Evaluation of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus Probiotics as Alternative Therapy for Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Chicken Salmonella enterica serovars are enteric bacteria associated with massive public health risks and economic losses. There is a widespread antimicrobial resistance among S. enterica serotypes, and innovative solutions to antibiotic resistance are needed. We aimed to use probiotics to reduce antibiotic resistance and identify the major probiotic players that modify the early interactions between S. enterica and host cells. One-day-old cobb broiler chicks were challenged with S. typhimurium after oral inoculation with different probiotic strains for 3 days. The adherence of different probiotic strains to Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells was studied in vitro. Lactobacillus (Lacticaseibacillus) casei ATTC334 and Bifidobacterium breve JCM1192 strains attached to Caco-2 cells stronger than B. infantis BL2416. L. casei ATTC334 and B. breve JCM1192 reduced S. typhimurium recovery from the cecal tonsils by competitive exclusion mechanism. Although B. infantis BL2416 bound poorly to Caco-2 epithelial cells, it reduced S. typhimurium recovery and increased IFN-γ and TNF-α production. L. casei ATTC334, B. breve JCM1192 and B. infantis BL2416 improved body weight gain and the food conversion rate in S. typhimurium-infected broilers. B. longum Ncc2785 neither attached to epithelial cells nor induced IFN-γ and TNF-α release and consequently did not prevent S. typhimurium colonization in broiler chickens. In conclusion, probiotics prevented the intestinal colonization of S. typhimurium in infected chickens by competitive exclusion or cytokine production mechanisms.

Dietary Supplementation of Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus Modulates Cholesterol Levels, Immune Response, and Productive Performance of Laying Hens

“…On the other hand, the immunomodulatory activities of probiotic bacteria have been well documented in mammals [18]. It has been shown that Lactobacillus culture possess beneficial effects on immune response and cytokines in chickens [17,19]; moreover, it can limit Salmonella colonization [20,21]. Although Lactobacillus is a predominant genus of bacteria normally inhabitant in poultry intestines [22,23]; however, to the best of our knowledge, there is little information available on chicken immune responses to probiotic bacteria, especially when LA is used as a probiotic.…”

Comparative Effects of Using New Multi-Strain Synbiotics on Chicken Growth Performance, Hematology, Serum Biochemistry and Immunity

“…Currently, there is an urgent need to decrease the use of antibiotics in animal production which requires finding new alternatives for animal health protection. Recently, much attention has been paid to the substitutes of antibiotic growth stimulants, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytobiotics and acidifiers [1][2][3][4][5][6]. However, such additives must be adapted to the species, age and intended use of animals.…”

Probiotic Lactobacilli Do Not Protect Chickens against Salmonella Enteritidis Infection by Competitive Exclusion in the Intestinal Tract but in Feed, Outside the Chicken Host

“…It cannot be excluded that there might be cases when specific lactobacilli isolates have a protective effect against infection with a particular Salmonella strain. In addition, the probiotic effect of lactobacilli cannot not be considered only according to resistance to Salmonella infection, since lactobacilli administration also affects body weight and feed conversion [48,49]. We are aware that only early resistance to S. Enteritidis infection 4 days post-infection was determined in this study, while chickens can be positive for two months after infection during the first week of life [50,51] and lactobacilli may shorten this period.…”