Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus Strains Supplementation on Immune Response and Intestinal Morphology in Broiler Chickens under Heat-Stressed Conditions
Article Sidebar
PDF downloads: 0
Crossref Citations: 0
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: Global warming increases environmental temperature, threatening poultry production worldwide. The present study aimed to explore the effects of yeast and Lactobacillus strains on gut health and immune parameters in broiler chickens under heat-stressed condition.
Methods and materials: A total of 192 day-old Arbor Acre broiler chickens with average weight of 45 gr of both sexes were randomly divided into four treatment groups. Each group had three replicates of sixteen chickens in a completely randomized design, and intestinal morphology, microbial balance, immune response, and Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) were evaluated. Balanced basal diet were formulated and supplemented with no probiotic (control), Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae at 1g/kg (Sacc), Lactobacillus strains (1010 cfu/g) at 0.25 g/kg (Lac), and a combination of Lactobacillus and S. cerevisiae (Lac-Sacc) at 0.25g and 1g per kg, respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum in a deep litter system for 42 days.
Results: The THI data from the poultry house indicated that chickens were under severe heat stress during the experimental period. The results revealed that S. cerevisiae, Lactobacillus strains, and their combination significantly downregulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression and improved lymphocyte counts, with S. cerevisiae additionally upregulating IgM expression compared to control. Moreover, Lactobacillus supplementation positively affected villi height and crypt depth and lowered coliform bacteria compared to the control.
Conclusion: The inclusion of S. cerevisiae and Lactobacillus significantly enhanced gut health in broiler chickens under heat-stressed condition, with Lactobacillus being more effective at alleviating heat stress.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Kogut M, Yin X, Yuan J, and Broom L. Gut health in poultry. CAB Rev. 2017; 12(31): 1-7. DOI: 10.1079/PAVSNNR201712031
Quinteiro-Filho WM, Calefi AS, Cruz DS, Aloia TP, Zager A, Astolfi-Ferreira CS, et al. Heat stress decreases expression of the cytokines, avian β-defensins 4 and 6 and Toll-like receptor 2 in broiler chickens infected with Salmonella Enteritidis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2017; 186: 19-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.02.006
Quinteiro-Filho WM, Ribeiro A, Ferraz-de-Paula V, Pinheiro ML, Sakai M, Sá LR, et al. Heat stress impairs performance parameters, induces intestinal injury, and decreases macrophage activity in broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2010; 89(9): 1905-1914. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2010-00812
Song J, Xiao K, Ke YL, Jiao LF, Hu CH, Diao QY, et al. Effect of a probiotic mixture on intestinal microflora, morphology, and barrier integrity of broilers subjected to heat stress. Poult Sci. 2014; 93(3): 581-558. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2013-03455
Wu QJ, Liu N, Wu XH, Wang GY, and Lin L. Glutamine alleviates heat stress-induced impairment of intestinal morphology, intestinal inflammatory response, and barrier integrity in broilers. Poult Sci. 2018; 97(8): 2675-2683. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey123
Rostagno MH. Effects of heat stress on the gut health of poultry. J Anim Sci. 2020; 98(Suppl 1): 1-9. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa136
Naeem M, and Bourassa D. Probiotics in poultry: Unlocking productivity through microbiome modulation and gut health. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(2): 257. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13020257
Dibner JJ, and Richards JD. The digestive system: Challenges and opportunities. J Appl Poult Res. 2004; 13(1): 86-93. DOI: 10.1093/japr/13.1.86
Staeheli P, Puehler F, Schneider K, Göbel TW, and Kaspers B. Cytokines of birds: Conserved functions—a largely different look. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2001; 21(12): 993-1010. DOI: 10.1089/107999001317205123
Šefcová M, Larrea-Álvarez M, Larrea-Álvarez C, Revajová V, Karaffová V, Koščová J, et al. Effects of Lactobacillus fermentum supplementation on body weight and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in Campylobacter jejuni-challenged chickens. Vet Sci. 2020; 7(3): 121. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030121
Lara LJ, and Rostagno MH. Impact of heat stress on poultry production. Animals. 2013; 3(2): 356-369. DOI: 10.3390/ani3020356
Zulkifli I, Abdullah N, Mohd-Azrin NM, and Ho YW. Growth performance and immune response of two commercial broiler strains fed diets containing Lactobacillus cultures and oxytetracycline under heat stress conditions. Br Poult Sci. 2000; 41(5): 593-597. DOI: 10.1080/713654979
Zhang H, Pertiwi H, Hou Y, Majdeddin M, and Michiels J. Protective effects of Lactobacillus on heat stress-induced intestinal injury in finisher broilers by regulating gut microbiota and stimulating epithelial development. Sci Total Environ. 2024; 918: 170410. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170410
Ashraf S, Zaneb H, Yousaf MS, Ijaz A, Sohail MU, Muti S, et al. Effect of dietary supplementation of prebiotics and probiotics on intestinal microarchitecture in broilers reared under cyclic heat stress. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr. 2013; 97(Suppl 1): 68-73. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12041
Jahromi MF, Altaher YW, Shokryazdan P, Ebrahimi R, Ebrahimi M, Idrus Z, et al. Dietary supplementation of a mixture of Lactobacillus strains enhances performance of broiler chickens raised under heat stress conditions. Int J Biometeorol. 2016; 60(8): 1159-1166. DOI: 10.1007/s00484-015-1103-x
Zhang L, Zhang R, Jia H, Zhu Z, and Ma Y. Supplementation of probiotics in water beneficial growth performance, carcass traits, immune function and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens. Open Life Sci. 2021; 16(1): 311-322. DOI: 10.1515/biol-2021-0031
Mamdooh AMA, Galib AMA, and Nihad AA. Role of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a source of probiotics in poultry diets. Eur J Mol Clin Med. 2020; 7(7): 6611-6617. Available at: https://www.ejmcm.com/archives/volume-7/issue-7/12167
Haldar S, Ghosh TK, and Bedford MR. Effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and yeast protein concentrate on production performance of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress and challenged with Salmonella enteritidis. Anim Feed Sci Technol. 2011; 168(1-2): 61-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.03.007
Ahmad R, Yu YH, Hsiao FS, Su CH, Liu HC, Tobin I, et al. Influence of heat stress on poultry growth performance, intestinal inflammation, and immune function and potential mitigation by probiotics. Animals. 2022; 12(17): 2297. DOI: 10.3390/ani12172297
National research council (NRC). Nutrient requirements of poultry. 9th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1994.
Tao X, and Xin H. Acute synergistic effects of air temperature, humidity and velocity on homeostasis of market-size broilers. Trans ASAE. 2003; 46(2): 491-497. DOI: 10.13031/2013.12971
Stull R. Wet-bulb temperature from relative humidity and air temperature. J Appl Meteorol Climatol. 2011; 50(11): 2267-2269. DOI: 10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0143.1
Duduyemi OA, and Oseni SO. Modelling heat stress characteristics on the layers performance traits in South Western Nigeria. Tropentag. 2012. Available at: https://www.tropentag.de/2012/abstracts/posters/280.pdf
Karaarslan S, and Nazligul A. The use of infrared thermography in identifying surface temperature in fast and slow growing broiler chickens. Mediterr Vet J. 2024; 9(3): 397-402. DOI: 10.24880/medvetj.1544695
Al-Garadi MA, Al-Baadani HH, and Alghtani HA. Growth performance, histological changes and functional tests of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Tribulus terrestris powder. Animals. 2022; 12(15): 1930. DOI: 10.3390/ani12151930
Winsor L, and Sluys R. Basic histological techniques for planarians. In: Rink J, editor. Planarian regeneration. Methods in Molecular Biology. New York: Humana Press; 2018. p. 285-351. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7802-1_9
Gupta M, Raut R, Manandhar S, Chaudhary A, Shrestha U, Dangol S, et al. Identification and characterization of probiotic isolated from indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) of Nepal. PloS One. 2023; 18(3): e0280412. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280412
Fadanka S, Minette S, and Mowoh N. Preparation of bacteria glycerol stock. protocols.io. Available at: https://www.protocols.io/view/preparation-of-bacteria-glycerol-stock-b85iry4e
SAS Institute Inc. JMP SAS Version 15.2. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.; 2010.
Salem HM, Alghtani AH, Swelum AA, Salem E, Babalghith AO, Melebary SJ, et al. Heat stress in poultry with particular reference to the role of probiotics in amelioration: An update review. J Therm Biol. 2022; 108: 103302. DOI: 1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103302
Dikmen S, and Hansen PJ. Is the temperature-humidity index the best indicator of heat stress in lactating dairy cows in a subtropical environment? J Dairy Sci. 2009; 92(1): 109-116. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2008-1370
Marai IFM, and Habeeb AAM. Buffalo’s biological function as affected by heat stress—A review. Livest Sci. 2010; 127(2-3): 89-109. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2009.08.001
Ademu LA, Daudu OM, Iyeghe-Erakpotobor GT, Barje PP, and Olusiyi A. Betaine hydrochloride ameliorates thermoregulatory responses of broiler chickens under dexamethasone induced heat stress. Niger J Anim Prod. 2024; 2020(NSAP 2020 Proceedings): 659-662. DOI: 10.51791/njap.vi.4967
Habeeb AA, Gad AE, and Atta MA. Temperature-humidity indices as indicators to heat stress of climatic conditions with relation to production and reproduction of farm animals. Int J Biotechnol Recent Adv. 2018; 1(1): 35-50. DOI: 10.18689/ijbr-1000107
Apalowo OO, Ekunseitan AD, and Fasina OY. Impact of heat stress on broiler chicken production. Poult Sci. 2024; 3(2): 107-128. DOI: 10.3390/poultry3020010
Hernandez-Coronado CA, Cervantes M, Gonzalez F, Valle A, 36. Arce N, Vasquez N, et al. Effect of probiotic supplementation on productive performance and epithelial intestinal integrity of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2025; 57(5): 235. DOI: 10.1007/s11250-025-04488-3
Yang L, Liu G, and Lian KX. Dietary leonurine hydrochloride supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide challenge induced intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction by inhibiting the NF-κB/MAPK signalling pathway in broilers. J Anim Sci. 2019; 97(5): 1679-1692. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz078
Xu L, Fan Q, Zhuang Y, Wan Q, Gao Y, and Wang C. Bacillus coagulans enhance the immune function of the intestinal mucosa of yellow broilers. Rev Bras Cienc Avic. 2017; 19(1): 115-122. DOI: 10.1590/1806-9061-2015-0180
Ledesma-Torres R, Posadas-Cantús A, Espinosa-Leija R, Hernández-Escareño JJ, Fimbres-Durazo H, Riojas-Valdés VM, et al. Effects of adding different levels of probiotic to broilers’ diets on gastrointestinal tract developments and production performance. Afr J Microbiol Res. 2015; 9(12): 892-897. DOI: 10.5897/AJMR2013.6529
Buba W, and Shehu BN. Probiotic supplemented diet improved the gut morphology of broiler chickens. Niger J Anim Sci. 2018; 20(3): 67-72. Available at: https://njas.org.ng/index.php/php/article/view/1075
Awad WA, Böhm J, Razzazi-Fazeli E, Ghareeb K, and Zentek J. Effect of addition of a probiotic microorganism to broiler diets contaminated with deoxynivalenol on performance and histological alterations of intestinal villi of broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2006; 85(6): 974-979. DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.6.974
Kim JS, Ingale SL, Kim YW, Kim KH, Sen S, Ryu MH, et al. Effect of supplementation of multi-microbe probiotic product on growth performance, apparent digestibility, cecal microbiota and small intestinal morphology of broilers. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr. 2012; 96(4): 618-626. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01187.x
Li C, Wang J, Zhang HJ, Wu GS, Hui QR, Yang CB, et al. Intestinal morphologic and microbiota responses to dietary Bacillus spp. in a broiler chicken model. Front Physiol. 2019; 9: 1968. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01968
Murshed MA, and Abudabos AM. Effects of the dietary inclusion of a probiotic, a prebiotic or their combinations on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Rev Bras Cienc Avic. 2015; 17(1): 99-103. DOI: 10.1590/1516-635xSpecialIssue
Bull M, Plummer S, Marchesi J, and Mahenthiralingam E. The life history of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a probiotic: A tale of revisionary taxonomy, misidentification and commercial success. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2013; 349(2): 77-87. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12293
Li L, Wang M, Chen J, Xu Z, Wang S, Xia X, et al. Preventive effects of Bacillus licheniformis on heat stroke in rats by sustaining intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbiota. Front Microbiol. 2021; 12: 630841. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.630841
Sudo N. Microbiome, HPA axis and production of endocrine hormones in the gut. In: Lyte M, and Cryan J, editors. Microbial endocrinology: The microbiota-gut-brain axis in health and disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. New York: Springer, 2014. p. 177-194. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0897-4_8
Knezevic J, Staech C, Tmava Berisha A, and Amerzink K. Thyroid-gut axis: How does the microbiota function? Nutrients. 2020; 12(6): 1769. DOI: 10.3390/nu12061769
Da Silva TF, Casarotti SN, de Oliveira GLV, and Penna ALB. The impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on the biochemical, clinical, and immunological markers, as well as on the gut microbiota of obese hosts. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021; 61(2): 337-355. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1733483
Jacob J, and Pescatore A. Glucans and the poultry immune system. J Anim Sci Immunol. 2017; 13: 45-49. DOI:
Tanaka T, Narazaki M, and Kishimoto T. IL-6 in inflammation, immunity, and disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014; 6(10): a016295. DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a016295
Wang T, Cheng K, Li Q, and Wang T. Effects of yeast hydrolysate supplementation on intestinal morphology, barrier, and anti-inflammatory functions of broilers. Anim Biosci. 2022; 35(6): 858-868. DOI: 10.5713/ab.21.0374
Nawaz AH, Amoah K, Leng QY, Zheng JH, Zhang WL, and Zhang L. Poultry response to heat stress: Its physiological, metabolic, and genetic implications on meat production and quality including strategies to improve broiler production in a warming world. Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 699081. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.699081