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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301760
Title: Pyrosequencing analysis of Salinomycin and Eimeria spp. challenge-induced changes in broiler cecal microbial communities

Author
item MARTYNOVA-VAN KLEY, ALEXANDRA - Stephen F Austin State University
item MANOHARAN, MUTHU - Stephen F Austin State University
item BRAY, JOEY - Stephen F Austin State University
item Hume, Michael
item DOWD, SCOTT - Research And Testing Laboratories, Llc
item NALIAN, ARMEN - Stephen F Austin State University

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/24/2013
Publication Date: 12/30/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61382
Citation: Martynova-Van Kley, A., Manoharan, M.S., Bray, J., Hume, M.E., Dowd, S.E., Nalian, A. 2013. Pyrosequencing analysis of salinomycin and Eimeria spp. challenge-induced changes in broiler cecal microbial communities. International Journal of Poultry Science. 12:689-697.

Interpretive Summary: The poultry coccidia parasite invades and damages the intestinal cell lining of broiler chickens, resulting in cell death and bacterial infections. The current work investigates, using a molecular technique called pyrosequencing, the effect of anticoccidial drugs and infection with coccidia on the broiler chicken intestine bacterial composition. The anticoccidia drug significantly decreased the number of different types of bacteria detected in the intestine. Infection with coccidia marginally increased the number of different types of bacteria found in the intestine. Broiler age, body weight, and intestinal lining damage resulting from coccidia infection had no significant effect on the intestinal bacterial composition. Results from this study indicate that the molecular technique used is effective in understanding the changes in intestinal bacterial composition in relation to anticoccidial treatment, coccidia infection, and broiler chicken growth. These results are of interest to poultry producers and researchers developing anticoccidial strategies in broiler chickens.

Technical Abstract: Eimeria spp. invade and damage the intestinal cell lining of broilers, resulting in cell necrosis and secondary bacterial infections. The current work investigates the effect of anticoccidial agents, salinomycin in combination with roxarsone, and Eimeria challenge on the composition of broiler cecal microflora. 320-day-old male Cobb broilers were among four treatment groups: NN (no salinomycin and no Eimeria challenge) and NC (no salinomycin plus Eimeria challenge) received basal diet with no salinomycin, while SN (salinomycin and no Eimeria challenge) and SC (salinomycin plus Eimeria challenge) received basal diet with salinomucin. Broilers in groups NC and SC were orally gavaged on d 28 with a mixed Eimeria spp. challenge. Body weight and Eimeria lesion scores were determined at d 35. Cecal bacterial DNA from broilers at d 28 and d 35 were subjected to 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA for sequence identification. Relative percent abundance and richness of the identified taxa were analyzed. Salinomycin had significant influence on the total number of taxa (P = 0.02) and on cecal microbial community structure (P = 0.002). The mixed Eimeria challenge marginally affected the total number of taxa (P = 0.06) and the composition of microbial communities (P = 0.09). Broiler age, body weight, and Eimeria lesion score had no significant effects on the cecal microbial communities. Results from this study indicate that pyrosequencing is effective in understanding the dynamics and functionality of cecal microbial communities in relation to anticoccidial treatment, Eimeria challenge, and broiler performances.