title: Evaluation in broilers of the probiotic properties of Pichia pastoris and a recombinant P. pastoris containing the Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene.
abstract: The probiotic properties of Pichia pastoris and of a recombinant P. pastoris containing the Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene were evaluated in broilers. One-day-old chicks randomly divided in four groups were fed with commercial feed devoid of antibacterials. The control group (1) received plain food, while the other groups were supplemented with either P. pastoris (2), the recombinant P. pastoris (3) or Bacillus cereus var. Toyoi (4). At day 49, live weights, feed efficiency and seroconversions were higher (P<0.05) in the supplemented groups than in the control groups. Group 3 showed the best results, while group 2 had lower weight gain than groups 3 and 4 although food conversion was better than in group 4. Seroconversions were not different (P>0.05) among the supplemented groups. Adverse reactions were not observed in histopathologic evaluation. We concluded that P. pastoris and the recombinant P. pastoris could be used as probiotics in broilers.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Veterinária, Departamento de Veterinária Preventiva, Campus Universitário sn, Prédio 1, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. joao.gil@ufpel.edu.br
authors.forename: João Rodrigo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gil de los Santos
authors.forename: Otávio Brod
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Storch
authors.forename: Cristina Gevehr
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil-Turnes
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001409:Bacillus cereus; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D010843:Pichia; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens