Dietary Probiotics Affect Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Histological Structure and Shell Mineralization in Turtles

Abstract

Probiotics are widely used in nutrition, and their mode of action is intensively studied in mammals and birds; however, it is almost unknown in reptiles. In the present study, Trachemys scripta scripta and Sternotherus odoratus were used to assess the effects of dietary probiotics on chelonian gastrointestinal tract microecology. In the first, 20-week experiment, 40 young T. s. scripta were randomly distributed to four experimental groups: 1st, (CON)–with no additives; 2nd, (SSPA) with Bacillus subtilis PB6; 3rd, (MSP)–with multiple strain probiotic; and 4th, (SSPB) with Bacillus subtilis C-3102. The first study has shown that SSPA and MSP decreased the numbers of total bacteria, Enterobacteriace, Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. excreted to water and increased the villous height and mucosa thickness in duodenum. SSPB improved the duodenal microstructure; however, it also increased numbers of kanamycin and vancomycin resistant bacteria, Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp., in water. In the second, 52-week experiment, 30 S. odoratus were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments. CON, SSPA and MSP groups. The MSP preparation increased the body weight gain, crude ash, Ca and P share in the turtles’ shells. Both probiotics affected duodenal histomorphology. SSPA decreased the villous height, while MSP increased the villous height and mucosa thickness, and decreased the crypt depth. SSPA decreased the concentrations of bacteria excreted to water. In the case of intestinal microbiota, bacteria suppressing effects were observed in the case of both probiotics. MSP increased the number of Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus sp./Enteroccoccus sp., and decreased the number of Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter sp. in the small intestine. In the large intestine it lowered, amongst others, Bacteroides–Pervotella cluster, Clostridium leptum subgroup and Clostridium perfringens numbers. The above-mentioned results suggest that probiotics are useful in turtle nutrition due to their positive effects on growth performance, shell mineralization, duodenal histomorphology and microbiota.

Synbiotics for Broiler Chickens—In Vitro Design and Evaluation of the Influence on Host and Selected Microbiota Populations following In Ovo Delivery

“…After washing, filters were rinsed gently in distilled water, air-dried, and mounted on slides with VectaShield (Vector Laboratories Inc., Burlingame, CA, US), an anti-fading agent containing DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole). To distinguish bacteria from other particles in the ileal samples (DAPI), filters were left at 4°C for 1 h in the dark until visualization with a Carl Zeiss Microscope Axio Imager M2 (Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, Jena, Germany), as described elsewhere [34,35]. A detailed FISH protocol is presented in the Fig A in S1 File.…”

Nisin as a Novel Feed Additive: The Effects on Gut Microbial Modulation and Activity, Histological Parameters, and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens

“…All details of sample preparation and FISH analyses for bacteria enumeration from jejunal digesta were described by Rawski et al [31], and Józefiak et al [23]. The oligonucleotide probes used in this study are presented in Table 2.…”

“…The histological analysis of ileal samples was performed according to Rawski et al [31]. Briefly, the ileal samples were fixed immediately in freshly prepared formaldehyde solution (40 g/L of formaldehyde prepared in 0.01 M PBS, pH = 7.4) and incubated 12 h. Ileal fragments were dehydrated in alcohol dilutions, stowed in xylene, and embedded in paraffin.…”

Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio Full-Fat Meals in Broiler Chicken Diets: Effects on Nutrients Digestibility, Digestive Enzyme Activities, and Cecal Microbiome

“…The microbial community of the cecal content of chickens was analyzed, as described in detail by Józefiak et al [37] and Rawski et al [38]. The oligonucleotide probes used for this study are shown in Table 3.…”