Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge
Rising global temperatures challenge poultry production by disrupting the cecal microbiota, which is essential for chicken health. Thermal manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis is a potential strategy to enhance thermotolerance in broilers. This study examined TM’s effects on the cecal microbiome,...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Rahmeh Dahadha Seif Hundam Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul Lo’ai Alanagreh Mustafa Ababneh Mohammad Mayyas Daoud Alghizzawi Minas A. Mustafa David E. Gerrard Rami A. Dalloul |
| author_facet | Rahmeh Dahadha Seif Hundam Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul Lo’ai Alanagreh Mustafa Ababneh Mohammad Mayyas Daoud Alghizzawi Minas A. Mustafa David E. Gerrard Rami A. Dalloul |
| author_sort | Rahmeh Dahadha |
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| description | Rising global temperatures challenge poultry production by disrupting the cecal microbiota, which is essential for chicken health. Thermal manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis is a potential strategy to enhance thermotolerance in broilers. This study examined TM’s effects on the cecal microbiome, body weight (BW), and body temperature (BT) under chronic heat stress (CHS). Fertile Indian River eggs (<i>n</i> = 800) were incubated under control (37.8 °C, 56% RH) or TM conditions (39 °C, 65% RH for 18 h per day from embryonic day 10 to 18). On post-hatch day 18, male chicks were assigned to either CHS (35 ± 0.5 °C for five days) or thermoneutral conditions (24 ± 0.5 °C). The CHS-TM group showed a significantly higher BW than the CHS-CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Under thermoneutral conditions, TM chicks had a lower BT on day 1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the CHS-TM group exhibited a non-significant BT reduction compared to the CHS-CON group under heat stress (<i>p</i> > 0.05). An analysis of the gut microbiome showed that the beta diversity analysis (PERMANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.05) indicated distinct microbial shifts. Firmicutes and Bacteroidota dominated the phylum level, with CHS increased Bacilli and <i>Lactobacillus</i> while reducing Lachnospirales in the CHS-TM group. These findings suggest that TM modulates gut microbiota and mitigates BW loss, offering a potential strategy to enhance broilers’ resilience to heat stress. |
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| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f74a19c732b4c6b8c42729d0b00d3712025-06-25T13:21:41ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011512167710.3390/ani15121677Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress ChallengeRahmeh Dahadha0Seif Hundam1Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul2Lo’ai Alanagreh3Mustafa Ababneh4Mohammad Mayyas5Daoud Alghizzawi6Minas A. Mustafa7David E. Gerrard8Rami A. Dalloul9Department of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, JordanDepartment of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, JordanSchool of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USARising global temperatures challenge poultry production by disrupting the cecal microbiota, which is essential for chicken health. Thermal manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis is a potential strategy to enhance thermotolerance in broilers. This study examined TM’s effects on the cecal microbiome, body weight (BW), and body temperature (BT) under chronic heat stress (CHS). Fertile Indian River eggs (<i>n</i> = 800) were incubated under control (37.8 °C, 56% RH) or TM conditions (39 °C, 65% RH for 18 h per day from embryonic day 10 to 18). On post-hatch day 18, male chicks were assigned to either CHS (35 ± 0.5 °C for five days) or thermoneutral conditions (24 ± 0.5 °C). The CHS-TM group showed a significantly higher BW than the CHS-CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Under thermoneutral conditions, TM chicks had a lower BT on day 1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the CHS-TM group exhibited a non-significant BT reduction compared to the CHS-CON group under heat stress (<i>p</i> > 0.05). An analysis of the gut microbiome showed that the beta diversity analysis (PERMANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.05) indicated distinct microbial shifts. Firmicutes and Bacteroidota dominated the phylum level, with CHS increased Bacilli and <i>Lactobacillus</i> while reducing Lachnospirales in the CHS-TM group. These findings suggest that TM modulates gut microbiota and mitigates BW loss, offering a potential strategy to enhance broilers’ resilience to heat stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1677broilerthermal manipulationmicrobiomeheat stressgut healththermotolerance |
| spellingShingle | Rahmeh Dahadha Seif Hundam Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul Lo’ai Alanagreh Mustafa Ababneh Mohammad Mayyas Daoud Alghizzawi Minas A. Mustafa David E. Gerrard Rami A. Dalloul Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge Animals broiler thermal manipulation microbiome heat stress gut health thermotolerance |
| title | Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge |
| title_full | Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge |
| title_fullStr | Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge |
| title_short | Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Body Performance Parameters and Cecum Microbiome in Broiler Chickens in Response to Post-Hatch Chronic Heat Stress Challenge |
| title_sort | embryonic thermal manipulation affects body performance parameters and cecum microbiome in broiler chickens in response to post hatch chronic heat stress challenge |
| topic | broiler thermal manipulation microbiome heat stress gut health thermotolerance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1677 |
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