The effects of high flavonoid corn diet on the cecal microbiota of chickens with necrotic enteritis

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in cecal microbiota in the ceca (content and mucosa) of broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis (NE). Necrotic enteritis is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract caused by Clostridium perfringens. Chickens with NE exhibit diarrhea, loss of appetite, intestinal lesions, weight loss, and even mortality, therefore this disease is agriculturally important since it causes economic losses to the poultry industry. It was previously found that birds with symptomatic NE fed a diet containing corn with high content of flavonoids had lower mortality, higher weight gain and feed intake, as well as less intestinal lesions. The addition of flavonoid compounds to broiler chicken diet results in improved gut health, and may decrease economic losses posed by NE.

本研究旨在探究坏死性肠炎（NE）患鸡盲肠（内容物及粘膜）微生物群的改变。坏死性肠炎是由产气荚膜梭菌引起的胃肠道感染。患有NE的鸡只表现为腹泻、食欲减退、肠道损伤、体重减轻，甚至死亡，因此该疾病在农业领域具有重要意义，因为它会给家禽业带来经济损失。先前研究发现，摄入富含黄酮类化合物的玉米饲料的NE症状鸟类死亡率降低，体重增长和饲料摄入量增加，以及肠道损伤减少。在肉鸡饲料中添加黄酮类化合物能够改善肠道健康，并可能减少由NE带来的经济损失。