Oral lavage with polyethylene glycol reduces microbial colonization in the gastrointestinal tract of broilers.
Oral lavage of 7-wk-old broiler chickens with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conducted to induce rapid evacuation of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) before processing. Three groups of birds were fed ad libitum (FF), subjected to feed withdrawal 12 h before processing (FW), or received 115 mL of PEG by oral lavage 3 h before processing (PEG(L)). The crop, a section of small intestine, and the right cecum were aseptically collected for determination of contents and Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) counts. The PEG(L) effectively cleansed the upper GIT and intestine of treated birds within 3 h before processing. However, the ceca were not completely empty for all the birds subjected to PEG(L). The PEG(L) group had a significantly lower crop and cecal GNB concentrations than the FW group. Birds on FW and PEG(L) treatments had significantly lower GNB concentrations in the small intestine than FF birds. Polyethylene glycol resulted in complete evacuation of the upper GIT, as well as the intestine, within 3 h of use, and significantly reduced GNB concentrations.
Farhat
A
A
Department of Poultry Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
Maddox
C W
CW
Edwards
M E
ME
Costell
M H
MH
Hadley
J A
JA
Vasilatos-Younken
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D003426:Crop, Avian / Q000382:microbiology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols