An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest
<i>Campylobacter</i> is the most common foodborne pathogen in developed countries and most cases are associated with poultry. This study investigated the effect of three anti-<i>Campylobacter</i> water additives on broiler growth and on the caecal microbiota at harvest using...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/932 |
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| author | Genevieve Greene Leonard Koolman Paul Whyte Catherine M. Burgess Helen Lynch Aidan Coffey Brigid Lucey Lisa O’Connor Declan Bolton |
| author_facet | Genevieve Greene Leonard Koolman Paul Whyte Catherine M. Burgess Helen Lynch Aidan Coffey Brigid Lucey Lisa O’Connor Declan Bolton |
| author_sort | Genevieve Greene |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Campylobacter</i> is the most common foodborne pathogen in developed countries and most cases are associated with poultry. This study investigated the effect of three anti-<i>Campylobacter</i> water additives on broiler growth and on the caecal microbiota at harvest using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Mixtures of organic acids (OA) and essential oils (EO) were administered to broilers for the entirety of the production cycle (35 d) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) for 5 d immediately before harvest, under commercial conditions. Bird weight gain was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) reduced in broilers receiving the OA and EO treatments. While this was most likely due to reduced water intake and corresponding lower feed consumption, changes to the caecal microbiota may also have contributed. Firmicutes made up over 75% of the bacteria regardless of sample type, while the minor phyla included Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Melainabacteria, and Proteobacteria. There were no significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05) differences in the alpha diversity as measured using ACE, Chao1, and Shannon indices, except for control (water) versus MCFA and OA versus MCFA, using the Wilcox test. In contrast, there was a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) difference in beta diversity when the treated were compared to the untreated control and main flock samples, while linear discriminant analysis effect size (LeFSe) identified three OTUs that were present in the control but absent in the treated birds. It was concluded that the water additives tested adversely affected broiler performance, which may, at least in part, be due to changes in the caecal microbiota, assuming that the altered microbiota at day 35 is indicative of a change throughout the production cycle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:50:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06535c40961745dfa41e857ef1d94a2a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:50:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-06535c40961745dfa41e857ef1d94a2a2023-12-02T00:08:23ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-08-0111893210.3390/pathogens11080932An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at HarvestGenevieve Greene0Leonard Koolman1Paul Whyte2Catherine M. Burgess3Helen Lynch4Aidan Coffey5Brigid Lucey6Lisa O’Connor7Declan Bolton8Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05 Dublin, IrelandTeagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandTeagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, T12 P928 Cork, IrelandDepartment of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, T12 P928 Cork, IrelandFood Safety Authority of Ireland, George’s Dock, Dublin 1, D01 P2V6 Dublin, IrelandTeagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05 Dublin, Ireland<i>Campylobacter</i> is the most common foodborne pathogen in developed countries and most cases are associated with poultry. This study investigated the effect of three anti-<i>Campylobacter</i> water additives on broiler growth and on the caecal microbiota at harvest using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Mixtures of organic acids (OA) and essential oils (EO) were administered to broilers for the entirety of the production cycle (35 d) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) for 5 d immediately before harvest, under commercial conditions. Bird weight gain was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) reduced in broilers receiving the OA and EO treatments. While this was most likely due to reduced water intake and corresponding lower feed consumption, changes to the caecal microbiota may also have contributed. Firmicutes made up over 75% of the bacteria regardless of sample type, while the minor phyla included Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Melainabacteria, and Proteobacteria. There were no significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05) differences in the alpha diversity as measured using ACE, Chao1, and Shannon indices, except for control (water) versus MCFA and OA versus MCFA, using the Wilcox test. In contrast, there was a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) difference in beta diversity when the treated were compared to the untreated control and main flock samples, while linear discriminant analysis effect size (LeFSe) identified three OTUs that were present in the control but absent in the treated birds. It was concluded that the water additives tested adversely affected broiler performance, which may, at least in part, be due to changes in the caecal microbiota, assuming that the altered microbiota at day 35 is indicative of a change throughout the production cycle.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/932broilerwater additivesorganic acidsessential oilsmedium-chain fatty acidsbroiler performance |
| spellingShingle | Genevieve Greene Leonard Koolman Paul Whyte Catherine M. Burgess Helen Lynch Aidan Coffey Brigid Lucey Lisa O’Connor Declan Bolton An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest Pathogens broiler water additives organic acids essential oils medium-chain fatty acids broiler performance |
| title | An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest |
| title_full | An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest |
| title_fullStr | An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest |
| title_short | An Investigation of the Effect of Water Additives on Broiler Growth and the Caecal Microbiota at Harvest |
| title_sort | investigation of the effect of water additives on broiler growth and the caecal microbiota at harvest |
| topic | broiler water additives organic acids essential oils medium-chain fatty acids broiler performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/932 |
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