Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum

Abstract

Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on the hosts. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.

Beneficial Shifts in the Gut Bacterial Community of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles Supplemented with Allium-Derived Compound Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO)

“…The addition of different doses of PTSO in broiler chickens produced changes in intestinal microbiota, and improved digestibility and productive parameters [ 32 , 58 ]. In laying hens, PTSO supplementation produced an increase in potentially beneficial bacterial genera, in the number of eggs laid, and in egg size [ 28 , 30 ]. In pig production, PTSO also showed beneficial effects in the gut microbiota, and an increase in body weight and productive parameters in both piglets and growing-finishing pigs [ 31 , 33 ].…”

“…In particular, PTSO, a chemically defined molecule, is widely reported for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anticoccidial activity [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. It showed beneficial effects on the gut health and changes in the gut microbiota of different terrestrial animal species, such as broiler chickens, laying hens, and pigs [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. In addition, PTSO showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect in colitis mouse models associated with a modulation of the intestinal microbiota [ 35 ].…”

Beneficial Effects of Organosulfur Compounds from Allium cepa on Gut Health: A Systematic Review

“…Two extra articles not identified by the electronic databases were added as the authors were aware of their existence. Finally, as shown in Figure 3, a total of 17 articles [62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78] were found to be eligible for the present systematic review following the full-text eligibility assessment. The characteristics of the selected articles are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Six articles of this systematic review dealt with trials conducted in birds. A total of four of them were carried out with broiler chickens [70][71][72][73] and two with laying hens [74,76]. In all cases, it was observed an increase of certain beneficial bacteria and a decrease of harmful bacteria populations in the guts of the evaluated animals.…”

Antifungal Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate (PTS) and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium cepa against Verticillium dahliae: In Vitro and in Planta Assays

“…Some potential uses of PTS and PTSO in animal nutrition have been proposed because of their anti-inflammatory [ 19 ], anti-bacterial [ 20 ] and anti-coccidial properties [ 21 ]. Furthermore, their ability to modulate the gut microbiota and improve productivity in piglets and laying hens has been recently demonstrated [ 22 , 23 ]. In addition, both PTS and PTSO have been shown to be toxicologically safe in different studies carried out in cell models and in experimental animals [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”