Exogenous Fecal Microbial Transplantation Alters Fearfulness, Intestinal Morphology, and Gut Microbiota in Broilers

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) documented transplanting a donor fecal sample to a receipt individual for a desired physiologic effect. However, whether the gut microbiota construction, intestinal maturation, and behavioral plasticity are modulated by FMT during the early life of broilers is waiting for verification. To evaluate the role of transfer of fecal microbiota from aged broilers donor (BD) to another individual, 96 birds were equally divided into a check (CK, control) group and a broiler recipient (BR) group. FMT was conducted daily from 5 to 12 days of age to determine the future impact on body weight, behavior, intestinal development, and gut microbiota. Results indicated that fearfulness in the CK group was higher than the BR group in both the behavioral tests (p < 0.05). The muscularis mucosa, thickness of muscle layer, and thickness of serous membrane layer in the BR group were higher compared with those of the CK group in the jejunum (p < 0.05). In the gut microbiota, Shannon diversity showed no difference, while beta diversity presented a difference in principal coordination analysis (PCoA) between the CK and BR groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Lentisphaerae in the CK group was lower than the BR (p = 0.052) and BD (p = 0.054) groups. The relative abundance of Tenericutes in the BD group was higher than that in the CK and BR groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Megamonas in the CK group was higher than the BR (p = 0.06) and BD (p < 0.05) groups. In the BR group, the functional capabilities of microbial communities analyzed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were increased in the glutamatergic synapse and N-glycan biosynthesis pathways in comparison with the CK and BD groups (p < 0.05). Some characteristics of gut microbiota in the donor chickens could be transferred to recipient chickens by FMT. In conclusion, exogenous FMT as a probiotic-like administration might be an efficient way to improve the physiology and behavior of chickens. Notably, the role of microbiota for various individuals and periods remains undefined, and the mechanism of microbiota on behaviors still needs further investigation.

Chicken jejunal microbiota improves growth performance by mitigating intestinal inflammation

“…For instance, transferring fecal microbiota from healthy adult chickens could influence early colonization of gut microbiota and might have long-term consequences on the host-microbe interaction and development of the recipient chickens [19]. FMT could be useful for improving body weight gain, pathogens tolerance in broilers [20], and growth performance in calves [21]. Glendinning et al [22] successfully transplanted the cecal microbiota from Roslin broilers to different chicken breeds in the first week of life and found increased microbiota richness and diversity in the recipients.…”

“…Glendinning et al [22] successfully transplanted the cecal microbiota from Roslin broilers to different chicken breeds in the first week of life and found increased microbiota richness and diversity in the recipients. FMT also improved the intestinal morphology in broiler by increasing the thickness of its serous membrane and muscle layers [20]. Due to the jejunum's unique features, i.e., efficient nutrients absorption via the largest surface area [23], and efficient nutrient translocation via active vascular system of villi [24], nutrient absorption/ intake mainly occurs in the jejunum.…”

The Impact of Probiotic Bacillus subtilis on Injurious Behavior in Laying Hens

“…This suggests that aggression in chickens, similar to humans [ 84 ], could be prevented or reduced by the modification of gut microbiota composition and function. Similarly, fecal microbiota transplantation from aged broilers to young broilers daily from day 5 to day 12 altered recipient birds’ behavior, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota composition [ 147 ]. The recipient birds exhibited lower fearfulness during both the novel arean test and vigilance test (a predator model) than the controls (orally administrated saline).…”

“…The recipient birds exhibited lower fearfulness during both the novel arean test and vigilance test (a predator model) than the controls (orally administrated saline). The recipient birds also had a higher relative abundance of Lentisphaeae at the phylum level, while a lower Megamonas at the genus level, with increased activities of the glutamatergic synapse and N-glycan biosynthesis pathways revealed by the functional capabilities of microbial community analysis [ 147 ]. In addition, there were biological differences in gut motility (contraction velocity and amplitude) in chickens, which was corrected with the distinct feather pecking phenotypes [ 148 ].…”

Gut Microbiota Implications for Health and Welfare in Farm Animals: A Review

“…Furthermore, the administration of the FMT from highly feed-efficient donors during the early stages of life could improve feed efficiency [ 129 ]. In our recent study, transferring fecal microbiota from broilers with positive physiological functions and behaviors to chicks can improve fearfulness, intestinal morphology, and microbial composition [ 130 ]. Moreover, transferring gut microbiota can influence emotional reactivity in Japanese quails [ 131 ].…”