Oral treatment of chickens with Lactobacillus reuteri LM1 reduces Brachyspira pilosicoli-induced pathology

Abstract

Avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) results from the colonization of the caeca and colon of poultry by pathogenic Brachyspira, notably Brachyspira pilosicoli. Following the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in the European Union in 2006, the number of cases of AIS has increased, which, alongside emerging antimicrobial resistance in Brachyspira, has driven renewed interest in alternative intervention strategies. Lactobacillus-based probiotics have been shown to protect against infection with common enteric pathogens in livestock. Our previous studies have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri LM1 antagonizes aspects of the pathobiology of Brachyspira in vitro. Here, we showed that L. reuteri LM1 mitigates the clinical symptoms of AIS in chickens experimentally challenged with B. pilosicoli. Two groups of 15 commercial laying hens were challenged experimentally by oral gavage with B. pilosicoli B2904 at 18 weeks of age; one group received unsupplemented drinking water and the other received L. reuteri LM1 in drinking water from 1 week prior to challenge with Brachyspira and thereafter for the duration of the study. This treatment regime was protective. Specifically, B. pilosicoli was detected by culture in fewer birds, bird weights were higher, faecal moisture contents were significantly lower (P,0.05) and egg production as assessed by egg weight and faecal staining score was improved (P,0.05). Also, at post-mortem examination, significantly fewer B. pilosicoli were recovered from treated birds (P,0.05), with only mild-moderate histopathological changes observed. These data suggest that L. reuteri LM1 may be a useful tool in the control of AIS.

Characterization of the Culturable Subpopulations of Lactobacillus in the Chicken Intestinal Tract as a Resource for Probiotic Development

“…Although the use of different species of Lactobacillus as probiotics in chickens has shown beneficial effects (Zhang et al, 2007; Mappley et al, 2013; Saint-Cyr et al, 2017), there is still a lack of solid scientific basis for probiotic actions, and thus effective strategies to isolate promising probiotic strains. Comprehensive investigation of Lactobacillus populations in chicken GIT might provide important insights for better understanding of their roles in host function, and therefore for development of better screening strategies to identify more effective probiotic strains.…”

Manipulating Bacterial Communities by in situ Microbiome Engineering

“…Probiotics are bacteria which can confer a benefit to a particular host environment [22]. For example, probiotic Lactobacilli have been used in livestock to decrease incidence of pathogenic infections [23]. In humans, probiotic bacteria alter the gut microbiota by competing for nutrients, producing antimicrobial compounds, or modulating host immunity [24, 25].…”

Coexpression and Secretion of Endoglucanase and Phytase Genes in Lactobacillus reuteri

“…The six groups were offered six dietary treatments of barley-wheat-based diets with four replicates for each treatment. Preparation of recombinant L. reuteri was performed according to the method described by Mappley et al (2013) [60]. Control groups were fed a phosphorus adequate diet (as positive control) or phosphorus deficient diet (as negative control) and administered distilled water from day 1.…”