16S rRNA gene-based analysis of mucosa-associated bacterial community and phylogeny in the chicken gastrointestinal tracts: from crops to ceca

Abstract

Mucosa-associated microbiota from different regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of adult broilers was studied by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The microbiota mainly comprised Gram-positive bacteria along the GI tract. Fifty-one operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (from 98 clones) were detected in the ceca, as compared with 13 OTUs (from 49 clones) in the crops, 11 OTUs (from 51 clones) in the gizzard, 14 OTUs (from 52 clones) in the duodenum, 12 OTUs (from 50 clones) in the jejunum and nine OTUs (from 50 clones) in the ileum. Ceca were dominantly occupied by clostridia-related sequences (40%) with other abundant sequences being related to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (14%), Escherichia coli (11%), lactobacilli (7%) and Ruminococcus (6%). Lactobacilli were predominant in the upper GI tract and had the highest diversity in the crop. Both Lactobacillus aviarius and Lactobacillus salivarius were the predominant species among lactobacilli. Candidatus division Arthromitus was also abundant in the jejunum and ileum.

Gut metagenomic analysis reveals prominent roles of Lactobacillus and cecal microbiota in chicken feed efficiency

“…Due to the rapid flow of the highly fluid, digested material and a higher acidity, the number of microbes in the duodenum was lower than that in the posterior intestine. Lactobacilli and Lactobacillaceae were observed to be the predominant microbes in the duodenum of chickens 15 and mice 16 , respectively. However, the relationship between the duodenal microbiota and the host nutritional metabolism is poorly understood.…”

“…However, the relationship between the duodenal microbiota and the host nutritional metabolism is poorly understood. Feces have been widely used for metagenomic studies, because their easy to collection, allowing a continuous observation of the changes during a period without complicated Scientific RepoRts | 7:45308 | DOI: 10.1038/srep45308 operations or sacrifices, however, the microbial relationships between feces and intestinal segments in layer chickens are still unclear and need to be explored [15][16][17] . For farm animals, great attention is paid to feed efficiency which is a comprehensive trait to evaluate the efficacy of nutrient and energy metabolism.…”

Modulation of cytokine gene expression by selectedLactobacillusisolates in the ileum, caecal tonsils and spleen ofSalmonella-challenged broilers

“…It has been described that several cytokinerelated immune mechanisms might have been involved in mediating the effects of Lactobacillus on reducing enteric infection by Salmonella Typhimurium, such as the mechanisms of protection via modulation of pro-inflammatory [like LITAF and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)] and anti-inflammatory [interleukin (IL)-10] cytokines (Nava et al, 2005;Castillo et al, 2011). Among Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus salivarius are normal inhabitants of the chicken intestine (Gong et al, 2007). The three lactobacilli have been shown to induce significantly higher expression of IL-1β in chicken splenocytes than in caecal tonsil cells in an in vitro study (Brisbin et al, 2010).…”

HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus)

“…As little information about the turkey gut microflora is available in the literature, data comparison and correlation are almost difficult. On the contrary, broiler chicken microflora is well documented and information on the microflora of this poultry provided by Gong et al (2006) or is related with the data given in this study for the turkey gut microflora. For example, Lactobacillus in ileum and Clostridium and Bacteroides in caeca are the majority genus in turkey as well as in broiler chicken.…”