title: Encapsulated benzoic acid supplementation in broiler diets influences gut bacterial composition and activity.
abstract: 1. The present study investigated the effects of encapsulated benzoic acid (BA) supplementation in broiler feed on performance and gastrointestinal microbiota. 2. Eighty broilers were randomly divided into two groups. Birds in the control group were fed on maize-soybean-based diets. Birds in the treatment group were provided the same diet supplemented with 2 g/kg BA encapsulated in a vegetable oil matrix. 3. At the end of the trial (d 35), pH, bacterial composition and metabolites were determined in the crop, jejunum, ileum and caecum. 4. Growth performance variables and pH were not significantly different. 5. BA concentration decreased rapidly in the proximal gut. However, the treatment diet showed higher BA in the crop, jejunum, ileum and caecum. 6. Total lactate in the crop and D-lactate in the jejunum was higher in the BA treated group. Caecal total and branched chain fatty acids were decreased due to the treatment. 7. Lactobacilli populations were significantly altered by BA supplementation. A trend for increased lactobacilli was observed in the crop, while it became significant in the jejunum and ileum. Lactobacillus species responded differently to the treatment. Four of 5 measured Lactobacillus species, particularly in the ileum, followed the course observed for total lactobacilli; only Lactobacillus salivarius was not modified. 8. Correlation analysis showed that BA modified the intestinal microbiota. Lactobacilli correlated negatively to all studied clostridial clusters and enterobacteria. Clostridial clusters IV and XIVa were significantly increased in the jejunum, whereas only clostridial cluster XIVa was increased in the caecum. 9. Encapsulated BA modified the intestinal microbiota which can lead to the conclusion, that the main beneficial mode of action of BA in the gut appears to be the enhancement of lactic acid bacteria, which in turn may act as a vanguard against pathogens.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.|b Department of Physiology , University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences , Lahore , Pakistan.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yousaf
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goodarzi Boroojeni
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vahjen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Männer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hafeez
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physiology , University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences , Lahore , Pakistan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ur-Rehman
authors.affiliation: c Department of Technical Service , Novus Deutschland GmbH , Gudensberg , Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: d Department of Technical Service , Novus Europe , Woluwe-Saint-Lambert , Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zentek
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D019817:Benzoic Acid
keywords: Broilers; microbiology; nutrition; organic acid; protected benzoic acid; salmonella