Abstract

The development of abnormal feather-pecking (FP) behavior, where laying hens display harmful pecks in conspecifics, is multifactorial and has been linked to the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Antibiotics affect the gut microbial composition, leading to gut-brain axis imbalance and behavior and physiology changes in many species. However, it is not clear whether intestinal dysbacteriosis can induce the development of damaging behavior, such as FP. The restorative effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR-32 against intestinal dysbacteriosis-induced alternations need to be determined either. The current investigation aimed to induce intestinal dysbacteriosis in laying hens by supplementing their diet with the antibiotic lincomycin hydrochloride. The study revealed that antibiotic exposure resulted in decreased egg production performance and an increased tendency toward severe feather-pecking (SFP) behavior in laying hens. Moreover, intestinal and blood-brain barrier functions were impaired, and 5-HT metabolism was inhibited. However, treatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR-32 following antibiotic exposure significantly alleviated the decline in egg production performance and reduced SFP behavior. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR-32 supplementation restored the profile of the gut microbial community, and showed a strong positive effect by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins in the ileum and hypothalamus and promoting the expression of genes related to central 5-HT metabolism. The correlation analysis revealed that probiotic-enhanced bacteria were positively correlated, and probiotic-reduced bacteria were negatively correlated with tight junction-related gene expression, and 5-HT metabolism, and butyric acid levels. Overall, our findings indicate that dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR-32 can reduce antibiotic-induced FP in laying hens and is a promising treatment to improve the welfare of domestic birds.

Keywords

intestinal dysbacteriosis; microbiome-gut-brain axis; feather-pecking behavior; probiotics; laying hen

Published in

Frontiers in Microbiology
2023, Volume: 14, article number: 1173804
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

SLU Authors

• Chenxuan, Huang

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Hebei Agricultural University

• Yue, Qiaoxian

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Hebei Agricultural University

• Sun, Li

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Pathobiology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173804

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122760