Effects Of Propolis On Growth,Intestinal Injury And Gut Microbiota Structure Of Clostridium Perfringens Challenged Broilers

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary propolis on growth performance,intestinal injury and cecum microflora of broilers of clostridium perfringens challenge.A total of 360 AA broilers were randomly divided into 6 treatments with 6replicates per treatment and 10 broilers per replicate.The test adopts 3 × 2 factor design,broilers were fed diets supplemented with 0,250 ppm and 500 ppm propolis and were challenged or not challenged by clostridium perfringens.During the experiment period,no challenge was conducted within 1-14 days,and clostridium perfringens was challenged for two consecutive weeks from 15 to 28 days.The experiment lasted for 35 days.The results showed as follows: final body weight of broilers from 1 to 14 days(P > 0.05),and dietary500 ppm propolis supplementation significantly increased the final body weight of broilers from 15 to 28 days(P < 0.05).In addition,clostridium perfringens challenge could significantly increase the final weight and increase the average daily gain of broilers(0.1 ≤P < 0.05).2)Clostridium perfringens challenge significantly increased DAO and LPS contents in serum of broilers at 30 days of age(P < 0.05)and LPS contents in serum of broilers at 35 days of age(P < 0.05).Dietary propolis supplementation can reduce DAO content in broilers at 30 and 35 days of age and DAO content in serum of broilers challenged by clostridium perfringens.The effect of high dose was most significant(P < 0.05).2)Diets supplemented with high dose of propolis significantly reduced the Chao1,Observation-species and Shannon Alpha diversity index of cecal intestinal flora of broilers at30 days of age(P < 0.05).Increased Chao1 and Observed-species diversity index of cecal intestinal flora of broilers aged 35 days(P > 0.05).Clostridium perfringens challenge increased the Alpha diversity index of cecal microflora(Chao1,Observed-species)of broilers at 30 days of age,but the effect was not significant(P > 0.05).Decreased cecal Alpha diversity index(Chao1,Observed-species,Shannon,Simpson)of broilers at 35 days of age(P > 0.05).The largest proportion of intestinal bacteria in cecum of broilers are faecalibacterium,followed by lactobacillus.Propolis supplementation can increase the abundance of clostridium and lactobacillus in cecum of broilers at 30 days of age(P >0.05).The abundance of subdoligranulum and butyricicoccus of broilers at 30 and 35 days of age was decreased(P > 0.05),and the abundance of clostridium perfringens and lactobacillus(P < 0.05)were decreased by clostridium perfringens challenge.The abundance of micrococcus was increased(P > 0.05),which was contrary to that of propolis treatment.In addition,clostridium perfringens challenge significantly increased the abundance of streptococcus(P < 0.05),increased the abundance of lactobacillus,oscillospira and ruminococcus(P > 0.05).There was a tendency of increasing oscillospira and ruminococcus(0.05 ≤ P < 0.1).In conclusion,adding a certain amount of propolis in the diet can promote the growth of broilers,regulate the gut microbiota structure of broilers infected with Clostridium perfringens,and alleviate the intestinal injury of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens.