AUTHOR=Wang Jian , Ishfaq Muhammad , Guo Yuquan , Chen Chunli , Li Jichang 

TITLE=Assessment of Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus salivarius Isolated From Chickens as Feed Additives

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00415

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.00415

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The continued use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics as feed additives in the poultry industry improved health and growth performance. However, the resulting antibiotic resistance increasingly becomes a major threat to public health. Probiotics are promising alternatives for the antibiotics used in poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic properties of <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> as feed additive in chickens. White leghorn chickens were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Effects of <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> supplementation on growth performance, resistance to <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> O78 challenge and heat-stress, and immune response after vaccinated with attenuated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine were determined. The results showed that <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> supplementation improved growth performance, such as weight and longer shank length, increased relative weights of the immune organs and decreased concentrations of odor-causing compounds. In addition, <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> supplementation alleviated organ injury caused by <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> O78 challenge and heat stress. Furthermore, <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> results in enhanced immune response after IBDV vaccine immunization, enhanced specific antibody and IFN-γ production, and lymphocyte proliferation. Our results revealed a tremendous potential of <italic>Lactobacillus salivarius</italic> as antibiotics' substitute in poultry production.</p>