Interrelations between the Microbiotas in the Litter and in the Intestines of Commercial Broiler Chickens

Cressman, Michael D.; Yu, Zhongtang; Nelson, Michael C.; Moeller, S. J.; Lilburn, M. S.; Zerby, H. N.

doi:10.1128/aem.00180-10

Cited by 154 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…It should be noted that the broiler litter is primarily a mixture of bedding materials and bird excreta, and the management of litter varied from feedlot to feedlot. With continued reuse, the litter environment becomes more complex, 57 which may have a profound impact on distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs in litter and even the subsequent litterapplied soils.…”

Section: Dissemination Of Args In the Broiler Feedlotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Representative Broiler Feedlots Environments: Identification of Indicator ARGs and Correlations with Environmental Variables

Liu

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

221

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Livestock operations are known to harbor elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that may pose a threat to public health. Broiler feedlots may represent an important source of ARGs in the environment. However, the prevalence and dissemination mechanisms of various types of ARGs in the environment of broiler feedlots have not previously been identified. We examined the occurrence, abundance and variation of ARGs conferring resistance to chloramphenicols, sulfonamides and tetracyclines in the environments of two representative types of broiler feedlots (free range and indoor) by quantitative PCR, and assessed their dissemination mechanisms. The results showed the prevalence of various types of ARGs in the environmental samples of the broiler feedlots including manure/litter, soil, sediment, and water samples, with the first report of five chloramphenicol resistance genes (cmlA, floR, fexA, cf r, and fexB) in broiler feedlots. Overall, chloramphenicol resistance genes and sulfonamides sul genes were more abundant than tetracyclines tet genes. The ARG abundances in the samples from indoor boiler feedlots were generally different to the free range feedlots, suggesting the importance of feeding operations in ARG dissemination. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlations between ARGs and mobile genetic element genes (int1 and int2), and between the different classes of ARGs themselves, revealing the roles of horizontal gene transfer and coselection for ARG dissemination in the environment. Further regression analysis revealed that fexA, sul1 and tetW could be reliable indicator genes to surrogate anthropogenic sources of ARGs in boiler feedlots (correlations of fexA, sul1 and tetW to all ARGs: R = 0.95, 0.96 and 0.86, p < 0.01). Meanwhile, significant correlations were also identified between indicator ARGs and their corresponding antibiotics. In addition, some ARGs were significantly correlated with typical metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, and As with fexA, fexB, cf r, sul1, tetW, tetO, tetS: R = 0.52−0.71) and some environmental parameters (e.g., TOC, TN, TP, NH 3 −N with fexA, fexB, cf r, sul1, tetW, tetO, tetQ, tetS: R = 0.53−0.87) (p < 0.01). Further redundancy analysis demonstrated that the distribution and transportation of ARGs from the boiler feedlots to the receiving environments were correlated with environmental variables. The findings highlight the contribution of some chemicals such as antibiotics and metals to the development of ARGs in broiler feedlots environments; and the observed ARG dissemination mechanism in the broiler feedlots facilitates the development of effective mitigation measures.

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Section: Dissemination Of Args In the Broiler Feedlotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Representative Broiler Feedlots Environments: Identification of Indicator ARGs and Correlations with Environmental Variables

Liu

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

221

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“…Cressman et al reported that used litter produced more Clostridia within the ileum while fresh litter produced more environmental Lactobacillus [13]. In this study, we used molecular ecology to evaluate the composition of broiler litter over multiple flock cycles in order to reveal the effects of using antibiotic alternatives.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exact mechanism through which these products provide benefits is being studied and may actually differ depending on the specific formulation. Mechanisms include modifying the pH of the gastrointestinal tract, production of antimicrobial or signaling molecules, competing for ecological niches and available nutrients, promoting epithelial cell differentiation and turnover, affecting mucus production, aiding in the metabolism of nutrients by the host, and/or stimulation of the immune system [13][14][15][16][17]. An exciting new perspective on intestinal/microbial symbiosis comes from the finding that pioneer colonizers, the first bacteria to reach the neonatal gut, can directly influence the development of the intestine and the nutrient matrix it provides for sequential bacterial species that eventually comprise the complex microbiota [18,19].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Antibiotic Alternatives for Enriching Beneficial Microbiota in Litter

Pedroso¹,

Collett²,

Hurley-Bacon³

et al. 2014

SOJ Microbiol Infect Dis

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“…Additionally, the bacteria present in the litter may influence the intestinal microbiota and performance of broilers (Cressman et al, 2010;Wei et al, 2013).…”

Section: Influence Of Covering Reused Broiler Litter With Plastic Canmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Covering Reused Broiler Litter with Plastic Canvas on Litter Characteristics and Bacteriology and the Subsequent Immunity and Microbiology of Broilers

Mesa

Lourenço

Souza

et al. 2016

Rev. Bras. Cienc. Avic.

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In broiler production, the litter is reused for consecutives flocks, and it is treated during down time between flocks to reduce its microbial load. Although covering the litter with a plastic canvas is a common litter treatment in the field, there is little scientific information available on its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of covering broiler litter with a plastic canvas for eight days on litter microbiological, physical, and chemical parameters, and on the intestinal microbiota and immunity of broilers. In the first trial, reused litter from a previous flock was distributed into three treatments, with six replicates each: L1 (negative control, litter free from Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Eimeria maxima (EM) and not covered), L2 (positive control, litter with SE and EM, and not covered), and L3 (litter with SE and EM, and covered with plastic canvas for eight days). Litter total bacteria, Enterobacteria, Lactobacillus, SE, and EM counts, and litter pH, temperature, moisture, and ammonia emission were determined on days 1 and 8. In the second trial, broilers were housed on those litters according to the treatments described above, and their intestinal microbiota, gut CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages, and liver and intestinal proinflammatory interleukin (IFN-γ, IL-1β e IL-18) levels were evaluated on days 14 and 28. A significant reduction of litter bacterial populations was observed in the litter covered with plastic canvas. A significantly higher mRNA IFN-γ gene expression (12.5-fold) was observed in the jejunum and liver of broilers reared on the litter with Enterobacteria counts. No EM reduction was observed in the covered litter. Covering reused broiler litter with plastic canvas reduces initial litter bacterial load as a result of the interaction between physical and chemical parameters.

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Interrelations between the Microbiotas in the Litter and in the Intestines of Commercial Broiler Chickens

Cited by 154 publications

References 42 publications

Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Representative Broiler Feedlots Environments: Identification of Indicator ARGs and Correlations with Environmental Variables

Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Representative Broiler Feedlots Environments: Identification of Indicator ARGs and Correlations with Environmental Variables

The Potential of Antibiotic Alternatives for Enriching Beneficial Microbiota in Litter

Influence of Covering Reused Broiler Litter with Plastic Canvas on Litter Characteristics and Bacteriology and the Subsequent Immunity and Microbiology of Broilers

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