Book Ihsig 24 Web

Dear attendants of the 8th International Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health,
In poultry, preserving intestinal health is a key issue in enhancing productivity, reducing antimicrobial usage
and improving animal welfare. The last decade, a lot of novel information has been collected that has led to
an increased understanding of the interaction between nutrition, intestinal microbiota, and the host cells
in the gut. This has enabled the poultry industry to develop science-driven control products for intestinal
disorders and diseases, and to identify biomarkers for gut health. While scientists have been studying the
pathogenesis of intestinal diseases, they also were highly active in unravelling the significance of the func-
tionality of the gut microbiota and the response of the host to microbial changes. In addition, one has been
looking into the significance of responses of epithelial cells and immune cells in relation to nutritional (and
microbial) changes, to gain a deeper understanding of the intestinal ecosystem. The poultry industry has
been very active in using this novel information to design nutritional interventions and feed additives, and
this cross-talk between science and industry has been very successful in generating a platform for further
improvements in control and diagnosis of intestinal health. The ICPIH provides a platform to disseminate
this novel knowledge.
With more than XXX submitted scientific abstracts and over XXX registered participants, the organizing
committee is excited to host this number of academics and poultry professionals at the 8th Edition of the
International Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health, held in Manila, The Philippines, from April 17th to 19th
2024. This location is stunning and we are warmly welcomed by the local organizers.
The backbone for a diverse program is the internationally renowned keynote speakers: Filip Van Immer-
seel (Ghent University, Belgium), Dana Stanley (University of Queensland, Australia), Rob Moore (Royal
Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia), Reza Barekatain (University of Adelaide, Australia), Jeremy
Barr (Monash University, Australia), Shayan Sharif (University of Guelph, Canada), Martin Zuidhof (Univer-
sity of Alberta, Canada), Bernd Kaspers (University of Munich, Germany), and Benjamin Schusser (Techni-
cal University of Munich, Germany). In addition, 24 short communication presenters that show their latest
findings, and a poster session combined with 20 3-minute pitch presentations, make this event again the
biggest conference on this topic worldwide. The speakers will bring updates on novel scientific findings in
various domains of gut health research, and timely findings and data with practical relevance to the poultry
industry in its broadest sense.
As in previous editions, the ‘One World, One Health’ concept, which recognizes that human health is inter-
connected to the health of animals and the environment, still has its central role in the conference. Humans
and animals interact with greater frequency and intimacy in a globalized world. These interactions increase
the risk of the emergence and spread of disease agents that could adversely impact health, whether human,
animal or both. Today, poultry production is essential in providing affordable protein and has a relatively low
ecological footprint. Despite this, one needs to be aware of animal health, animal welfare, food safety, food
security, public perception, trade implications, and market-access aspects if we want to improve poultry
production. All over the world, innovative solutions in developing alternatives to antibiotics and gut health
diagnostics require a thorough knowledge of the interaction between the microbiota and the host cells of
the chicken gut, and this is influenced by nutrition. The conference wants to bring the attendants up to date
with this knowledge and creates a platform for innovation.
We hope to have succeeded in creating a science-based conference that satisfies the audience and want to
thank speakers, sponsors and all attendants to take part in the exciting discussions and interactions.
Enjoy the conference!

Filip Van Immerseel and Maarten De Gussem, organizers of the conference.
Insular Life
Tanghalang Haribon
Dates: April 17 - April 19, 2024

Venue: Insular Life Tanghalang Haribon
Insular Life Drive,
Filinvest Corporate City,
Alabang, Muntinlupa,
Philippines 1781
Website: www.icpih.com
Contact: info@icpih.com
Conference Whatsapp number: +63 999 228 3084
1 Keynote speakers, Oral & Pitch presentations

2 Exhibitors booths
3 Coffee break
4 Poster presentations (3rd floor balcony)
8Th International Conference On Poultry Intestinal Health
Organizing committee Scientific committee
Prof. Filip Van Immerseel (Belgium) Prof. Dr. Filip Van Immerseel (Belgium)
Maarten De Gussem, DVM (Belgium) Maarten De Gussem, DVM (Belgium)
Prof. Rob Moore (Australia)
Dr. Miriam Alberto-Tempra (The Philippines)
Dr. Venessa Eeckhout (Belgium)
Venue
Insular Life Tanghalang Haribon is located in Alabang, a lively business district.
The venue is located 20 km from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The Insular Life Tanghalang Haribon is easily reachable and surrounded by many hotel
chains.
It’s designed for various events and fully-equipped with a modern sound, lighting and
multi-media system.
The outstanding location, excellent conference facilities and highly specialized and
experienced staff makes the Insular Life Tanghalang Haribon the perfect host for the 8th
International Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health.
Insular Life Drive,

Filinvest Corporate City,
Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines 1781
Information & Contact

Conference Whatsapp number
+63 999 228 3084
8TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON POULTRY INTESTINAL HEALTH
Timetables
General timetable
Wednesday 17th April, 2024
REGISTRATION 8:00 8:45
TOPICS SPEAKER TIME
Filip Van Immerseel

(Ghent University, Belgium)
Welcome and Introduction 9:00 9:15
Maarten De Gussem
(Vetworks, Belgium)
Emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens in

Filip Van Immerseel
broilers, with focus on Salmonella, Enterococcus and 9:15 10:00
(Ghent University, Belgium)
avian pathogenic Escherichia coli
COFFEE BREAK 10:00 10:45
Session I: INTESTINAL MICROBIOME IN POULTRY
CHAIRMAN: Filip Van Immerseel
Dana Stanley
Chicken microbial composition and functionalities, in
(University of Queensland, 10:45 11:30
relation to gut health
Australië)
Microbiota and transcriptomics related factors driving

Nadia Everaert
body weight divergence in broiler chickens hatched on 11:30 11:45
(KU Leuven, Belgium)
farm or in a hatchery
Effects of multi-strain and mono-strain probiotics on

intestinal health, intestinal morphometrics, performance, Vasil Stanev
and processing characteristics of broilers exposed to (Phibro Animal Health 11:45 12:00
intestinal challenge: importance of inclusion level and Corporation)
strain synergies.
Gut microbiota and gene expression in male and female Natasja Smeets
12:00 12:15
broilers (Kemin)
LUNCH 12:15 13:30
Session II: PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CHAIRMAN: Gunther Antonissen
Rob Moore
Virulence factors of Clostridium perfringens that
(Royal Melbourne Institute of 13:30 14:15
induce necrotic enteritis: more than toxins
Technology, Australia)
Efficacy study of an inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis

Santiago De Castro Verges
vaccine against a Salmonella Gallinarum challenge in 14:15 14:30
(Hipra Animal Health)
commercial layers
Butyric glycerides protect chicken enterocytes from

Amine Mellouk (Adisseo) 14:30 14:45
pathogen colonization with two different modes of action
Clostridium perfringens chitinases, key enzymes during Evelien Dierick (Ghent

14:45 15:00
early stages of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens University, Belgium)
Influencing intestinal microbiota of chickens with the Julia Hankel (University of

offer of fermented cereals to increase resilience against Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, 15:00 15:15
Enterococcus cecorum Germany)
Session III: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH
CHAIRMAN: Maarten De Gussem
Experimental models to study gut health in poultry Reza Barekatain (University of

16:00 16:45
with a focus on nutrition Adelaide, Australia)
Experimental necrotic enteritis model in turkeys using Monita Vereecken

16:45 17:00
different Clostridium perfringens strains (Huvepharma)
Investigation of the effect of antimicrobial and prebiotic

Teemu Rinttilä (Alimetrics,
substances on broiler intestinal fermentation: A novel ex 17:00 17:15
Finland)
vivo simulation approach
Antimicrobial Properties and Gut Colonisation of Bacillus

Darwin Horyanto (Bioproton) 17:15 17:30
Probiotics in Broilers in a Leaky Gut Model
Thursday 18th April, 2024
TOPICS SPEAKER TIME
Phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant Jeremy Barr

8:30 9:15
bacterial pathogens (Monash University, Australia)
Speed dates 9:15 10:15
Session IV: GUT HEALTH MARKERS & DIAGNOSTICS
CHAIRMAN: Rob Moore
Sharif Shayan
Smart Poultry Management: An Outlook to the Future 11:00 11:45
(University of Guelph, Canada)
PathKinex , a DNA-based microbial surveillance platform

Hector Leyva-Jimenez (United
can provide insights on bacterial interactions leading to 11:45 12:00
Animal Health)
coinfections in broiler chickens
Gut health markers in the ceca of broiler chickens as a

Virginie Blanvillain (ABVista) 12:00 12:15
means to explain the response to Eimeria challenge
Proteomic Insights into the Gut Health of Broilers: Blood- Svitlana Tretiak (Ghent
15’ 12:15
based Biomarkers to Bridge Inflammatory Models University, Belgium)
LUNCH 12:30 13:45
POSTER SESSION Various authors 13:45 14:45
Session V: INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
CHAIRMAN: Sharif Shayan
Precision Feeding What is it, and what are the Martin Zuidhof
14:45 15:30
advantages? (University of Alberta, Canada)
Evaluation of the protective capacity of an innovative

Insaf Riahi
anti-mycotoxins agent against the detrimental effects of 15:30 15:45
(BIŌNTE Nutrition S.L. Reus)
aflatoxin b1 and fumonisins in broiler chickens
Evaluation of the E. acervulina and E. maxima scoring Brecht Maertens

15:45 16:00
system in anticoccidial sensitivity testing (Poulpharm, Belgium)
Using blood pH and CO2 in broilers under high altitude, Africa Fernandez Gutierrez
16:00 16:15
humidity and temperature to optimise performance (Vetworks, Belgium)
Maraddin Insiregar (National
Effects of Nano-silicate platelets (NSP) on the respiratory
Chung Hsing University, 16:15 16:30
tract health of broiler chickens under ammonia exposure
Taiwan)
Dietary Zn amino acid complex and vitamin E levels

Leonardo Linares
effects in young broilers and during heat stress challenge 16:30 16:45
(Zinpro)
in the finisher phase
Friday 19th April, 2024
TOPICS SPEAKER TIME
Session VI:CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH
CHAIRMAN: Dana Stanley
Bernd Kaspers
Maturation and function of the avian mucosal
(University of Munich, 8:30 9:15
immune system
Germany)
Growth performance and intestinal health improvements

in broiler chickens receiving a bacterial xylanase and Christelle Boudry (Belfeed) 9:15 9:30
undergoing an intestinal challenge
Improvement of gut health and performance in poultry

Clarisse Techer (Mixscience) 9:30 9:45
with a solution of fatty acid esters
Decoding Betaine: Exploring Intestinal Barrier Interaction

Ana Gavrãu (Agrana) 9:45 10:00
in Broiler Chicken
Session VI:CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH
CHAIRMAN: Bernd Kaspers
Genetically modified chickens as a tool to dissect the Benjamin Schusser (Technical

10:45 11:30
avian immune response University of Munich, Germany)
Supplementation of a sulfated polysaccharides extracted

from marine algae positively influences performance
Maria Garcia Suarez (Olmix) 11:30 11:45
and gut integrity of broilers during a necrotic enteritis
challenge
Essential oil and probiotic combination: A gut health Fajrin Sidiq (IFF Danisco
11:45 12:00
powerhouse tackling subclinical dysbiosis Animal Nutrition and Health)
Reversing antibiotic sensitivity. Development of a

Rosa Franco-Rosselló (Trouw
challenge model against β-lactamase-producing 12:00 12:15
Nutrition)
Escherichia coli
CONCLUSION, INNOVATION AWARD & CLOSING 12:15

Timetable pitch presentations
Thursday 18th April, 2024
Speed dates: a variety of 3-minute short communication teasers
TITLE AUTHOR 9:15 10:15
The microbiota promotes recruitment and pro-

inflammatory response of cecal macrophages during E. Clarisse Techer (Mixscience) 9:15 9:18
tenella infection
Effect of a Probiotic Weizmannia- and Bacillus-

Combination on the Gut Microbiome and Growth Lydia Ziebich (Biochem) 9:18 9:21
Performance of Poultry
Supplementing probiotic Clostridium butyricum to

Wouter Van der Veken
improve technical performance, caecal SCFAs and 9:21 9:24
(Huvepharma)
microbiota
Influence of neonatal avian pathogenic E. coli exposure on

Lisa Bielke (North Carolina
acute phase protein response to Clostridium perfringens 9:24 9:27
State University, US)
inoculation
Garlic and cinnamon feed additive improves layers’

Madri Brink (Orffa) 9:27 9:30
performance during a roundworm natural challenge
Evaluation of the effects of a bacterial probiotic in

Alain Riggi (Phileo) 9:30 9:33
experimentally induced necrotic enteritis
The impact of a yeast probiotic on gut microbiota in

Caitlin Vosloo (Phileo) 9:33 9:36
broilers
Salmonella serotype prediction with Nanopore Cas Samoy (Ghent University,

9:36 9:39
sequencing as a Point-of-Care characterization tool Belgium)
COALMINERS: A Novel Approach to studying chronic ‘low-

Christos Gougoulias (Innovad) 9:39 9:42
grade’ inflammation in production chickens
Necrotic Enteritis model with regular and slow-growing Ellen Van Eerden (Schothorst
9:42 9:45
broiler breeds – a pilot study Feed Research)
Efficacy of the Quillaja based dietary supplementation on Rosa Navarro Lisboa (Plantae
9:45 9:48
performance and health on poultry Coccidiosis challenged Lab)
Effect of Multienzymes on Hen Production, Egg Quality,
Royd Joseph Racasa Mosaso
Gut Morphology, and Relative Digestive Organ Weights in 9:48 9:51
(Luzon Agriventures)
96-Week Late-Phase Hens
Effects of dietary inclusion of palm kernel cake 5% and

Choong Jia Jie
10% on performance, carcass traits, cooking loss and cost 9:51 9:54
(Elanco Animal Health)
efficiency in broiler chickens
Evaluating a phytogenic-saponin blend in coccidiosis Shelby Ramirez (DSM-

9:54 9:57
management programs Firmenich)
Improving Productivity and Resilience to Enteric Stress of

Fred Petranyi (University of
Laying Hens in Demanding Commercial Environments via 9:57 10:00
Central Queensland, Australia)
Precision Glycan Supplementation
Comparison of the efficacy of different coccidiosis control

Ben Dehaeck (Huvepharma) 10:00 10:03
programmes
Patricia Soster de Carvalho

Validation of a Camera System for Correlating Activity
10:03 10:06
Levels with Leg Health in Broiler Chickens
(Ghent University)
Impact of early feeding and time of hatch on duodenal

Niamh Cleiren (Ghent
morphology and nutrient metabolism during the first 10:06 10:09
University)
week of life in conventional and slow growing broilers
Effect of water application of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

CECT 5940 in effervescent tablet form on Broiler April Santos (Evonik) 10:09 10:12
Performance under Commercial Conditions
Probiotics for young layers: can microbiome modulation

Susanne Kirwan (Kemin) 10:12 11:15
benefit performance and egg quality?
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
KEY NOTE SPEAKERS
Speakers' biography
Filip Van Immerseel | University of Ghent, Belgium
Filip Van Immerseel received a Master in Bio-engineering

Sciences at the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) in 1999, and
a Master in Laboratory Animal Sciences at Ghent University in
2004. He received a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences at Ghent
University in 2004, studying intestinal immune cell infiltration
after Salmonella infection of chickens, and environmental trig-
gers in the gut that influence Salmonella invasion.
After a post-doc period, he was appointed as Research Profes-

sor by Ghent University in 2008. Currently he is Professor at
the Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoolog-
ical Medicine of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent
University in Belgium and is head of a research group that
studies host-bacterium interactions.
Filip Van Immerseel currently has more than 230 scientific

papers in international peer-reviewed journals, has written
book chapters and edited books on Animal Biosecurity, Bacte-
rial diseases in animals, Salmonella and Clostridium perfrin-
gens and is a well-known speaker at international events. He
is editor of the journal Avian Pathology and involved in many
international collaborative research networks. He patented a
dozen of gut health solutions out of which multiple products
were marketed.
Dana Stanley | Central Queensland University,

