Intestinal integrity and performance of broiler chickens fed a probiotic, a prebiotic, or an organic acid

Intestinal integrity and performance of broiler chickens fed a probiotic, a prebiotic, or an organic acid

Fernandes BCS^I; Martins MRFB^II; Mendes AA^I; Milbradt EL^III; Sanfelice C^I; Martins BB^I; Aguiar EF^I; Bresne C^I

^IDepartment of Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, Botucatu - Brazil

^IIDepartment of Anatomy, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University, Botucatu - Brazil

^IIIDepartment of Veterinary Clinical, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, Botucatu - Brazil

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at evaluating the intestinal integrity, using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the performance of broiler chickens fed additives alternative to antimicrobials. A total of 1080 male chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design, with six treatments with six replicates of 30 birds each. The following treatments were evaluated: basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with an antimicrobial, basal diet supplemented with a probiotic, basal diet supplemented with a prebiotic, basal diet with a symbiotic, and basal diet supplemented with organic acids. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and livability were recorded when broiler chickens were 10, 21, 35, and 42 days old. On day 42, 72 birds were individually weighed and sacrificed. In order to evaluate the morphometrics of the different intestinal wall layers, segments of the small intestine and the cecum were collected from two birds per replicate, and intestinal integrity (SEM) was evaluated in the same segments of two birds per treatment. During the starter period (1-21 days old), birds fed the alternative additives presented similar weight gain as those fed the antimicrobial product, but were not different from control birds. Feed conversion ratio of birds fed alternative additives was better than that of the control birds from one to 10 days of age, but not during the remaining rearing period, and was similar to the birds receiving the antimicrobial. The morphometric parameters of the different intestinal wall layers was not influenced by the treatments. During the total rearing period, the evaluated alternative additives did not improve intestinal integrity or broiler performance.

Keywords: Scanning electron microscopy, morphometrics, intestinal mucosa, intestinal wall

INTRODUCTION

The maintenance of the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is essential for good animal productivity. The GIT absorbs nutrients more efficiently and limits the adhesion and replication of pathogens on the intestinal wall when the GIT is balanced and intact. It prevents enteric diseases, and consequently improves animal performance and reduced the mortality and the contamination of animal products (Edens, 2003).

Antimicrobial additives are used to control agents that may damage intestinal integrity, thereby significantly improving animal performance. However, the European Union banned the use of all antimicrobial growth promoters in livestock production in 2006, claiming that their residues in animal products place human health at risk due to the possible induction of bacterial resistance. Since then, several natural alternatives to antimicrobials have been researched. These alternatives include probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, organic acids, etc.

According to Silva & Nörnberg (2003) and Santos & Turnes (2005), probiotics and prebiotics may provide beneficial modulation of the intestinal microbiota, enhance the immune response, protect intestinal integrity, and consequently, the performance of poultry.

The benefits of the use organic acids in animal feeding may be explained by several mechanisms, including pH reduction, bacteriostatic properties, and metabolic effects of the anionic portion of the acids after their dissociation (Bellaver & Scheuermann, 2004). These properties may potentially improve broiler intestinal integrity and performance.

There are many studies published in literature on the use of these alternative feed additives (Pelicano et al., 2007; Panda et al., 2009); however, performance and intestinal morphology results in broilers are still contradictory. Moreover, there are few studies in literature on the effect of these additives on intestinal ultrastructure. Therefore, the modes of action and the effects of these technologies need to be further studied.

The objective of this study were to evaluate the performance and the intestinal integrity, using light and scanning electron microscopy, of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, and organic acids.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Animals and experimental design

The experiment was carried out in the experimental poultry house of School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - São Paulo State University - Botucatu, Brazil (FMVZ-UNESP). In total, 1080 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chickens were housed at a density of 12 birds/m², according to a completely randomized experimental design including six treatments with six replicates of 30 birds each. The following treatments were applied: T1 - control: basal diet (no addition of antimicrobials or alternative additives), T2 - basal diet supplemented with an antimicrobial (enramycin), T3 - basal diet supplemented with a probiotic, T4 - basal diet supplemented with a prebiotic, T5 - basal diet with a symbiotic (T3 + T4), and T6 - and basal diet supplemented with organic acids.

