{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Improving broiler health through cecal microbiota transplantation: a comprehensive study on growth, immunity, and microbial diversity.
{Author}: Khalid A;Huang Z;Khan IM;Khalid F;Nassar N;Jiang X;Cheng M;Zhan K;Wang Z;
{Journal}: J Anim Sci
{Volume}: 102
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jan 3
{Factor}: 3.338
{DOI}: 10.1093/jas/skae131
{Abstract}: Cecal microbiota has emerged as a prominent intervention target for improving the production and welfare of poultry. This is essential for the overall health and performance of broiler chickens. The current study focused on investigating the effect of cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) from healthy donor chickens on the growth performance, immunity, and microbial composition of newly hatched chicks and evaluated the effect of sample storage on the microbial diversity of the cecal samples. A healthy "Wannan Yellow Chicken line" was selected as the donor, and 180 1-d-old chicks from the same line were used as recipients for a 60-d feed trial. The chicks were randomly allocated to three groups (60 birds per group) with three replicates in each group. The three treatment groups were CMT-0 (control, normal saline solution), CMT-I (1:12 cecal content, normal saline supplemented with 10% glycerol), and CMT-II (1:6 cecal content, normal saline supplemented with 10% glycerol). The results of weight gain and absolute organ weight showed significant improvements in the CMT-II group compared with the CMT-0 group. Serum IgG level was significantly improved (P < 0.05) in CMT-I compared with that in the CMT-0. However, IL-6 levels increased in CMT-I and then significantly decreased in CMT-II. The cecal microbial diversity of CMT treatment was compared between two groups, fresh samples (FS) and stored samples at-80 °C (SS). The results showed that beneficial taxa, such as Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota, were substantially more abundant in both CMT-I and CMT-II than in CMT-0 in both FS and SS. Microbial function analysis at levels 1, 2, and 3 showed improved metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, environmental information processing, and organismal systems in CMT-I and CMT-II for both FS and SS groups. However, the SS group showed decreased microbial diversity and function. To conclude, cecal microbiota transplantation is a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity and health of broiler chickens.<BR>The cecal microbiota refers to a diverse community of microorganisms that play a crucial role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall gut health, influencing the well-being and performance of the host bird. In this study, we aimed to improve the health and growth of broiler chickens by exploring a unique approach called cecal microbiota transplantation. A thorough investigation was conducted by transplanting the microbiota from healthy Wannan Yellow Chicken line donors into newly hatched chicks in a 60-d feeding trial. After dividing the chicks into three groups, each receiving different treatments, we found significant enhancements in WG and organ health in the groups that received cecal microbiota transplants. The results also showed improvements in Serum IgG levels in the treatment groups. Furthermore, the analysis of microbial diversity indicated that beneficial microorganisms were more abundant in the treated groups, suggesting a positive effect on chicken digestive health. To summarize, our findings suggest that transferring healthy gut microorganisms from mature parent chickens to young chicks can lead to improved growth, immune system function, microbial diversity, and overall health. This approach is a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity and well-being of broiler chickens.