Effects of dietary supplementation with lysine-yielding Bacillus subtilis on gut morphology, cecal microflora, and intestinal immune response of Linwu ducks1

Abstract

The effects of dietary supplementation with lysine-yielding Bacillus subtilis on gut morphology, cecal microflora, and expression of intestinal cytokine mRNA of Linwu ducks (a Chinese local domesticated duck) were investigated after a 63-d feeding trial. Two hundred forty 1-d-old female ducklings were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, and there were 60 birds per treatment replicated 6 times with 10 birds each. The experimental diets consisted of a basal diet containing no antibiotic or growth promoters, the basal diet supplemented with 150 mg Aureomycin per kg feed, and 2 others supplemented with 5.0 × 108 and 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed, respectively. Birds fed the diets supplemented with B. subtilis had increased (P < 0.001) villi height in the jejunum and ileum and reduced (P < 0.001) crypt depth in the jejunum compared with birds fed the control diet. Greatest (P < 0.01) villus height:crypt depth ratio was obtained with the jejunum and ileum of birds fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed. Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis resulted in increased (P < 0.05) cecal counts of Megasphaera elsdenii. Greater cecal Lactobacillus counts were obtained in ducks fed the diets supplemented with Aureomycin and B. subtilis. Ducks fed the diets supplemented with B. subtilis showed suppressed (P < 0.001) expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, and IL-10 in their jejunum. When compared with the control, the expression of interferon (IFN)-γ in the jejunum of ducks fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 108 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis or Aureomycin reduced (P < 0.001) ileal expression of IL-10. When compared with the control, the expression of IL-2 and IL-8 in the ileum of ducks fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with lysine-yielding B. subtilis improved gut morphology, increased the population of beneficial gut microflora, and stimulated increased intestinal immune response of Linwu ducks.

Bacillus-Based Probiotic Treatment Modified Bacteriobiome Diversity in Duck Feces

“…The found beneficial effect of probiotic-enriched feed on ducks' production characteristics agrees with the improved production performance of probiotic-fed Pitalah ducks [46]. The Pekin ducks' productivity performance in our study corroborates the beneficial influence of Bacillus-based supplementation on egg quality and biochemical properties of blood of Shaoxing ducks [47], and on gut microbiota established with lysine-yielding Bacillus subtilis on a locally domesticated Chinese duck breed [48]. Enhanced Pekin ducks' production, associated with beneficial changes in ducks' gut microbiota due to Bacillus-based probiotic supplementation, is also in line with improved growth performance shown by the Cherry Valley ducks [13].…”

Dietary Administration of Bacillus subtilis Enhances Growth Performance, Immune Response and Disease Resistance in Cherry Valley Ducks

“…Major pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiviral proteins tended to be up-regulated in ducks fed B. subtilis . As concerns the growth promoting effects of B. subtilis , the addition of B. subtilis spores increased the body weight of the ducks (Xing et al, 2015), and the benefits of B. subtilis were also consistent with those detected in piglet and broiler chichens performance studies (Mountzouris et al, 2010; Zhou et al, 2010). …”

Efecto de Bacillus subtilis sobre metabolitos sanguíneos y parámetros productivos en pollo de engorde

“…Se ha encontrado que el uso de probióticos en la dieta favorece el desarrollo morfométrico del intestino, incrementando la altura y ancho de las vellosidades, lo cual se ve reflejado en una mayor área de contacto con el contenido intestinal, haciendo más eficiente los procesos de absorción de algunos nutrientes, principalmente calcio y fósforo, lo cual puede ser corroborado en los resultados obtenidos en el presente estudio, en el cual las aves que recibieron Bacillus subtilis en la dieta, presentaron concentraciones más altas de calcio y fósforo en sangre en comparación con los otros tratamientos [30,31,32]. Sin embargo, un estudio realizado por Saksrithai, Willits, & King, 2019, en gallinas ponedoras, a las cuales se les suministró una mezcla de probióticos en el agua de bebida, encontraron que el uso de probióticos no tuvo un efecto significativo en la concentración de calcio y fósforo en sangre con respecto a aquellas aves que recibieron un APC en la dieta [33].…”