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Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development of cecal-predominant microbiota in broilers during a complete rearing using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

J. E. Blajman A , M. V. Zbrun A B , M. L. Signorini B C , J. A. Zimmermann A , E. Rossler A , A. P. Berisvil A , A. Romero Scharpen A , D. M. Astesana A , L. P. Soto A B and L. S. Frizzo A B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Laboratory of Food Analysis, Institute of Veterinary Science of the Litoral (ICiVet-Litoral), National University of the Litoral (UNL)/National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Kreder 2805 (S3080HOF), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.

B Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of the Litoral (UNL), Kreder 2805 (S3080HOF), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.

C National Institute of Agricultural Technology EEA Rafaela, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Ruta 34 Km 227 (2300), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.

D Corresponding author. Email: lfrizzo@fcv.unl.edu.ar

Animal Production Science 57(3) 458-465 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15475
Submitted: 24 August 2015  Accepted: 25 November 2015   Published: 22 March 2016

Abstract

Understanding of the intestinal microbiota is crucial to enhance intestinal health and performance parameters in animals. A more exhaustive research of the intestinal microbiota of broilers could be of interest to implement appropriate intervention measures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the development of the predominant cecal microbiota in broilers that were fed a Lactobacillus salivarius DSPV 001P strain during a complete rearing using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Bacterial DNA from cecal samples of 24 broilers at different ages were amplified by PCR and analysed by DGGE. A total of 35 DGGE products were excised and sequenced. Distinctive differences in bacterial communities were observed in the caecum as broilers age. At early stages, identified bacteria within the caecum of broilers were predominantly Clostridium-related species. Also, some sequences had the closest match to the genus Escherichia/Shigella. Furthermore, the caecum was a reservoir rich in uncultured bacteria. The major difference observed in our study was an increase of potentially beneficial Lactobacillus at Day 45. These results may be attributed to modulation of the microbiota by the probiotic supplementation. The obtained data could be relevant for future studies related to the influence of the microbiota resulting from probiotic supplementation on the performance and the immunological parameters of broilers.

Additional keywords: bacterial communities, intestinal health, Lactobacillus salivarius, probiotic.


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