Australia
Professor Dana Stanley was awarded a PhD in Molecular
Microbiology from Victoria University, Melbourne, 2009. Her
PhD project entitled “Generation and Characterisation of Etha-
nol-Tolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mutants” investigated
the molecular and metabolic determinants of ethanol toler-
ance in yeast and was awarded “The most outstanding PhD in
2009” by Victoria University.
Following PhD graduation she started a postdoctoral position

in CSIRO’s Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL), in poultry intes-
tinal health research. Dana specialised in gut microbiota, gene
expression and genetics during her time at AAHL. She moved to
Central Queensland University in 2013 and she is now a leader
of the Microbial Genomics research cluster focusing in livestock
intestinal health, probiotic and next generation antibiotic devel-
opment and pathogen control. Dana is also passionate about
nature conservation, animal ethics, exercise, and nutrition.
BIOGRAPHY 31
Rob Moore | Melbourne, Australia
Rob is Professor of Biotechnology at RMIT University in

Melbourne, Australia. His group studies bacterial diseases
of chickens and the importance of gut microbiota in chicken
health and productivity.
He and his colleagues discovered NetB, the major Clostrid-

ium perfringens virulence factor responsible for induction
of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broilers, plus several other viru-
lence factors. His group has developed several experimental
vaccines that induce protective immune responses against
NE. They have also demonstrated the changes in gut micro-
biota that occur during NE. They have analysed the effects of
feed components on gut microbiota and how these might be
used to reduce the impact of NE. His group has also identi-
fied, named, and investigated Campylobacter hepaticus and
Campylobacter bilis, the pathogens responsible for Spotty
Liver Disease, an emerging disease in layers.
Reza Barekatain | Adelaide, Australia
Dr Reza Barekatain is the leader of the Pig and Poultry science

program at the South Australian Research and Development
Institute (SARDI) based in Roseworthy, Australia, and an affil-
iate Senior Lecturer with the School of Animal and Veteri-
nary Sciences, at the University of Adelaide. Dr Barekatain
obtained his Ph.D. in poultry nutrition from the University of
New England, Australia in 2013.
At SARDI, his main research interest has been at the interface

of nutrition and gut health with aim to improve productivity,
stress resilience, and sustainability of pig and poultry produc-
tion. He is passionate about researching nutritional strategies
for improving the intestinal barrier function and gastrointesti-
nal ecosystem as a means to alleviate detrimental implications
of enteric disorders, and stress-related factors that mono-
gastric animals face during their production cycle. As part
of various poultry research projects, Dr Barekatain has used
different methods to study and quantify intestinal permeabil-
ity, expression of tight junction proteins, inflammation, and
immune function genes as well as intestinal microbiota. Dr
Barekatain has published extensively in peer-reviewed jour-
nals and conference proceedings and serves as an Associate
Editor for three journals Animal Nutrition, Poultry Science, and
Animal Production Science.
32 BIOGRAPHY
Jeremy Barr | Melbourne, Australia
Jeremy completed his PhD in microbiology at The University

of Queensland in 2011. He then moved to San Diego, USA to
complete a postdoctoral position with Prof. Forest Rohwer at
San Diego State University. While there he studied the inter-
actions of bacteriophage with mucosal surfaces and was
involved in a word-first phage therapy case treating a patient
with disseminated, multidrug-resistant infection.
In 2016, he joined Monash University’s School of Biological

Sciences where he is currently a Senior Lecturer and Group
Leader. His research group studies bacteriophages and their
tripartite interactions with their bacterial hosts and the
human body. In 2020, he joined the Centre to Impact AMR
where he leads translational phage therapy work.
Shayan Sharif | Guelph, Canada
Dr. Shayan Sharif earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

degree in 1991 from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Tehran. Subsequently, he came to the Univer-
sity of Guelph in 1993 to pursue a PhD degree in the area
of Immunology and Immunogenetics. Dr. Sharif received a
post-doctoral fellowship to begin his post-doctoral research
in January 1999 in Immunology at The John Robrats Research
Institute, London, Ontario. Dr. Sharif was recruited by the
University of Guelph in 2001 to establish a research program
in poultry immunology.
Dr. Sharif has received the Pfizer Award for Research Excel-
lence (2009) to recognize his research excellence and in
2017, he was selected as a University Research Leadership
Chair. Dr. Sharif was inducted into the Canadian Academy of
Health Sciences in 2022. Since 2015, Dr. Sharif is the co-Edi-
tor-in-Chief of Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology.
He is currently a Professor and Associate Dean, Research and
Graduate Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College.
BIOGRAPHY 33
Martin J. Zuidhof | Edmonton, Canada
Dr. Zuidhof is Professor of Precision Feeding and Poultry

Systems Modeling at the University of Alberta. He has been
studying broiler breeders for over 30 years, with 100 peer
reviewed publications and 4 patents. Over the last decade, his
team developed precision feeding technology to feed individ-
ual birds the right amount of the right feed at the right time.
In addition to its commercial potential, the precision feeding
system doubles as one of the best data acquisition tools in
the world for free-run poultry research. Dr. Zuidhof‘s goal is
to revolutionize the way the world feeds and studies broiler
breeders.
Dr. Zuidhof is academic leader of the Poultry Innovation

Partnership (PIP), a unique collaboration between the
government, academia, and the poultry industry. The PIP is
committed to relevance and excellence in research, teaching
and learning, and extension, and it plays an important role
training the next generation of leaders in the poultry industry.
Bernd Kaspers | Munich, Germany
Bernd Kaspers graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1986 from

the University of Munich and received his Doctor of Veteri-
nary Medicine degree in 1989. Subsequently, he worked as
a PostDoc fellow at the United States Department of Agricul-
ture focussing on the immune response to coccidian infec-
tion. Since 1997 he is a Professor for Animal Physiology at the
University of Munich. He has more than 30 years of research
experience in animal physiology and immunology, which is
documented by more than 115 peer-reviewed publications.
He is senior editor of the 3rd edition of “Avian Immunology”

published in 2022. His work involves research on both the
innate and adaptive arms of the avian immune system with
a particular focus on host-pathogen interaction, immune
system maturation and mucosal immunity. Prof Kaspers
received funding from the European Union, the German
Research Foundation (DFG), the German Ministry for Educa-
tion and Research and a number of vaccine and nutrition
companies.
34 BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin Schusser | TUM, Germany
Benjamin Schusser conducts research on the immune system

of chickens. His work is concerned with creating genetically
engineered chickens to study the immune system of chickens.
This research focuses on the development of the adaptive
immune system and on the function of the immune system
within the context of infectious diseases.
Schusser studied veterinary medicine at LMU Munich. He

subsequently earned his doctoral degree at the Institute of
Animal Physiology of LMU Munich. With the support of the
German Research Foundation (DFG), Schusser spent several
years at UC Davis, USA, and with Crystal Bioscience, a Cali-
fornia-based company. After returning to Germany, Schusser
set up a junior research group at the Institute of Animal
Physiology of LMU Munich supported by the Emmy Noether
Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG). In 2015
he accepted an appointment at TUM.
BIOGRAPHY 35
KEY NOTE PRESENTATIONS
Abstracts
38 KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS
KEYNOTE
Insights in emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens in

poultry, with focus on Salmonella, and bacterial chondronecrosis
and osteomyelitis, caused by Enterococcus cecorum
Filip Van Immerseel

Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine
Broiler chickens are under continuous infec- biocidal activity of some disinfectants and
tious pressure by a variety of pathogens, of are highly efficient in forming biofilms. It is
which Eimeria is the most important, although thus clear that the pESI plasmid contributes to
viral and bacterial pathogens are also often the persistence on farms and cause the emer-
infecting broiler flocks. While some bacterial gence of this pathogen. Also, the pESI plas-
pathogens have been associated with poul- mid has been transferred to other Salmonella
try diseases for many years (eg. Clostridium serotypes recently, potentially causing a prob-
perfringens), there are often waves of novel lematic situation when this plasmid would be
pathogens, diseases, or specific clonal strains transferred to prevalent serotypes, such as S.
of bacterial pathogens that emerge in the Typhimurium.
poultry sector.
Early mortality of young chickens because of
In the case of the zoonotic pathogen Salmo- bacteria that translocate to the bloodstream and
nellla, the majority of human salmonellosis colonize internal organs and cause septicemia
cases are caused by Salmonella serotypes is an important problem in the broiler industry,
Enteritidis and Typhimurium, but the last causing significant economic consequences. In
decade other serotypes have emerged, of addition, bacteria present in the bloodstream
which the most important is Salmonella Infan- can cause bacterial chondronecrosis with osteo-
tis. Specific clonal Salmonella Infantis strains, myelitis (BCO), an emerging disease in broilers,
often found to be highly antimicrobial resist- causing lameness, resulting from necrosis at
ant and carrying specific plasmid-encoded bones and cartilage. The latter can be caused
virulence factors (located on a mega-plas- by Enterococcus cecorum and avian pathogenic
mid pESI) have emerged worldwide in the Escherichia coli (APEC), resulting from strains
broiler population. Broiler meat samples and that translocate from the gut (or respiratory
faecal isolates from broilers are dominated tract, or navel) to the bloodstream. Most domi-
by strains from this serotype to about 50% nant APEC strains are from specific sequence
of all isolates, resulting in Salmonella Infantis types (STs) and phylogroups, being ST-23 in
being the third most important human food phylogroup C, ST-117 in phylogroup G and
poisoning serotype. A specific characteristic ST-95, ST-140 and ST-428/429 in phylogroup
of the novel clonal lineage is thus the pESI B2, although depending on the region, also other
plasmid that contains hypothetical virulence STs can be involved. Both the ST-23 and ST-117
genes. The hypothetical virulence genes are strains are typically encoding 078/H4 antigens,
qacEΔ1 (possibly involved in survival against and the other ST-s contain mostly O1 and 02
biocides), klfG and lpfD (both involved in the antigens, and various H- antigens. APEC strains
formation of specific fimbrae, and therefore isolated from BCO cases are phylogenetically
possibly involved in biofilm formation and and genotypically similar to APEC strains from
adhesion to cells), and ipr2 (involved in the colibacillosis (septicemia) cases.
formation of yersiniabactin, a siderophore,
possibly involved in survival in immune
cells). Strains that contain the plasmid are
more capable to colonize tissues, survive (Continued on the next page)
KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS 39
KEYNOTE
In the case of Enterococcus cecorum, the situ-

ation is different as novel emerging clonal
lineages have emerged since a decade. These
strains have a specific genetic chromosomal
background, containing hypothetical viru-
lence genes, also involved in survival in the
environment and against antimicrobial mole-
cules, including host defense molecules, and
differ from commensal strains. Some pheno-
typical characteristics of these novel strains
are increased survival against lysozyme and
higher induction of embryonic mortality,
pointing to increased virulence.
Only when the pathogenesis of infections with

these novel pathogens is unraveled by under-
standing increased virulence or environ-
mental survival, one could develop targeted
control measures.
KEYNOTE
Chicken microbial composition and functionalities, in relation

to gut health
Dana Stanley1, Yadav Bajagai1, Martina Kluenemann2, Nadia Yacoubi2

1
Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
2
Evonik Operations GmbH, 45128 Essen, Germany
Intestinal health is a cornerstone of bird sequencing data. Both datasets were analyzed
productivity and overall health. The last and compared, and several exciting trends
decade has increased our understanding of were noted across all of the investigated vari-
microbiota composition, spatial and temporal ables, as well as methodology comparisons
variation, and ways to manipulate and modu- and limitations.
late intestinal communities. A slow drop in
shotgun metagenomic cost and increased In addition to this dataset, we will present
metabolomics availability brings new oppor- data from an immense study dealing with
tunities to overcome some of the restrictions microbial succession dynamics in poultry in
we had from 16S amplicon methodology each section of the gut, highlighting spatial
shortfalls. (gut section) uniqueness and complexity and
temporal fluctuation patterns that remain
While we have the opportunity to further underexplored and underutilized in improv-
investigate the already published range of ing animal health. These findings emphasize
nutritional, health and welfare variables’ the need to carefully select intestinal sections
microbiota associations, we are still limited for each experimental question and appro-
to a simplistic view of individual and discon- priately select the sampling age to ensure the
nected studies, leaving a massive amount relevance and accuracy of the results.
of data on public databases underutilized.
Despite an enormous number of sequenced
poultry intestinal samples, public databases
containing hundreds of thousands of microbi-
ota samples provide limited opportunities for
a holistic view of intestinal health since most
of the datasets contain only basic control/
treatment annotations, and a number of them
are blemished with poor quality sequences.
To overcome this, we embarked on a major

information recovery study by download-
ing everything ever published in poultry gut
health using both 16S amplicon and shotgun
metagenomic methodologies and manually
annotating all data from the published Mate-
rials and Methods section. This required a
manual annotation from 163 publications and
resulted in a total of 15,852 microbiota ampli-
con samples and 2,008 shotgun metagenomic
samples annotated for bird type (meat type vs
egg type), breed, sex, sequencing platform, gut
section, country of trial, age, and additionally
variable region and primer sets for amplicon
KEYNOTE
Virulence factors of Clostridium perfringens that induce necrotic

enteritis: more than toxins
Robert J. Moore
School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Clostrid- infection we have been able to identify new
ium perfringens, is a significant economic targets for vaccine interventions. Vaccination
burden on the global poultry industries. NE approaches that incorporate multiple anti-
causes mortalities and production losses genic targets are likely to be more successful
and compromises the welfare of chickens. than simpler approaches used in the past, that
Understanding the virulence mechanisms just targeted the main toxins.
of C. perfringens that drive the pathogenic
processes that result in NE is an important
avenue towards developing and evaluating
methods to ameliorate the impacts of the
disease. Toxins have long been recognized
as the principal factors that determine the
virulence and disease associations of the
different toxinotypes of C. perfringens. In
strains that cause NE (type G toxinotype),
NetB has been identified as the most impor-
tant toxin, and TpeL present in a minority
of isolates from NE cases, may have a role
in inducing more severe disease. However,
toxins are not the only virulence factors that
C. perfringens strains deploy to infect and
cause disease.
Other virulence factors that have been demon-

strated to play key roles in disease pathogen-
esis include collagen adhesin (CnaA) and zinc
metalloproteases (ZmpA and ZmpB). It is
hypothesized that CnaA is important for the
attachment of C. perfringens to host tissues
and the formation of foci of infection. The
zinc metalloproteases and other degradative
enzymes such as chitinases are presumed to
have a role in damaging host tissue and the
scavenging of nutrients by C. perfringens.
Some NE-causing strains of C. perfringens also
produce antimicrobial compounds that may
provide a competitive advantage for C. perfrin-
gens proliferation in the highly competitive
environment of the gut microbiota.
By developing a fuller understanding of the

multiple mechanisms involved in determin-
ing the pathogenic outcomes of C. perfringens
KEYNOTE
Experimental models to study gut health in poultry with a focus

