Litter Management Strategies and Their Impact on the Environmental and Respiratory Microbiome Might Influence Health in Poultry

• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050878
• Publication Date: 2022-04-24T01:39:45Z
• Authors: Dinka Ivulic; Ramon Rossello-Mora; Tomeu Viver; David A. Montero; Sonia Vidal; Francisco Aspee; Héctor Hidalgo; Roberto Vidal
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0301 basic medicine; Avian; broilers; air; avian; QH301-705.5; Broilers; Air; Microbiota; microbiome; Article; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; litter; microbiome; broilers; tracheal; air; avian; litter; chickens; microbiota; Tracheal; Litter; tracheal; Microbiome; Biology (General); Chickens

Aerial and respiratory tract-associated bacterial diversity has been scarcely studied in broiler production systems. This study examined the relationship between the environmental air and birds’ respiratory microbiome, considering a longitudinal sampling. Total viable bacteria and coliforms in the air were quantified, and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from tracheal and air samples obtained through a novelty protocol. Air results showed a decrease in coliforms over time. However, at week 3, we reported an increase in coliforms (from 143 to 474 CFUc/m3) associated with litter management. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene results indicated a distinctive air microbial community, associated primarily with Bacillota phylum particularly of the Bacilli class (>58%), under all conditions. Tracheal results indicated a predominance of Escherichia coli/Shigella at the beginning of the productive cycle, shifting toward the middle and end of the cycle to Gallibacterium. However, at week 3, the dominance of Escherichia coli/Shigella (>99.5%) associated with litter aeration by tumbling stood out. Tracheal and air samples displayed a statistically different community structure, but shared differentially abundant features through time: Enterococcus, Gallibacterium, and Romboutsia ilealis. These results indicate the impact of production management protocols on the birds’ respiratory system that should be considered a breakpoint in poultry farm health.