Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 improves performance and gut function in broilers fed different levels of protein and/or under necrotic enteritis challenge

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 (BA) as a probiotic on growth performance, amino acid digestibility and bacteria population in broiler chickens under a subclinical necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge and/or fed diets with different levels of crude protein (CP). Both studies consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 480 Ross 308 mix-sexed broiler chickens. In study 1, treatments included 1) NE challenge (+/−), and 2) BA (1.0 × 10 6 CFU/g of feed) supplementation (+/−). In study 2, all birds were under NE challenge, and treatments were 1) CP level (Standard/Reduced [2% less than standard]) and 2) BA (1.0 × 10 6 CFU/g of feed) supplementation (+/−). After inducing NE infection, blood samples were taken on d 16 for uric acid evaluation, and cecal samples were collected for bacterial enumeration. In both studies, ileal digesta was collected on d 35 for nutrient digestibility evaluation. In study 1, the NE challenge reduced body weight gain (BWG), supressed feed conversion ratio (FCR) and serum uric acid levels ( P < 0.001). Supplementation of BA increased BWG ( P < 0.001) and reduced FCR ( P = 0.043) across dietary treatments, regardless of challenge. Bacillus ( P = 0.030) and Ruminococcus ( P = 0.029) genomic DNA copy numbers and concentration of butyrate ( P = 0.017) were higher in birds fed the diets supplemented with BA. In study 2, reduced protein (RCP) diets decreased BWG ( P = 0.010) and uric acid levels in serum ( P < 0.001). Supplementation of BA improved BWG ( P = 0.001) and FCR ( P = 0.005) and increased Ruminococcus numbers ( P = 0.018) and butyrate concentration ( P = 0.033) in the ceca, regardless of dietary CP level. Further, addition of BA reduced Clostridium perfringens numbers only in birds fed with RCP diets ( P = 0.039). At d 35, BA supplemented diets showed higher apparent ileal digestibility of cystine ( P = 0.013), valine ( P = 0.020), and lysine ( P = 0.014). In conclusion, this study suggests positive effects of BA supplementation in broiler diets via modulating gut microflora and improving nutrient uptake.

Modulations of genes related to gut integrity, apoptosis, and immunity underlie the beneficial effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 in broilers fed diets with different protein levels in a necrotic enteritis challenge model

“…We have previously reported that successful subclinical NE challenge was applied in this experiment, as performance traits were significantly affected by the challenge [28]. The NE challenge significantly impaired BWG and FCR in birds, and increased lesion scores in these groups [28].…”

“…There is a direct correlation between amino acid balance on mucin production [73], thus the improved amino acid uptake could have led to increased expression of MUC2 observed in the current results. We have previously observed the positive effects of BA supplementation on amino acid digestibility [28]. It should be noted that the number of genes evaluated in this study are extremely limited.…”

“…Previously, performance observations of this study have shown that the supplementation of BA can improve body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and microbial population in broilers [28]. Therefore, it was hypothesized that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 as a probiotic supplement could improve gut environment so as to help reduce adverse effects of NE in chickens and positively affect growth and nutrient uptake in birds fed RCP diets.…”

Effects of dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant status, immunity, and digestive enzyme activity of broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diets

“… Shini et al (2020) reported that dietary addition of BA-H57 (2.48 × 10 8 CFU/g feed) increased ADG and improved F:G of Ross 308 broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens fed a wheat-soybean diet. Previous studies on BA-5940 have shown that the addition of BA-5940 (1.0 × 10 6 CFU/g of feed) improved F:G of Cobb 500 broilers challenged with Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens fed a corn-soybean meal diet ( De Oliveira et al, 2019 ), and improved BWG, FI, and F:G of Ross 308 broilers fed wheat-soybean meal diets under necrotic enteritis challenge ( Gharib-Naseri et al, 2021 ). Under commercial production conditions, the present study showed that BA-5940 supplementation improved ADG and F:G of AA broilers fed a corn-wheat-soybean meal diet, which confirmed that ADG and F:G can be improved by BA-5940 supplementation even in unchallenged conditions at different types of diets.…”

“…and Clostridium perfringens . Gharib-Naseri et al (2020 ; 2021 ) reported that supplementation with BA-5940 increased serum IgA, IgM, and IgG concentrations, and improved digestibility of cystine, valine, and lysine of broilers under necrotic enteritis challenge. Previous studies on BA-5940 mainly focus on growth performance, carcass trait, digestibility, and immune globulin of broilers under challenging conditions.…”