Phytase Modulates Ileal Microbiota and Enhances Growth Performance of the Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Phytase is well studied and explored, however, little is known about its effects on the microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract. In total, 400 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks were randomly distributed to four experimental groups. The dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 complete factorial design, with the factors being adequate (PC) or insufficient calcium (Ca) and digestible phosphor (dP)(NC) and with or without 5000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of Escherichia coli 6-phytase. The gastrointestinal tract pH values, ileal microbial communities and short-chain fatty acid concentrations in the digesta were determined. The reduction in Ca and dP concentration significantly affected pH in the crop and caeca, and addition of phytase to the NC resulted in a pH increase in the ileum. The reduction in Ca and dP concentration significantly lowered, while phytase supplementation increased ileal total bacterial counts. Additionally, the deficient diet reduced butyrate- but increased lactate-producing bacteria. The addition of phytase increased Lactobacillus sp./Enterococcus sp. whereas in case of Clostridium leptum subgroup, Clostridium coccoides - Eubacterium rectale cluster, Bifidobacterium sp. and Streptococcus/Lactococcus counts, a significant Ca and dP level x phytase interaction was found. However, the recorded interactions indicated that the effects of phytase and Ca and dP levels were not consistent. Furthermore, the reduction of Ca and dP level lowered Clostridium perfringens and Enterobacteriaceae counts. The analysis of fermentation products showed that reducing the Ca and dP content in the diet reduced total SCFA, DL-lactate, and acetic acid in the ileum whereas phytase increased concentrations of these acids in the NC group. This suggests that P is a factor which limits fermentation in the ileum. It may be concluded that phytase plays a role in modulating the gut microbiota of chicken, however, this is clearly linked with the levels of P and Ca in a diet.

Limestone particle size and Aspergillus niger phytase in the diet of older hens

“…In this study, a higher frequency of bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus genera were also found in the ileum of hens fed a diet enriched with F. In addition, bacteria belonging to the Turicibacter genera were observed. Similar results were seen by Ptak et al (2015), where 6-phytase also increased Lactobacillus sp. and Enterococcus sp.…”

Insights into Broilers' Gut Microbiota Fed with Phosphorus, Calcium, and Phytase Supplemented Diets

“…Digesta samples belonging to diets C and H, that were both supplemented with Ca, were significantly different from samples derived from Ca-free diets E and F ( p < 0.05; Table S4). It is known that higher doses of Ca in the diets can lead to an increase of the pH (Ptak et al, 2015) and low precaecal P digestibility (Adeola and Walk, 2013; Hamdi et al, 2015), which could possibly influence the presence or absence of some OTUs. An effect of P supplementation was observed in the microbial communities of the ileum mucosa.…”

“…In consequence, the amount of calcium (Ca) and P required in diet formulation can be reduced following release of these two elements from phytate complexes (Zeller et al, 2015). Changes in Ca and P supplementation affected the composition and activity of the microbial community in the digestive tract of broilers (Ptak et al, 2015). Because the microbes are involved to a variable extent in enzymatic hydrolysis of nutrient fractions in the digestive tract, it is necessary to understand the role of the microbial community of the gut (Eeckhaut et al, 2011) and its interaction with the host, in order improve the utilization of nutrients such as phytate bound P by the bird.…”

“…They play a crucial role in feed digestion, breakdown of toxins, exclusion of pathogens, stimulation of the immune system, and endocrine activity (Zhu et al, 2002). Several studies have analyzed the microbiota from specific sections of the GIT including the crop, ileum, and caeca (Sekelja et al, 2012; Sergeant et al, 2014; Ptak et al, 2015; Witzig et al, 2015), whereas only a few have focused on the whole GIT (Lu et al, 2003; Sekelja et al, 2012). Nonetheless, it is now known that they are highly connected and should influence up and down-stream the different GIT sections (Stanley et al, 2014).…”

Full-fat insect meals as feed additive – the effect on broiler chicken growth performance and gastrointestinal tract microbiota

“…To date, more than 900 bacterial species have been identified, and it is well documented that the disturbance of microbial homeostasis can have significant negative effects on intestinal health and bird performance (Stanley et al, 2014). In the current experiments, the analysed microbiota populations were chosen as gut health indicators on the basis of our earlier research (Józefiak et al, 2011(Józefiak et al, , 2012(Józefiak et al, , 2013Ptak et al, 2015;Kierończyk et al, 2016;Dunislawska et al, 2017). Although it cannot be demonstrated that final performance indices of the birds are improved due to supplementation with insect meals, significant changes in microbiota populations were marked.…”