Clostridium butyricum Supplement Can Ameliorate the Intestinal Barrier Roles in Broiler Chickens Experimentally Infected With Clostridium perfringens

Abstract

Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Clostridium perfringens, is an economically important disease in the broiler. Among normal flora in the broiler intestinal region, Clostridium butyricum has been identified as a probiotic agent that reduces the susceptibility of broilers to C. perfringens. However, the effects of C. butyricum supplement on broiler intestinal integrity during NE are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of C. butyricum on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and barrier function, and the functions of immune-related cytokines under NE in broilers. Chickens were divided into five groups: control group (NC), supplement C. butyricum only group (CB), NE-infected group (PC), supplement C. butyricum from Day 14 (NECB1) to Day 22 NE-infected group, and supplement C. butyricum from Day 1 (NECB2) to Day 22 NE-infected group. The results showed that there were significantly decreased average daily weight gain and increased feed conversion rate in the infected group (PC) compared with the C. butyricum-supplemented groups (NECB1 and NECB2) through the diet. Histopathological observation on the Hematoxylin–Eosin staining avian small intestine sections revealed that supplementation of C. butyricum (NECB1 and NECB2) could increase the intestinal villus height/crypt depth and lessen the intestinal damage under NE. ELISA and Limulus test showed that broilers infected with NE (PC) had higher serum IgA and lipopolysaccharide content; however, after C. butyricum supplementation (NECB1 and NECB2), they returned to a normal level. Furthermore, real-time PCR and Western blot results indicated that compared with PC, supplementing C. butyricum (NECB1 and NECB2) could initialize the expressions of genes related to the intestinal barrier-associated molecules (such as CLDN-1, CLDN-3, OCLN, MUC2, ZO-1, and CLDN5), cytokines (such as IL-10, IL-6, and TGFB1), and C. perfringens plc gene expression. Moreover, the results detected by the Ussing chamber suggested that C. butyricum (NECB1 and NECB2) could amend the decrease in conductivity value and short-circuit current value caused by NE. In addition, NECB2 significantly reduced the upregulation of fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran flux caused by the NE disease. In conclusion, these findings suggest that dietary supplementation of C. butyricum in broilers with NE improved chicken growth performance, intestinal integrity and barrier function, and immunological status. Notably, no statistical difference was observed with the addition of C. butyricum on day 1 or day 14.

Effect of Tannic Acid on Antioxidant Function, Immunity, and Intestinal Barrier of Broilers Co-Infected with Coccidia and Clostridium perfringens

“…It was found that both inflammatory mediators and cytokines result in abnormal expression of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin, elevating intestinal mucosal permeability and impairing intestinal barrier function [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. It was shown that CCP infection of broilers resulted in significant downregulation of tight junction proteins, causing intestinal damage in broilers [ 51 , 52 ]. In the present study, the mRNA levels of ZO-1, claudin-1, claudin-2, and occludin in the jejunum were significantly downregulated in CCP-infected broilers, which suggested that the jejunal barrier is impaired in CCP-infected broilers.…”

Effects of Clostridium butyricum on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of broilers

“…Cao et al ( 28 ) found that broilers fed with C. butyricum exhibited an increased VH and a decreased CD in the ileum. Furthermore, a recent study revealed that the addition of C. butyricum to the diet of broilers infected with Clostridium perfringens increased their intestinal VH/CD and ameliorated the degree of their intestinal damage ( 29 ). In the present study, we discovered that C. butyricum considerably improved the duodenal VH and jejunal VH and VH/CD of the broilers, indicating an improvement in intestinal morphology.…”

Effects of Clostridium butyricum as an Antibiotic Alternative on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Serum Biochemical Response, and Immunity of Broilers

“…Probiotics exhibit positive effects on gastrointestinal morphology and the environment, increase meat quality, and produce numerous metabolites that support the animal’s immune system and growth performance; they also guard against bacterial and zoonotic infections [ 19 , 20 ]. C. butyricum is a widely studied probiotic and is of increased interest in poultry production [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Previously, we isolated a C. butyricum strain from cattle feces and found that it could improve broilers’ liver antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and fatty acid composition [ 24 ].…”