Influence of sanguinarine-based phytobiotic supplementation on post necrotic enteritis challenge recovery

Abstract

In the animal production industry, plant-derived antimicrobial phytobiotics are used as an alternative to antibiotics. Here we investigated the role sanguinarine-based phytobiotic in broiler recovery from Necrotic Enteritis (NE) infection. A total of 100 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to four treatments: negative control CTR (no challenge, no phytobiotic supplementation); positive control NE (NE challenged); phytobiotic SG (sanguinarine phytobiotic, 0.12 g/kg); and SG + NE, (sanguinarine phytobiotic, 0.12 g/kg and NE challenge). Sanguinarine-based phytobiotic supplementation caused significant changes between the groups in performance, livability and histological measurements, however, these changes were not significantly different between SG + NE and NE groups. Significant improvement was detected in NE lesion score of the duodenum and ileum of SG + NE birds compared to NE challenged birds at the end of the production cycle at 40 days old, indicating improved post-NE recovery with the addition of phytobiotic. Sanguinarine-based phytobiotic supplementation in NE challenged birds significantly compensated for a NE associated reduction of Firmicutes and an increase in Bacteroidetes. Functional profile of sanguinarine-based phytobiotic supplemented birds microbiota was distinct from CTR functional profile. NE challenge was associated with a significant increase in cecal propionic acid, while sanguinarine-based phytobiotic supplementation resulted in an increase in cecal acetic acid.

Keywords: Broiler; Food microbiology; Food safety; Infectious disease; Intestine; Microbiology; Necrotic enteritis; Nutrition; Phytobiotic; Sanguinarine.

Figure 1

Ileum photomicrograph of negative control CTR (10X magnification), Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain.

Figure 2

Microscopic and macroscopic presentations of NE in broilers small intestine (NE), (left): ileum photomicrograph of broilers under NE challenge presenting disorganized villi with fusion and flattening, infiltration of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells, crypt hyperplasia, and severe edema, (right) macroscopic examination of NE lesion in the jejunum region.

Figure 3

Ileum photomicrograph of broilers under NE challenge and phytobiotic supplementation (SG + NE). It is showing the separation of villus with broad and thickened villus tips in many villi and an increase in absorptive surfaces without exudate into the lumen (black arrows) with hyperplastic villus epithelium containing abundant goblet cells (blue arrows). Crypt hyperplasia is still present but with shorter and normal-sized Glands of Lieberkühn (red arrows). Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain.

Figure 4

Phylum level alterations in cecal microbiota were due to NE induced shift in Firmicutes and Bacteroides abundance.

Figure 5

Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) plot demonstrates group to group variations in microbiota community structure (A) and in microbiota functional (B) profiles.

Figure 6

PICRUSt analyzed functional capabilities differences between the treatments. Significance is given by ANOVA while Tukey test was showing significant differences only between CTR and NE and CTR and SG.

Figure 7

The biomarker discovery tool, LEfSe, plot showing functional categories that are enhanced within individual groups on PICRUSt inferred KEGG Orthologue functional categories.

Figure 8

Impact of NE challenge and sanguinarine based-phytobiotic administration on six SCFA concentrations in broiler chicken cecum. Error bars represent standard deviation (±SD). ^abcd Means in the bar with different superscripts differ significantly. NS: not significant.