Improvement of Cecal Commensal Microbiome Following the Insect Additive into Chicken Diet

Abstract

Gastrointestinal microbiota play an important role in regulating the metabolic processes of animals and humans. A properly balanced cecal microbiota modulates growth parameters and the risk of infections. The study examined the effect of the addition of 0.2% and 0.3% of Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio on cecal microbiome of broilers. The material was the cecum digesta. The obtained DNA was analyzed using 16S rRNA next generation sequencing. The results of the study show that the addition of a relatively small amount of Z. morio and T. molitor modulates the broiler cecum microbiome composition. The most positive effect on cecal microbiota was recorded in the 0.2% Z. morio diet. A significant increase in the relative amount of genus Lactobacillus, represented by the species Lactobacillus agilis and the amount of bacteria in the Clostridia class, was observed. Moreover, the addition of 0.2% ZM resulted in a significant increase of relative abundance of the family Bifidobacteriaceae with the highest relative abundance of genus Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. The obtained results indicate that the addition of a relatively small amount of insect meal in broiler diet stimulates colonization by probiotic and commensal bacteria, which may act as barriers against infection by pathogenic bacteria.

Combination of Bacillus licheniformis and Salinomycin: Effect on the Growth Performance and GIT Microbial Populations of Broiler Chickens

“…Moreover, the lack of any B. licheniformis influence is consistent with the results of Ren et al [57] and Ma et al [58], who used Lactobacillus agilis, L. salivarius, and B. subtilis DSM 3231. The main microbiota populations, i.e., Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, and Bacteroidetes, were similar to those reported by Józefiak et al [59] and Pereira et al [47]. The favorable relation between Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes was noticed in the current study, which could be linked with the improvement of the birds' growth performance [60].…”

Yellow Mealworm Inclusion in Diets for Heavy-Size Broiler Chickens: Implications for Intestinal Microbiota and Mucin Dynamics

“…As already reported by previous studies characterizing the cecal microbiota of light-size broilers fed diets containing TM meal [ 15 , 30 ], no differences were found in regards to α-diversity measures between the C- and the TM-fed birds of the present study. On the contrary, birds fed 15% level of HI meal inclusion recently displayed a lower Shannon index when compared to the C, 5% and 10% diets [ 16 ].…”

“…Therefore, the decrease of Clostridium , Coprococcus , L- Ruminococcus and Ruminococcus above discussed suggests that TM meal utilization may negatively modulate the cecal microbiota of heavy-size broiler chickens. Previous studies characterizing the cecal microbiota of TM-fed light-size broilers revealed, however, overall positive insect-related effects in terms of increased abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (such as Alistipes , Sutterella , and Clostridium [ 15 ], and Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus [ 30 ]). This contrasting outcome may be related to the different bird’s age (35 [ 30 ] and 40 [ 15 ] days vs. 53), as a partial confirmation of the wide influence of host-related factors on the poultry gut microbiota [ 17 ].…”

“…Previous studies characterizing the cecal microbiota of TM-fed light-size broilers revealed, however, overall positive insect-related effects in terms of increased abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (such as Alistipes , Sutterella , and Clostridium [ 15 ], and Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus [ 30 ]). This contrasting outcome may be related to the different bird’s age (35 [ 30 ] and 40 [ 15 ] days vs. 53), as a partial confirmation of the wide influence of host-related factors on the poultry gut microbiota [ 17 ]. Biasato et al [ 16 ] also reported inclusion level-dependent differences in cecal microbiota modulation by dietary HI meal inclusion, identifying potentially beneficial bacteria (such as L- Ruminococcus , Faecalibacterium , Blautia , Clostridium , Ruminococcus , Lactobacillus , Bacteroides and Roseburia ) in all the HI-fed broiler chickens, but mucolytic, pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Helicobacter ) in birds fed the 15% rate only.…”

Animal-Origin Prebiotics Based on Chitin: An Alternative for the Future? A Critical Review

“…Diptera metabolites [68] showed beneficial effects regarding the management of E. coli-induced diarrhea in mice by modulating the immune system, antioxidants and GM composition. The intestinal microbiota imbalance was reversed, as shown by the increase in Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and Clostridium levels caused by E. coli-induced diarrhea.…”