Probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics in modulating the intestinal microbiota and performance of broiler chickens.

Aims: Gut bacteria play an important role in poultry nutrition and the immune defense system. Changes in the intestinal microbiome affect the physiological state, metabolism, and innate immunity of poultry. The present study aimed to characterize age-related changes in the gastrointestinal tract microflora in broiler chickens, depending on supplementation of the diet with the in-feed antibiotic Stafac® 110 and a Bacillus subtilis strain-based probiotic.

Broiler Cecal Microbiocenoses Depending on Mixed Fodder.

Molecular genetic techniques (NGS sequencing and quantitative PCR) were used to determine the composition of the cecal bacterial community of broiler chickens fed with different mixed fodder. The Cecal microbiome exhibited taxonomic diversity, with both typical inhabitants of avian intestine belonging to the families Clostridiaceae, Eubacteriaceae, and Lactobacillaceae and to the phylum Bacteroidetes, and new un- identified taxa, as well as bacteria of the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, which were previ- ously considered restricted to the rumen microflora. Contrary to traditional concepts, enterococci and bi- fidobacteria were among the minor components of the community, lactate-fermenting species were absent, and typical avian pathogens of the genus Staphylococcus were detected but seldom.

[Antibiotic-free poultry production based on innovative nutritional programs with the involvement of probiotics].

EU banned antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) for farm animals and poultry since 2006 in relation to the problem of drug resistance. This requires alternative products for equally efficient prevention and treatment of certain alimentary poultry diseases. One of the most actual trends is the development of innovative nutritional strategies for poultry providing an effective symbiosis between the host and its intestinal microbiota.

Metagenomic bacterial community profiles of chicken embryo gastrointestinal tract by using T-RFLP analysis.

Thirty microbial phylotypes of microorganisms were found in the gastrointestinal tract of chicken belonging to the Hajseks White breed, and 38 phylotypes were found in the gastrointestinal tract of chicken belonging to the Hajseks Brown breed. The microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract of the chicken embryos of the Hajseks White breed was dominated by the typical representatives of avian intestinal microflora--bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae (47.3%), orders Actinomycetales (13.

[Effect of vitamin E on biochemical processes in erythrocytes].

Effect of therapeutic doses of alpha-tocopherol (50 mg) exceeding 10-12-fold the daily consumption of the vitamin, on glycolysis was studied in erythrocytes of rats maintained on a usual diet. After loading of the animals with tocopherol utilization of glucose was increased 2.4-fold, with simultaneous activation of aldolase and phosphohexoisomerase by 34% and 48%, respectively; content of lactate was increased by 40%.

[Intensity of glycolysis and energy metabolism in erythrocytes in experimental hypervitaminosis A].

Administration of 60,000 i.e. of vitamin A into rats within three weeks caused an increase in amount of reticulocytes, in the rate of glucose utilization and in formation of lactic acid by erythrocytes.

[Effect of long-term vitamin A administration on the acid fastness and biochemical properties of erythrocytes].

A long-term administration of retinol in a dose exceeding 15-fold the diurnal requirement to rats weighing 170-200 g provoked a diminution of the erythrocytes resistance to an acid hemolytic, an intensified uptake of glucose, and increased activity of glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, aldolase, phosphohexoisomerase), accumulation of lactate, along with changes in the redox enzymes activity, suppression of the catalase and intensification of peroxidase activity. The content of microergic nucleotides and electrolites (Na+ and K+) remained unchanged.