ARS | Publication request: DENATURING GRADIENT GEL ELECTROPHORESIS (DGGE) AS A RAPID METHOD FOR ASSESSING GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT MICROFLORA RESPONSES IN LAYING HENS FED SIMILAR ZINC MOLT INDUCTION DIETS

Submitted to: Journal of Rapid Methods and Automation in Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2004
Publication Date: June 20, 2004
Citation: Ricke, S.C., Hume, M.E., Park, S.Y., Moore, R.W., Birkhold, S.G., Kubena, L.F., Nisbet, D.J. 2004. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) as a rapid method for assessing gastrointestinal tract microflora responses in laying hens fed similar zinc molt induction diets. Journal of Rapid Methods and Automation in Microbiology. 12:69-81.

Interpretive Summary: Induced molting in egg-laying hens through withdrawal of feed can change bacterial populations in different compartments of the digestive tract. Changes in bacterial populations are sufficient enough to allow these compartments to be the main sites of Salmonella colonization in the chicken intestine and increases transfer of Salmonella among chickens in a flock. This study uses a genetic typing method called denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to compare populations of bacteria in two compartments of the digestive tract among hens that were fed different chemicals to induce molting. In both the upper and lower parts of the digestive tract, comparisons of DGGE patterns indicated that the bacterial populations in hens fed zinc acetate were highly similar to those of hens fed zinc propionate. Rapid comparison of complex gastrointestinal bacterial populations in egg-laying hens fed similar diets is possible using DGGE.

Technical Abstract: Induced molting through feed withdrawal can change the microenvironment of crop and ceca sufficiently to allow them to be the main sites of Salmonella colonization in the chicken intestine and increases horizontal transfer in flocks. This study compares the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of microbial crop and cecal communities among molted hens fed either zinc acetate or zinc propionate amended molt diets to hens either undergoing feed withdrawal or hens full fed and not molted. Dendrograms of DGGE amplicon patterns indicated over 85% similarity of cecal communities between zinc acetate fed hens and zinc propionate fed hens and over 60% similarity of crop communities between zinc acetate fed hens and zinc propionate fed hens. Rapid comparison of complex gastrointestinal microflora profiles in laying hens fed similar diets is possible using DGGE.