in poultry, so its supplementation with safe additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics might improve animal health and performance. This study showed the ceca microbiome modulations of laying hens, [...] Read more.
Diet has an essential influence in the establishment of the cecum microbial communities in poultry, so its supplementation with safe additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics might improve animal health and performance. This study showed the ceca microbiome modulations of laying hens, after feeding with dry whey powder as prebiotics, Pediococcus acidilactici as probiotics, and the combination of both as synbiotics. A clear grouping of the samples induced per diet was observed (p < 0.05). Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified as Olsenella spp., and Lactobacillus crispatus increased their abundance in prebiotic and synbiotic treatments. A core of the main functions was shared between all metagenomes (45.5%), although the genes encoding for the metabolism of butanoate, propanoate, inositol phosphate, and galactose were more abundant in the prebiotic diet. The results indicated that dietary induced-changes in microbial composition did not imply a disturbance in the principal biological roles, while the specific functions were affected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 1277 KiB  
Article
Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 Supplementation Attenuates the Effects of Clostridium perfringens Challenge on the Growth Performance and Intestinal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens
by Cristiano Bortoluzzi, Bruno Serpa Vieira, Juliano Cesar de Paula Dorigam, Anita Menconi, Adebayo Sokale, Kiran Doranalli and Todd Jay Applegate
Microorganisms 2019, 7(3), 71; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7030071 - 05 Mar 2019
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5519
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 (probiotic) on the performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens infected with Clostridium perfringens (CP). One-day-old broiler chickens were assigned to 3 treatments with [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 (probiotic) on the performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens infected with Clostridium perfringens (CP). One-day-old broiler chickens were assigned to 3 treatments with 8 replicate pens (50 birds/pen). The treatments were: non-infected control; infected control; and infected supplemented with probiotic (1 × 106 CFU/g of feed). On day of hatch, all birds were sprayed with a coccidia vaccine based on the manufacturer recommended dosage. On d 18–20 the infected birds were inoculated with CP via feed. Necrotic enteritis (NE) lesion score was performed on d 21. Digestive tract of 2 birds/pen was collected on d 21 to analyze the ileal and cecal microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing. Performance was evaluated on d 28 and 42. On d 21, probiotic supplementation reduced (p < 0.001) the severity of NE related lesion versus infected control birds. On d 28, feed efficiency was improved (p < 0.001) in birds supplemented with probiotic versus infected control birds. On d 42, body weight gain (BW gain) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p < 0.001) in probiotic supplemented birds versus infected control birds. The diversity, composition and predictive function of the intestinal microbial digesta changed with the infection but the supplementation of probiotic reduced these variations. Therefore, dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 was beneficial in attenuating the negative effects of CP challenge on the performance and intestinal microbiota of broilers chickens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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Review

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16 pages, 1390 KiB  
Review
The Control of Intestinal Inflammation: A Major Objective in the Research of Probiotic Strains as Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry
by Joan Tarradas, Núria Tous, Enric Esteve-Garcia and Joaquim Brufau
Microorganisms 2020, 8(2), 148; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8020148 - 21 Jan 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6343
Abstract
The reduction of antimicrobial resistance is a major challenge for the scientific community. In a few decades, infections by resistant bacteria are forecasted to be the main cause of death in the world. The withdrawal of antibiotics as growth promoters and their preventive [...] Read more.
The reduction of antimicrobial resistance is a major challenge for the scientific community. In a few decades, infections by resistant bacteria are forecasted to be the main cause of death in the world. The withdrawal of antibiotics as growth promoters and their preventive use in animal production is essential to avoid these resistances, but this may impair productivity and health due to the increase in gut inflammation. This reduction in productivity aggravates the problem of increasing meat demand in developing countries and limits the availability of raw materials. Probiotics are promising products to address this challenge due to their beneficial effects on microbiota composition, mucosal barrier integrity, and immune system to control inflammation. Although many modes of action have been demonstrated, the scientific community is not able to describe the specific effects that a probiotic should induce on the host to maximize both productivity and animal health. First, it may be necessary to define what are the innate immune pathways acting in the gut that optimize productivity and health and to then investigate which probiotic strain is able to induce the specific effect needed. This review describes several gaps in the knowledge of host-microbiota-pathogen interaction and the related mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response not demonstrated yet in poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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10 pages, 235 KiB  
Review
Dietary Factors as Triggers of Low-Grade Chronic Intestinal Inflammation in Poultry
by Gabriela Cardoso Dal Pont, Morgan Farnell, Yuhua Farnell and Michael H. Kogut
Microorganisms 2020, 8(1), 139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8010139 - 19 Jan 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4497
Abstract
Inflammation is the reaction of the immune system to an injury; it is aimed at the recovery and repair of damaged tissue. The inflammatory response can be beneficial to the animal since it will reestablish tissue homeostasis if well regulated. However, if it [...] Read more.
Inflammation is the reaction of the immune system to an injury; it is aimed at the recovery and repair of damaged tissue. The inflammatory response can be beneficial to the animal since it will reestablish tissue homeostasis if well regulated. However, if it is not controlled, inflammation might lead to a chronic response with a subsequent loss of tissue function. The intestine is constantly exposed to a number of environmental triggers that stimulate inflammation and lead to a reduction in performance. The diet and dietary components constitute consistent inflammatory triggers in poultry. Dietary components, such as anti-nutritional compounds, oxidized lipids, mycotoxins, and excess of soluble fiber or protein, are all capable of inducing a low-grade inflammatory response in the intestine of broilers throughout a 5-week grow-out period. We hypothesized that dietary factor-induced chronic intestinal inflammation is a key driver of the lower performance and higher incidence of intestinal problems observed in poultry production. Therefore, this review was aimed at exploring feed-induced chronic inflammation in poultry, the constituents of the diet that might act as inflammatory triggers and the possible effects of chronic intestinal inflammation on the poultry industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
21 pages, 2557 KiB  
Review
The Microbial Pecking Order: Utilization of Intestinal Microbiota for Poultry Health
by Joel J. Maki, Cassidy L. Klima, Matthew J. Sylte and Torey Looft
Microorganisms 2019, 7(10), 376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7100376 - 20 Sep 2019
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 12225
Abstract
The loss of antibiotics as a tool to improve feed efficiency in poultry production has increased the urgency to understand how the microbiota interacts with animals to impact productivity and health. Modulating and harnessing microbiota-host interactions is a promising way to promote poultry [...] Read more.
The loss of antibiotics as a tool to improve feed efficiency in poultry production has increased the urgency to understand how the microbiota interacts with animals to impact productivity and health. Modulating and harnessing microbiota-host interactions is a promising way to promote poultry health and production efficiencies without antibiotics. In poultry, the microbiome is influenced by many host and external factors including host species, age, gut compartment, diet, and environmental exposure to microbes. Because so many factors contribute to the microbiota composition, specific knowledge is needed to predict how the microbiome will respond to interventions. The effects of antibiotics on microbiomes have been well documented, with different classes of antibiotics having distinctive, specific outcomes on bacterial functions and membership. Non-antibiotic interventions, such as probiotics and prebiotics, target specific bacterial taxa or function to enhance beneficial properties of microbes in the gut. Beneficial bacteria provide a benefit by displacing pathogens and/or producing metabolites (e.g., short chain fatty acids or tryptophan metabolites) that promote poultry health by improving mucosal barrier function or immune function. Microbiota modulation has been used as a tool to reduce pathogen carriage, improve growth, and modulate the immune system. An increased understanding of how the microbiota interacts with animal hosts will improve microbiome intervention strategies to mitigate production losses without the need for antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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15 pages, 780 KiB  
Review
Microbiota, Gut Health and Chicken Productivity: What Is the Connection?
by Juan M. Diaz Carrasco, Natalia A. Casanova and Mariano E. Fernández Miyakawa
Microorganisms 2019, 7(10), 374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7100374 - 20 Sep 2019
Cited by 210 | Viewed by 16027
Abstract
Gut microbiota and its relationship to animal health and productivity in commercial broiler chickens has been difficult to establish due to high variability between flocks, which derives from plenty of environmental, nutritional, and host factors that influence the load of commensal and pathogenic [...] Read more.
