Triple-strain probiotic performs as an immune modulator
Results from a study carried out on broilers using a new triple-strain probiotic show that it can perform as an immune modulator. The study was carried out based on performance under sub-clinical necrotic enteritis conditions.
BY CHRISTOPHE BOSTVIRONNOIS, DVM – CHR. HANSEN, HOERSHOLM, DENMARK T
10 12 14 16 18 20
6 8
0 2 4
IL - 1 beta IL - 6 IL - 18 IL - 10 Regulatory Cytokine
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T4 Pos. + GalliPro Fit
T2 Neg. + GalliPro Fit T3 Pos. Control
T1 Neg. Control
he gastro-intestinal tract is both a barrier from the outside world and an immense absorption surface for the assimilation of essential nutrients for animal sustenance and growth. Therefore, it plays a key role
in the success of the poultry industry. Poultry have superior feed efficiency metrics compared to other animals. Consider- ing this high level of nutrient efficiency, the importance of the GIT is accentuated.
A healthy GIT Another vital function of the GIT centres on the immune system. It is estimated that 70% of the chicken’s total immune
Figure 1 - Cytokines gene expression based on Mean Fold Change. (>2)
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system is located there. Science has recently revealed many amazing functions of the gastro-intestinal immune system, over-and-above its basic action of preventing disease exposure. Thus, a healthy gastro-intestinal system is essential for numerous life-sustaining functions. There are several ways scientists measure the health of the gastro-intestinal immune system. One way is to analyse the physical shape and structure of the intestine. For example, it is well documented that probiotics increase the length of the villi and the depth of the intestinal crypts. Also, this research indicates that goblet cell numbers can be influenced by the application of feed probiotics. These structural changes provide limited information on the functioning of the entire immune system. Measuring the numerical balance of immune cell populations is another criterion used to assess the immune system. Two cell types commonly examined are CD4 and CD8 cells. CD is the abbreviation for “Cluster of Differentiation”. These cell types are further categorised numerically as they further differentiate to more active and mature immune cells. A proper balance and population of these cells results in a well- functioning immune system. A Bacillus subtilis probiotic has shown favourable effects on the CD4/CD8 ratio in the intestine.
Impact on cytokines A commonly used immune-functionality technique is the ex- amination of levels of cytokines. Cytokines are the communica- tion substances secreted and received by cells in the body, par- ticularly regarding immune function regulation. Research was conducted to measure the effect of a new 3-strain Bacil- lus-based probiotic (GalliPro Fit) on the immune system, par- ticularly investigating the impact on cytokines. In this trial, broilers were the study animal and a mild NE (Necrotic enteritis) challenge was included to better investigate cytokine levels and influence of the probiotic in the face of a pathogenic event. The experimental design is as follows: 36 pens were populated with 50 day-old birds each. There were nine repeti- tions for each of the four treatment groups: negative control T1, negative control + probiotic T2, positive control T3, positive control + probiotic T4. The NE challenge consisted of the addi- tion of
C.perfringens into empty drinkers at a dose of approxi- mately 1x108
CFU/ml drinking water on days 18, 19, and 20.
On day 21, three random birds were sampled for intestinal cytokine gene expression. The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-
50 ▶ GUT HEALTH | DECEMBER 2020
PHOTO: CHR. HANSEN
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