Effect of dietary Bacillus coagulans supplementation on growth performance and immune responses of broiler chickens challenged by Salmonella enteritidis

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of dietary Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) supplementation in birds receiving Salmonella enteritidis (SE). Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to 2 × 2 factorial arrangements of treatments with 2 levels of dietary B. coagulans (0 or 400 mg/kg) and 2 levels of SE challenge (0 or 1 × 109 SE between d 9 to 11). Results showed that SE infection did not affect growth performance, but caused intestinal inflammation and barrier function impairment by reducing intestinal goblet cells and beneficial bacteria numbers, increasing cecal Salmonella colonization and liver Salmonella invasion, downregulating jejunal mucin-2 (at 7 and 17 d post-infection, DPI), TLR2 (at 7 and 17 DPI), TLR4 (at 17 DPI), TNFSF15 (at 7 and 17 DPI) gene mRNA levels, and upregulating jejunal IFN-γ mRNA levels (at 17 DPI) compared to uninfected birds. Moreover, SE infection also elevated the concentration of jejunal anti-Salmonella IgA and sera anti-Salmonella IgG compared to uninfected birds. However, chickens received B. coagulans diets showed significant increase in body weight gain and weight gain to feed intake ratio from d 15 to 21, alkaline phosphatase activity (at 7 DPI), cecal Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium numbers (at 7 DPI; at 17 DPI), villous height: crypt ratio (at 17 DPI), and goblet cell numbers (at 7 and 17 DPI), whereas exhibiting reduced jejunal crypt depth (at 17 DPI), cecal Escherichia coli (at 7, 17, and 31 DPI), and Salmonella (at 7 and 17 DPI) levels compared with the non-supplemented birds, regardless of SE infection. In addition, B. coagulans supplement upregulated lysozyme mRNA levels (at 17 DPI), downregulated IFN-γ mRNA levels (at 7 and 17 DPI), showed an increased trend in Fowlicidin-2 mRNA levels (at 7 DPI) and a reduced trend in liver Salmonella load compared to the non-supplemented control. These data indicated that B. coagulans has a protective effect in SE infected broilers.

Effects of multi-strain probiotic supplementation on intestinal microbiota, tight junctions, and inflammation in young broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica

“…In this study, the gene expression of Mucin 2 protein was higher in the Pro group than in the Sal group. Our results are consistent with those of other studies that have reported the reinforcement of Mucin 2 expression following probiotic treatment [24]. Moreover, Liu [26] indicated that the increase in intestinal barrier function by upregulation of tight junction proteins is the key mechanism of probiotic action.…”

“…Mincun-2 proteins are major components of the chemical barrier, which play an important role in preventing bacterial (enteric) pathogens and various toxins and lubricating the small intestine to maintain mucosal barrier function. Probiotic application can stimu-late mucin production, which increases protection against pathogens in the intestine of broilers [24]. However, previous studies have indicated that broilers challenged with S. typhimurium exhibited decreased expression of Mucin 2 [25].…”

Application of Bacillus coagulans in Animal Husbandry and Its Underlying Mechanisms

“…Probiotics have attracted more and more interest from animal nutritionists and livestock producers owing to their benefits to the gastrointestinal tract [4], and their role as one of the best alternatives to antibiotics in animals including poultry and fish [5]. Probiotics possess the function of promoting growth [6] and can be used as growth enhancers [7]. In addition, numerous studies have shown that probiotics have antimicrobial activity [8][9][10], which allows their consideration as alternatives to antibiotics.…”

Effect of Bacillus velezensis to substitute in-feed antibiotics on the production, blood biochemistry and egg quality indices of laying hens

“…Bacillus sp. such as B. coagulans has the functions of regulating or maintaining intestinal micro-ecological balance, enhancing immunity, promoting the absorption of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and so on [35]. Numerous studies have shown that adding Bacillus sp.…”