Protective role of Multi-strain Probiotic Bacteria against Eimeria in Broilers

In the present research, two trials were conducted to investigate the potential protective effects of multi-strain probiotic bacteria in broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria brunetti or Eimeria mivati. In the present study, we examined oocysts shedding; antibody immune responses and histopathology differences of broilers fed the commercial probiotic Poultry Star Me (PSM). Day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed either a regular broiler diet or one of two probiotic diets supplemented with 0.1% PSM or 0.2% PSM. Chicks were orally challenged with 5000 or 10000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria brunetti or with 5000 Eimeria mivati oocysts on day 10 or 12 of age, respectively. In Eimeria brunette and Eimeria mivati-infected birds, the PSM 0.1% group showed reduction in oocyst shedding in birds infected with 5000 Eimeria oocysts as compared with the other two groups. In Eimeria mivati-infected birds, Eimeria-0.05) in the PSM fed groups, especially in the PSM 0.1% birds, compared with the regular diet group. These results demonstrate that this PSM probiotic effectively enhances the immune resistance of birds and protects against the negative growth effects associated with coccidiosis (Eimeria infestation), particularly when supplemented at 0.1% PSM of the diet. Histopathology changes revealed normal architecture and greater vilus height was obtained in ileum with the use of PSM in relation to the control group. Multi-strain probiotic bacteria interfere with the pathogen binding sites and produce antimicrobial peptides and induce host immune responses especially mucosal surfaces immunity, thus enhancing resistance against enteric intestinal pathogens like Eimeria spp.