Gut microbiota and its relationship to animal health and productivity in commercial broiler chickens has been difficult to establish due to high variability between flocks, which derives from plenty of environmental, nutritional, and host factors that influence the load of commensal and pathogenic microbes surrounding birds during their growth cycle in the farms. Chicken gut microbiota plays a key role in the maintenance of intestinal health through its ability to modulate host physiological functions required to maintain intestinal homeostasis, mainly through competitive exclusion of detrimental microorganisms and pathogens, preventing colonization and therefore decreasing the expense of energy that birds normally invest in keeping the immune system active against these pathogens. Therefore, a “healthy” intestinal microbiota implies energy saving for the host which translates into an improvement in productive performance of the birds. This review compiles information about the main factors that shape the process of gut microbiota acquisition and maturation, their interactions with chicken immune homeostasis, and the outcome of these interactions on intestinal health and productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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11 pages, 240 KiB  
Review
Impact of Spray-Dried Plasma on Intestinal Health and Broiler Performance
by Joy M. Campbell, Joe D. Crenshaw, Ricardo González-Esquerra and Javier Polo
Microorganisms 2019, 7(8), 219; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7080219 - 28 Jul 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3701
Abstract
Spray-dried plasma (SDP) is a functional ingredient commonly utilized in swine production and calf milk replacers to improve performance, feed efficiency, and health. The improvements noted with SDP in animal production are more pronounced under commercial production conditions compared to cleaner research settings. [...] Read more.
Spray-dried plasma (SDP) is a functional ingredient commonly utilized in swine production and calf milk replacers to improve performance, feed efficiency, and health. The improvements noted with SDP in animal production are more pronounced under commercial production conditions compared to cleaner research settings. Multiple modes of action of SDP have been proposed, including either directly influencing the immune inflammatory response locally or systemically, and/or through the indirect modification of beneficial microbial populations. Spray-dried plasma included at various dietary levels and duration of feeding in broilers has been evaluated in different production and challenging conditions with beneficial effects on broiler performance, as noted in other animals. The purpose of this review is to discuss research related to the modes of action of SDP on immunomodulation and improved intestinal health and specifically discuss research conducted utilizing SDP in feed for poultry. Collectively, the data available indicates that SDP improves early intestinal health and supports an efficient immune system response both locally at the intestine and systemically, thereby benefiting growth, feed efficiency, and survival of broilers in conventional commercial production and under challenging conditions such as disease or environmental stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
12 pages, 234 KiB  
Review
Host–Microbe Interactions and Gut Health in Poultry—Focus on Innate Responses
by Leon J. Broom
Microorganisms 2019, 7(5), 139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7050139 - 16 May 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5241
Abstract
Commercial poultry are continually exposed to, frequently pathogenic, microorganisms, usually via mucosal surfaces such as the intestinal mucosa. Thus, understanding host–microbe interactions is vital. Many of these microorganisms may have no or limited contact with the host, while most of those interacting more [...] Read more.
Commercial poultry are continually exposed to, frequently pathogenic, microorganisms, usually via mucosal surfaces such as the intestinal mucosa. Thus, understanding host–microbe interactions is vital. Many of these microorganisms may have no or limited contact with the host, while most of those interacting more meaningfully with the host will be dealt with by the innate immune response. Fundamentally, poultry have evolved to have immune responses that are generally appropriate and adequate for their acquired microbiomes, although this is challenged by commercial production practices. Innate immune cells and their functions, encompassing inflammatory responses, create the context for neutralising the stimulus and initiating resolution. Dysregulated inflammatory responses can be detrimental but, being a highly conserved biological process, inflammation is critical for host defence. Heterogeneity and functional plasticity of innate immune cells is underappreciated and offers the potential for (gut) health interventions, perhaps including exogenous opportunities to influence immune cell metabolism and thus function. New approaches could focus on identifying and enhancing decisive but less harmful immune processes, improving the efficiency of innate immune cells (e.g., targeted, efficient microbial killing) and promoting phenotypes that drive resolution of inflammation. Breeding strategies and suitable exogenous interventions offer potential solutions to enhance poultry gut health, performance and welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Health in Poultry Production)
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