AUTHOR=Yu Caiyun , Wang Dong , Tong Yichun , Li Qiming , Yang Weiren , Wang Tian , Yang Zaibin 

TITLE=Trans-Anethole Alleviates Subclinical Necro-Haemorrhagic Enteritis-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Intestinal Inflammation in Broilers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.831882

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.831882

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=This study investigated the alleviative potential of TA on the impaired intestinal barrier and intestinal inflammation, and regulatory effects on gut microbiota in broilers with subclinical necro-haemorrhagic enteritis (NE) challenge. Subclinical NE challenge led to a severe decline in the 21 d body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), but an increase in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and intestinal lesion score of birds compared with controls (P < 0.05). Compared with subclinical NE group, TA administration group exhibited lower (P < 0.05) intestinal lesion score and crypt depth (CD), serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactate concentration but higher (P < 0.05) intestinal tight junction protein expressions, villus height (VH), VH/CD, and numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells. Administration of TA also inhibited (P < 0.05) the expression of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) but increased (P < 0.05) jejunal IL-10 and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration. TA inclusion also led to a remarkable reduction of intestinal NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (IκBα) degradation and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) translocation. Moreover, TA modulated the cecal microbiota abundance and diversity of NE birds, as confirmed by reducing the phylum Firmicutes and genera RuminococcaceaeUCG-014, Eubacteriumcoprostanoligenesgroup, and RuminococcaceaeNK4A214group when supplemented at 600 mg/kg, reducing genera Butyricicoccus, Oscillibacter, and Flavonifractor when supplemented at 400 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Supplementation of TA in broiler diets could alleviate subclinical NE infection by restoring intestinal barrier integrity, inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway and modulating gut microbiota. 600 mg/kg of TA is the optimum concentration for ameliorating subclinical NE in broilers.