Microbial diversity in the cecum of broiler chickens after introduction of coumarin and feed antibiotic into the diet

Abstract

In modern world, there is a need to search for alternatives to antibiotics due to the growing resistance of microorganisms. Plant extracts can be a promising replacement. Due to biological functions, they can suppress the development of various processes associated with pathogenicity and virulence, in particular, the Quorum sensing process. Based on the above, the aim of the study was to assess the bioactivity of 7,8-dihydroxy-4- methylcoumarin and 20% chlortetracycline in relation to the microbial diversity of the cecum of broiler chickens. 4 groups of broiler chickens were formed for the experiment. The control group received a diet without additives (basic diet (BD)); group I - BD + 20% chlortetracycline, at the dosage 0.63 g/kg bw per day, group II - BD + 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin at a dose of 9.0 mcg/ kg bw per day; Group III - BD + 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin + 20% chlortetracycline. The NGS of the 16S rRNA gene was used as a research method. Analysis of the results showed that addition of coumarin, the antibiotic and their combination to the poultry diet had an impact on formation of the microbial composition of intestine. Moreover, there was a decrease in the number of Lactobacillaceae , Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae families. In addition, the proportion of opportunistic Streptococcus flora decreased more than by 10 %.

Broiler Chicken Cecal Microbiome and Poultry Farming Productivity: A Meta-Analysis

“…Results of ten experimental series performed during the period of 2018-2023 [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] were included in the meta-analysis (Figure 1). The inclusion criteria were: (i) the study implementation to be in accordance with the ethical statement and the principles of good laboratory practice; (ii) use of broiler chickens aged from 7 to 42 days (experiment duration of 35 days); (iii) keeping birds on a standard basic diet supplemented with various additives; (iv) standard recording of zootechnical data integrated with the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF); (v) standard Illumina 16S-RNA gene sequencing technology to characterize the cecal microbiome.…”

“…Seven-day-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into equal replicates and fed with the basic diets intended for the starting period (7-28 days), and growing period (29-42 days). The control group in each series received the basic diet only, while the experimental groups were fed a diet supplemented with Oak Bark extract [14,15,19], Bifidobacterium-containing or Bacillus-containing probiotic additives [15,16], the antibiotic chlortetracycline [14,20,21], or chemically synthesized analogues of the following plant-derived molecules: gamma-lactone, coumarin derivative, vanillin/vanylic acid, resorcinol derivative, or quercetin [16][17][18][20][21][22][23]. In the current context, these supplements affected the cecal microbiome composition and chicken productivity, providing variability in the data for the meta-analysis.…”

“…A total of 40 groups (8 control and 32 experimental) meeting these criteria were included in the study. Bark extract [14,15,19], Bifidobacterium-containing or Bacillus-containing probiotic additives [15,16], the antibiotic chlortetracycline [14,20,21], or chemically synthesized analogues of the following plant-derived molecules: gamma-lactone, coumarin derivative, vanillin/vanylic acid, resorcinol derivative, or quercetin [16][17][18][20][21][22][23]. In the current context, these supplements affected the cecal microbiome composition and chicken productivity, providing variability in the data for the meta-analysis.…”

“…Meta-analysis design to characterize the cecal microbiome of broiler chickens and its association with poultry production. Designations 1-10 indicate the experimental series described in [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

“…In a series of our previous studies published in international [14][15][16][17][18] and local [19][20][21][22][23] scientific journals, we used standard Illumina 16S-RNA gene sequencing technology in the context of the effects of different feeding regimes on the microbiome, feed efficiency, and growth performance indices in broiler chickens. General changes in cecal microbiome composition and zootechnical parameters were shown, but the relationship between cecal microbiota composition and diversity against poultry farming productivity was constrained by a small sample size in each series.…”