Evaluation of a Probiotic and a Competitive Exclusion Product Inoculated In Ovo on Broiler Chickens Challenged with Salmonella Heidelberg

Abstract

The present study evaluated a probiotic and a competitive exclusion product injected in ovo on day 18 of incubation together with Marek's disease vaccine in eggs of 56-week-old broiler breeders. Three experiments were carried out. The first trial evaluated the effect of treatments on hatchability, cecal colonization of Salmonella Heidelberg (SH), and intestinal mucosa immunity (immunoglobulin A levels in the intestinal fluid). The second trial evaluated the viability of the microorganisms in the products inoculated in a solution containing diluent and Marek's disease vaccine. The third trial evaluated the colonization of the cecal microbiota in non-challenged chickens during first four days of life by culturing cecal samples under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Hatchability was not affected by the treatments. SH cecal counts were reduced in three-day-old broilers inoculated in ovo with the competitive exclusion product. Liver and spleen pool SH counts were not different among treatments. Broilers inoculated in ovo presented higher intestinal IgA titers 24 hours after SH challenge compared with the controls. When birds were not challenged, lower cecal microbial counts in aerobic culture were determined in the control group than in the probiotic group on day 3, and in the competitive exclusion group on day 2 when cultured in anaerobiosis. The products inoculated and diluted in the vaccine solution were viable at all analyzed periods when cultured in anaerobiosis. The results of this study suggest in-ovo inoculation is an effective route for the administration of the evaluated products, which effectively enhanced the broilers' immune response to a SH challenge, as shown by the increase in IgA titers, and the reduction in cecal Salmonella Heidelberg colonization with the inovo inoculation with the competitive exclusion product.

In ovo and Dietary Supplementation of Probiotics Affects Post-Hatch Expression of Immune-Related Genes in Broiler Chicks

“…In ovo technology represents a means to take advantage of this crucial time and promote early colonization of beneficial bacteria in order to stimulate intestinal and immune system development [4]. Few researchers have entertained the idea of administering probiotics in ovo, which recently has been gaining more interest [22,23]. The earliest attempts of connecting these concepts demonstrated promising results where Salmonella typhimurium colonization was reduced in chicks administered an undefined cecal culture of bacteria in ovo [24].…”

Advances in enteropathogen control throughout the meat chicken production chain

“…A commercial probiotic (Protexin) delivered in ovo significantly reduced S. Enteritidis at 1 day postchallenge (2 days posthatch) but not at 7 days, while the same probiotic delivered posthatch via spray or oral gavage or deposited on vent lip reduced counts by 2.2-3 log 10 at 7 days postchallenge (Hashemzadeh et al, 2010). Silva et al (2017) identified a commercial competitive exclusion product that when delivered in ovo significantly reduced cecal Salmonella Heidelberg counts at 3 days of age (doa) (1 day postchallenge) while not affecting hatchability, but no significant effect was seen from 7 days onward. When delivered in ovo, a commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) probiotic mixture (Floramax B11) was able to protect against S. Enteritidis challenge, reducing cecal prevalence from 100% to 45% and reducing count by 1.68 log 10 CFU/g at 24 h postinfection (Teague et al, 2017).…”

“…Silva et al. (2017) identified a commercial competitive exclusion product that when delivered in ovo significantly reduced cecal Salmonella Heidelberg counts at 3 days of age (doa) (1 day postchallenge) while not affecting hatchability, but no significant effect was seen from 7 days onward. When delivered in ovo, a commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) probiotic mixture (Floramax B11) was able to protect against S .…”

The Role of Nutraceuticals and Phytonutrients in Chickens’ Gastrointestinal Diseases

“…Similar results are described after the in ovo administration of the commercial probiotic mixture FloraMax ® -B11 (Pacific Vet Group USA Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA), revealing an increase body weight, higher villi surface area, and decreased S. Enteritidis recovery after challenge at 7 day of age [ 194 ]. Administration of probiotics in ovo can also be effective to decrease Salmonella colonization in ceca [ 195 , 196 ].…”