Birds were reared according to the conventional production system used in commercial broiler farms. The experimental poultry house were equipped with bell drinkers and tube feeders. Brooding heating was provided by 250W electric infrared lamps. A 24h of light lighting program was applied during the entire rearing period. Reused wood-shavings litter from a commercial broiler flock was used to promote health challenge. Birds were vaccinated against coccidiosis via drinking water, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, on the second day of life. No anticoccidial product was added to the feed.

The feeding program included four phases: pre-starter (1-10 days of age), starter (11-21 days of age), grower (22-35 days of age), and finisher (36-42 days of age). Feed and water were supplied ad libitum during the entire rearing period.

The probiotic product contained 10⁷ CFU of anaerobic bacteria/g, 10⁵ CFU of lactose-fermenting enterobacteria/g, 10⁶ CFU of Enterococcus spp/g, and 10⁷ CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus/g, and was supplemented at 150 g/ton of pre-starter feed and at 100 g/ton of the remaining feeds. The prebiotic product consisted of a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) derived from the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and was added to the pre-starter diet at 1 kg/ton and at 500 g/ton of the remaining feeds. The symbiotic treatment consisted of the sum of the probiotic and prebiotic products used in the other treatments, which were added at the same levels described above. The organic acid product consisted of organic acids microencapsulated by vegetable fat, and included fumaric acid (64.1%), calcium propionate (10.3%), calcium formate (20.5%), and potassium sorbate (5.1%), and was added at 600 g/ton diet at all feeding phases. The antimicrobial product (positive control) was enramycin (Enradin® F80), registered at the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture as an antimicrobial growth promoter, and was added at 10 ppm (125 g/ton feed) during the pre-starter phase and at 5 ppm (63 g/ton de feed) during the starter, grower, and finisher phases. The basal diet was formulated according to the recommendations of Rostagno et al. (2005), as shown in Table 1. Treatments were established by the replacement of inert material (kaolin) by an equivalent amount of the studied products.

Intestinal morphometrics

At 42 days of age 72 birds (two per replicate of each treatment) were transported after six hours fasting in adequate crates to the experimental processing plant of FMVZ/UNESP, where they were individually weighed, electrically stunned, and sacrificed by cutting the jugular vein and carotid artery.

The gastrointestinal tract was removed, and the entire intestine and its segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum) were weighed in semi-analytical scales and measured with the aid of a measuring tape.

The intestinal mucosa was histologically analyzed at the anatomy laboratory of the Biosciences Institute of São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil. Approximately 2 cm of each intestinal segment were collected from two birds per replicate as follows: duodenum, from the pylorus to the distal portion of the duodenum loop; jejunum, from the distal portion of the duodenum loop to Meckel's diverticulum; ileum, from Meckel's diverticulum to cecum openings; and the right cecum.

Intestinal segments were opened through the mesenteric border and washed with distilled water, fixed in polypropylene plates, and immersed in buffered formalin solution at 10% for 24 h, followed after routine light microscopy.

Tissue cuts were stained by Masson's trichrome stain, according to the method recommended by Behmer et al. (2003). Then, morphometric analysis of the following intestinal layers was carried out: mucosa, submucosa, and internal circular and external longitudinal muscle layers, which were analyzed with the aid of a light microscope coupled to an image analysis and processing software (Leica Qwin 3.0). Ten measurements per layer were performed.

The integrity of the intestinal mucosa was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy at the electronic microscopy laboratory of the Biosciences Institute of São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil. Samples of different intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum) from two birds per treatment were collected, longitudinally opened, stretched, and briefly washed in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.3) to remove the intestinal content. Segments were fixed for 24 h at 4^oC in glutaraldehyde at 2.5% in phosphate buffer at 0.1 M (pH 7.3), followed after routine scanning electron microscopy. After processing, samples were photographed using a scanning electron microscope (Quanta 200, FEI) at 10-15 kV tension. Images were analyzed for intestinal mucosa integrity considering epithelial loss, mucus presence, and villi organization.

