Effects of Clostridium butyricum- and Bacillus spp.-Based Potential Probiotics on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Immune Responses, and Caecal Microbiota in Broilers

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum-, Bacillus subtilis-, and Bacillus licheniformis-based potential probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune responses, and caecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial structure in broiler chickens. Three treatment groups containing a total of 1200 one-day-old AA broilers were included: birds fed with a basal diet only (Con), birds fed with added 1010 probiotics cfu/kg (ProL), and birds fed with added 1011 probiotics cfu/kg (ProH). The dietary probiotics significantly improved the final and average body weights and serum immunoglobulins A, M, and Y. The probiotics also enhanced the ileal morphology and improved the caecal acetate, butyrate, and propionate contents. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary compound probiotics modulated the caecal microflora composition as follows: (1) all birds shared 2794 observed taxonomic units; (2) treatment groups were well separated in the PCA and PCoA analysis; (3) the relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Barnesiella, Odoribacter, [Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group], [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, and Butyricimonas significantly varied between treatments. The compound probiotics improved the growth performance, serum immune responses, the ratio of ileal villus height to crypt depth, and major caecal SCFAs in broiler chickens. The dietary C. butyricum-, B. subtilis-, and B. licheniformis-based probiotics improved overall broiler health and would benefit the poultry industry.

Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112 on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Immune, and Serum Biochemical Response in Broiler Chickens

“…In our previous study, Wei et al [ 32 ] showed that dietary supplementation of B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 in 10 8 to 10 9 CFU/kg enhanced ADG and ADFI broilers. In contrast, Zeng et al [ 42 ] reported that compound probiotic supplementation significantly increased the ADG in birds from days 1–42 but resulted in no dramatic change in ADG at the early growth stages. Their explanation indicated that the growth-promoting effects of these probiotics mainly support later growth stages.…”

Dietary Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis Promote Goose Growth by Improving Intestinal Structure and Function, Antioxidative Capacity and Microbial Composition

“…Similarly, Bacillus subtilis could effectively improve the immunity of livestock and poultry, enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory genes, and stimulate the growth and development of immune organs [ 9 , 27 , 28 ]. LPS is a key trigger of inflammation and immune response, the increased proliferation of harmful bacteria in the intestine can induce inflammation, immune response, and damage to the intestine via LPS, thus, probiotics supplementation may prevent intestinal disorders, damage, and unnecessary activation of the immune system by inhibiting proliferation of harmful bacteria [ 6 ]. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics may be partially attributed to the role of butyric acid produced by Clostridium butyricum in the repair of intestinal epithelial tissue and the intestinal barrier formed by probiotic bacteria, preventing the damage to intestinal tissue caused by harmful intestinal bacteria [ 29 ].…”

“…For example, Zhang et al investigated the efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis , and Clostridium butyricum supplementation in broilers, and the data indicated that dietary supplementation with multistrain probiotics improved broiler growth performance, ileal amino acids digestibility, and humoral immunity, but decreased the cecal numbers of E. coli and the NH3 content of excreta [ 5 ]. Zeng et al also demonstrated that supplementation of compound probiotics ( Clostridium butyricum -, Bacillus subtilis -, and Bacillus licheniformis ) to diet improved the growth performance, serum immune responses, the ratio of ileal villus height to crypt depth, major caecal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs), and overall health in broiler chickens [ 6 ]. Multistrain probiotics could be superior to single probiotics as different species of probiotic bacteria may promote animal health and production performance through different mechanisms, such as the release of different metabolites, different effects on gut microbial composition, and cooperative action between different bacterial species in compound probiotics [ 7 ].…”

Identification and Probiotic Potency Screening of Cellulolytic Bacilli Isolated from Fecal Pellets and Gastrointestinal Tract of Nypha Worm (Namalycastis rhodochorde), West Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…The research of Khalid et al (2021) stated that bacteria from the Bacillus group have the potential to be developed as probiotic candidates in animal feed. The results of Zeng et al (2021) also used Bacillus as a probiotic agent isolated from the gut of broilers and analyzed the immune response and growth Bunsen fire. Furthermore, the isolate was dripped with crystal violet and allowed to stand for 3 minutes, then rinsed with distilled water and dried.…”