Probiotic <i>Bacillus</i> species and <i>Saccharomyces boulardii</i> improve performance, gut histology and immunity in broiler chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a new multispecies probiotic containing four Bacillus species and Saccharomyces boulardii (Microguard ® ) with a commercial probiotic (Protexin ® ) and a commonly used antibiotic in broilers. Six hundred one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomized to six experimental treatments, with five replicates of 20 chicks each, for 42 days, receiving an ad libitum cornsoybean basal diet. Treatments were added to the basal diet and consisted of tetracycline as an antibiotic growth promoter (500 g/ton), three dosages of Microguard (50, 100 and150 g/ton) or Protexin (100 g/ton). The control group received the basal diet with no additive. The group fed with Microguard at 150 g/ton showed increased final bodyweight, weight gain, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and antibody titres against Newcastle disease (ND) and avian influenza (AI) levels. Improved feed conversion ratio, increased villus height, and villus highest crypt depth ratio, along with lower plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, were found in probiotic-supplemented broilers. Carcass yield, liver weights, breast muscle values, and abdominal fat weights were reduced in groups fed with 100 or 150 g/ton of Microguard. Caecal coliforms, Salmonella and Escherichia coli numbers decreased in groups fed with 100 or 150 g/ton of Microguard. These results show that Microguard at 150 g/ton is a promising probiotic to replace antibiotics in broiler feed as a growth-promoter while enhancing immune system responses and inducing beneficial modulations in the caecal microflora. ______________________________________________________________________________________

Effects of Different Dietary Levels of Blue Lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) Seed Meal With or Without Probiotics on the Performance, Carcass Criteria, Immune Organs, and Gut Morphology of Broiler Chickens

“…However, probiotic addition seemed to be beneficial, particularly when added to a 30% blue lupine diet, which exhibited higher crude fiber and low amino acid concentrations, causing an improvement of 2.71, 1.34, and 4.07% in growth rate, FCR, and EPEI, respectively. These results are similar to those reported by (24,25,35,54,55), who found that probiotics containing Bacillus spp. and Saccharomyces boulardii benefit the production performance of broilers from 1 to 28 d of age.…”

“…In general, probiotic addition had a beneficial effect on the bursa, thymus, and spleen percentages of broilers that were not fed blue lupine at 35 d of age. These results are similar to those reported by (55,57), who found that the addition of probiotics improved the immune index of broiler chickens and beneficially modulated gut microflora, particularly in the ceca area and resulted in enhanced growth (23)(24)(25).…”

“…In addition, (49) noticed that 25-30% of blue lupine does not significantly affect the dressing percentage, edible parts, and abdominal fat of turkeys. On the other hand, (55) demonstrated that probiotics at 100 and 150 g/ton feed containing Bacillus spp. and Saccharomyces boulardii, reduced the dressing percentages, breast muscle values, liver weights, and abdominal fat weights; a 50 g/ton diet had no effect.…”

Growth performance, fatty acid profile and lipid oxidative stability of breast muscle in chickens fed probiotics and antibiotics or their mixture

“…Such an alternative would be the use of probiotics, which are live microbial products that are beneficial to the host through an improved microbial equilibrium in the intestines (Abdulla et al, 2015). The most commonly used probiotic bacteria in poultry are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Enterococcus species (Manafi et al, 2018). The efficacy of probiotics in altering gut microbial balance, leading to enhanced feed utilization, growth performance and increased immunity, is well documented (Chichlowski et al, 2007;Taherpour et al, 2009).…”

“…Various Bacillus species, including Bacillus subtilis have been used as additives for their positive effects of improving the antioxidant capacity in poultry production. Manafi et al (2018) proved that spores of Bacillus subtilis are good candidates as a feed additive because this additive led to a reduction in protein and amino acid requirements for broiler chickens and, consequently, that the feed cost per kilogram weight gain could be reduced. However, the benefits of its use are not always observed unless they are associated with antibiotics.…”