The probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 enhances early gastrointestinal maturation in young turkey poults

Authors: Moyle, Jonathan; DEL LOS SANTOS, SOLIS - Dominican Institute For Agricultural And Forestry Research; Huff, Geraldine; Huff, William; Rath, Narayan; FARNELL, MORGAN - Texas A&M University; FANATICO, ANNE - Appalachian State University; RICKE, S - University Of Arkansas; ENDERS, C - Ardeypharm Gmbh; SONNENBORN, U - Ardeypharm Gmbh; DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas; Donoghue, Ann - Annie

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2012
Publication Date: 10/10/2012
Citation: Moyle, J.R., Del Los Santos, S., Huff, G.R., Huff, W.E., Rath, N.C., Farnell, M., Fanatico, A., Ricke, S.C., Enders, C., Sonnenborn, U., Donoghue, D.J., Donoghue, A.M. 2012. The probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 enhances early gastrointestinal maturation in young turkey poults. International Journal of Poultry Science. 11(7):445-452.

Interpretive Summary: Concerns over the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has led to interest in finding alternative growth promoters such as natural compounds and probiotics. Supplementing feed with probiotics has shown to enhance the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development of chickens and turkeys. The human probiotic, E. coli Nissle 1917 (EC Nissle) has been shown to stimulate innate immunity in mammals and to increase body weight in poultry. However, the effect of this probiotic on GIT development has not been studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of EC Nissle in the maturation of the GIT of young turkey poults. For GIT morphometric analysis, birds were euthanized on days 4, 7 or 21 and samples collected to evaluate villus height, villus surface area, lamina propria thickness, crypt depth and the number of neutral goblet cells. GIT morphometric analysis was conducted on duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum on days 4 and 7 and the duodenum on day 21. Villus height and villus surface area in all sections of the gastrointestinal tract on all sampling days was higher in the EC Nissle treatments compared to control. Lamina propria thickness and crypt depth were also increased in the EC Nissle treatment in all sections of the GIT except on day 4 in the jejunum. These data suggest that this probiotic enhanced the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract in young turkey poults, and may have potential as an alternative to growth promoting antibiotics.

Technical Abstract: Concerns over the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has led to interest in finding alternative growth promoters such as natural compounds and probiotics. Supplementing feed with probiotics has shown to enhance the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development of chickens and turkeys. The human probiotic, E. coli Nissle 1917 (EC Nissle) has been shown to stimulate innate immunity in mammals and to increase body weight in poultry. However, the effect of this probiotic on GIT development has not been studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of EC Nissle in the maturation of the GIT of young turkey poults. For GIT morphometric analysis, birds were euthanized on days 4, 7 or 21 and samples collected to evaluate villus height, villus surface area, lamina propria thickness, crypt depth and the number of neutral goblet cells. GIT morphometric analysis was conducted on duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum on days 4 and 7 and the duodenum on day 21. Villus height and villus surface area in all sections of the gastrointestinal tract on all sampling days was higher in the EC Nissle treatments compared to control. Lamina propria thickness and crypt depth were also increased in the EC Nissle treatment in all sections of the GIT except on day 4 in the jejunum. These data suggest that this probiotic enhanced the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract in young turkey poults, and may have potential as an alternative to growth promoting antibiotics.