Cohousing-mediated microbiota transfer promotes bone health and modulates gut integrity, and immunity in young broiler chickens
The intestine hosts a complex microbiota, which plays a crucial role in health and development. This study investigated the impact of cohousing day-old broilers with 14-day-old (CH14) or 42-day-old (CH42) broiler chickens and their fecal material for a week, compared to a non-cohoused control group....
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125008296 |
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| Summary: | The intestine hosts a complex microbiota, which plays a crucial role in health and development. This study investigated the impact of cohousing day-old broilers with 14-day-old (CH14) or 42-day-old (CH42) broiler chickens and their fecal material for a week, compared to a non-cohoused control group. Birds were raised for 42 days, and bone traits, gut integrity and microbiota, cytokine and antimicrobial peptide profiles, and T cell immunity subsets were assessed at days 14 and 42. Production parameters were recorded weekly, and mortality daily. Both treatment groups exhibited significantly improved tibial bone length, cortical bone volume, and mineral density, with reduced pore volume and diameter. These effects were more pronounced in CH42 birds at day 14. Pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-17, IL-1β, IL-2, AvBD-4, AvBD-7) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10, TGF-β) markers were monitored, with CH42 birds showing significantly higher levels of both IL-10 and TGF-β at day 42. CH42 birds had higher CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and lower CD4+ T cells, while CD8+ T cells remained unchanged. Gut integrity markers (Claudin-2, Occludin, ZO-1, JAM-2) were improved in both groups. CH42 birds showed increased microbiota alpha and beta diversity and Firmicutes dominance by day 42. Cohousing and fecal material transfer improved bone development, gut integrity and microbiota, and immune homeostasis, highlighting the potential of older birds' microbiota and inspiring the development of microbiota-based approaches to enhance poultry health, welfare, and management. |
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| ISSN: | 0032-5791 |