Luminal and mucosal microbiota in the cecum and ileum of Eimeria acervulina-infected and control broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Eimeria acervulina infection on the luminal and mucosal microbiota in the cecum and ileum of broiler chickens at multiple time points during infection. Infection affected alpha and beta diversity in the cecal luminal, cecal mucosal, and ileal luminal microbiota at varying time points for each region. Infection may also influence relative abundances of SCFA-producing bacteria in infected birds, a potential contributor to decreases in performance and health in infected birds.

本研究旨在探明堆型艾美耳球虫（Eimeria acervulina）感染对肉鸡盲肠与回肠腔道及黏膜微生物群在感染期间多个时间节点的影响。感染可在各区域的不同时间点，对盲肠腔道、盲肠黏膜及回肠腔道微生物群的α多样性与β多样性产生影响。此外，感染还可能改变感染肉鸡体内产短链脂肪酸（Short-Chain Fatty Acid, SCFA）细菌的相对丰度，这或是感染肉鸡生产性能与健康水平下降的潜在诱因。