Delayed Appearance of Lactobacilli in the Intestines of Chicks Reared in a “New” Environment

Abstract

WISEMAN. Delayed appearance of lactobacilli in the intestines of chicks reared in a "new" environment. Appl. Microbiol. 12:-457 459. 1964.-Male chicks (1 day old; Vantress X Arbor Acre) were fed a basal folic acid-deficient diet, a 5% uric acid-containing diet with and without 5 mg/lb (453.5 g) of bacitracin and 20 mg/lb of sodium penicillin G, the basal diet supplemented with only the antibiotics, and the basal diet plus 500 Ag/lb of folic acid. The chicks were reared in a room which had not been used previously for housing chickens ("new" environment). Bacteriological analyses of the contents of the small intestine revealed a decrease in numbers of streptococci and "anaerobic" bacteria in the chicks receiving dietary antibiotics. No persistent changes were seen in the numbers of coliform bacteria. Lactobacilli were not detected in any of the groups until 3 weeks after feeding.

Microbial activity in the alimentary tract of birds

“…The colonization by lactobacilli can be delayed even longer by hatching eggs in a clean environment not previously used for chicks (Bare & Wiseman, 1964). Conversely, if newly-hatched chicks are dosed with lactobacilli, lactobacilli will be established by the end of the first day (Fuller, 1973).…”