Assessment of Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus salivarius Isolated From Chickens as Feed Additives

Abstract

The continued use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics as feed additives in the poultry industry improved health and growth performance. However, the resulting antibiotic resistance increasingly becomes a major threat to public health. Probiotics are promising alternatives for the antibiotics used in poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic properties of <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> as feed additive in chickens. White leghorn chickens were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Effects of <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> supplementation on growth performance, resistance to <i>Escherichia coli</i> O78 challenge and heat-stress, and immune response after vaccinated with attenuated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine were determined. The results showed that <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> supplementation improved growth performance, such as weight and longer shank length, increased relative weights of the immune organs and decreased concentrations of odor-causing compounds. In addition, <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> supplementation alleviated organ injury caused by <i>Escherichia coli</i> O78 challenge and heat stress. Furthermore, <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> results in enhanced immune response after IBDV vaccine immunization, enhanced specific antibody and IFN-γ production, and lymphocyte proliferation. Our results revealed a tremendous potential of <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i> as antibiotics' substitute in poultry production.