Bacillus subtilis PB6-Unique tool to manage gut health in Broilers
Venket M Shelke, Partha Das, R. Chanthirasekaran and Chandrasekar S
ABSTRACT
Broiler performance is directly correlated with intestinal health. Deviation in intestinal health will lead to common enteric issues like Bacterial Enteritis (BE), Necrotic Enteritis (NE), and Coccidiosis. Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs) are used as an economically viable method to maintain gut health. However, continuous usage of these AGPs resulted in resistance of pathogens to antibiotics, accumulation of antibiotic residues in meat and meat products, and reduced broiler performance. This resulted in a ban or restriction on the usage of AGPs in many countries in the world. With the ban on AGPs in many countries, dysbacteriosis and NE started showing up at an increased level. In addition, with the high usage of unconventional feed raw materials, the intestinal health of broilers has further taken a back seat. NE is one of the most prevalent intestinal health issues, especially in its subclinical form causing huge losses to the broiler industry. Annual losses due to high mortality and poor performance caused by NE have been estimated to be over USD 4 billion. As an effective tool to manage this intestinal health issue, Kemin came up with the novel probiotic Bacillus subtilis PB6 (CLOSTAT™). Intestinal Health Management by Kemin comprises surveillance by the technical team by conducting periodical lesion scoring and demonstrating the efficacy and consistency of CLOSTAT™ throughout the year in different seasons in the cases of dysbacteriosis and NE. The present study compared the efficacy of CLOSTATTM during the year 2022 in South Asian countries (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh) with a focus on broiler chickens aged 15 to 45 days. The results of this study showed that the overall average Dysbacteriosis score was 0.89, and in CLOSTAT™ users the score was 0.85. This was significantly lower than that of the non CLOSTAT™ users (0.96).
INTRODUCTION
Broiler performance is directly correlated with intestinal health as it is very important for digestion and absorption of nutrients. Any deviation from normal intestinal health leads to digestive problems, such as bacterial enteritis (BE) or dysbacteriosis and even necrotic enteritis (NE)1. Previously, the use of AGPs at subtherapeutic dosage was an economically viable method to maintain gut health and minimize gut-related challenges. However, repeated and inadequate usage of these antibiotics resulted in severe problems i.e. resistance of pathogens to antibiotics, accumulation of antibiotic residue in meat and meat products, and reduction in beneficial microflora. This resulted in a ban or restriction on the usage of AGPs in many countries in the world2. With the ban on AGPs in many countries, dysbacteriosis and NE have now become a global issue in the modern poultry industry. Dysbacteriosis also known as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterized by the presence of an abnormally high or low amount of bacteria in the proximal parts of the small intestine. It is widely accepted that both non-infectious and infectious factors can have an impact on dysbacteriosis. Necrotic enteritis is one of the most prevalent gut-related disease-causing, economically significant enteric poultry diseases as in either clinical or subclinical form it causes detrimental effects on profitability in the broiler industry. Though the causative bacteria of NE, Clostridium perfringens, was isolated in the year 1930, the term necrotic enteritis was first coined in the year 19613. Coccidiosis infection,high-protein and energy diets, sudden changes in feed, water hygiene, stocking density, and immunosuppression are thought to be the most influential risk factors for NE3. Annual losses due to high mortality and underperformance caused by NE have been estimated at over USD 4 billion4. Faecal look and consistency are a true indicator of birds' intestinal health. NE may be associated with clinical signs like orange color droppings with undigested feed particles, wet and greasy droppings, decrease in feed intake, reduced day gain, and increased feed conversion ratio with higher mortality %.
There is a high usage of unconventional feed raw materials in South Asia nowadays. Also, AGPs are used at a higher dose than recommended which leads to resistance. All these resulted in poor gut health resulting in Dysbacteriosis, which further gave way to coccidiosis and NE.
To keep track of prevailing dysbacteriosis and coccidiosis infection, commercial broilers across South Asian countries were given a macroscopic dysbacteriosis and coccidiosis intestinal lesion scoring by experienced veterinarians during necropsy.
CLOSTAT™, an antimicrobial containing Bacillus subtilis PB6, can effectively maintain intestinal health by direct killing action on Clostridium perfringens and promotes the beneficial bacteria. The present study compares the efficacy of CLOSTATTM during the year 2022 throughout South Asian countries (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh).
This study was initiated to compare the efficacy of CLOSTATTM in users and non-users of the South Asian market in relation to the occurrence of Dysbacteriosis and Coccidiosis in South Asian broiler farms.
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