title: Efficacy of mealworm and super mealworm larvae probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics challenged orally with Salmonella and E. coli infection in broiler chicks.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate dry mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) (DMLP) and super mealworm (Zophobas morio) (DSMLP) larvae probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in broiler chicks. A total of 240 one-day old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments consisting of ten replications with eight birds each in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were, (i) control (basal diet), (ii) 0.4% DMLP (basal diet + 0.4% DMLP, DM basis), and (iii) 0.4% DSMLP (basal diet + 0.4% DSMLP, DM basis). On day one, 1 mL of mixed broth agar consisting of 2.4 × 107cfu Salmonella enteritidis KCTC 2021 and 3.7 × 107cfu Escherichia coli KCTC 2571 was injected orally into each chick. After one week, growth performance, immunity, mortality, internal organ weight, and cecal and fecal microbiota were investigated. Average daily gain ( ADG: ) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) (g intake/g gain per bird) decreased in response to DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Additionally, mortality decreased (P < 0.05), while IgG and IgA levels increased following DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Internal organs remained unaffected, except for a reduced bursa of Fabricius weight in DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Cecal E. coli and Salmonella contents were reduced in DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05), while fecal microbiota contents and pH of cecal and fecal digesta remained unaffected. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with DMLP and DSMLP increased ADG and IgG and IgA levels, while reducing FCR, mortality and cecal E. coli and Salmonella spp.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Thus, DMLP and DSMLP can be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.
authors: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungangno, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, Republic of Korea.
authors: Md Manirul
authors: MM
authors: Islam
authors: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungangno, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, Republic of Korea yangcj@sunchon.ac.kr.
authors: Chul-Ju
authors: CJ
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000502:physiology; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
keywords: bacterial infection; broiler; immunity; mealworm larvae; probiotic