Effect of Probiotics on the Performance and Intestinal Health of Broiler Chickens Infected with Eimeria tenella

Abstract

Coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease of poultry with great economic importance. Due to drug resistance issues, the study was conducted to investigate how probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum or L. plantarum) affected oocysts per gram of feces (OPG), fecal scores, feed conversion ratio (FCR), immunomodulatory effect in terms of the cell-mediated and humoral immune response. Serum chemistry (ALT, AST, LDH, and creatinine) was measured in different treated chicken groups. mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD 1 and CAT), peptide transporter 1 (PepT 1), and tight junction proteins (ZO and CLDN 1) were also examined in chicken groups infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella). Chickens supplemented with L. plantarum 1 × 108 CFU (colony-forming unit) showed an improved cell-mediated and humoral immune response, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Probiotics also enhanced the performance of antioxidant enzymes, PepT 1, and tight junction proteins, and improved serum chemistry (AST, ALT, and LDH), compared with control-infected, non-medicated chickens. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in CLDN 1 expression level and creatinine in all treated chicken groups. These findings demonstrated that probiotics supplementation in the feed can protect the birds against E. tenella infection.

Potential Antiviral Activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 against Influenza Virus H1N1

“…Probiotics have a long evolutionary history of use in fermented foods and dairy for their beneficial effects on the host [ 14 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 27 , 45 , 46 ]. There has been a growing interest in probiotics as nutraceuticals from the last few decades.…”

“…Lactic acid bacteria are the most common probiotics that confer health benefits on their hosts. Therefore, probiotics are live microorganisms that benefit the host, similar to the gut microflora [ 4 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], and are known to survive in gastric and bile acid in the gastrointestinal tract [ 23 , 24 ]. Various probiotic LAB strains have been reported in fermented foods and dairy products [ 1 , 2 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…However, LABs from camel milk are less explored for their health benefits. In mice [ 2 , 33 ], chicken [ 25 ], and humans [ 2 , 34 ], LAB probiotic strains have shown significant protection against a various number of infectious diseases [ 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Intranasal and oral pretreatment with LAB strains proved effective in protecting mice against influenza virus infection but did not protect against severe weight loss disease [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Effects of a Dietary Multi-Strain Probiotic and Vaccination with a Live Anticoccidial Vaccine on Growth Performance and Haematological, Biochemical and Redox Status Indicators of Broiler Chickens

“…In the present study, P supplementation significantly lowered the activity of AST and ALT in vaccinated birds, indicating the hepatoprotective properties of the probiotic. Similarly, supplementation with the probiotic L. plantarum (1 × 10 8 CFU) significantly decreased AST, ALT, and LDH activities in broilers infected with E. tenella [ 19 ].…”

“…Probiotics used in poultry are composed of one or multi-strain microbial species, which mainly belong to the genera Lactobacillus , Streptococcus , Bacillus , Enterococcus , Pediococcus , Aspergillus , and Saccharomyces [ 15 , 16 ]. The effectiveness of single [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] or multi-strain probiotics [ 21 ] was confirmed in broilers challenged with Eimeria and in birds vaccinated against coccidiosis [ 16 , 22 ]. However, most studies on probiotics and ACVs included a subsequent challenge with Eimeria to evaluate the combined effects of a probiotic and vaccine as a protective measure against coccidiosis.…”