on nutrition
Reza Barekatain1,2
1
South Australian Research and Development Institute, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
2
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
Experimental models of gut health facilitate to their direct field application. Arguably, the
an in-depth understanding of the physiology cocci- and NE-based models have formed the
and mechanisms surrounding the complex basis of most solution or feed additive test-
interactions between the gastrointestinal ing in the quest to find alternatives to in-feed
ecosystem and the host. In addition, these antibiotics in poultry. Notably, restricting the
models provide opportunities to identify and research to only a particular model limits
validate various diagnostics and subsequently the scope of tested mitigating strategies and
solutions tailored to enhance intestinal health the physiological response of birds to a set
and develop resilience to enteric disorders, of conditions pertinent to that model and as
inflammation, and stress experienced by poul- such may not apply to other issues related to
try during their production cycle. In-vitro poultry production. Stress is shown to have
techniques to study gut health in poultry are profound impacts on the intestinal barrier
in their infancy and require fundamental in poultry. Accordingly, different models of
research into the basics of developing assays heat stress and stress stimulated by exoge-
that utilize intestinal cell lines isolated from nous glucocorticoids (i.e., Dexamethasone)
chickens. Developing in-vitro models will have been successfully established and vari-
assist with the basic information required ous nutritional strategies tested. Alterna-
for developing therapeutics, screening prod- tively, dietary interventions can be used to
ucts, and targeted solutions that could ideally induce gut barrier dysfunction and increase
be validated in follow-up in-vivo studies. On gut inflammation in poultry. Noteworthy, the
the other hand, in-vivo models provide more advantages of using nutrition-based models
objective and direct insights into the physio- can be their direct field application, repeata-
logical response of the birds under different bility, convenience, and relatively low welfare
industry-relevant situations, hence the focus cost. Despite several recent studies in this
of most recent studies. Suitable gut health field, there is still a considerable research
models often involve interventions to compro- gap in establishing and validating a reliable
mise intestinal barrier functions, increase nutrition-based gut health model in poultry.
intestinal permeability, and cause inflamma- Feed withdrawal or drastic changes in diet
tion and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Imposing composition can often be the base of creating
gut barrier dysfunction in poultry is shown to a gut health model. Excess levels of non-starch
differ from long-established models in other polysaccharides from various sources such as
species, in particular mammals. For instance, rye and rice bran may cause gut dysbiosis and
chicken intestine appears to be resistant to increase intestinal permeability in chickens,
lipopolysaccharides (LPS) whereas mice but their effect appears to be more consistent
and pig models are shown to be respon- when a maize-based diet is used compared
sive to the bacterial LPS. Some inconsistent with wheat-based diets.
results have also been noted for the use of
sodium dextran sulfate in chickens, despite
being a widely used model to induce epithe-
lial damage in mice. Nevertheless, numerous
studies have used various versions of coccid-
iosis and necrotic enteritis (NE) models due (Continued on the next page)
KEYNOTE
A common perception suggests that high

dietary protein interferes with gut health,
but recent studies have demonstrated that,
on the contrary, excessive reduction of dietary
protein consistently compromises intestinal
health in chickens. Hence, a combination of
nutritional factors including excess grain
levels accompanied by a reduction of dietary
protein may be suggested to be used as a
model. Additionally, the potential of oxidized
fat, high dietary fat/energy, and some carbo-
hydrate characteristics in serving as gut health
models deserve further investigation.
KEYNOTE
Phage therapy to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens
A/Prof. Jeremy J. Barr

Monash University, School of Biological Sciences
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial tal research on phage biology against leading
resistance (AMR) pose a serious threat to clinical pathogens and discuss our transla-
global public health and calls for alternative tional efforts to treat local patients suffering
strategies to combat bacterial infections. The resistant-infections.
therapeutic use of bacteriophages (phages),
viruses that infect and kill bacteria, is emerg-
ing as an effective treatment for bacterial
infections that are no longer responding to
antibiotics. Urgent research into the biology
and application of phages targeting clini-
cally-relevant AMR pathogens is needed to
propel this life-saving treatment into our
hospitals.
Phage therapy offers several advantages

over conventional antibiotics, such as high
specificity, self-replication, low toxicity, and
adaptability to changing bacterial pathogens.
Further, clinical phage therapy is often deliv-
ered alongside conventional antibiotics, with
recent evidence suggesting synergistic effects
occur between these two antimicrobial agents.
However, phage therapy also faces several
challenges, including the narrow host range
of phages, the emergence of phage-resistant
bacteria, and limited understanding of phage
antimicrobial activity against clinical path-
ogens.
To overcome these challenges, our research

program has employed two divergent
approaches. The first aims to understand
fundamental phage biology against leading
AMR pathogens and to translate this knowl-
edge for the treatment of patients under
compassionate-use schemes. The second
approach aims to design phage cocktails,
which are mixtures of carefully selected
lytic phages that can target multiple strains
or species of bacteria within a given infec-
tion, to combat emergent nosocomial patho-
gens responsible for epidemic outbreaks and
high patient morbidity and mortality. In this
talk I will summarise our latest fundamen-
KEYNOTE
Smart Poultry Management: An Outlook to the Future
Shayan Sharif
Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
With the projected increase in human popula-

tions, the demand for nutritious and cost-effective
animal protein sources, including poultry meat and
egg, is increasing around the globe. However, there
are currently some rate-limiting factors impacting
our ability to increase the size of the global poultry
industry. Some of these factors include labor short-
ages, competition for feed ingredients, the impact of
poultry production on the environment and climate
change, and finally, emergence of diseases. Smart
Poultry Management has been proposed as a way
of employing automation, digital technologies, and
data analytics to make evidence-based decisions for
managing production, health and welfare of poultry
operations. Over the past decade, there has been
significant progress made towards the development
and implementation of Smart Poultry Management
strategies, including environmental monitoring
systems, biosensors for detection of pathogens, and
using data for creating decision support systems.
This presentation will cover some of these advance-
ments, especially in the context of disease detection
and management, and will provide an outlook to
the future.
KEYNOTE
Precision feeding: What is it, and what are the advantages?
Martin J. Zuidhof 1, Mark Fedorak 2

1
University of Alberta
2
Xanantec Technologies, Inc.
What is precision feeding? What are the advantages of precision

feeding?
Precision feeding is providing the right animal
with the right amount of the right feed at the With the precision feeding system, we have
right time. The main advantage is that preci- achieved unprecedented flock uniformity.
sion feeding helps nutritionists meet their ulti- Typically, 100% of broiler breeder pullets
mate objective of matching nutrient supply to and cockerels can now be raised to be within
the nutrient requirements of every animal. Ulti- less than 100 g of the target body weight (CV
mately, achieving this goal will optimize poultry = 1%) at the time of photostimulation. Such
production. The ability to control nutrient intake uniform roosters can complete more matings,
contributes to all three pillars of sustainability increasing fertility by 4 to 5% without spiking
by improving economic, environmental, and (replacing ineffective roosters). This reduces
societal outcomes. Sometimes those objectives labour and replacement stock and feed costs,
compete, but complete control of inputs at the while increasing revenue. Feeding algorithms
individual bird level enables users to achieve an allow us to spread meals throughout the day.
optimal result after choosing target outcomes This has gut health benefits for broiler breed-
for their specific circumstance. ers because nutrients are available to the gut
in a more consistent manner. It also increases
What motivated the development of our efficiency because compared to once a day
precision feeding system? feeding, less nutrients need to be stored and
remobilized.
The motivation for precision feeding was
to control body weight in broiler breeders. Around the world, concern for animal welfare is
Broiler hatching egg producers have long increasing. Researchers are under pressure to
recognized a negative correlation between reduce the number of animals used for research.
broiler traits and egg production. They have A precision feeding system allows nutrition
implemented feed restriction for over 40 researchers to impose treatments at the level
years to maximize egg and chick output, and of individual animals. This increases statistical
as each year passed, broiler breeder body power dramatically in a cage-free setting. With-
weight targets remained consistent while out resorting to cage systems, which are banned
broiler growth potential quadrupled. This in some parts of the world, we can now conduct
intensified competition for limited feed and studies of equivalent statistical power with only
as a result, flock uniformity evolved to be one 10% of the animals once needed.
of their biggest challenges. We initially devel-
oped our precision feeding system so that we The precision feeding system both controls and
could control individual feed intake of one monitors body weight and feed intake of indi-
type of feed so that every bird could be grown viduals. It provides full phenotypic records of
to the correct weight. The algorithm we used body weight, feed intake and feeding behaviour.
permitted birds access to feed only when their It eliminates the labour cost of manual weighing
body weight was less than the target body and making feed allocation decisions. In addi-
weight. We have further developed a system tion to its commercial value, it is ideal for nutri-
to deliver 4 different diets for more advanced tion, management, physiology, genetics, and
nutrition research. health and welfare research.
KEYNOTE
Maturation and function of the avian mucosal immune system
Prof. Dr. Prof. Bernd Kaspers

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Munich
Since the initial publication of the chicken More recent work in chicken immunology
genome in 2004 (1) significant progress has has focused on the mucosal immune systems
been made in avian immunology. Genomic of the gut and lung. Development of the gut
data have provided sequence information immune system starts prior to hatch with
for genes involved in immune-regulation but cells of the macrophage linage representing
also revealed differences in comparison with the most prominent cell type early on. These
the well-studied immune systems of mice and cells respond rapidly to infection with enteric
man (2). These differences may explain some pathogens such as Salmonella by inducing an
of the unique structural features of the avian inflammatory response. B- and T-lympho-
immune system such as the absence of lymph cytes originate from the bursa of Fabricius
nodes and the presences of a distinct organ and the thymus, respectively. Mature lympho-
for B-lymphocyte development, the bursa of cytes leave these primary lymphoid organs
Fabricius. However, the general structure of shortly before (T-cells) or at the day of hatch
the chicken immune system is highly similar (B-cells) to seed peripheral lymphoid organs.
to its mammalian counterpart with an innate Colonization of the gut is slow and very few
immune system providing rapid response to lymphocytes home to the mucosa until 7 to 14
pathogenic challenge and an adaptive immune days after hatch. Subsequently, immune cell
system responsible for sustained pathogen numbers increase and distinct distribution
control and immunological memory. Both patterns between the lamina propria and the
systems are made up of cellular and soluble intraepithelial compartment emerge. Classical
components some of which have been known T-cells of the αβ-T-cell linage are restricted to
for a long time such as macrophages and the lamina propria throughout the gut, while
heterophils, complement components and γδ are present in both compartments. They
antibodies. Others have been identified only represent the majority of so called intra-epi-
recently in mice (e.g. innate lymphoid cells) thelial lymphocytes and might play a critical
and are still poorly defined in birds. The two role in maintenance of an intact gut barrier
arms of the immune system closely interact and in tissue repair.
with each other to provide adequate protec-
tion. The importance of microbial colonization
for proper development of the gut immune
Sequencing of hundreds of avian genomes system became clear, when germ free (GF)
continues to provide new insides into the birds and birds colonized with different
evolution of avian immune systems and microbial communities were compared. While
facilitates the identification of thus far miss- no significant differences were observed
ing genes (3). In combination with recent between GF and colonized birds regarding
advances in the generation of transgenic the innate immune system, GF birds displayed
and knockout chickens (see presentation a complete lack of B-lymphocytes and IgA
by B. Schusser) these efforts will accelerate production even at an age of 8 weeks and
progress in the understanding of the avian changes in the T-cell compartment. This lack
immune system and will provide the basis for of B-cells in the gut of GF birds was not due to
the development of improved vaccines and impaired development in the bursa or reduc-
immunomodulators including feed additives tion of circulating cell numbers in the blood
which may improve animal health and welfare. but to a lack of homing signals from the gut
tissue. From this work it can be concluded that
KEYNOTE
molecular signals derived from gut coloniz-

ing microbes induce a cascade of events ulti-
mately leading to proper development of the
gut defense system. In addition, work in mice
underscored the importance of the microbiota
for maintenance of tissue homeostasis and
long-term barrier integrity. Future work must
identify the microbial metabolites and their
impact on epithelial and stroma cells during
early maturation. Some of these metabolites
and their receptors on gut cells are already
know such as short chain fatty acids, lactate,
succinate, and tryptophan derivatives but
elucidation of their precise function in birds
requires further research. Comparison of gene
expression patterns between tissues derived
from GF birds and birds with a defined or
highly complex (e.g. maternal derived) micro-
biome will provide further insights into this
complex interaction.
References
1. Sequence and comparative analysis of the chicken genome provide
unique perspectives on vertebrate evolution.
2. International Chicken Genome Sequencing Consortium
3. Nature. 2004 Dec 9;432(7018):695-716
4. Avian Immunonogy
5. Kaspers B, Schat, KA, Göbel, TW, Vervelde, L
6. 3rd. Edition, Elsevier, 2022
7. Characterization of Chicken Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, a Long Missed
Cytokine in Birds
8. Rohde F, Schusser B, Hron T, Farkašová H, Plachý J, Härtle S, Hejnar J,
Elleder D, Kaspers B.
9. Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 17;9:605.
KEYNOTE
Enhancing Chicken Immunity: Unleashing the Power of Gene

Editing
Theresa von Heyl1, Romina Klinger1, Dorothea Aumann1, Christian Zenner1, Mohanned Alhussien1,
Antonina Schlickenrieder1, Kamila Lengyel1, Hanna-Kaisa Vikkula1, Teresa Mittermair1, Hicham Sid1,
Benjamin Schusser1,2
1
Reproductive Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
2
Center for Infection Prevention (ZIP), Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
Genetically engineered animals have signif- To investigate the roles of αβ and γδ T cells in
icantly contributed to our comprehension birds, we developed chickens lacking these T
of immunity, infectious diseases, neurology, cell populations by genetically deleting the
behavior, and developmental biology. Under- constant region of the T cell receptor β or γ
standing the immune system represents a chain. This led to the complete absence of
pivotal area of scientific inquiry that continu- either αβ or γδ T cells. Our results revealed
ously offers novel health solutions for humans that in TCR Cγ−/− chickens lacking γδ T cells,
and animals. The advent of the CRISPR/ there was a significant increase in the CD8+αβ
Cas9 system has revolutionized this field by T cell population in the gut-associated
enabling precise gene modifications in vari- lymphoid tissues, suggesting compensatory
ous animal species. mechanisms in response to the absence of γδ
T cells. Surprisingly, deletion of αβ T cells, but
Chickens are globally important as a primary not γδ T cells, resulted in severe phenotypic
source of protein and serve as valuable abnormalities in chickens, characterized by
models for studying vertebrate developmen- granulomas and inflammatory reactions in
tal biology. However, generating genetically various tissues.
modified chickens has historically presented
challenges due to the intricate structure of Immunophenotyping of αβ T cell knockout
the chicken zygote. Recent advancements (KO) chickens showed alterations in mono-
in genetically modifying primordial germ cyte levels, absence of CD4+ T cells and
cells (PGCs) and reintroducing them into the FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, reduced immuno-
embryonic vasculature have facilitated the globulin levels, and changes in bursa morphol-
production of transgenic chickens. ogy. Additionally, TCR Cβ-/- chickens lacking
αβ T cells exhibited structural changes in the
Our recent findings shed light on the role of thymus and spleen, as well as alterations in
T cells in chicken health, particularly high- the gut microbiome diversity.
lighting the significance of different T cell
subpopulations. γδ T cells, a unique type Our findings represent the first comprehen-
of lymphocyte with innate-like character- sive examination of the consequences of T
istics, are believed to play crucial roles in cell knockouts in chickens, providing novel
various immune responses and tissue home- insights into avian T cell functions. Geneti-
ostasis. Nonetheless, their precise functions cally modified chickens are poised to advance
in mammals and chickens remain poorly our understanding of T cell biology in birds,
understood. Chickens possess a relatively including their interactions with other
high proportion of γδ T cells, making them an immune cells and infectious pathogens. This
intriguing research model. A comprehensive knowledge will inform the development of
understanding of this T cell subset is expected tailored preventive strategies that leverage
to contribute to developing more effective the unique features of the chicken immune
therapeutic and preventive measures against system to promote optimal health.
diseases in mammals and birds.
INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-44
Microbiota and transcriptomics related factors driving body weight

