Positive effects of dietary probiotics on immune response and gut morphometry in broiler chickens

n experiment was performed with a total of 280 one-day old SPF broiler chicks to evaluate the effects of probiotics, alone or in combination, on growth performance, gut morphometry and immune response to fowl cholera vaccination. The birds were randomly divided into seven groups each of 40 chicks and the experiment lasted for 42 days. The probiotic microorganisms that were offered via water included Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cervisiae. Significant increase in the food conversion rate was recorded in group 4 that received probiotic mixture composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis. Also, significantly high geometric mean titre (GMT) of P. multocida specific-antibodies and lowest morbidity and mortality rates post P. multocida challenge were recorded in this group. The effect of different probiotics on the morphometric changes in the gut tissues was determined, where significant increase in the duodenal and ileum villus height and average crypt depth were recorded in probiotic treated chicks compared to the negative control. The increase in the gut villi height is proved to be associated with increased absorption capability of nutients from the intestine.