Oxidative and Epigenetic Changes and Gut Permeability Response in Early-Treated Chickens with Antibiotic or Probiotic

• Main Authors: Katarzyna Ognik, Paweł Konieczka, Anna Stępniowska, Jan Jankowski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: chicken; antibiotic; probiotic; intestinal damage
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2204
• ISSN: 2076-2615

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the use of enrofloxacin and a probiotic containing <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> and <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> strains in the first week of life of chickens on oxidative and epigenetic changes in molecules and intestinal integrity. The three treatments were as follows: the control group received no additive in the drinking water (GC); the second group (GP) received a probiotic preparation in the drinking water during the first five days of life, providing <i>E. faecium</i> strain 4a1713 at 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/L water and <i>B. amyloliquefaciens</i> 4b1822 at 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/L water, the third group (GA) received an antibiotic (enrofloxacin 0.5 mL/L water) in the drinking water during the first five days of life. The use of both enrofloxacin and a probiotic containing <i>E. faecium</i> and <i>B. amyloliquefaciens</i> strains in chickens’ first week of life improved intestinal integrity and reduced inflammation and oxidative and epigenetic changes in the small intestine. This effect was evident both at 6 days of age and at the end of the rearing period.