divergence in broiler chickens hatched on farm or in a hatchery
Muhammad Zeeshan Akram, Ester Arévalo Sureda, Luke Comer, Nadia Everaert
Nutrition and Animal Microbiota Ecosystems Lab, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
The Problem to HS, with a tendency for higher Simpson

index on day 7 in the HOF chicks (P=0.087).
Conventional hatcheries (HH) subject chicks However, α-diversity metrics were largely
to a period of 48-72 hours of feed and water influenced by BW, with LBW chickens having
deprivation, resulting in a delayed gastroin- higher Chao1, Shannon and Simpson indexes
testinal development. Alternatively, on-farm on days 7 and 38 (P < 0.05). β-diversity was
hatching (HOF) involves transportation solely influenced by BW, not by HS, with
of eggs on day 18th of incubation providing distinct sample clusters on PCoA based on
immediate access to feed and water, which BW on day 7. LEfSe analysis showed limited
may favorably affect the chick's growth HS-related differences in caecal microbial
performance. Following placement in the composition that decreased with time, with a
broiler house, broiler chickens in the same worth mentioning increased level of Escheri-
flock exhibit body weight (BW) heterogeneity chia-Shigella in HH chickens on day 7. More-
despite uniform rearing conditions, present- over, chicken growth trajectories were linked
ing challenges in farm operations, carcass to caecal microbiota, and differences in
processing, and marketing. microbiota composition between BW groups
increased over time. HBW chickens enriched
How we investigated or researched the with SCFA-producing genera such as unclas-
problem sified Lachnospiraceae on days 7 and 14, and
Faecalibacterium on day 38. Interestingly,
We hypothesize that the gut physiology and Lactobacillus was abundant in LBW chick-
microbiota are associated with intra-flock BW ens on day 7, Akkermansia on day 38 along
variability. This study investigated the role of with disease associated Escherichia-Shigella
caecal microbiota and ileal transcriptomics in on days 7 and 38. HH chickens exhibited
BW differences among broiler chickens from higher gut barrier-related gene expression,
two hatching systems (HS, HH vs. HOF). The 454 specifically MUC5ac on day 7, and CLDN1
male broiler chicks from each HS were weighed and MUC2 on day 14. HOF chickens demon-
on day 7 and then categorized into low (LBW, strated higher expression of immune-re-
n=7 replicate pens, 21 chicks per pen) and high sponse-related genes such as IL-8 on day 7,
(HBW, n=7 replicate pens, 20 chicks per pen) and a tendency to increase IL-6, AVBD9, and
BW groups, resulting in a two-factorial design IFNG on day 14. Pearson correlation analy-
(HS×BW). Sampling was performed on days 7, sis revealed consistent positive correlations
14 and 38 (n=10 birds/group). High-through- between BW and genes related to intestinal
put qPCR was used to examine targeted gene barrier function and nutrient transporters,
expression in the ileum, while caecal microbi- while a negative correlation was found with
ota was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. immune response-related genes. HS × BW had
Results were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA for the barely any effect on the examined variables,
two factors (HS and BW). suggesting both factors act independently.
Results
α-diversity metrics showed minor effects due (Continued on the next page)
INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA 55
ABSTRACT ID-44
Implications / Conclusions
The study revealed limited remaining effects

of HS on caecal microbiota and ileal tran-
scriptomic profiles. Differences in functional
changes in ileal transcriptomics and caecal
microbiota composition were associated with
BW divergence in broilers.
Acknowledgement
1. The study received funding from the EU H-2020 program (grant
N°955374).
56 INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA
ABSTRACT ID-54
Effects of multi-strain and mono-strain probiotics on intestinal

health, intestinal morphometrics, performance, and processing
characteristics of broilers exposed to intestinal challenge:
importance of inclusion level and strain synergies.
Vasil Stanev1, Kevin Bolek1, James McNaughton2, Sarawut Tanasatian1, Luis Gomez1, Sandra Bonaspetti1
1
Phibro Animal Health Corporation, Teaneck, NJ 07666, United States.
2
AHPharma, Inc., Hebron, MD 42830, United States.
The Problem weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed

conversion ratio (FCR), European Poultry Effi-
Numerous scientific publications and ciency Factor (EPEF), and body weight coef-
commercial use data indicate the positive ficient of variation (BWCV) were measured
effect of Bacillus spp.-based probiotics on at 42d. BW was measured at 14d as well. At
broilers’ intestinal health and performance 14d and 42d four, two male and two female
when exposed to different challenge or birds respectively, per pen were humanely
non-challenge models. The current study aims sacrificed and scored for intestinal inflamma-
to compare the effects of a four-strain probi- tion as follows: 0 – no lesions found; 1 – mild
otic containing 4x109 CFU/g total viable hyperemia, but no cell sloughing or mucous; 2-
spores of B. subtilis NRRL B65574, B. licheni- moderate hyperemia and /or mild cell slough-
formis ATCC PTA122188, B. amyloliquefaciens ing; 3 – severe hyperemia and/or severe cell
NITE BP01844 and B. coagulans ATCC 31284: sloughing and 4 – actual necrosis or bleeding
MicroLife®Prime direct-fed microbial (PRM) observed. The same birds were also sampled
and single strain B. licheniformis DSM 17236 for cecal C. perfringens and E. coli count and
(BL) and B. subtilis C-3102 DSM 15544 (BS) Salmonella spp. incidence, as well as for intes-
probiotics in a floor pen intestinal challenge tinal morphometrics measurements (villus
model mimicking commercial conditions to height and crypt depth measurement from an
infected untreated control (IUC) and unin- intestinal area few cm anterior to the Meckel’s
fected untreated control (UUC). Each of the diverticulum). All birds were processed at day
three probiotics was applied at 4 different 42 and carcass yield, breast yield and abdomi-
levels: 5x108, 10x108, 15x108, and 20x108 nal fat were measured.
CFU/kg feed respectively.
Results
How we investigated or researched the
problem The model successfully mimicked natural
intestinal challenge significantly increasing
A total of 8 736 as hatched day old Ross708 mortality, compromising performance and
broilers, vaccinated with live coccidiosis intestinal health in the IUC compared to UUC.
vaccine CoccivacB52® were allocated to 14 An overview of intestinal health parameters
treatments as per table 1 with 12 repli- is provided in Table 1. Both mono-strain and
cates each and 52 birds/pen. Birds have multi-strain probiotics provided dose-de-
been placed on used litter known to contain pendent reduction of inflammation scores,
coccidia, C. perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Salmonella spp. incidence, oocyst shedding,
and other known avian pathogens. Addition- and C. perfringens and E. coli counts in ceca.
ally, before birds’ placement, litter was supple-
mented with 100 000 oocysts/bird, primarily
E. acervulina and E. maxima, to mimic natu-
ral field enteritis infection. Mortality, body (Continued on the next page)
ABSTRACT ID-54
However, the four-strain probiotic PRM iting the same pattern: dose-dependent
provided superior effect for most of the improvement with superior effect from the
parameters compared to both mono-strain multi-strain probiotic compared to the single
BS and BL when applied at identical inclusion strain ones (Table 2). An overview of zoot-
rate suggesting synergistic effect of the differ- echnical parameters is provided in Table 3.
ent strains in the multi-strain probiotic. Both multi-strain and mono-strain probiot-
ics provided dose-dependent effect. However,
Table 1: Overview of intestinal health param- PRM reduced mortality to a level not different
eters: intestinal inflammation lesion scores from UUC already at 5x108 CFU/kg feed, while
and pathogen loads. BL and BS provided such effect at 15x108, and
20x108 CFU/kg feed respectively. The three
Means with different letters in the superscripts probiotic products provided significant
are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), as deter- improvement of BW compared to IUC already
mined by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. with the lowest inclusion tested. However, at
equal inclusion rates PRM provided superior
Table 2: Overview of intestinal morphomet- effect compared to BL and BS, and only PRM
rics measurements. at 20x108 CFU/kg provided BW not different
from the clean control. Same applies for the
Means with different letters in the superscripts EPEF. BWCV was also significantly improved
are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), as deter- by the three probiotics.
mined by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test.
In line with the improved intestinal health the

three probiotics provided significant improve-
ments of the intestinal morphometrics, exhib- (Continued on the next page)
Table 1
Intestinal C. perfringens E. coli Salmonella incidence Eimeria spp.

Treatment inflammation (CFU/g log10) (CFU/g log10) (%) OPG log 10
d 14 d 42 d 14 d 42 d 14 d 42 d 14 d 42 d 14 d 42
UUC 0.188 a
0.283 a
2.325 a
2.356 a
5.312 a
5.293 a
6.250 a
35.833 abc
4.401 a
4.573 a
IUC 1.854 g 1.908 f 4.850 e 4.324 f 6.818 f 6.706 e 89.583 f 94.167 g 6.681 i 6.830 h
PRM 500 000 1.146 cde

1.350 d
3.279 bc
3.633 cde
6.039 cde
6.010 cd
39.583 cd
40.000 bcde
5.724 def
5.831 cd
PRM 1 000 000 1.083 bcd 1.242 cd 3.172 b 3.439 cd 5.748 bc 5.736 b 37.500 bcd 37.500 bcd 5.547 cde 5.664 bc
PRM 1 500 000 1.042 bc

1.142 c
2.981 b
3.088 b
5.425 ab
5.418 a
22.917 abc
31.667 abc
5.424 cd
5.395 b
PRM 2 000 000 0.813 b 0.850 b 2.914 b 3.081 b 5.315 a 5.336 a 16.667 ab 21.667 a 4.826 b 4.886 b
BL 500 000 1.458 ef

1.758 ef
3.876 d
3.874 e
6.310 e
6.167 d
64.583 e
53.333 ef
6.292 h
6.419 fg
BL 1 000 000 1.438 ef 1.608 e 3.337 bc 3.682 de 6.164 de 6.220 d 50.000 de 45.833 cdef 6.145 gh 5.940 cde
BL 1 500 000 1.271 cdef

1.333 cd
3.695 cd
3.499 cd
6.044 cde
6.025 cd
56.250 de
60.000 f
5.892 efg
6.129 defg
BL 2 000 000 1.250 cdef 1.183 cd 3.312 bc 3.359 bc 5.320 a 5.508 a 35.417 bcd 35.000 abc 5.295 c 5.361 b
BS 500 000 1.333 cdef 1.650 e 3.973 d 3.596 cde 6.016 cde 5.910 bc 56.250 de 52.500 def 5.889 efg 6.480 gh
BS 1 000 000 1.479 f

1.708 e
3.703 cd
3.596 cde
5.886 cd
6.084 cd
47.917 de
51.667 def
6.022 fgh
6.321 efg
BS 1 500 000 1.375 def 1.342 d 3.656 cd 3.600 cde 6.071 cde 6.067 cd 39.586 cd 42.500 bcde 6.122 gh 6.014 cdef
BS 2 000 000 1.167 cdef

1.308 cd
3.348 bc
3.331 bc
5.450 ab
5.475 a
22.917 abc
29.167 ab
5.395 cd
5.343 b
ABSTRACT ID-54
Villus
However, PRM provided CV not different from height
Crypt Villus /
depth (µm) crypt ratio
UUC already at 15x108 CFU/kg, while BL and Treatment (µm)
BS had similar effect, but at a higher inclusion d 14 d 14 d 14
rate (2.0x108 CFU/kg). Similarly, the three UUC 1102.6 a

268.9 a
4.262 a
products provided a significant and dose-de- IUC 834.0 f 416.0 f 2.034 h
pendent improvement of FCR in comparison
PRM 500 000 972.8 e
391.5 def
2.543 fg
to IUC.
PRM 1 000 000 995.3 de 372.7 cd 2.733 ef
Same dose-dependent effect was measured PRM 1 500 000 1039.0 bc

330.7 b
3.276 c
regarding processing characteristics but is PRM 2 000 000 1079.2 a 290.6 a 3.865 b
worth to mention that only PRM improved BL 500 000 937.7 e
403.2 ef
2.454 g
breast yield in comparison to IUC with the BL 1 000 000 987.1 de 373.8 cd 2.709 ef
lowest inclusion of 5x108 CFU/kg feed, while
BL 1 500 000 1013.9 cd
352.8 bc
2.946 de
the single strain products provided such effect
only at higher levels. BL 2 000 000 1048.4 b 342.9 b 3.149 cd
BS 500 000 968.8 e

396.4 def
2.508 fg
Table 3: Overview of zootechnical results and BS 1 000 000 984.3 de 388.3 de 2.630 fg
processing characteristics. BS 1 500 000 1007.2 d 374.2 cd 2.744 ef
BS 2 000 000 1037.5 bc

340.0 b
3.143 cd
Means with different letters in the superscripts
are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), as deter-
mined by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. Table 2
(Continued on the next page)
Table 3
Mortality Carcass Breast Abdominal

BW (g) BW (g) BW CV BWG (g) FCR EPEF
Treatment (%) yield % yield % fat %
d 0-42 d 14 d 42 d 42 d 0-42 d 0-42 d 0-42 d 42 d 42 d 42
UUC 1.563 a 482 a 2847 a 11.778 a 2790 a 1.771 ab 371 a 72.45 bcd 27.72 a 1.75 bcd
IUC 9.375 f 430 g 2571 g 17.393 d 2516 h 1.885 d 286 k 69.97 g 25.14 f 1.66 e
PRM 500 000 2.257 ab 466 cd 2731 def 13.230 bc 2676 defg 1.847 cd 338 fgh 71.66 def 26.32 cd 1.72 cde
PRM 1 000 000 1.910 ab 469 bc 2771 bcd 13.445 bc 2715 bcde 1.801 bc 354 cde 72.81 abc 25.84 e 1.77 abc
PRM 1 500 000 1.389 a 475 ab 2795 b 11.902 a 2738 b 1.773 ab 364 bc 73.56 a 27.25 b 1.80 ab
PRM 2 000 000 0.868 a 481 a 2852 a 11.961 a 2795 a 1.741 a 381 a 73.28 ab 27.41 ab 1.82 a
BL 500 000 4.340 cde 444 f 2698 ef 13.687 bc 2642 fg 1.862 d 323 ij 71.39 ef 25.41 f 1.72 cde
BL 1 000 000 3.299 bcd 455 e 2724 def 13.221 bc 2668 efg 1.844 cd 334 jhi 70.83 fg 26.48 c 1.72 cde
BL 1 500 000 2.257 ab

461 de
2751 bcde
13.767 bc
2695 bcdef
1.806 bc
349 def
72.01 cde
26.19 cde
1.74 bcd
BL 2 000 000 0.868 a 463 cd 2785 bc 11.773 a 2729 bcd 1.778 ab 364 bc 73.38 ab 26.44 c 1.76 abc
BS 500 000 4.861 e 446 f 2692 f 14.146 c 2636 g 1.863 d 320 j 71.58 def 25.36 f 1.68 de
BS 1 000 000 4.688 de 463 cd 2738 cdef 13.095 b 2682 cdefg 1.841 cd 331 hij 70.75 fg 26.56 c 1.74 bcd
BS 1 500 000 3.125 bc 469 bc 2753 bcd 13.512 bc 2698 bcde 1.804 bc 346 efg 72.21 cde 25.96 de 1.73 bcde
BS 2 000 000 1.563 a 470 bc 2789 bc 12.082 a 2733 bc 1.782 ab 361 bcd 73.02 abc 26.61 c 1.77 abc
ABSTRACT ID-54
As previously observed multi-strain probi-

otics inhibit the adhesion and growth of
pathogenic microorganisms better than
mono-strain probiotics (Chapman et al.,
2011). The advantage of multi-strain probi-
otics comes mainly from bacterial syner-
gistic interactions, which enhance their
positive effect on the host (Torres-Miranda
et al., 2022). Monteagudo-Mera et al. (2019)
reported dose-dependent effect of probiot-
ics in human patients. Similar dose-depend-
ent effect was observed by Alexopoulos et al.,
(2004) in pigs. The results of the current trial
are in line with previous reports demonstrat-
ing Bacillus spp.-based probiotics dose-de-
pendent improvement of performance,
intestinal health and processing character-
istics of broilers exposed to intestinal chal-
lenge. Besides the overall superior effect of the
four-strain probiotic PRM compared to mono-
strain products BS and BL when compared at
equal inclusion rates indicates the synergis-
tic effect of multi-strain probiotics in poultry,
which is in-line with previously reported data
from other species.
ABSTRACT ID-88
Gut microbiota and gene expression in male and female broilers
Ester Arévalo Sureda1, Matthias Corion1, Natasja Smeets2, Jeroen Maertens2, Nadia Everaert1
1
Nutrition and Animal Microbiota Ecosystems Lab, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
2
Kemin Europa NV, Herentals, Belgium
The Problem Results
Traditionally, health concerns in poultry were Ileal microbiota showed a peak in α-diver-
tackled by incorporating antimicrobials for sity at 14d but significantly decreased at 21d,
prophylactic and metaphylactic purposes, when sex-related differences appeared, with
which have caused the implementation of lower α-diversity in males. β-diversity showed
restrictive regulations due to the rise of anti- a trend for sex-related differences at 7d (p=0.06).
microbial resistance and environmental pollu- Sex-related differences in gene expression were
tion. On the other hand, in the poultry industry, evident as early as 7d, with Fatty Acid Bind-
male and female chickens are typically raised ing Protein (FABP) -1 [fatty acid uptake] and
together, despite observable differences -6 [fatty/bile acid uptake], and Solute Carrier
in growth and the endocrine system. Thus, Family Members (SLC) 15A1 [peptide transport]
there is a need for research on exploring the and 30A1 [zinc transport] identified as discri-
microbiota-host interactions, and for sex-re- minant factors for males. In contrast, only the
lated variations to optimize overall health and Occludin [tight junction protein] gene demon-
performance of broiler chickens. Hence, the strated discriminant expression for females. At
objective of this study was to examine dispar- 14d, males exhibited elevated expression levels
ities in sex and environmental factors, specif- of the genes Caudal-related homeodomain
ically focusing on microbiota and ileal gene (CDX) [development], SLC1A4, and SLC7A7
expression in early-life broiler chickens. [amino acid transport]. At 21d, the genes Mucin
13, G-Protein Receptor-41 (GPR41) [Acetate&-
How we investigated or researched the Propionate receptor], and SLC5A1 [Na-glucose
problem transport] had higher expression levels in males,
whereas increased expression levels of Taste
A broiler trial was performed on one-day-old Receptor-1 (T1R1) and SLC3A1 [amino acid
chicks Ross 308 (144 females and 144 males) transport] were found in females. Age exerted
divided into four pens each and monitored the most significant influence. Finally, males
until 21 days (d). Chickens were fed a diet rich were heavier than females at 21d (p<0.05).
in protein and non-starch polysaccharides from
wheat and rye. Ileal tissue and content samples Implications / Conclusions
were collected at 7d, 14d, and 21d. The param-
eters analysed included body weight, microbi- Sex-specific distinctions in microbiota and
ota (V1-V9 16sRNA sequencing), and ileal gene gene expression emerged as early as 7 days
expression (high-throughput qPCR analysis). post-hatching, culminating with the sex-re-
Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS- lated growth curve divergence at 21d. These
DA) models, employing variable importance in findings suggest that males exhibit increased
projection (VIP) for variable selection, with a activity of the investigated functions from
threshold of VIP>1, were built to identify the early life compared to females, which could
genes exhibiting the most discriminative expres- be considered when optimising health and
sion between sexes. Additionally, hierarchical performance in broilers. This may form the
cluster analysis was performed to assess gene foundation to further unravel the complex
expression patterns over time. dynamic interaction that gut homeostasis has
with the performance of the broiler flock.
Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-09
The microbiota promotes recruitment and pro-inflammatory

response of cecal macrophages during E. tenella infection
Florian Tomal1,2, Alix Sausset1, Yves Le Vern1, Laura Sedano1, Sonia Lacroix-Lamandé1, Fabrice Laurent1,
Clarisse Techer2, Anne Silvestre1, Françoise I. Bussière1
1
INRAE, Université de Tours, UMR ISP, Nouzilly, France
2
Mixscience, Bruz, France
The Problem tion. Administration of cecal microbiota from

conventional to germ-free infected chickens
Protozoan parasites of Eimeria genus are partially restored macrophage recruitment
responsible for coccidiosis, an intestinal and response.
disease with major economic losses in poultry
production. Eimeria tenella is one of the most Implications / Conclusions
virulent species in chicken. In a previous study,
we showed a negative impact of cecal micro- In conclusion, these results suggest that
biota on the physiopathology of this infection the microbiota enhances the physiopathol-
notably by enhancing inflammatory response. ogy of this infection through macrophage
However, the mechanism by which microbiota recruitment and activation. Consequently,
leads to the physiopathology remains unde- strategies involving the modulation of the
termined. Macrophages are immune cells that gut microbiota may lead to an attenuation
play a key role in inflammatory processes and of the macrophage-mediated inflammatory
their interaction with the microbiota during E. response, thereby limiting the negative clin-
tenella infection have never been investigated. ical outcome of the disease.

problem
We examined the impact of microbiota on

macrophages during E. tenella infection
using conventional and germ-free chick-
ens. Macrophages were investigated in cecal
tissues by flow cytometry and histology
using KUL01 antibody in non-infected and
infected germ-free and conventional chick-
ens. Macrophages were also sorted to examine
their gene expression using high-throughput
qPCR.
Results
We demonstrated that the microbiota was

essential for cecal macrophage recruitment in
E. tenella infection. Furthermore, the microbi-
ota promoted activation and a pro-inflamma-
tory response of macrophages characterized
by an increase of NOS2, ACOD1, PTGS2, TNFα,
IL1β, IL6, IL8L1, IL8L2 and CCL20 gene expres-
sion in infected chickens at 7 days post infec-
ABSTRACT ID-45
Effect of a Probiotic Weizmannia- and Bacillus-Combination on

the Gut Microbiome and Growth Performance of Poultry
L. Zeibich1, B. Podmaniczky2, A. Schlagheck1, M. Suhr3, and S. C. Hornburg3

1
Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- und Produktionsgesellschaft mbH, Germany
2
AgriSearch Hungary Ltd., Hungary
3
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Germany
The Problem at day 42 (two birds per replicate, 20 samples

per group). Cecal and ileal microbiota was
Supporting a health-beneficial microbiota assessed by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Zootech-
and understanding its functions are crucial nical data exhibited a normal distribution and
for sustainable poultry production. The stra- were subjected to analysis through one-way
tegic use of probiotics has been shown to ANOVA using the SPSS software package (IBM
positively modulate the microbiota, result- SPSS Version 29). p values ≤ 0.05 were consid-
ing in enhanced nutrient absorption, reduced ered significant. Alpha diversity metrics and
resource waste, minimized antibiotic use, and difference in the relative abundance (phylum
improved economic and environmental effi- and family) of selected bacterial taxa between
ciency in farming. However, different probi- control and treatment group were statistically
otic strains and combinations exhibit distinct evaluated using the (unpaired) Wilcoxon
characteristics, influencing their ability to rank-sum test in R.
modulate the gut microbiota. Therefore, this
study investigates the impact of a probiotic Results
combination of Weizmannia and Bacillus on
the growth performance, feed conversion, and Probiotic-supplemented birds demonstrated
associated cecal and ileal microbiota compo- a significant improvement in final body weight,
sition of broilers. BWG, and FCR compared to the control group.
Mortality was decreased by 1.3 percentage
How we investigated or researched the points. The overall zootechnical improvement
problem led to a significant increase in the European
Production Efficiency Factor.
A total of 600 male Cobb 500 broilers were
randomly assigned to two groups with 10 Microbial analysis of the ileal microbiota
replicates (30 chicks each). The broilers revealed a significant increase in the rela-
received a three-phase diet (Starter: day 1–14, tive abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria
Grower: day 14-28, Finisher: day 28-42) and and the family Streptococcaceae compared to
were fed ad libitum. The pelleted feed (mainly control. Cecal microbiota analysis indicated a
based on corn, wheat, soybean and sunflower significant increase in relative abundance of
meal) was identical for both control and treat- Bacteroidaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Streptococ-
ment groups, except for the added probiotic caceae, and Enterococcaceae, whereas Rikenel-
to the treatment group diet (1.5 x 10^9 CFU/ laceae was significantly decreased compared
kg final feed, including Weizmannia coag- to control.
ulans DSM 32016 [0.3 x 10^9 CFU/kg final
feed] and Bacillus licheniformis DSM 33806
[1.2 x 10^9 CFU/kg final feed]). Growth-re-
lated documentation at day 14, 28, 35, and
42 covered body weight, body weight gain
(BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio
(FCR). Ileal and cecal samples were collected (Continued on the next page)
ABSTRACT ID-45
The collective findings indicate that the

probiotic combination of W. coagulans and
B. licheniformis significantly enhances broiler
production efficiency. Ileal and cecal micro-
biota analysis support the assumption that
these performance improvements are, in part,
attributable to probiotic-specific alterations
of the intestinal microbiota. These alterations,
effecting the overall activity and function of
the microbiota, including production of hydro-
lases or short chain fatty acids, may contrib-
ute to pathogen resilience, feed efficiency, and
energy and immune homeostasis in broiler.
However, the functional characteristics of the
microbiota were not evaluated in this study,
and therefore worthy of further investigations.
ABSTRACT ID-59
The impact of a yeast probiotic on gut microbiota in broilers
M.T. Terra-Long1, E. Jiral2, G.S. Archer2, C. Padgett1, R. Raspoet1, L. Rhayat1, J. Loughmiller1

1
Phileo by Lesaffre, Milwaukee, WI, 53214
2
Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
The Problem treated with the yeast probiotic and BMD

showed statiscally significant higher α-di-
Yeast probiotics have the potential to reduce versity than NC birds being the former higher
local intestinal inflation by modulating than the latter. Principal Component Analy-
cytokines gene expression, increase villi sis showed 5 distinct microbiota communi-
height and modulate the gut microbiota. This ties equivalent to the different groups with
often reduces gastrointestinal distress and an overlap of 95% between birds treated
can impact performance. The aim of this study with Actisaf at 250 and 375g/T, indicating the
was to evaluate the effects of various doses of absence of major differences. Actisaf treated
a yeast probiotic on the performance and gut birds showed reduction of Firmicutes and
microbiota of commercial broilers. increase of Bacteroidetes when compared to
the NC. This occurs mainly due to the increase
How we investigated or researched the of Bacteroides and Butyricimonas genera.
problem Despite the overall decrease of Fimicutes,
Butyricicoccus, a known producer of SCFAs,
1200 (12 replicates/group) Ross 708 broilers was slightly increased on birds treated with
were house at day-old, challenged with coccid- Actisaf. Finally, the prevalence of Sellimonas
iosis vaccine at a 2x dose and divided into 5 was significantly higher in birds treated with
groups: negative control (NC), BMD (50g/T) Actisaf. Recent studies have shown that this
and Actisaf HR+® (yeast probiotic) at 250g/T, genus can be a potential marker of intesti-
375g/T, and 500g/T. Birds were reared on nal homeostasis recovery which is relevant
used litter up to 49 days of age and received a for challenging situations during production.
corn-soybean based diet with inclusion of 5% The difference in gut microbial species and
DDGS. Body weight, feed consumption and populations could explain the improvements
mortality were measured and feed conver- in FCR especially because higher diversity is
sion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Ileum samples commonly associated with a more stable gut
were collected at the end of the trial for eval- microbiota. Likewise, these improvements
uation of microbiota through bacterial 16S are most likely related to beneficial bacteria
rRNA gene was amplification. Performance changes in the intestine.
data were analyzed using the GLM model of
Minitab. Means were separated by Fisher’s Implications / Conclusions
LSD. For α-diversity, a pairwise comparisons
using Wilcoxon rank sum exact test was done. The yeast probiotic, at all concentrations,
For β-diversity, PERMANOVA was used. improved growth performance of broil-
ers similar to traditional growth promot-
Results ers suggesting that they can be used as an
economical alternative.
Birds fed the yeast probiotic were heavier
than the NC in all time-points and this was
significant at 42 days (p ≤ 0.05). For all ages
running cumulative FCR showed significant
improvement (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the NC
and similar results to the BMD group. Birds
ABSTRACT ID-74
Supplementing probiotic Clostridium butyricum to improve

technical performance, caecal SCFAs and microbiota
Wouter Van der Veken & Veerle Hautekiet

Huvepharma NV, Uitbreidingstraat 80, 2600 Berchem, Belgium
The Problem and 42. SCFAs were measured in the caecum

at day 42 via gas chromatography. All data was
The in-feed supplementation of short chain fatty statistically evaluated, using a Shapiro-Wilk
acids (SCFA) such as butyrate is widespread, test for normality and two-sample t-tests to
with multiple benefits already well-described compare the groups.
in general literature. Previous research has
also clearly indicated that regardless of which Results
type of butyrate is supplemented via the feed,
it usually does not reach the distal stages of Technical parameters improved significantly
the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT; Moquet, 2018). in the probiotic group compared to the control,
However, there are multiple indications that achieving a higher final weight with a lower
having butyrate at this location makes sense: FCR: 3.23 vs. 2.78 kg (P < 0.001) and 1.84 vs.
colonocytes here have butyrate-specific recep- 2.08, respectively. The hypothesis regard-
tors, whilst the SCFA also plays a role in miti- ing the probiotic’s mode of action was also
gating Salmonella and E. coli in the hindgut. confirmed: significantly higher butyrate levels
As such, getting butyrate to the hindgut might were present in the caeca of the C. butyricum
result in multiple benefits for animal production, group: 132.12 mmol vs. 103.41 mmol (P <
if successful. 0.05). This impacted the caecal microbiota
as well: significantly lower E. coli levels were
How we investigated or researched the recorded in the probiotic group from day 10
problem onwards (in log CFU/g caecal content: 8.47 vs.
7.29 on d10, 8.22 vs. 7.00 on d42). Enterococci
A total of 160 one-day old Ross 308 broiler levels followed a similar pattern: 8.10 vs. 7.55
chickens were randomly divided in two log CFU/g on d42 (P<0.05).
groups and reared under commercial condi-
tions. One group served as a control, whilst Implications / Conclusions
the other one received the same basal diet
but supplemented with 1 kg Top Gut ®/mton Adding probiotic Clostridium butyricum to the
of feed (5x1011 CFU Clostridium butyricum/ diet of broiler chickens positively impacted
mton of feed; Huvepharma®). This probiotic is technical performance, whilst restricting
known to produce butyrate and thanks to its potential pathogens in the caecum. As shown
spore-forming capacity, in combination with here, part of the probiotic’s mode of action is
its obligate anaerobe respiration, the hypoth- due to its capability to produce butyrate at the
esis was that the probiotic would be active in right location, which can be difficult to achieve
the hindgut – producing butyrate there where with conventional feed additive butyrates. As
it would be most useful. such, probiotic Clostridium butyricum clearly
is a good addition to the diet of broilers.
Average weights were recorded at day 1, 7, 10,
20, 35 and 49 which allowed for a calculation
of the feed conversion ratio (FCR). To evaluate
the impact on the caecal microbiota, samples
were taken from 5 birds/group on day 1, 10
ABSTRACT ID-100
Influence of neonatal avian pathogenic E. coli exposure on acute

phase protein response to Clostridium perfringens inoculation
K.M. Chasser1, A.F. Duff1, K. McGovern1, B.D. Graham2, L.R. Bielke3

