Metagenomics analysis of the morphological aspects and bacterial composition of broiler feces.

In this descriptive study, we used metagenomics to analyze the relationship between the morphological aspects of chicken feces and its respective bacterial compositions. The microbiota composition was determined by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes collected from fresh broiler feces at 19 d old. In total, 48 samples were collected and divided into 8 groups of 6 samples each. The morphological changes studied were feed passage (FP) and reddish mucus (RM). Each was classified into 3 levels of intensity: 1 (slight), 2 (moderate), or 3 (intense). Thus, the 8 groups studied were feed passage (FP-1; FP-2; FP-3), reddish mucus (RM-1; RM-2; RM-3), normal ileal feces (NIF), and cecal discharge (CD). The alpha diversity (Shannon's index) revealed that the CD group showed greater diversity, and was significantly different from FP-2, FP-3, and RM-1. The beta diversity showed that the CD group samples were more homogeneous than the ileal feces groups. The relative abundance analysis revealed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in the ileal feces groups. In CD, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant. The relative abundance at the genus level revealed 136 different bacterial genera. In the ileal feces groups, the two most abundant genera were Lactobacillus and Escherichia/Shigella, except in the FP-1 and RM-2 groups, which had the opposite order. Unlike the others, the CD group had a higher abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. When comparing the NIF group with the others, significant changes were found in the fecal microbiota, with nine genera for the FP groups, 19 for the RM groups, and 61 when compared to CD. The results of the present study suggest that evaluation of fecal morphology is a fundamental task that makes it possible to act quickly and assertively, as the morphological aspects of the feces may be related to the composition and structure of fecal microbiota.

New compound probiotic beverage protects against antibiotic-associated diarrhea in mice by modulating the microbiota.

Probiotics and their products are the classic way to treat and prevent gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, the authors designed new combinations and doses of probiotic beverages for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Group S1 was different from the other groups, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis BI-07. Its inulin content was higher than those of the other groups. Mice were induced with a 16-day administration of triple antibiotics in advance for 2 weeks prior to antibiotic treatment. In the experiment, the treatment group returned to normal more quickly than the placebo group. In group S1, the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillus increased, and the structure of the microbiota was the closest to normal among all groups. In conclusion, the combinations of probiotic beverages effectively caused structural recovery of the gut and fecal microbiota against antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and the S1 formula showed the best efficacy.