Effect of Fermented Products Produced by Bacillus licheniformis on the Growth Performance and Cecal Microbial Community of Broilers under Coccidial Challenge

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of fermented products produced by Bacillus licheniformis (fermented products) on the growth performance and cecal microbial community in broilers exposed to coccidial challenge. A total of 108 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to one of three treatments. Each treatment was distributed into six replicate cages with six birds each. The treatments consisted of a basal diet without treatment (NC), basal diet plus coccidial challenge (PC), and basal diet plus the coccidial challenge and 1 g/kg of fermented products (FP). The results indicated that FP increased the average daily gain of broilers at 21 to 35 days of age compared with the PC group (p < 0.05). The anti-coccidia index in the FP group was elevated compared with the PC group (p < 0.05). Principal coordinate analysis showed significant segregation in bacterial community composition in the cecal digesta among the groups. The genus Lactobacillus was more abundant in the cecal digesta of the FP group compared with the PC group (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus in the cecal digesta and growth performance (body weight, average daily gain, and average feed intake). Furthermore, the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus in the cecal digesta was positively associated with the cecal short-chain fatty acid levels (formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and isobutyric acid). These findings suggest that fermented products produced by B. licheniformis can ameliorate the average daily gain of broilers exposed to coccidial challenge. B. licheniformis-fermented product supplementation increases anti-coccidial activity and modulates gut microbiota composition by increasing beneficial microbes and decreasing harmful microbes in broilers under coccidial challenge.

Effectiveness of Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products and Their Derived Antimicrobial Lipopeptides in Controlling Coccidiosis in Broilers

“…BLFP can alleviate C. perfringens -induced necrotic enteritis in broilers [ 15 ]. Furthermore, BLFP supplementation modulates gut-microbiota composition and exhibits anti-coccidial activity in broilers exposed to mixed coccidia infection [ 26 ]. In the current study, we further demonstrated that 1.25 g/kg BLFP improved survival rate, reduced cecal-lesion scores, and increased anti-coccidial index in broilers exposed to E. tenella challenge.…”

“…For oocyst-count index (OI), feces from two broilers per replicate were freshly collected daily in a separate cage from days 21 to 35 and pooled. Oocysts per gram of feces was determined via the McMaster’s counting technique, and OI was calculated according to previously described methods [ 26 ]. Timeline of sampling during the entire experiment is shown in Figure 1 .…”

New Exopolysaccharides Produced by Bacillus licheniformis 24 Display Substrate-Dependent Content and Antioxidant Activity

“…B. licheniformis is widely used in industry, horticulture and pharmacy. It is a promising producer of enzymes, platform chemicals [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], antibiotics [ 31 , 32 ] and EPSs with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities [ 33 , 34 ]. That is why the species is commonly used in the biocontrol of plant diseases [ 35 ] and the development of probiotics [ 36 , 37 ].…”

Effects of Compound Probiotics on Cecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Shaoxing Duck

“…One ducks per replicate were chosen at the end of the experiment (day 85) based on their average weight and then euthanized using carbon dioxide inhalation (birds chosen for microbiota analysis were identical to those for LSI analysis) ( Cheng et al, 2021 ); the contents of duck cecal were collected from each duck. Then quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen, sent to the laboratory and stored at −80°C for further analysis of microbiota and metabolites.…”

“…B. licheniformis is widely used in industry, horticulture, and pharmacy. It is a promising producer of enzymes, platform chemicals ( Petrova et al, 2020 ), antibiotics ( Cheng et al, 2021 ), and EPSs with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities ( Xu et al, 2019 ; Petrova et al, 2021 ; Vinothkanna et al, 2021 ). Probiotics are widely regarded as one of the most effective alternatives to antibiotics because they maintain or restore normal microbiome, inhibit pathogen adhesion to intestinal wall, prevent inflammation, and protect intestinal barrier function ( Van Baarlen et al, 2013 ; Cisek and Binek, 2014 ; Gresse et al, 2017 ).…”