1
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
2
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
3
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
The Problem in A1GP from d17-20 was significant for LGCP

and HCP, while the change in NCP occurred
Early exposure to Enterobacteriaceae may from d20-27.
result in inflammation of the gastrointesti-
nal tract and predispose poultry to disease. Implications / Conclusions
Previous publications indicate Salmonella
as predisposping factor to development of DOH E. coli inoculated groups had a faster
necrotic enteritis, and other genera may also inflammatory response to C. perfringens than
contribute to this disease. Avian pathogenic E. NCP, indicating an increased susceptibility to
coli have long been associated with opportun- inflammation, with maintained elevation of
istic diseases and inflammatory changes in the A1GP through to d27. These results would
GIT, suggesting a potential role in sequestra- indicate increased susceptibility to oppor-
tion of necrotic enteritis in broilers. tunistic infection, especially those pathogens
that can take advantage of inflammation and
How we investigated or researched the previous data showing that early colonizing
problem bacteria greatly influence innate immune
response as broilers age through 10 days. In
To determine inflammatory changes after the context of Clostridium perfringens, this
infection with Clostridium perfringens when revelation deserves further investigation to
chicks were inoculated with E. coli Huff or LG determine the role of early colonizing bacte-
strains on day of hatch, test groups included ria at establishing gut conditions that favor
non-inoculated control (NIC), C. perfringens clostridial growth.
only (NCP), E .coli LG + C. perfringens (LGCP),
and E. coli Huff + C. perfringens (HCP). Clostrid-
ium inoculation occurred on d15 and 16. Body
weight was measured on d1, 6, 14, 17, 20, and
27 while blood was collected from 4 birds
per pen for alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (A1GP)
serum FITC-d on d6, 14, 17, 20, and 27.
Results
Though no classical lesions of necrotic

enteritis were observed on d17, subclinical
non-hemorrhagic clostridiosis was noted
in LGCP and HCP. Serum FITC-d was signif-
icantly lower in NIC on d6 compared to all
other groups, with no differences in later
sampling times. On d17, A1GP decreased for
LGCP and HCP. From d20-27, increased A1GP
was observed for LGCP. The percent change
Poster presentations
ABSTRACT ID-01
Mentha piperita (peppermint) affects the microbial community

and intestinal morphology in quail chicks
Vahideh Sabbaghi, Mahmoud Ghazaghi, Mehran Mehri
The poultry industry is currently gaining peppermint, respectively. However, the mini-
attention for using medicinal herbs as alter- mum CFU of coliforms may be achieved with
natives to antibiotics and growth-promot- 22.0 g/kg of dietary peppermint (R2 = 0.50).
ing agents. mong a wide variety of medicinal This study showed that adding peppermint
plants, the Lamiaceae family is the most attrac- to the quail diet could increase the benefi-
tive herb that contains essential oils with a cial bacterial populations and improve the
broad spectrum of physiological effects in vivo. morphological parameters of the small intes-
Mentha piperita L. (peppermint), which is a tine, resulting in better digestion and absorp-
natural hybrid of Mentha aquatica L. (water tion processes in normal conditions.
mint) and Mentha spicata L. (spearmint)
like other members of the Lamiaceae family Keywords
contains phytobiotics (or botanicals) which
are secondary metabolites in herbs with posi- Phytobiotics, lactobacillus, villus height,
tives effects on animal health and productivity. menthol
A total of 360, 7-day-old quail chicks were fed
six experimental diets (with 5 replicates and
12 birds each) including a basal diet with no
antibiotics (negative control), the basal diet
with a subtherapeutic amount of flavophos-
pholipol (positive control), MPI (basal diet +
10 g/kg peppermint), MPII (basal diet + 20
g/kg peppermint), MPIII (basal diet + 30 g/
kg peppermint), and MPIV (basal diet + 40 g/
kg peppermint) for 5 weeks. In comparison
with control diets, the total count of micro-
bial populations was increased in the small
intestine of birds fed peppermint (P = 0.005)
through the reduction in coliform bacteria and
increase in lactobacillus (LAB) populations
(P < 0.001). Experimental treatments signif-
icantly affected the length and morphologi-
cal parameters in the small intestine and the
ileum, respectively. The smallest length of the
small intestine was observed in the positive
control (62.6 cm) followed by the negative
control (64.8 cm) whereas the birds fed on
peppermint exhibited the largest length of the
small intestine. Moreover, villus height, crypt
depth, villus area, and villus height to crypt
depth ratio in the positive control were lower
than in the peppermint groups. Regression
analysis showed that the maximum villus area
and CFU of LAB may be obtained with 28.9 (R2
= 0.82) and 28.9 g/kg (R2 = 0.93) of dietary
ABSTRACT ID-06
Antibiotic resistance pattern and virulence genes content of apec

from septicemic broilers in kaski district, nepal
B. Sharma 1 and R. Bhattarai 2

1
National Vaccine production Laboratory ,Tripureswor Kathmandu, Nepal
2
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur Chitwan, Nepal
The Problem had E. coli in liver and 27% in femur. Out of

100 isolates of E. coli, 48 (81.4%) showed
Poultry industries are emerging rapidly in resistant to three or more antimicrobials.
the developing countries like Nepal. Chit- The highest level (20.33%) of multidrug-re-
wan, Kathmandu, and Kaski districts are the sistant E. coli were observed for four different
major areas of poultry farms in Nepal. Among types of antimicrobials. Antibiogram profiles
the diseases reported, the outbreak of Colli- of 100 E. coli showed the maximum resistance
bacillosis is one of the major problems and to Tetracycline (100%), followed by Enro-
endemic in poultry industries (Khanal et al., floxacin (91.5%) and Ciprofloxacin (77.9%).
2017). In Nepal based on the genetic criteria, Ceftriaxone and Amikacin were 100% sensi-
90% E. coli isolates were considered as patho- tive followed by Gentamicin (86.44%). Poly-
genic (APEC) which contained more than five merase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used
virulence associated genes. Out of total APEC for the 40 isolates to screen the presence of
genes detected, the combination of iss, iucD, iroN and ompT gene after DNA extraction by
hlyF, ompT, iroN, and iutA genes were mostly boiling method. Overall prevalence of ompT
associated with the APEC (Subedi et al., 2018). gene was found to be 97.5% followed by iroN
Although a number of studies have aimed to gene with prevalence of 87.5%.
identify the virulence mechanisms of APEC, it
remains an ill-defined pathotype (Nolan et al., Implications / Conclusions
2013). There have been a very little or no stud-
ies to find the prevalence of APEC in femur. So, In this study, high prevalent of antimicro-
this study is intended to provide some insights bial resistant pattern was found with avian
into the prevalence of APEC in liver and femur pathogenic E. coli isolated from broiler chick-
of same Collibacillosis suspected bird. ens. Our current findings demonstrate that
broiler birds are potential reservoirs of antibi-
How we investigated or researched the otic-resistant APEC, posing high public health
problem risks to people.
A study was conducted from January, 2020 to

September, 2020 to detect avian pathogenic
E. coli in liver and femur of broilers. A total of
100 swab samples from 50 septicemic broil-
ers were collected where 50 swab samples
were from perihepatitis lesions in broilers and
50 swabs were collected from femur of same
infected poultry.
Results
The overall prevalence of E. coli was found to

be 59% (59 out of 100) while 41% in both
liver and femur of broilers, 32% of the birds
ABSTRACT ID-07
Effects of "Montserrat" on production performance and intestinal

health of broilers against heat stress
Teresa M. Agulles and Ruby Yu
The Problem The activities of superoxide dismutase and

catalase in breast of broilers in high temper-
The high temperature in summer usually leads ature group decreased significantly. The
to heat stress in broilers, which contributes content of malondialdehyde in breast of
to the decrease of production performance, broilers in test group 1 and 2 experienced
the increase of morbidity and mortality and high temperature showed a decreasing
brings great economic losses to the poultry. trend. The activity of glutathione peroxidase
We took this study to investigate the effect of in test group 2 was significantly increased.
"Montserrat", a product based on phytogenics, The content of malondialdehyde showed a
against heat stress in broilers. decreasing trend in test group 1 experienced
high temperature.
problem As to the relative abundance of phyla detected
in cecum samples, test group 2 significantly
AA+ broilers with similar body weight and increased the flora abundance of Spirochae-
good health at 1 day of age were randomly tes, Synergistetes and tended to increase
divided into 3 treatment groups. Broilers in the flora abundance of Actinobacteria. The
control group were fed basic diet, test group abundance of Spirochaetes, Synergistetes and
1 were fed basic diet + 300mg/kg "Montserrat" Actinobacteria was significantly decreased in
and test group 2 were fed basic diet + 500mg/ the high temperature group. Test groups 1 and
kg "Montserrat". Half of the 28-day-old 2 experienced high temperature significantly
broilers in each treatment were heated to increased the abundance of Spirochaetes;
32°C within 6 hours, and then the standard test group 2 significantly increased the flora
temperature was restored after 7 days. The abundance of Synergistetes and had a trend of
production performance was evaluated at increasing the flora abundance of Firmicutes.
28-day-old and 35-day-old. The activities of
glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase Implications / Conclusions
and catalase in liver and breast were tested at
35-day-old. The contents of total protein and Administrating "Montserrat" to broiler diet
malondialdehyde were determined. Cecum can reduce feed intake and improve feed utili-
microorganisms were tested. zation rate to effectively relieve heat stress
while maintaining production performance.
Results "Montserrat" has anti-heat stress effect and
can improve antioxidant capacity of broilers.
From 1 to 28 days of age, the feed to meat ratio "Montserrat" increased the richness of intes-
of broilers in test group 1 was significantly tinal flora of broilers, changed the intestinal
decreased; the average daily gain of broilers flora structure and alleviated the intestinal
from 1 to 35 days of age in high temperature flora disturbance caused by heat stress.
group was significantly decreased and the
average daily feed intake and feed to meat
ratio were significantly increased. The feed
to meat ratio of broilers from 1 to 35 days of
age in test group 2 was significantly decreased.
ABSTRACT ID-25
Effect of dietary supplementation with probiotic Saccharomyces

cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 on fecal microbiota in laying hens.
A. Rodiles, F. Barbé, A. Nozeran, A. Sacy, M. Castex

Lallemand SAS, 19 rue des Briquetiers, 31702 Blagnac cedex, France
The Problem Salmonella enterica), Pasteurellaceae (0.1

vs 0.2%) (corresponding to Gallibacterium
Studies examining the impact of dietary probi- anatis) and Enterococcaceae (0.4 vs 0.7%)
otic interventions on the intestinal microbiota (corresponding to Enterococcus cecorum;
of laying hens remain limited. The objective as confirmed by BLAST). Intriguingly, the
of this study was to investigate the effect log ratio of Lactobacillus/Enterococcaceae
of dietary supplementation with probiotic exhibited a negative correlation with Shan-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM non diversity (r=-0.59; P=0.03), hinting at a
I-1079 on fecal microbiota in laying hens. potential influence of LY.
How we investigated or researched the Implications / Conclusions

problem
This study demonstrated a positive effect of
In this current investigation we focused on live yeast on fecal microbiota, by promot-
the fecal microbiota of 32 laying hens, housed ing beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus) and
per pair in cages located in the same room, reducing pathogenic populations (Entero-
after 14 weeks of dietary supplementation, bacteriaceae, Pasteurellaceae and Enterococ-
comparing those with and without live yeast caceae). In a prior report from the same study,
(LY), specifically Saccharomyces cerevisiae we observed an effect of LY on fecal consist-
boulardii CNCM I-1079 (Levucell SB®, Lalle- ency and fecal dry matter (Sacy et al., 2023).
mand: 109 CFU/kg feed) (16 cages in total; However, significant correlations between
8 cages/group). 16 pooled samples by each these variables and microbiota data were not
pair of hens (8 samples/group) were collected detected in the current study. Further inves-
right after emission, subjected to DNA extrac- tigations are warranted to delve into the rela-
tion with Minikit (Zymo Research) and to PCR tionship between fecal quality and microbiota
with primers 341F and 785Rmod of the V3–V4 in laying hens.
hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA genes
for 16S rRNA sequencing. High-throughput
sequencing of 16S rRNA using MiSeq and
subsequent analysis with DADA2 in QIIME2
were conducted.
Results
The results revealed a pronounced but not

significant effect of LY in increasing the rela-
tive abundance (RA) of the Lactobacillus
genus, reaching 52%, compared to 29% in the
control group. In the same way, LY reduced
to half food borne and poultry pathogens
as Enterobacteriaceae (0.5 vs 1.5%) (corre-
sponding to Escherichia coli, Proteus spp. and
ABSTRACT ID-28
Assessment of Glycerides' Antibacterial Activity in a Poultry

Gut Model
Nuria Vieco-Saiz1, Amine Mellouk1, Tim Goossens2, Olga Lemâle3, Jessika Consuegra1
1
Adisseo France S.A.S. European Laboratory of Innovation Science & Expertise (ELISE). Department of R&I in
Monogastric Animal Nutrition. 20 rue Prosper Monnet, 69190, Saint Fons, France
2
Adisseo, Gentse Baan 66/206, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
3
Adisseo NL B.V., Ruisvoorn 5, 4941 SB Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands
The Problem against Ent. faecalis was on average 3.8-fold

higher than the activity of the control. Its
Glycerides of medium chain fatty acid (MCFA- activity decreased as it passed through the GIT.
G) are used as feed material to improve over- Regarding E. coli, C8C10-G were substantially
all animal performance by enhancing animal active all over the GIT keeping their activity
resilience against intestinal infections. The at levels of 1.7-fold greater than the control.
most well-known MCFA-G with important
antibacterial activities in vitro are glycer- C12-G exhibited strong antimicrobial activity
ides of C8, C10 (C8C10-G) and C12 (C12-G). against Ent. faecalis. This activity persisted
C8C10-G display a higher activity against throughout GIT simulation at levels of 3.2-fold
Gram-negative bacteria (G-) while C12-G average higher than the control. Surprisingly,
has the strongest activity mainly against C12-G had significantly higher antimicrobial
Gram-positive bacteria (G+). Although their activity against E. coli in the duodenum and
activity in vitro has been assessed, little is cecum, resulting in a 1.3-fold increase, in both
known about their behavior in gastrointesti- sections, compared to the control (p = 0.001).
nal conditions. Here, we simulated the chicken
gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in vitro to assess Implications / Conclusions
the behavior of C8C10-G and C12-G through-
out the entire GIT, aiming to evaluate their Our findings showed distinct antimicro-
antimicrobial activity as they pass through bial activity profiles of MCFA-G within the
each section. mimicked chicken GIT, which were not evident
when conventional antimicrobial activity test
How we investigated or researched the is performed on pure products. We hypothe-
problem sized that the antibacterial activity of C12-G in
the caeca might be due to a change in the cecal
The antimicrobial activity of the C8C10-G and microbiota, favoring the production of metab-
C12-G was investigated by exposing them olites inhibiting G- bacteria such as E. coli. To
to serial in vitro digestions mimicking crop, this end, 16s rRNA sequencing is planned to
gizzard, and upper gut, followed by microbial investigate whether the differences in activ-
fermentation simulating chicken ileum and ity can be explained by the cecal microbiota
caeca. After each section, their antimicrobial modulation.
activity against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC
29212 (G+) and Escherichia coli APEC DSM
103262 (G-) was analyzed.
Results
The MCFA-G tested exhibit different antimi-

crobial activity patterns. Throughout the GIT
sections, the antibacterial activity of C8C10-G
ABSTRACT ID-29
Definition of new gut health biomarkers: Let the microbes speak.
Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Amine Mellouk, Estelle Devillard, Jessika Consuegra