Performance parameters

In order to evaluate performance parameters (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and livability), feed intake was recorded and birds were weighed on the first and last day of each phase, that is, on days 1 and 10, 11 and 21, 22 and 35, and 36 and 42. Mortality was daily recorded to determine actual feed intake.

Feed intake was calculated as the difference between the weight of feed offered and the weight of feed residues at the end of each phase. Weight gain was calculated as the difference between final and initial weight in each phase. Feed conversion ratio was determined as the ratio between feed intake and weight gain at the end of each phase, corrected for the weight of dead birds during each phase.

Livability and production efficiency index (PEI) were also calculated. The equation used to calculate PEI was:

[(average daily weight gain in g x livability in %) /feed conversion ratio]/10.

Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Models procedure of the software program Statistical Analysis System (version 8.2). When significant, means were compared by the test of Tukey at 5% probability level or by the test of Duncan at 5% probability level.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the pre-starter period (1-10 days) and the period of 1-21 days, the chickens of the control group presented lower (p<0.05) weight gain (WG) than those of the group fed the antimicrobial product, suggesting that the reused litter effectively represented a health challenge. On the other hand, the WG of birds supplemented with the alternative additives (probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic, and organic acids) was not different from the antimicrobial group or from the control group, except for the symbiotic group, which presented higher WG compared with the control group during the pre-starter period (Table 2).

Similar results were obtained by Albino et al. (2006), who showed higher WG when broiler chickens were fed the antimicrobial avilamycin from one to 21 days of age relative to the control birds. However, the authors did not observed any WG differences when birds were fed graded concentrations of a prebiotic based on mannan oligosaccharides compared with those receiving or not avilamycin. On the other hand, opposite results were obtained by Godoi et al. (2008) and Viola et al. (2008), who observed WG differences among birds fed prebiotic/symbiotic and organic acids, respectively, relative to control birds during the period of one to 21 days.

There was no influence of the treatments on broiler weight gain during the periods of 1-35 or 1-42 days of age. Oliveira et al. (2009), Appelt et al. (2010), and Khosravi et al. (2010) in experiments using a probiotic, a prebiotic, and an organic acid, respectively, also did not show any WG differences during the period of 1-42 days. Godoi et al. (2008), Salazar et al. (2008), and Meurer et al. (2010) observed higher WG in broiler chickens fed prebiotic/symbiotic, organic acids, and probiotic, respectively, compared with controls, considering the period between one and 42 days of age.

Feed intake (FI) was influenced (p<0.05) by the treatments during the periods of 1-21 and 1-35 days of age. During the period of 1-21 days, broiler chickens fed alternative additives presented similar FI as to those in the antimicrobial group, but were not different from the controls, except for the prebiotic (MOS) group, which FI was higher than that of the control birds. Iji et al. (2001), studying the intestinal function and structure of MOS-supplemented broilers, reported that MOS promoted higher FI, whereas Albino et al. (2006) and Oliveira et al. (2008 b) did not find any effects of this additive on broiler FI. The broilers in the antimicrobial and prebiotic groups presented higher FI between one and 35 days compared with the symbiotic group, but none of the treatments was different from the control.

During the pre-starter phase (1-10 days), the FCR of broiler chickens fed alternative additives (except for the prebiotic-fed birds) was similar to the FCR of the antimicrobial group and better (p<0.05) than that of the control birds. These results are consistent with those of Paz et al. (2010) obtained during the same period (1-10 days), when evaluating the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on broiler performance. The applied treatments did not influence (p>0.05) FCR during the period of 1-21 days of age. Recently, Ramos et al. (2011) also did not find any influence of probiotic, prebiotic, or symbiotic additives on the FCR of 21-d-old broilers.

During the period of 1-35 days of age, the probiotic, prebiotic, and symbiotic treatments promoted similar FCR compared with the antimicrobial treatment, and they were not different from the control treatment. The diet with organic acid resulted in worse FCR (p<0.05) compared with the control treatment. On the other hand, Viola & Vieira (2007), and Chowdhury et al. (2009) reported better FCR in broilers fed organic acids relative to the control diet between one and 35 days of age.

