Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies

Abstract

Studies of the gut microbiota contribution to the host physiology and immunocompetence are facilitated by the availability of germ-free animal models, which are considered the gold standard. Nesting birds are ideal models for the production of germ-free animals since there is no need to raise their relatives under sterile conditions. Germ-free chickens are mainly generated from specific-pathogenfree (SPF) experimental lines, which are poorly representative of commercial chicken lines. The method proposed here allowed the production of germ-free chickens from the fast growing broiler line Ross PM3, commonly used by the poultry industry. Eggs were quickly collected after laying at a broiler breeder farm. They underwent a strict decontamination process from the collection to the introduction in a sterile egg hatching isolator. The chicks have been hatched and kept in these sterile isolators during the period necessary to control their sterility. Originally developed for an experimental SPF white leghorn line, the present protocol has been adapted not only to the Ross PM3 broiler line but also to quails. It therefore represents a robust and readily adaptable procedure to other poultry species and nesting birds of economic, biological or ecological relevance.

Microbiota promotes recruitment and pro-inflammatory response of caecal macrophages during E. tenella infection

“…Conventional and GF Ross PM3 broilers were hatched in the Infectiology of Farm, Model and Wildlife Animals Facility (PFIE, Centre INRAE Val De Loire; https://doi.org/ 10.15454/1.5572352821559333E12; member of the National Infrastructure EMERG’IN) as described in [ 19 ]. Briefly, Ross PM3 eggs from two French farms were collected, decontaminated with a 1.5% peracetic acid solution (1.5% Divosan Plus VT53, Johnson Diversey, France).…”

“…Among these animals, KUL01 + cells were sorted to obtain samples from 8 conventional and GF non-infected, 11 conventional and GF and 9 GF + microbiota chickens for transcriptomic analysis. Bacteriological controls were performed as described in [ 19 ]. Animals were confirmed to be bacteria-free while conventional chickens developed a microbiota.…”

“…15454/1. 55723 52821 55933 3E12; member of the National Infrastructure EMERG'IN) as described in [19]. Briefly, Ross PM3 eggs from two French farms were collected, decontaminated with a 1.5% peracetic acid solution (1.5% Divosan Plus VT53, Johnson Diversey, France).…”