The Problem tomannan supplementation and the other

focusing on coccidiosis. Data were normal-
The gut plays a vital role in nutrient absorp- ized by log transformation for the ANOVA and
tion and is constantly exposed to environmen- LSMeans differences were compared by t test
tal factors and infectious agents. Dysbiosis, an by JMP (v.17.0.0).
imbalance in the gut microbiota, disrupts gut
function, leading to compromised digestion, Results
nutrient absorption, and overall animal health
and welfare. It is crucial to develop robust From the literature review, we identified
biomarkers that can identify dysbiosis in its five potential microbial ratios as biomarkers.
early stages and assist in making decisions These ratios are composed of microorgan-
regarding the development of prevention isms linked to Short Chain Fatty Acid produc-
strategies. Here, we propose a novel set of tion, potential pro- and anti-inflammatory
microbiota-based biomarkers based on taxo- activities, and intestinal barrier disruptors.
nomic data obtained by 16S rRNA sequencing. The proposed ratios were able to describe
This approach allows us to assess the essen- the challenges exhibiting varying responses
tial role of the microbiota and its influence depending on the type of challenge studied.
on regulating immune response and averting In necrotic enteritis and severe dysbiosis
pathogen colonization. challenge, 5 of these ratios show significant
differences when compared to control (p <
How we investigated or researched the 0.04 and p < 0.027, respectively). Concerning
problem the nutritional challenge based on galacto-
mannan, two of the presented ratios were able
After an extensive literature review, bacte- to differentiate the groups with a significancy
rial taxonomic groups were associated with of p < 0.001. Lastly, the coccidiosis challenge
a variety of functions affecting intestinal was well described by other 2 different ratios
health. Microbial ratios were built based on (p-values between 0.006 and 0.092).
beneficial or detrimental bacterial functions
and their relations. The selected biomarkers Implications / Conclusions
were calculated from the ASV tables obtained
from the 16s rRNA sequencing, subsequently The proposed ratios have a potential to be
analyzed and then evaluated in four experi- the novel biomarkers which are capable to
mental trials from an internal database, repre- differentiate between standard and gut distur-
senting different challenges that the animals bances conditions in birds. Further research
may face. Our aim was to determine the rele- is needed to develop appropriated method
vance of those ratio in different conditions of which can be applied in commercial condi-
intestinal disturbances including microbial tions as a diagnostic tool for the identifica-
and nutritional challenges. To achieve this, a tion poor intestinal health that can decrease
necrotic enteritis and a severe dysbiosis chal- performance in broiler chickens.
lenges were investigated, the latter involving
a fat-rye diet supplemented with a high load
bacterial inoculum. Additionally, two other
challenges were used, one involving galac-
ABSTRACT ID-39
Effect Of Protected Benzoic Acid in Compare with Butyric Acid

and Probiotic On Broiler Performance, Gut Microbiota and
Liver Histology
Koushik De1, Romero-Sanchez H1, Yan F1 and Sudipto Haldar2

1
Novus International
2
Agrivet Research & Advisory, India
The Problem the probiotic and butyric acid control group.

All the Provenia® groups have significantly
To improve gut functionality in growth (P<0.05) lower liver fibrosis, necrosis and
promoter diets, a combination of butyric lymphocyte infiltration compared to butyric
acid and probiotic is commonly used in acid/probiotic group, indicating better liver
Asia. Therefore, to investigate the effect of health and 350 g/ton Provenia® resulted in
protected benzoic acid (Provenia®) on perfor- the lowest cecal E. coli concentration (P<0.05).
mance, gut health, and immunity in the pres- No significant difference (P>0.05) was found
ence of bacitracin methylene disalicylate in cecal microbiota, nor intestinal histology.
(BMD), one floor pen study was conducted Addition of Provenia® at 350 g/ton or 500 g/
with 480 Vencobb 430 Y male broilers. ton significantly improved ( P<0.05) serum
IgY concentration compared to probiotic plus
How we investigated or researched the butyric acid group conferring better protec-
problem tion.
The study consisted of 4 dietary treatments Implications / Conclusions

– 1. Bacillus subtilis based probiotic + calcium
butyrate 2. Provenia® 350 g/ton + probiotic In summary, all Provenia® diets significantly
3. Provenia® 350 g/ton 4. Provenia® 500 g/ decreased liver histology variables (fibrosis,
ton. Each treatment had 10 replicate pens and necrosis, and infiltration) suggesting better
with 12 birds per pen. Corn soybean meal- liver health. Provenia® at 350 g/ton or 500
based diets containing rice polish and de-oiled g/ton showed better modulated immunity.
rapeseed meal were provided in crumbled Except for Provenia® 350 g/ton, the improve-
form in starter (0-14 d) and pellet form in ment in health was achieved without compro-
grower (14-28 d) and finisher (28-42 d) mising growth performance in the presence of
phases. Growth performance was determined BMD and anticoccidial programs.
on days 14, 28, and 42. On d 28, one bird per
pen was randomly selected to evaluate cecal
microbiota, small intestine, and liver histology.
On d 42, one bird per pen from treatments 1,
3, and 4 was sacrificed to measure serum IgY
concentration (ng/ml). Data were subjected
to one-way ANOVA and means were separated
by Fisher’s protected LSD test with a P-value
<0.05.
Results
Except Provenia® alone at 350 g/ton all feed

additives had similar growth performance to
ABSTRACT ID-47
Beyond Nutrition: Effect of novel bacterial xylanase on gut

microbial community and health
Ajay Awati, Ajay Bhoyar, Sabiha Kadari, P. Kowsigaraj and Twan van Gerwe
EW Nutrition GmbH, Hogenbögen 1, 49429 Visbek, Germany
The Problem respectively, while FCR was 1.66 in both

groups. Interestingly, the ratio of butyrogenic
Xylanases are added to poultry feed primar- microbes to total microbial population was
ily for feed cost savings. Application of matrix proportionally higher and significant in XYL
values, especially for energy reduction, leads group compared to PC group (4.6% vs 3.8%).
to higher fiber content in the diet, which can
damage the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of the The ratio of total microbial DNA to the
host. New generation xylanases coming from host DNA was above the healthy threshold,
the GH-10 family are known to break down suggesting that the xylanase under investiga-
both soluble and insoluble arabinoxylans into tion offset the additional anti-nutrient impact
a good mixture of smaller fractions of arabi- contributed by the higher fiber content in the
no-xylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS) and xylo-ol- reduced energy diet. The subsequent micro-
igosaccharides (XOS), which exert a prebiotic bial shift by proportionally increasing butyro-
effect in the GIT. The aim of the study was to genic microbial population in XYL group can
evaluate the effect of GH-10 xylanase appli- be attributed to higher butyrate production
cation on the microbial population in broiler in the hindgut.
chicken.
How we researched the problem
Xylanases are known to reduce feed cost
600 day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 430Y) through energy matrix application in feed
were allocated into two dietary treatments formulations. In this study, xylanase not only
with 12 replicates each and 25 birds per repli- helped reduce feed cost by keeping perfor-
cate. Dietary treatments were positive control mance at same level with 100 kcal/Kg lower
(PC) (nutritionally adequate broiler feed) energy, but also contributed to a positive
and group fed a diet with restricted energy microbial shift and mitigated the anti-nutri-
(-100 Kcal/Kg) with novel bacterial xylanase tional gut damaging effects of higher fiber
(Axxess XY, EW Nutrition) added at 100g/ content in the feed. With substantial under-
MT (XYL). Birds were fed ad-libitum. Growth standing of the mode of action and techno-
performance was measured. On D40, 1 bird of logical developments in enzyme technology,
average body weight per pen was sampled by nutritionists can reliably consider new gener-
cloaca swab for microbial population analysis ation xylanases for gut health optimization in
by RT-PCR. their antibiotic reduction strategy.
Results
The statistically similar production perfor-

mance of both PC and XYL groups indicated
that the xylanase under study effectively
compensated the energy reduction in XYL
group. At D42, the average final body weight
was 2.56 Kg and 2.55 Kg in PC and XYL group
ABSTRACT ID-55
Positive effects of four strain Bacillus spp.-based probiotic on

intestinal microflora and performance under field conditions.
Vasil Stanev, Kevin Bolek, Sarawut Tanasatian, Luis Gomez, Sandra Bonaspetti
The Problem Multiple linear regression analysis is utilized

to estimate the effect of the treatment on the
Numerous scientific publications based on outcomes of interest. Both seasonality and
floor pen studies demonstrate the beneficial individual farm performance are known to
effects of the commercial probiotic MicroLife® affect the outcomes independently of treat-
Prime direct-fed microbial (PRM) on zootech- ment and therefore are included as covariates
nical and processing parameters as well as E. in the regression in an attempt to adjust the
coli incidence in intestinal content. The aim treatment estimate to control for these factors
of this study is to evaluate the effects of PRM
when used under commercial conditions. Table 2: Overview of E. coli incidence based
on presence or absence of E. coli sequences
How we investigated or researched the derived from microbiome sequencing data in
problem % before and after the PRM application.
The study was carried out in a commercial *Denotes significant difference (P<0.05);
poultry complex in the USA. PRM was intro- Chi-squared test was utilized.
duced at 0.5x10E9 CFU/kg feed in all broiler
feed and comparisons were made between Implications / Conclusions
all flocks one cycle before and one cycle after
PRM introduction. The effect of the product The above results demonstrate PRM’s ability
was assessed based on performance: average to modulate intestinal microflora in PRM-sup-
body weight at processing (ABW), average plemented birds. Incidence of E. coli was
daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion significantly reduced in jejunum at 42 days of
ratio (FCR), processing plant condemnations age. The respective microflora changes were
% (CDM) and specific microflora changes well correlated with improved performance.
identified by shallow shotgun sequencing of ABW and ADWG were significantly improved
jejunal and cecal samples from 10 farms with after PRM introduction. In addition, the
5 birds per farm sampled at 23 and 42 days of processing plant condemnations were signifi-
age, before and after PRM use. cantly reduced after the introduction of PRM,
which might be aided by the shift in the intes-
Results tinal microflora.
Table 1: Overview of performance parameters.
Outcome Effect of PRM SE P value Outcome Effect of PRM SE P value
ABW (g) + 149.69 0.08 < 0.0001 FCR - 0.02 0.02 = 0.3040
ADWG (g) + 9.07 <0.01 = 0.0537 CDM (%) - 0.05 0.02 = 0.0111
Family Jejunum d 23 Cecum d 23 Jejunum d 42 Cecum d 42
Before After Before After Before After Before After
E. coli 0.00 10.00 40.00 40.00 80.00 11.00 * 44.00 33.00
ABSTRACT ID-61
Effect of a synergistic blend of organic acids and high copper usage

on performance and egg quality during the early phase of laying
R. Villanueva1, J. San Andres1, S. Valdez1, L. Pineda2, M. Rezvani2, C. Piriyabenjawat2, R. Payawal3, J.M. De La

Fuente Garcia2
1
Central Luzon State University, Philippines
2
Selko, Nutreco, The Netherlands
3
Trouw Nutrition, The Philippines
The Problem with an ambient temperature ranging from

25-370C. Hen-day egg production (HD), egg
Finding alternatives to antibiotics has become weight, feed consumption (ADFI), and FCR
more important as chicken production shifts were recorded from 21 to 42 weeks, whereas
to antibiotic-free practices. In the past decade, egg quality parameters were measured at
nutritional additives including organic acids weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 of the study. The
(OA) and Copper (Cu) were widely investi- return over feed cost was calculated at the end
gated and regarded as possible substitutes of the experiment.
for infeed-antibiotics. Like antibiotics, OA
and Cu have antimicrobial activities that can Results
reduce pathogen load, maintain gut integ-
rity, modulate gut microbiota, and improve Over the entire 21 to 42-week production
animal performance. Numerous studies have period, there was no significant effect of
shown the beneficial effects of OA or Cu on dietary treatments on mortality rate, feed
intestinal health and animal performance. intake, and hen-day production. However,
However, research is limited about the impact the egg weight (56.92 vs 55.81) and egg
of the combined application of OA and Cu in mass (48.98 vs 47.41 g) were significantly
layer chickens. This study was designed to improved with SGG+IBC supplementation
compare the efficacy of a synergistic blend (P<0.05). Furthermore, SGG+IBC significantly
of free and buffered short-chain with medi- reduced the FCR by 9 points (2.10 vs 2.19) and
um-chain fatty acids (SGG) (Selacid GG MP, enhanced the yolk color (7.01 vs 6.16, P<0.01).
Selko, The Netherlands) in combination with In addition, SGG+IBC had a higher return over
Cu Hydroxychloride (IBC) (IntelliBond, Selko, feed cost (+2.72 USD) than AGP.
The Netherlands) compared with the effects of
antibiotics on the performance of layers and Implications / Conclusions
egg quality during the early phase of laying.
The combined supplementation of SGG+IBC
How we investigated or researched the as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics has
problem beneficial effects on feed efficiency (- 3.9%),
egg weight (+2.02 %), egg mass (+3.6%),
A total of 400 Dekalb laying hens (19 weeks yolk colour (+14 %), and economics of layers
of age) were allocated in two dietary treat- during the early stages of laying.
ments with 25 replicates of 8 birds each. The
treatments included a (1) basal diet plus 180
g/t Virginiamycin+15ppm CuSO4 (AGP) and
(2) basal diet with 1 kg/t SGG + 125 ppm IBC
(SGG+IBC). Diets were fed for a total of 23
weeks including an initial 2-week adaptation
period from 19 to 20 weeks of age. Hens were
kept in cages in an open-sided type of housing
ABSTRACT ID-82
Effect of BacterActive on the productive performance of broilers

and the presence of Salmonella spp.
Hascoët, A.S.
MPA Veterinary Medicines And Addtives S.L.
The Problem growth promoting antibiotic (avilamycin/

