Impact of Antibiotics and Biofactor Additives on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Pathways in Broiler Chickens | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||||
| Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 08 January 2025 PDF (939.83 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2024.327987.2427 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Elhusseny A Bossila   1; Yousry A Dowidar2; Khaled R Mohamed3; Aly M El Refy4; Ahmed M Shehab5; Tarek A Wrshana6
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| 1lecturer of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, and Bioinformatics at the Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| 2professor of Animal Biotechnology at the Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| 3professor of Animal Production at Animal Production Research Institute& National Gene Bank, Agricultural Research Center | ||||
| 4Professor of Molecular Biology at Biotechnology Dept, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| 5lecturer of animal Biotechnology, at the Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| 6lecturer of Animal Biotechnology at the Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Antibiotic use in poultry production raises concerns about microbial resistance and gut health. This study aims to compare the effects of antibiotic treatment (G1) and Biofactor supplementation (G2) on the gut microbiome and metabolic pathways in broiler chickens. Sixty-three one-day-old Arbour Acres broiler chicks were divided into three groups: control, G1 (antibiotic), and G2 (Biofactor containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract, beta-glucan, mannan oligosaccharides, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals) Using a metagenomic approach. Antibiotic treatment (G1) significantly altered microbial composition, increasing the relative abundance of Romboutsia from 1.28% in control to 16.38% in the antibiotic (G1), while decreasing Faecalibacterium from 29.46% to 1.1% in the antibiotic (G1). Biofactor supplementation (G2) promoted a balanced microbiome, recovering Faecalibacterium to 3.28% and further enhancing Romboutsia to 21.78%. Fatty acid analysis revealed the G2 group’s enhanced deposition of beneficial fatty acids like butyric acid and linolenic acid, while G1 reduced essential fatty acids, including arachidonic acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Functional gene analysis via PICRUSt2 showed G1-induced upregulation of genes related to DNA repair, stress response, and pyruvate fermentation, indicating selective pressure favoring resistant strains with enhanced metabolic functions. Conversely, G2 promoted microbial diversity and maintained key pathways like butyrate production, highlighting its stabilizing effects. These findings reveal G1's detrimental impact on microbial diversity and metabolism while highlighting G2's potential to enhance gut health, microbial balance, and fatty acid profiles. The study supports Biofactor additives (G2) as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics, offering key insights into reducing antibiotic use in poultry production. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Broiler chickens; Cecal microbiota; Antibiotics; Biofactor additives; Metagenomic analysis | ||||
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