Bacillus subtilis PB6 based-probiotic (CloSTAT tm) improves intestinal morphological and microbiological status of broiler chickens under Clostridium perfringens challenge

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of a commercial Bacillus subtilis PB6 based-probiotic, CloSTAT (trade mark) as an alternative to in-feed antibiotic, Enramycine, on growth parameters, intestinal morphology and ileal bacterial count of broilers during pre- and post-challenge with Clostridium Perfringens (C. perfringens) challenge. One hundred, 0-d-old Ross 308 male broilers were allocated in four experimental treatments for 30 days. The experimental treatments received a corn-soybean basal diet and were as follows: T1 = positive control (+CON): unmediated diet, unchallenged birds; T2 = negative control (-CON): unmediated diet, challenged birds; T3 = mediated diet with Enramycin, challenged birds (ENRA); and T4 = mediated diet with probiotic CloSTAT (trade mark) challenged birds (CS). Chicks in treatment 2 to 4 were challenged with C. perfringens on d 18. Five birds per treatment were sampled at 16 and 30 d of age for morphometric measurements of the small intestine and ileal bacterial count. Overall, feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly different among the four treatments (P greater than 0.05). On the other hand, CS supplementation caused some changes in the intestinal mucosa morphometrics, birds, which had received CS had longer jejunal and ileal villi as compared to other treatments (P less than 0.05). There was a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in ileal C. perfringens count due to CS supplementation. The results from this study indicated that CS under the condition of this trail had a positive influence on broilers performance.