Effect of Zeolite on Small Intestine Microbiota of Broiler Chickens: A Case Study

Abstract

After ban of antibiotics growth promoters (AGP) in Europe in 2006, use of non-medicated gut microbiota regulators as feed additives has dramatically increased. This study aimed at describing the effects of a copper-exchanged zeolite on broiler growth performance, small intestine morphology and microbiota composition. Illumina Sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to study the small intestine microbiota. This microbiota with copper-exchanged zeolite treated-chickens was significantly less diverse with an almost exclusive presence of Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus reuteri. These Lactobacilli are correlated with increased diameter, length and weight of the three segments of the small intestine and decreased viscosity of the intestinal content, suggesting probiotic action. The tested copper-exchanged zeolite would act as a prebiotic, selecting a “favorable” flora for the healthy broilers development.