AUTHOR=Peng Simin , Wang Xin , Wang Yuyu , Lv Tuo , Zhao Haohan , Wang Yanzhou , Zhu Siyuan , Qiu Huajiao , Zeng Jianguo , Dai Qiuzhong , Lin Qian 

TITLE=Effects of Dietary Bacillus and Non-starch Polysaccharase on the Intestinal Microbiota and the Associated Changes on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Serum Antioxidant Profiles in Ducks

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786121

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.786121

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Given the desirable results of using probiotics and enzyme preparations as feed supplements in poultry health, here, the effects of <italic>Bacillus</italic> and Non-starch Polysaccharase (NSPase) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant profiles, and gut microbial communities of early stage ducks is investigated. A total of 400 <italic>Zhijiang</italic> ducks (of similar body weight and 1 day age) was selected and randomly divided into four groups. The feeding period was 28 days. Each group contained 10 replicates of 10 birds. Control group (I) was fed with basal diet, while treatment groups II to IV were fed, respectively, with 150 mg/kg NSPases, 25 mg/kg <italic>Bacillus</italic> probiotics, and 150 mg/kg NSPases + 25 mg/kg <italic>Bacillus</italic> probiotics in their basal diet. The results demonstrated that dietary <italic>Bacillus</italic> (25 mg/kg) increased average final weight, average daily gain (ADG), and decreased the malonaldehyde (MDA) in birds (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Dietary <italic>Bacillus</italic> (25 mg/kg) and NSPases + <italic>Bacillus</italic> (150 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg) presented much higher glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in birds (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, as revealed by β-diversity indices and analysis of similarities, dietary NSPases + <italic>Bacillus</italic> could affect the ileum microbial abundances and diversities at the genera level (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), but it had no effect on the caecal microbiota. Also, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary <italic>Bacillus</italic> and NSPases + <italic>Bacillus</italic> increased the populations of <italic>Ruminococcaceae</italic> genera in the cecum (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), and <italic>S24-7_group</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> genera in the ileum (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). However, dietary NSPases and <italic>Bacillus</italic> alone and in combination could significantly decrease the content of <italic>Bacteroides</italic> in the ileum (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). According to Spearman correlation analysis, 7 ilea bacterial microbiomes (<italic>S24-7 group, Lactobacillus, Subgroup 2, Subgroup 1, Kitasatospora, Candidatus Solibacter, and Akkermansia</italic>) were positively correlated with SOD (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, <italic>Bacillus</italic> (25 mg/kg) and NSPases (150 mg/kg) included in the diet could efficiently enhance the growth performance by altered gut microbiota composition at the genera level and antioxidant indices of ducks.</p>