Microbial Composition in the Duodenum and Ileum of Yellow Broilers With High and Low Feed Efficiency

Abstract

The composition of the gut microbiome plays important roles in digestion, nutrient absorption, and health. Here, we analyzed the microbial composition in the duodenum and ileum of yellow broilers. Chickens were grouped based on feed efficiency (high feed efficiency [HFE] and low feed efficiency [LFE] groups; n = 22 each). Microbial samples from the duodenum and ileum were collected, and 16S rRNA sequencing of the V3–V4 region was performed. The dominant bacteria in the duodenum were from the phyla Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria and the genera Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Ruminococcus. In the ileum, the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and the genera Lactobacillus, SMB53 and Enterococcus were predominant. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the microbiota diversity was significantly higher in the duodenum than in the ileum. The structure of the ileal microbiota was similar between groups, and the species richness of the microbiota in the HFE group was significantly higher than that in the LFE group. In the HFE and LFE groups, Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria were negatively correlated, and Lactobacillus had medium to high negative correlations with most other genera. Functional prediction analysis showed that the gluconeogenesis I pathway was the most abundant differential metabolic pathway and was significantly altered in the LFE group. Moreover, although the microbial community structures were similar in the duodenum and ileum, the diversity of the microbial community was significantly higher in the duodenum than in the ileum. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the phylum Chloroflexi and genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Neisseria were with coefficients <−0.3 or >0.3. In the ileum, Ruminococcus may be associated with HFE whereas Faecalibacterium may be associated with LFE. These findings may provide valuable foundations for future research on composition and diversity of intestinal microbes and provide insights into the roles of intestinal microbes in improving feed efficiency and the industrial economic benefits of yellow broilers.

Ileal Microbiota Alters the Immunity Statues to Affect Body Weight in Muscovy Ducks

“…Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the top three predominant phyla in the ileum of Muscovy ducks ( Figure 1 ). Accumulated studies have proved that ileal bacteria are primarily composed of the Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in weaned rabbits ( 35 ) and weaned piglets ( 36 ), while Firmicutes and Proteobacteria are the main phyla in the ileum of yellow broilers ( 37 ), suggesting the similarity of microbial composition at the phylum level between Muscovy ducks and other vertebrates. In broiler chickens, the dominant bacteria phyla in the ileum were Firmicutes and Actinobacteria ( 38 ).…”

Different Non-cage Housing Systems Alter Duodenal and Cecal Microbiota Composition in Shendan Chickens

“…Compared with the LRS groups, laying hens in the NRS groups were fed on perforated plastic nets with no direct contact with feces, which may have accounted for the changes in the intestinal mucosal structure. Duodenum locates at the beginning of the small intestine, which has a lower pH than the hindgut and is crucial for feed digestion and absorption (5). Cecum is the chief functional section in the distal intestine, which plays important roles in preventing pathogen colonization, detoxifying harmful substances and absorbing additional nutrients (7).…”

“…The microbes in poultry intestines play an essential role in feed conversion (1), nutrient digestion and absorption (2), host protection against pathogens (3), and the maintenance of intestinal physiological balance (4) by affecting the intestinal structure and modulating the function of the digestive and immune systems. The duodenum is crucial for food digestion and absorbs most glucose and other nutrients, with the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes being predominant (5,6). The cecum mainly ferments complex carbohydrates and has a greater ability to absorb sugars actively at low concentrations, with the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes being predominant (6,7).…”

Impact of the gastrointestinal microbiome and fermentation metabolites on broiler performance

“…Lastly, the study's findings suggest Bacteroides may be utilized as a biomarker for FE to enhance growth performance in birds ( Huang et al., 2021 ).

Figure 3 Microbiota and metabolome indicators within the duodenum, ileum, ceca, cloaca, and feces of commercial broilers of low or high feed efficiency ( Siegerstetter et al, 2018 ; Lv et al, 2021 , Huang et al., 2021 ; Liu et al, 2021 ). Figure created with Biorender.com.

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“… Microbiota and metabolome indicators within the duodenum, ileum, ceca, cloaca, and feces of commercial broilers of low or high feed efficiency ( Siegerstetter et al, 2018 ; Lv et al, 2021 , Huang et al., 2021 ; Liu et al, 2021 ). Figure created with Biorender.com.…”