Effects of Sorbic Acid Feed Fungistat on the Intestinal Microflora of Floor-Reared Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The intestinal microflora of a group of broilers fed a diet containing .04% sorbic acid from Days 1 through 49 of their lives was compared with broilers given a diet without the fungistat. Four broilers from each group were killed at 7, 21, 35, and 49 days, and intestinal sections of the duodenum, the lower small intestine, and both ceca were removed aseptically. Samples of the contents of the intestinal sections were analyzed microbiologically. Groups of microorganisms analyzed included total aerobes, total anaerobes, coliforms, streptococci, lactobacilli, clostridia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, yeasts, and molds. Generally, there was a large variation in viable counts of microorganisms for birds of the same treatment. Of the nine groups of microorganisms analyzed the highest counts obtained (greater than 10(6)/g) were for total aerobes, total anaerobes, lactobacilli, and Bifidobacterium. Coliforms, streptococci, and clostridia showed intermediate counts (greater than 10(3)/g), while yeasts and molds and Bacteroides showed the lowest counts (greater than 10(2)/g). Total microbial numbers, in most cases and irrespective of sorbic acid treatment, were highest in the ceca, lower in the small intestine, and still lower in the duodenum. There were no major trends of microbial population changes observed in a given treatment, intestinal location, or group of organisms with age and time on feed. Inclusion of sorbic acid in the feed did not influence total aerobes, total anaerobes, lactobacilli, streptococci, Bifidobacterium, and clostridia. However, broilers on sorbic acid-containing feed had, at 49 days of age, lower coliform counts in the duodenum, lower yeast and mold counts in the ceca, and higher Bacteroides counts in the ceca.

Lipid microencapsulation allows slow release of organic acids and natural identical flavors along the swine intestine1,2

“…The antimicrobial role of OA is attributable to the capacity of their undissociated form to freely diffuse across the semipermeable cell membrane of the microorganism into the cytoplasm (Partanen and Mroz, 1999) where pH is near 7 and weak acids dissociate and depress the cellular enzymatic activity and nutrient transport system (Lueck, 1980). Sofos et al (1985) reported a reduction of coliforms count only in the duodenum of broilers fed diets supplemented with sorbic acid (0.04%). In our study similar results were observed in jejunum and cecum of PB-fed pigs, where the greater concentration of sorbic acid in PB than NPB could explain the lower plate counts of coliforms.…”

Effect of Kefir upon the Performance, Intestinal Microflora and Histopathology of Certain Organs in Laying Hens

“…The medium (of 6 ml) roll-tube used for both culturing and counting the total anaerobes was FM 98-5 [23] . The plate media used were: MRS agar for Lactobacilli (Oxoid, England), Bifidobacteria agar for Bifidobacteri [24] , Brain Heart Infusion agar (BHIA) for total aerobic bacterial count, MacConkay agar (BBL) for Coliforms, and KF Streptococcus agar (DIFCO, USA) for Streptococci. All the inoculated rolltubes and plates were incubated at 39°C.…”

Effect of common food preservatives on mycelial growth and spore germination ofFusarium oxysporum

“…The most common mycotoxins are aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes and zearalenone, which could be found in a wide spectrum of food, such as dry feed, cereals, cheese, coffee, corn, fruits, vegetables etc. The problem can be partially confronted with the use of fungal growth inhibitors, such as acetic acid, propionic acid, sorbic acid and its salts (Holley, 1981;Bartov, 1983;Sofos et al, 1985;Mahjoub and Bullerman, 1986;Skrinjar et al, 1995), as well as with the use of carbamates, organophosphorus and organochlorine insecticides (Britt et al, 1974;Windstrom et al, 1976;Draughon et al, 1983).…”