Controlling of growth performance, lipid deposits and fatty acid composition of chicken meat through a probiotic, Lactobacillus johnsonii during subclinical Clostridium perfringens infection.
BACKGROUND
Meat is considered as a major source of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) which is essential for humans, therefore its lipid level and fatty acid composition have drawn great attention. As no clinical sign can be found in chicks subclinically infected by Clostridium perfringens (CP), the meat may be purchased and eaten. The objective of the present study was to determine whether Lactobacillus johnsonii (LJ) can control the CP-caused impact on growth, lipid levels, fatty acid composition and other flavor or nutritional quality in the meat.


METHODS
480 one-day-old chicks were divided into four groups and fed with basal diet (control and CP group). Supplemented with 1 × 105(L-LJ) and 1 × 106(H-LJ) colony-forming unit (cfu), CP diet was fed for 42 days. From day 19 to 22, birds of CP and LJ groups were administered with CP twice per day and the control was administered with liver broth.


RESULTS
LJ-treated chickens were free from negative influences on growth performance and significant decrease of abdominal fat deposit., LJ inhibited CP-caused shearing force and drip loss increase and pH 40 min and 24 h decrease after sacrifice. In addition, LJ exhibited a positive effect on muscle lipid peroxidation by significantly increasing SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activity and decreasing MDA level. Besides, LJ attenuated the decrease of intramuscular fat, total cholesterol and triglyceride contents caused by CP infection. However, levels of total protein and most of amino acids were not changed. CP infection decreased C18:3n-3 (α-LA), C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3(EPA), C22:4n-6, C22:5n-3, C22:6n-3(DHA), total PUFA, n-3 PUFA and PUFA:SFA ratio and increased C14:0, total SFA and n-6:n-3 ratio. LJ was found to protect the muscle from these changes. Meanwhile, the 28-day gut permeability level was higher in CP group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that CP may affect the growth performance of chicks and negatively influence lipid content and fatty acid composition in chicken meat. Meanwhile, LJ treatment may be effective in controlling these changes by reducing the increased gut permeability caused by CP subclinical infection.
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Hesong
H
Wang
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xueqin
X
Ni
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Lei
L
Liu
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China. zend@sicau.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. zend@sicau.edu.cn.
Dong
D
Zeng
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jing
J
Lai
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiaodan
X
Qing
Ya'an Agricultural Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd, Ya'an, China.
Guangyao
G
Li
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
Kangcheng
K
Pan
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.|Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Bo
B
Jing
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003116:Color; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D063427:Food Quality; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000069999:Lactobacillus johnsonii; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D000596:Amino Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins
Clostridium perfringens; Fatty acid composition; Growth performance; Lactobacillus johnsonii; Lipid contents; Meat quality