Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles

This study aimed to investigate the consequences of early-life microbiota transplantation using different caecal content sources in broiler chicks. We hypothesized that chicks receiving at-hatch microbiota from organic hens would harbour a distinct microbiota from chicks receiving industry-raised br...

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Main Authors: Laura Franco, Martine Boulianne, Eric Parent, Neda Barjesteh, Marcio C. Costa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/16/2633
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author Laura Franco
Martine Boulianne
Eric Parent
Neda Barjesteh
Marcio C. Costa
author_facet Laura Franco
Martine Boulianne
Eric Parent
Neda Barjesteh
Marcio C. Costa
author_sort Laura Franco
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the consequences of early-life microbiota transplantation using different caecal content sources in broiler chicks. We hypothesized that chicks receiving at-hatch microbiota from organic hens would harbour a distinct microbiota from chicks receiving industry-raised broiler microbiota after six weeks of age. Three hundred Cobb broilers eggs were randomly assigned to one of four groups according to the caecal content received: organic laying hens (Organic); autoclaved caecal content of organic laying hens (Autoclaved); conventionally grown broilers (Conventional); and sterile saline (Control). caecal microbiota transplantation was given by gavage on day 1. Ten birds/group were euthanized on days 2, 7, 14, 28, and 42. The caecal tonsils and contents were collected for cytokines and microbiota analyses. The microbiota from chicks receiving live inocula resembled the donors’ microbiota from day seven until day 42. The microbiota composition from the chickens who received the Organic inoculum remained markedly different. Starting on day 7, the Organic group had higher richness. Simpson and Shannon’s indices were higher in the Conventional group on days 2 and 7. Chickens in the Conventional group presented higher production of IL-1β and IL-6 in plasma on days 2 and 28, increased IL-6 expression in the caecal tonsils at days 7 and 42, and increased IL-12 expression on day 7. However, the Conventional group was infected with <i>Eimeria</i> spp., which likely caused inflammation. In conclusion, microbiota transplantation using different microbiota profiles persistently colonized newly hatched broiler chicks. Future studies evaluating the importance of microbiota composition during infections with common enteropathogens are necessary. This study also highlights the need for a strict screening protocol for pathogens in the donors’ intestinal content.
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spelling doaj.art-6fa3f96ed6584902a3b9b8e3a4213de92023-11-18T23:57:57ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-08-011316263310.3390/ani13162633Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota ProfilesLaura Franco0Martine Boulianne1Eric Parent2Neda Barjesteh3Marcio C. Costa4Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaThis study aimed to investigate the consequences of early-life microbiota transplantation using different caecal content sources in broiler chicks. We hypothesized that chicks receiving at-hatch microbiota from organic hens would harbour a distinct microbiota from chicks receiving industry-raised broiler microbiota after six weeks of age. Three hundred Cobb broilers eggs were randomly assigned to one of four groups according to the caecal content received: organic laying hens (Organic); autoclaved caecal content of organic laying hens (Autoclaved); conventionally grown broilers (Conventional); and sterile saline (Control). caecal microbiota transplantation was given by gavage on day 1. Ten birds/group were euthanized on days 2, 7, 14, 28, and 42. The caecal tonsils and contents were collected for cytokines and microbiota analyses. The microbiota from chicks receiving live inocula resembled the donors’ microbiota from day seven until day 42. The microbiota composition from the chickens who received the Organic inoculum remained markedly different. Starting on day 7, the Organic group had higher richness. Simpson and Shannon’s indices were higher in the Conventional group on days 2 and 7. Chickens in the Conventional group presented higher production of IL-1β and IL-6 in plasma on days 2 and 28, increased IL-6 expression in the caecal tonsils at days 7 and 42, and increased IL-12 expression on day 7. However, the Conventional group was infected with <i>Eimeria</i> spp., which likely caused inflammation. In conclusion, microbiota transplantation using different microbiota profiles persistently colonized newly hatched broiler chicks. Future studies evaluating the importance of microbiota composition during infections with common enteropathogens are necessary. This study also highlights the need for a strict screening protocol for pathogens in the donors’ intestinal content.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/16/2633microbiota transplantFMTmicrobiomechickenpoultry
spellingShingle Laura Franco
Martine Boulianne
Eric Parent
Neda Barjesteh
Marcio C. Costa
Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
Animals
microbiota transplant
FMT
microbiome
chicken
poultry
title Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
title_full Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
title_fullStr Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
title_full_unstemmed Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
title_short Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Chicks with Different Bacterial Microbiota Profiles
title_sort colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of chicks with different bacterial microbiota profiles
topic microbiota transplant
FMT
microbiome
chicken
poultry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/16/2633
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AT martineboulianne colonizationofthegastrointestinaltractofchickswithdifferentbacterialmicrobiotaprofiles
AT ericparent colonizationofthegastrointestinaltractofchickswithdifferentbacterialmicrobiotaprofiles
AT nedabarjesteh colonizationofthegastrointestinaltractofchickswithdifferentbacterialmicrobiotaprofiles
AT marcioccosta colonizationofthegastrointestinaltractofchickswithdifferentbacterialmicrobiotaprofiles