The Effect of Addition of Probiotic Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis or Enterococcus faecium) or Phytobiotic Containing Cinnamon Oil to Drinking Water on the Health and Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of the study was to test whether the use of probiotic bacteria Bacillus subtilis or Enterococcus faecium or a phytobiotic containing cinnamon oil can improve the metabolic parameters, immune status, gut microbiota and histology, and growth performance of broiler chickens. The experiment was carried out on 560 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens raised until the age of 42 days. The broiler chickens were assigned to 4 experimental groups of 140 birds each (7 replications of 20 individuals each). The control group (Control) did not receive additives. A probiotic preparation containing live bacterial cultures of Enterococcus faecium (EF, in the amount of 0.25 g/l) or Bacillus subtilis (BS, 0.25 g/l) or a phytobiotic preparation containing cinnamon oil (OC, 0.25 ml/l) was administered to the broiler chickens with their drinking water throughout the rearing period. The most important results indicate that the use of BS and OC resulted in: a significant (P≤0.05) increase in the level of ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), high-density cholesterol (HDL) and glutathione (GSH + GSSH) and a significant (P≤0.05) decrease in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TAG), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), a ratio of heterophils : leukocytes (H:L) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acidic phosphatase (AC) and creatinine kinase (CK), relative to the C group. In the blood of broiler chickens from the OC treatment, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase activity and 3-hydroxy-butyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) significantly (P≤0.05) decreased in relation to the C group, and in broiler chickens from EF and BS treatments there was an increase (P≤0.05) in haemoglobin (Hb) content. Compared with group C, in the broiler chickens’ nutritional content from EF, BS and OC treatments, the total number of coliforms and number of fungi significantly (P≤0.05) dropped and the number of aerobic bacteria increased (P≤0.05) in the length of the villus and the depth of the crypt. It has been found that Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium and phytobiotic containing cinnamon oil can improve the microbiological and histological appearance of broiler chicken intestine. The addition of probiotic bacteria Bacillus subtilis or phytobiotic containing cinnamon oil to drinking water is more preferable than Enterococcus faecium regarding stimulation of the immune system, blood redox status parameters, parameters of metabolic changes and the gut microbiome and morphometry.

Oxidative and Epigenetic Changes and Gut Permeability Response in Early-Treated Chickens with Antibiotic or Probiotic

“…The fact that this antibiotic has not significantly affected rearing results can be explained by the lack of harmful intestinal bacteria in one-day-old chickens [31]. Krauze et al [14] administered a probiotic containing Bacillus subtilis or E. faecium to chickens throughout the rearing period and noted no effect on production results. In contrast, in our research the use of a probiotic supplement containing E. faecium and B. amyloliquefaciens strains in the drinking water of chickens during the first week of rearing improved growth performance.…”

“…However, on the birds' last day of life, elevated PC levels were not noted in either the small intestinal wall or the blood plasma of chickens receiving either the probiotic or the antibiotic. Literature data show that probiotics exhibit antioxidant activity [14,19,43]. Xue et al [43], in a study on laying hens receiving a probiotic containing B. subtilis strains, found that this supplement had no effect on the PC level in the muscles.…”

“…There are reports indicating that some strains of probiotic bacteria also reduce inflammation of the intestinal mucosa by modulating the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators [57,58]. In studies by Krauze et al [14] and Abramowicz et al [19], the use of a probiotic containing Bacillus subtilis in the diet of chickens reduced the level of pro-inflammatory interleukin 6.…”

“…The excessive use of antibiotics may lead to the spread of drug-resistant infections in both birds and humans [11]. Many authors therefore suggest using probiotics to reduce the need for antibiotics in poultry farming [11][12][13][14]. Most probiotics are bacteria colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of animals and act as bacterial community stabilizers or antimicrobials against undesirable bacterial species [15][16][17].…”

“…Most probiotics are bacteria colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of animals and act as bacterial community stabilizers or antimicrobials against undesirable bacterial species [15][16][17]. Previous research shows that the use of probiotics in poultry nutrition improves gut health by modulating the intestinal microbiota and nutrient absorption and also strengthens the immune and antioxidant system [14,[18][19][20]. Probiotics are believed to have a beneficial effect on the gut microbiota by limiting the colonization of the gut by harmful microorganisms while promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms [21,22].…”