Effects of supplemental tannic acid on growth performance, gut health, microbiota, and fat accumulation and optimal dosages of tannic acid in broilers

The impact of bacillus pumilus TS2 isolated from yaks on growth performance, gut microbial community, antioxidant activity, and cytokines related to immunity and inflammation in broilers

Intensive poultry farming faces challenges like gut inflammation in the absence of antibiotics, resulting in reduced productivity, heightened susceptibility to enteric diseases, and other complications. Alternative strategies are needed to manage inflammation and maintain sustainable poultry production. Yaks living in high-altitude hypoxic environments have specialized gut microbes. However, yak probiotics remain largely uncharacterized. We previously isolated a strain of Bacillus pumilus (named TS2) from yaks and demonstrated its potential as a probiotic in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the in vivo growth-promoting, antioxidant, immune, and anti-inflammatory effects of Bacillus pumilus isolated from yaks in broilers. We demonstrated the safety of TS2 isolated from yaks in broilers. Furthermore, we found that TS2 increased the average daily weight gain (ADWG) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Supplementation with TS2 also improved the mucosal morphology, the ratio of villi to crypt cells, and enzyme activity. High-throughput sequencing showed that the abundance of Lactobacillus was higher in the TS2 treated broilers. Importantly, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced and the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were increased in the low-dose TS2 group, while the inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were downregulated compared with the control group. We demonstrated that TS2 supplementation can increase the overall growth performance and ameliorate the blood parameters related to inflammation and immunity in broilers.

The Impact of Tannic Acid Consumption on Bone Mineralization

Tannic acid (TA) is an organic compound belonging to the tannin group. Like other tannins, it has an affinity for endogenous proteins, including digestive enzymes, which can result in the reduced digestibility and absorption of nutrients. It can also form complexes with mineral components, reducing their absorption. In some cases, this can be beneficial, such as in the case of toxic metals, but sometimes it may have a detrimental effect on the body when it involves essential mineral components like Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, or Fe. Therefore, the impact of TA on bone health should be considered from both perspectives. This relatively short review summarizes the available information and research findings on TA, with a particular focus on its potential impact on bone health. It is worth noting that future research and clinical studies may provide more detailed and precise information on this topic, allowing for a better understanding of the role of TA in maintaining the integrity of the musculoskeletal system. Despite its brevity, this paper represents a valuable contribution to the analysis of the potential benefits and challenges associated with TA in the context of bone health. We anticipate that future research will continue along this important research line, expanding our knowledge of the influence of this compound on the skeletal system and its potential therapeutic applications.

Effects of Eimeria maxima infection doses on growth performance and gut health in dual-infection model of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the different doses of Eimeria maxima (EM) oocysts on growth performance and intestinal health in broiler chickens challenged with a dual infection model of necrotic enteritis (NE) using EM and NetB+ Clostridium perfringens (CP). A total of 432 fourteen-d-old male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates each. The six different groups were as follows: Control, non-challenged; T0+, challenged with CP at 1 × 109 colony forming unit; T5K+, T0+ + 5,000 EM oocysts; T10K+, T0+ + 10,000 EM oocysts; T20K+; T0+ + 20,000 EM oocysts; and T40K+; T0+ + 40,000 EM oocysts. The challenge groups were orally inoculated with EM strain 41A on d 14, followed by NetB+ CP strain Del-1 on 4 days post inoculation (dpi). Increasing EM oocysts decreased d 21 body weight, body weight gain, feed intake (linear and quadratic, p < 0.001), and feed efficiency (linear, p < 0.001) from 0 to 7 dpi. Increasing EM oocysts increased jejunal NE lesion score and intestinal permeability on 5, 6, and 7 dpi (linear, p < 0.05). On 7 dpi, increasing the infection doses of EM oocysts increased jejunal CP colony counts (linear, p < 0.05) and increased fecal EM oocyst output (linear and quadratic, p < 0.001). Furthermore, increasing the infection doses of EM oocysts decreased the villus height to crypt depth ratios and the goblet cell counts (linear, p < 0.05) on 6 dpi. Increasing EM oocysts downregulated the expression of MUC2, B0AT, B0,+AT, PepT1, GLUT2, AvBD3 and 9, LEAP2, and TLR4, while upregulating CLDN1, CATHL3, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNFSF15, TNF-α, IL-10, and Gam56 and 82 on 6 dpi (linear, p < 0.05). Additionally, increasing EM oocysts decreased Pielou's evenness and Shannon's entropy (linear, p < 0.01). In conclusion, increasing the infection doses of EM significantly aggravated the severity of NE and exerted negative impact on intestinal health from 5 to 7 dpi.

Nutritional Strategies to Improve Meat Quality and Composition in the Challenging Conditions of Broiler Production: A Review

Poultry meat is becoming one of the most important animal protein sources for human beings in terms of health benefits, cost, and production efficiency. Effective genetic selection and nutritional programs have dramatically increased meat yield and broiler production efficiency. However, modern practices in broiler production result in unfavorable meat quality and body composition due to a diverse range of challenging conditions, including bacterial and parasitic infection, heat stress, and the consumption of mycotoxin and oxidized oils. Numerous studies have demonstrated that appropriate nutritional interventions have improved the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. Modulating nutritional composition [e.g., energy and crude protein (CP) levels] and amino acids (AA) levels has altered the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. The supplementation of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, exogenous enzymes, plant polyphenol compounds, and organic acids, has improved meat quality and changed the body composition of broiler chickens.

