Effects of a dietary direct-fed microbial and Ferulago angulata extract on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and immune function of broiler chickens infected with Campylobacter jejuni

Abstract

Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by potentially pathogenic bacteria and their shedding in animal feces is a fundamental factor for both animal health and human food safety. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of salinomycin ( Sal ), direct-fed microbial ( DFM ), and Ferulago angulata hydroalcoholic extract ( FAE ) against Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens in a 6-week pilot-scale study. A total of six hundred and seventy two 1-day-old broiler chickens were equally divided into 6 groups (each consisting of 8 replicates of 14 birds): negative control ( NC ; untreated and uninfected); positive control ( PC ; untreated, infected with C. jejuni ); PC + Sal; PC + DFM; PC + 200 mg/kg of FAE ( FAE200 ); or PC + 400 mg/kg of FAE ( FAE400 ). All these groups (except NC) were challenged with C. jejuni on day 15. The results showed that all experimental treatments improved ( P < 0.05) average daily gain compared with the PC group, and the best value was observed in the NC and FAE400 groups throughout the entire experimental period (day 1–42). The overall feed conversion ratio and mortality rate, as well as the population of C. jejuni (day 24 and 42) and Coliforms (day 42) in the ileum and cecum, were higher ( P < 0.05) in broiler chickens fed with the PC diet than for chickens in the other groups, except those in the FAE200 group. Immune responses revealed that among challenged birds, those that were fed diets DFM and FAE400 had significantly higher IgG (day 24 and 42), IgA (day 24), IL-6 (day 24), and gamma interferon (day 24 and 42) concentrations than the PC group. In conclusion, dietary FAE, especially at a high level of inclusion in broiler diet (400 mg/kg), could beneficially influence the immune status, as well as improve growth performance and intestinal microflora under Campylobacter challenge, which was comparable to those of Sal and DFM supplements.

Roadmap for the integration of gastro‐intestinal (GI) tract microbiomes (human and domestic animal) in risk assessments under EFSA's remit

“…Other studies have shown an absence of effect of the presence of Campylobacter on the abundance of phyla (Alrubaye et al, 2019;. On a more consistent basis, studies have shown a decrease in the abundance of lactic acid-producing bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus and Lactobacillus when Campylobacter was present Hertogs et al, 2021;Nooreh et al, 2021;Richards et al, 2019;Sofka et al, 2015). The presence of Campylobacter also induced changes in the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (SCFA), but inconsistently across studies Han et al, 2017;Hertogs et al, 2021;Saint-Cyr et al, 2017;Sakaridis et al, 2018;Taha-Abdelaziz et al, 2018;Thibodeau et al, 2015Thibodeau et al, , 2017.…”

“…In addition to improving animal performance, these plants reduced Campylobacter colonization in the caecum of broiler chickens (Kelly et al, 2017;Nooreh et al, 2021). Surprisingly in these two studies, the decrease in the abundance of Campylobacter was associated with a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus in cecum (Kelly et al, 2017;Nooreh et al, 2021). During the administration of Carvacrol, the abundance of Proteobacteria increased at the expense of the abundance of Firmicutes (Kelly et al, 2017) (Table C32).…”

“…FAE also caused a decrease in mortality in animals challenged with C.jejuni (Kelly et al, 2017). In addition to improving animal performance, these plants reduced Campylobacter colonization in the caecum of broiler chickens (Kelly et al, 2017;Nooreh et al, 2021). Surprisingly in these two studies, the decrease in the abundance of Campylobacter was associated with a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus in cecum (Kelly et al, 2017;Nooreh et al, 2021).…”

“…Thus the administration of Salinomycin at 60 mg/kg led to increase the ADG of the animals, which led to a reduction in the FCR (Nooreh et al, 2021). Combined with this, Salinomycin reduced animal mortality (Nooreh et al, 2021). In contrast, administration of ampicillin, doxycycline, and enrofloxacin to chickens infected with C.jejuni has been shown to induce an increase in diarrhea rate (Han et al, 2020).…”

Ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum) extract in broiler diets: effect on growth performance, carcass components, plasma constituents, immunity and cecum microflora

“…There is great interest in animal nutrition in the study of additives aimed at improving the animal health and performance. Among the additives defined as nutraceuticals, plant extracts and their essential oils can represent a valid alternative to synthetic additives (Shim et al 2010;Apajalahti and Vienola 2016;Xue et al 2020;Nooreh et al 2021). One of these nutraceuticals is ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum L.) (Mahboubi and Kazempour 2011;Mabood et al 2017).…”