1. The objective of present study was to evaluate the effects of intra-amniotic injection of different probiotic strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici) on the intestinal MUC2 gene expression, microbial population, growth performance and immune response in broiler chicken. 2. In a completely randomised design, different probiotic strains were injected into the amniotic fluid of the 480 live embryos (d 18 of incubation), with 4 treatments and 5 replicates. Ileal MUC2 gene expression, microbial profile, growth performance and immune response were determined. 3. Injection of probiotic strains, especially B. subtilis, had significant effect on expression of the MUC2 on d 21 of incubation and d 3 post-hatch, but not on d 19 of incubation. 4. Injection of the probiotic strains decreased significantly the Escherichia coli population and increased the lactic acid bacteria population during the first week post-hatch. 5. Inoculation of probiotics had no significant effect on antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus, antibody titres against sheep red blood cell and cell-mediated immune response of chickens compared to control. 6. In ovo injection of the probiotic strains had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens. 7. It was concluded that injection of probiotic bacteria especially B. subtilis into the amniotic fluid has a beneficial effect on ileal MUC2 gene expression and bacteria population during the first week post-hatch, but has no effect on growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo infusion of probiotic strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, and Pediococcus acidilactici) on jejunal microbial population and mucin gene expression in broiler chicken. In a completely randomized design, 0.5 ml of mediums containing 10 7 cfu of different probiotic strains, was administered into amniotic fluid of the 480 Cobb fetus (day 18 of incubation), with four treatments, five replicates with twenty four eggs each. For mucin gene expression, samples from the jejunum were taken on day 21 of incubation and day 3 post-hatch. Microbial profile was determined for total lactobacillus and E. coli by sampling jejunal contents on days 1 and 3 of age. Expression of the mucin gene in the jejunum was higher (p<0.05) in chicks that received Bacillus subtilis in comparison with the control group. Infusion of the probiotic strains had no effect on jejunal E. coli and lactic acid bacteria populations on day 1 post-hatch (p>0.05). There were no significant differences among treatments for performance parameters at different periods and the whole period. It was concluded that infusion of probiotic bacteria during the late of incubation has no effect on feed intake, gain and feed conversion ratio, but has a positive effect on mucin gene expression in the jejunum. The best probiotic strain for mucin gene expression was Bacillus subtilis and for beneficiary bacteria colonization was Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici.

Citation of This ArticleMajidi-Mosleh A, Sadeghi AA, Mousavi SN, Chamani M, Zarei A: Influence of in ovo inoculation of probiotic strains on the jejunal goblet cell counts and morphometry in peri-and post-hatching chicks. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg, 23, 169-172, 2017. DOI: 10.9775/kvfd.2016 AbstractThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo inoculation of different probiotic strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, and Pediococcus acidilactici) on jejunal goblet cells counts and morphometry in chicken. Probiotics were inoculated into the amniotic fluid of 480 eggs (day 17 of incubation), with four treatments and five replicates. At days 21 of incubation and 3 post-hatch, counts of goblet cells were 30% and 16% higher in the jejunum of group inoculated Bacillus subtilis as compared with the control group, respectively. Inoculation of Enterococcus faecium, and Pediococcus acidilactici had no effect (P>0.05) on goblet cells counts. Inoculation of Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici resulted in an increase of villus height, a decrease in crypt depth and a decrease in ratio of villus height to crypt depth compared with the control group (P>0.05), at days 8 and 28 of age. As a conclusion, various effects of different probiotic strains on goblet cells count and intestinal morphometry were observed. Among probiotic strains evaluated in this study, Bacillus subtilis has higher benefit effect on goblet cells counts in the early of life and morphometry of jejunum. Keywords