Interactions of Microbiota and Mucosal Immunity in the Ceca of Broiler Chickens Infected with Eimeria tenella

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of Eimeria tenella infection on the cecal microbiome, the protein concentration of cecal content, cecal mucosal immunity, and serum endotoxin levels in broilers. Three hundred sixty 14-day-old broilers were allocated to five infection doses with six replicates. The five infection doses were: ID0: 0, ID1: 6250, ID2: 12,500, ID3: 25,000, and ID4: 50,000 Eimeria tenella oocysts. Eimeria tenella infection significantly increased the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, which includes diverse pathogenic bacteria, and significantly decreased the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes. Protein concentration of the cecal content was linearly increased (p < 0.05), and the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the cecal content was linearly decreased by Eimeria tenella infection (p < 0.05). Goblet cell density was linearly reduced in the ceca by Eimeria tenella infection (p < 0.05). Eimeria tenella infection tended to linearly decrease the relative mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptide genes such as avian beta-defensin 9 (AvBD9; p = 0.10) and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2; p = 0.08) in the cecal tissue. Therefore, Eimeria tenella infection negatively modulated cecal microbiota via impairing cecal mucosal immunity and increasing protein concentration in the cecal content in broilers.

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of tannic acid supplementation in broilers infected with Salmonella Typhimurium

Infection by Salmonella Typhimurium, a food-borne pathogen, can reduce the poultry production efficiency. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of tannic acid (TA) supplementation on growth performance, Salmonella colonization, gut barrier integrity, serum endotoxin levels, antioxidant capacity, gut health, and immune function in broilers infected with the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium nalidixic acid resistant strain (STNR). A total of 546 one-day-old broilers were arbitrarily allocated into 6 treatments including 1) Sham-challenged control (SCC; birds fed a basal diet and administrated peptone water); 2) Challenged control (CC; birds fed a basal diet and inoculated with 108 STNR); 3) Tannic acid 0.25 (TA0.25; CC + 0.25 g/kg TA); 4) TA0.5 (CC + 0.5 g/kg TA); 5) TA1 (CC + 1 g/kg TA); and 6) TA2 (CC + 2 g/kg TA). On D 7, supplemental TA linearly reduced STNR colonization in the ceca (P < 0.01), and TA1 and TA2 group had significantly lower reduced STNR colonization in the ceca (P < 0.01). On D 7 to 21, average daily gain tended to be linearly increased by supplemental TA (P = 0.097). The serum endotoxin levels were quadratically decreased by supplemental TA on D 21 (P < 0.05). Supplemental TA quadratically increased ileal villus height (VH; P < 0.05), and the TA0.25 group had higher ileal VH compared to the CC group (P < 0.05). Supplemental TA linearly increased percentage of peripheral blood CD8+ T cells on D 18 (P < 0.01). The TA0.5 group had significantly lower lymphocyte numbers compared to the CC groups (P < 0.05). The abundance of monocytes linearly increased with TA supplementation (P < 0.01). Therefore, broilers fed TA had reduced STNR colonization, increased growth performance, decreased serum endotoxin levels, enhanced gut health in the broilers, and stimulated the immune system in broilers infected with STNR. Supplementation of TA (1-2 g/kg) enhanced growth performance and gut health via antimicrobial and immunostimulatory effects in broilers infected with STNR.

Effects of tannic acid on growth performance, relative organ weight, antioxidative status, and intestinal histomorphology in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1

A total of 480 one-day-old AA broiler chicks were randomly allocated to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial to investigate the effects of tannic acid (TA) on growth performance, relative organ weight, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health in broilers dietary exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Treatments were as follows: (1) CON, control diet; (2) TA, CON + 250 mg/kg TA; (3) AFB1, CON + 500 μg/kg AFB1; and (4) TA+AFB1, CON + 250 mg/kg TA + 500 μg/kg AFB1. There were 10 replicate pens with 12 broilers per replicate. Dietary AFB1 challenge increased the feed conversion ratio during days 1 to 21 (P < 0.05). The TA in the diet did not show significant effects on the growth performance of broilers during the whole experiment period (P > 0.05). The liver and kidney relative weight was increased in the AF challenge groups compared with the CON (P < 0.05). The addition of TA could alleviate the relative weight increase of liver and kidney caused by AFB1 (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the AFB1 diets had lower activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, total superoxide dismutase, S-transferase, and total antioxidant capacity in plasma, liver and jejunum, and greater malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). Dietary supplemented with 250 mg/kg TA increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes, and decreased malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). In addition, AFB1 significantly reduced the villus height and crypt depth ratio in the ileum on day 42 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with 250 mg/kg TA could partially protect the antioxidant capacity and prevent the enlargement of liver in broilers dietary challenged with 500 μg/kg AFB1.