During the total period experimental period (1-42 days), the treatments containing alternative additives, except for organic acid, promoted similar FCR compared with the antimicrobial treatment; however, none of the treatments was different from the control group. These results are different from those reported by Maiorka et al. (2001), who worked with a probiotic, a prebiotic, and a symbiotic, and by Khosravi et al. (2010), who worked with organic acids, and observed better feed conversion ratio in broilers fed alternative additives compared with the control birds during the entire experimental period. Livability, and production efficiency were not affected (p>0.05) by the treatments in the present study.

Although in the current experiment birds were exposed to a natural health challenge by means of reused litter from a commercial broiler flock, performance improved when growth promoter additives were added to the diet compared to the control group during the pre-starter and starter phases. However, considering the total rearing period, performance parameters did not improve.

There was no influence of the treatments on intestine length of 42-d-old broiler chickens (Table 3).

On the other hand, intestinal segment relative weights were significantly affected by the treatments (p<0.05). Jejunum, small intestine, and total intestine relative weights were statistically lower in the birds fed the antimicrobial agent compared with those fed the diets containing the probiotic and the prebiotic products (Table 4).

Antimicrobial treatments affect both pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms, reducing general bacterial population (Anderson et al., 1999). This mode of action on intestinal microbes may impair microbial fermentation and short-chain fatty acid production, which supply the energy required for enterocyte development (Lin & Visek, 1991). Therefore, according to Costa et al. (2007), reduced production of volatile fatty acids may result in lower cell replication in the intestinal epithelium of broiler chickens fed antimicrobials, with consequent reduction in relative intestinal weight. Different results were described by Boratto et al. (2004), who did not find any influence of probiotics, homeopathic products, or antibiotics on total intestinal relative weight of 42-d-old broiler chickens infected or not with Escherichia coli.

No influence of the applied treatments was observed on the morphometrics of different layers of the gut wall (mucosa, submucosa, internal circular and external longitudinal muscle layers) in none of the analyzed small intestine segments (Table 5). However, Pelicano et al. (2003), Pelicano et al. (2007), Oliveira et al. (2009), and Panda et al. (2009) observed positive effects of additives alternative to antimicrobial growth enhancers on the small intestine mucosa morphometrics, considering villi height and crypt depth of 42-d-old broilers.

Considering the morphometrics of the cecum layers, broilers fed the diet with prebiotic (MOS) presented thicker (p<0.05) external longitudinal muscle layer compared with the control group (Table 6 and Figure 1). Oliveira et al. (2008a), in a study on the effects of MOS and an enzyme complex on the morphometrics of the small intestine of broiler chickens, also observed thickening of the external longitudinal muscle layer. Those authors suggest that the higher short-chain fatty acid fermentation and production promoted by MOS addition to the diet may stimulate the activity of muscle layer, which is responsible for intestinal peristalsis.

Intestinal mucosa integrity, considering especifically epithelial loss, mucus presence, and villi organization of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum, was not influenced by the treatments. When the segment of the large intestine (cecum) was evaluated under light and scanning electron microscopy, no villi were detected; only crypts were present in the collected portion (intermediate portion of the right cecum). In addition to the crypts, this portion also presented circular folds, which form Kerckring valves that are projections of the mucosa and part of the submucosa (Figures 2 and 3). According to Boleli et al. (2002), cecal villus size is reduced from the base to the most distal point, the tip. Therefore, most of the cecal mucosa consists of long, simple, non-branched tubular glands called Lieberkühn glands or crypts.

CONCLUSIONS

The probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic and organic acid additives evaluated improved broiler performance during the beginning of the rearing period. However, during the total rearing period and under the conditions of the present experiment, the tested additives did not influence broiler performance or intestinal integrity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for funding this study and the scholarship.

Submitted: May/2013

Approved: February/2014

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  06 Jan 2015
• Date of issue
  Dec 2014

History

• Received
  May 2013
• Accepted
  Feb 2014