Resumen

CHAVEZ GOMEZ, Liliana Andrea; LOPEZ HERRERA, Albeiro  y  PARRA SUESCUN, Jaime Eduardo. Inclusion of probiotic strains improves immune parameters in broilers. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2015, vol.10, n.2, pp.160-169. ISSN 1900-9607.

Broilers face pathogenic agents daily, which could trigger intestinal problems and cause the immune system to not respond effectively. Probiotics improve natural defense mechanisms through the modulation of intestinal microbiota (bactericide effect), which play a critical role in supporting the host's health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of different probiotic strains in feeding broilers and its effect on the immune system. 125 one-day-old male chicks (Cobb) who underwent allometric analysis of lymphoid organs (bursa, thymus, spleen), intestinal pH and antibody titer against gumboro was performed on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 (D1 and D2 respectively). Birds were fed two diets: basal diet with and without the addition of antibiotics. Probiotics (L. casei, L. acidophilus or E. faecium) were supplied in the drinking water (10⁸ UFC/ml) of animals fed the basal diet without antibiotics (D2), representing the others experimental diets (D1, D2 and D3 respectively). The statistical design was a randomized block split-plot arrangement. The inclusion of probiotics, specifically E. faecium, helped maintain a lower intestinal pH, the greater weight of lymphoid organs and a greater degree of vaccine antibodies against Gumboro, promoting animal health. Therefore, E. faecium, can be used in the feeding of broilers throughout the production cycle as growth promoter.

Palabras clave : Additives; lactic acid bacteria; growth promoters; poultry.

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