bacitracin, rotation was performed) was
BacterActive is a synergistic combination removed from the formula and only Bacter-
of phytogenics and organic acids that turns Active Dry was applied, at 1 kg/t of feed, from
out to be a valid strategy to replace antibiotic the second week of age and until the end of
growth promoters. the fattening.
This tool exerts a bactericidal effect on Salmo- Samples were taken with shoes at day 17 of
nella spp., E. coli and Clostridium spp. This age and swabs from the cecum in the slaugh-
supplement has 2 presentations available: ter plant for the investigation of the pres-
BacterActive Aqua for drinking water and ence of Salmonella spp. Samples analysis was
BacterActive Dry for feed conducted following the ISO 6579 standard.
How we investigated or researched the In addition, the weekly weight of males and
problem females, the conversion rate, mortality, intesti-
nal health, consistency of the faeces and admin-
TRIAL 1 & 2: For the first two tests, these istered treatments were evaluated, comparing
were conducted on farms that had tested posi- with the history of the farm. They were offered
tive for Salmonella spp. The objective was to water and feed ad libitum (according to the feed-
evaluate the efficacy of BacterActive Aqua, ing scheme designed by the company). This trial
at a rate of 1 L/1000 L of drinking water, on was carried out in two houses (one with females
the control of Salmonella spp. in Cobb broil- and the other with males).
ers. This supplement was administered for
5 days before starting the collection of broil- In all trials (1, 2 and 3), the results achieved
ers and continuing for 5 more days until with BacterActive were compared with the
the process was finished. During these last performance objectives of the Cobb genetics.
5 days, several shipments of broilers were
made to the slaughterhouse until they all Results
reached the desired weight, and the ware-
house was completely emptied. The results TRIAL 1 & 2: As a first observation, it is note-
obtained were compared with the history of worthy that birds under the usual use of
the exploitation and with the Cobb standard organic acids (phosphoric, citric, malic and
values. tartaric acid) via drinking water, still tested
positive for Salmonella spp. on a very recur-
At the slaughter plant, random samples were ring basis. However, with the application of
taken by performing a blind swab to search for BacterActive Aqua during the last 10 days,
Salmonella spp. being the technique habitu- all the ceca samples analyzed showed the
ally used by this company. absence of Salmonella spp. (0 CFU/g) and in
both trials (Figure 1).
TRIAL 3: For the third trial, the growth
promoting effect of BacterActive Dry and the
presence of Salmonella spp. To do this, the (Continued on the next page)
ABSTRACT ID-82
For the poultry producer company, these growth-promoting antibiotics favour the
results were very positive and, therefore, it appearance of antimicrobial resistance (Roca
was decided to extend these benefits via feed. et al., 2015; Ma et al., 2021). This problem is
The third trial was conducted, with the appli- already a major threat to human and animal
cation of BacterActive Dry, via feed, and its health.
effect as a replacement for the growth promot-
ing antibiotic was evaluated. Regarding mortality, it remained low, within
an acceptable range throughout the produc-
TRIAL 3: At an environmental level, it is inter- tion cycle (<2% in accumulated mortality),
esting to note that, during the first 2 weeks, both in males and females (Figure 5).
the ambient temperature of both houses
was lower than optimal. Later, from day 21 Finally, regarding the count of Salmonella spp.,
of age, the environmental temperature was the application of BacterActive Dry allowed
higher than the ideal for this age (Figure 2). to achieve the absence of this pathogen both
It became an extra challenge to achieve the in litter (sampling with shoes) as well as in
maximum productive performance. blind samples, similar to the results obtained
in trials 1 and 2. with BacterActive Aqua.
At a productive level, in terms of females, they
reached the desired weight on the scheduled At the intestinal level, the faeces had a better
date, even exceeding the target weight of the consistency than usual, and no lesions were
genetic line. In addition, a better conversion is observed at the macroscopic level.
observed with respect to the objective estab-
lished by Cobb (Figures 3). Implications / Conclusions
Regarding the males, at a productive level, the The three trials with BacterActive demon-
application of BacterActive Dry allowed the strated to control the presence of Salmo-
broilers to be taken out at day 31 of age, that nella spp. in the beds and in the caecum of the
is, 2 days before the usual and scheduled date, broilers, as well as to improve the productive
which was 33 days. This represents a saving performance.
of about 8,000 kg of feed.
The poultry producer company has a new
It should be noted that at 1 day of age, upon sustainable tool to replace antibiotic growth
arrival at the farm, the chicks were described promoters. This will benefit both the health
as having a lower weight and worse appear- of the animals and the safety of the finished
ance than usual. During the first week, there product, and therefore the health of end
were some problems with omphalitis and consumers.
Mycoplasma spp. This could explain the worse
conversion and mortality observed during the
first week of life.
Supplementation with BacterActive Dry from

day 7 of age allowed, despite these initial
circumstances, to reach and even improve
productive performance by completely elim-
inating the growth promoting antibiotic
(Figures 4).
This represents a notable improvement in

terms of production sustainability, since
ABSTRACT ID-90
Effects of rye inclusion in diets for broiler chickens on caecal

microbiota
Amr Abd El-Wahab1,2, Till Strowig3,4, Christian Visscher1, Julia Hankel1

1
Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany;
2
Department of Nutrition and Nutritional Deficiency Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University,
Mansoura, Egypt; 3Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany; 4Hannover Medical School, Hanover,
Germany
The Problem the respective cereal to generate experimen-

tal diets that are as comparable as possible
Rye could offer benefits in terms of sustain- with the CON diet in terms of their nutrient
ability if it could replace partially corn and composition. The cereal level was increased
wheat in broiler diets. When comparing the weekly at the expense of the SFs (5%, 10%,
carbohydrate fractions of different cereal 20%, 30%). At day 42, the caecal content of
grain species, rye has the highest concen- three birds per replicate (n = 24 per group)
tration of soluble arabinoxylans, which can was obtained for microbiota (16S rRNA gene
create a viscous environment within the intes- sequencing) analyses.
tinal lumen. For this reason, the use of rye for
intensive poultry production has been limited Results
to date as the inclusion can be associated with
sticky droppings, intestinal bacterial over- The dietary measure had a significant effect
growth, malabsorption and unfavourable feed on bacterial composition (p = 0.001, R2 =
conversion, especially when offered to young 0.119), richness (p = 0.0246) and evenness (p
broiler chickens. It is discussed whether the < 0.001). Birds of the SFII-Rye group differed
microbiota may be, at least partially, indirectly from the other groups. Compared to CON, two
responsible for the detrimental effects of amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) of the
viscous digesta (van Krimpen et al. 2017). As family Bifidobacteriaceae and several ASVs
microbiota complexity and stability increase belonging to the family Lactobacillaceae were
with age, we hypothesized that the effects of enriched in caeca of SFII Rye birds.
rye on microbiota and digesta viscosity might
be less pronounced when used in grower or Implications / Conclusions
finisher diets. The aim of the present study
was to evaluate whether the inclusion of rye The inclusion of rye altered the caecal micro-
in broiler diets has an effect on caecal microbiota even when used in broiler diets at an
biota when offered from the 14th day onwards. older age. Ileal digesta and excreta viscosity
as well as performance of the birds were not
How we investigated or researched the affected (Abd El-Wahab et al. 2020). Interest-
problem ingly, the inclusion of rye enriched bacterial
members of the families Bifidobacteriaceae
A total of 256 broilers (Ross 308), were and Lactobacillaceae. Certain bacteria from
randomly divided into four groups with eight both families in particular are administered
replicates each. From the 14th day onwards, as probiotics. Whether the inclusion of rye
the birds received four different diets (CON: in broiler diets has prebiotic potential and
conventional finisher diet based on wheat and increase microbiota resilience remains to be
soybean meal, SFI-Corn: supplementary feed evaluated.
(SF) I with crushed corn, SFII-Rye: SF II with
squashed rye, Mixed: 50% SFI-Corn and 50%
SFII-Rye). Both pelleted SFs were adapted to
ABSTRACT ID-97
Effect of attenuated coccidiosis vaccine combined or not with a

competitive exclusion product on the gut microbiota of broiler
chickens.
Achard C1, Sacy A1, Leplat A1, Nozeran A1, Barbé F1, Chevaux E1, Pain V2, Castex M1
1
Lallemand SAS, 31702 Blagnac, FRANCE
2
SOCSA, Réseau Cristal, 31240 L’Union, FRANCE
The Problem analyzed with linear mixed model and ANOVA,

using SPSS (IBM) software. For microbiota
Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease remaining a analyses, 9 birds per group were humanely
major threat in poultry production, leading euthanized at day 5 and 33 to collect ileum and
to economic losses. Live coccidiosis vaccines caecum samples. Microbial DNA was extracted
are used to prevent the development of from intestinal content and scrapped intes-
the disease. However, several publications tinal mucosa samples with ZR Soil Microbe
reported potential impact on zootechni- DNA Kit™ (Zymo Research). V4-V5 regions
cal performances. Effects on cecal microbi- of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced (Illu-
ota have also been evidenced, although with mina MiSeq sequencer). R software was used
some discrepancies between studies. As the for analyses: Taxonomic profiling abundance
gut microbiota plays a crucial role in main- tables were generated with DADA2. Mixed
taining gut health, a better characterization linear model and ANOVA were applied to
of vaccine effect on gut microbiota is needed. analyze treatment and sampling location
This study investigated the effect of a coccidi- effects on microbiota alpha-diversity and
osis live vaccine preparation on the gut micro- composition.
biota of broiler chickens co-inoculated or not
with a competition exclusion product the first Results
day of life. AviGuard (Lallemand) inoculation
has been previously shown to enable the early Zootechnical performances were negatively
establishment of a mature gut microbiota and impacted by the vaccine (ADG: -6.7% and FCR:
may thus modulate the potential impact of live +12.8%, P<0.05) and restored when AviGuard
vaccine on gut microbiota, and subsequently was co-inoculated. Microbiota alpha-diver-
benefit performances. sity was not affected by the vaccine alone,
whereas combined vaccine and AviGuard
How we investigated or researched the modulated alpha-diversity in ileum at day 5
problem and 33 and in caecum at day 5 (P<0.05). No
correlation between alpha-diversity and
Day-old mixed sex ROSS 308 broilers were performances was evidenced. Few genera
randomly allocated in three treatment groups were impacted by the vaccine (P<0.05 for 18
(14 chicks per pen, 3 pens per group): control out of 122 tested in caecum), whereas the
group, coccidiosis vaccine group, vaccine abundance of almost half of the genera tested
and AviGuard co-inoculated group. EVALON were significantly modulated with AviGuard
(HIPRA) coccidiosis vaccine alone or mixed at day 5. In particular, major increases in
with AviGuard was orally inoculated right Bacteroides, Megamonas and Megasphaera
after group distribution and prior feed access. genera were noticeable, while Enteroccocus
Starter crumbles diet without anticoccidi- and Escherichia-Shigella genera were drasti-
als was offered throughout the 33-day trial. cally decreased.
Chicks were individually weighted and feed
refusal were recorded. Performances were (Continued on the next page)
ABSTRACT ID-97
AviGuard moreover reversed the decrease in

Lachnoclostridium, Weissella, Lactobacillus
abundances evidenced when only the vaccine
was given.
In this study, the live attenuated anti-coccid-

ial vaccine resulted in small changes on gut
microbiota. Interestingly even co-inoculated
with coccidiosis vaccine, AviGuard exhib-
ited its typical effects on gut microbiota of
broiler chicken. This study thus confirms the
compatibility of AviGuard with a live coccid-
iosis vaccine when co-inoculated and further
highlights a beneficial effect in restoring
performance losses that may be induced by
live coccidiosis vaccines.
PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL
OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-02
Efficacy study of an inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine

against a Salmonella Gallinarum challenge in commercial layers
De Castro, S.1, Dardi, M.1,Baratelli, M.1, Penha Filho, R.C.2

1
HIPRA, Amer (Girona), Spain
2
Laboratory Safe Animal Health, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Problem birds in the non-challenged groups (G1.1-

G3.1) developed any of these. Groups G1.2
Fowl typhoid is a disease produced by the and G2.2 showed a statistically significant
bacterium Salmonella Gallinarum (SG), scien- lower mortality rate (11.5%) compared to
tifically described as a non-motile, faculta- G3.2 (100%) (Fisher exact test; p<0.05). More-
tively anaerobic and host-restricted serotype. over, in the case of the post-mortem lesions
In terms of prevention, there are various tools after the challenge in target organs, a signif-
to reduce the risk of an outbreak. Focusing icantly faster reduction in these lesions was
on vaccines, there are live SG9R vaccines that observed in ovarian samples in group G2.2
stimulate mainly cellular immunity, and inac- (0% of birds with post-mortem lesions at
tivated Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccines 21 days post challenge) compared to group
that stimulate mainly humoral immunity, 1.2 (20% of birds with post-mortem lesions
also known as antibody mediated response, at 21 days post challenge). Furthermore, in
providing life-long immunity through B-cells. the ovary, a significant difference (p value <
0.05) was also observed between group G1.2
How we investigated or researched the and group 2.2, showing a faster clearance of
problem bacterial count in the birds vaccinated with
the combination of live SG9R with the inacti-
One-day-old brown layer hens (Hy-line) were vated SE vaccine (G2.2), in which no bacteria
used in the study and randomly distributed were found at 21 days post challenge. Finally,
into 3 groups (G1-G3) with 56 animals each. there was an increase in serogroup D antibod-
The groups were initially placed in separate ies, reaching 10,000 units in all groups and
rooms and reared in cages containing 5 birds showing no statistical difference between
each. G1 received 2 doses of a commercial live the challenged groups at 3 weeks after the
SG9R vaccine at 6 and 14 weeks, G2 received challenge. Nevertheless, a significantly faster
a commercial live SG9R vaccine at 6 weeks antibody peak (p value < 0.05) was observed
and an inactivated SE vaccine at 14 weeks, G3 in group 2, one week after challenge, whilst
did not receive any vaccine (control group). groups 1 and 3 took 3 weeks to produce the
Before the challenge, the birds in each group peak of antibodies.
were separated into 2 subgroups of 5 (G1.1-
G3.1) and 51 (G1.2-G3.2) animals each. At 20 Implications / Conclusions
weeks of age, G1.1-G3.1 were given PBS by
oral gavage and G1.2-G3.2 were infected with It can be concluded that over a short-term
Salmonella Gallinarum (4.3 108 CFU/bird). period, the combination of a primary live
Mortality and clinical signs, lesions and bacte- SG9R vaccine followed by a booster dose of
rial load in the ovary were monitored weekly. inactivated SE vaccine can reduce mortality
in commercial layer hens challenged by a high
Results dose of Salmonella Gallinarum and shorten
the bacterial clearance period in internal
The challenge produced mortality, clinical organs, such as the ovary.
signs and organ lesions in all the non-vacci-
nated birds (G3.2); in contrast, none of the
PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 91

ABSTRACT ID-60
Influencing intestinal microbiota of chickens with the offer of

fermented cereals to increase resilience against Enterococcus
cecorum
Julia Hankel1, Jana Schreier2, Amr Abd El-Wahab1,3, Till Strowig4,5, Christian Visscher1, Arne Jung2
Institute for Animal Nutrition and 2Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation,
1
Hanover, Germany; 3Department of Nutrition and Nutritional Deficiency Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 4Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany; 5Hannover
Medical School, Hanover, Germany
The Problem nal microbiota (n = 10, 16S rRNA sequencing)

and integrity (n = 10, mRNA expression of six
Clinical Enterococcus (E.) cecorum infections tight junction (TJ) proteins by RT-qPCR) from
have become common in poultry farming in the small intestine and caeca were analysed.
various countries. The infection can lead to Bacteriological examination via culture and
arthritis and osteomyelitis. The aim of the real-time PCR was performed on extra-intes-
study was to increase the resilience of chick- tinal tissue and caecal samples.
ens to E. cecorum infections by means of a
dietary measure. Results
How we investigated or researched the The experimental diet had a 5 log10 higher
problem number of lactic acid bacteria (identified as
Pediococcus (P.) pentosaceus and P. acidilact-
The study was carried out in a 2×2 factorial ici) compared to the control diet. The effect of
design to test the factors "feeding" (control the dietary measure on microbiota composi-
diet vs. experimental diet) and "inoculation tion was clearly visible in the small intestine
status" (non-inoculated vs. experimentally up to the 14th study day (p = < 0.001, R2 =
inoculated) on intestinal microbiota and 0.791). The influence on the caecal microbi-
E. cecorum translocation. For this purpose, ota was smaller, but still significant. At study
328 day-old chicks (Ross 308) were divided day 7, the mRNA expression of all TJ proteins
into four groups of at least 80 animals each: was significantly increased in the caeca of
NICD (non-inoculated, control diet), NIED the birds fed the experimental diet. At this
(non-inoculated, experimental diet), EICD (E. time, E. cecorum prevalence in caeca of EICD
cecorum-inoculated, control diet) and EIED birds amounted 35% and 70% in EIED birds.
(E. cecorum-inoculated, experimental diet). A higher E. cecorum prevalence of E. ceco-
The chickens were fed ad libitum a pelleted rum-positive extra-intestinal tissues was
complete feed based on wheat, maize and detected in EICD birds (EICD: 19.3% vs. EIED:
soya extraction meal in three phases. In the 14.5%), though no significance was detected.
first two days after arrival of the animals in
the experimental unit, 10% of the starter was Implications / Conclusions
replaced by a mixture of ground rye and water
(control feed). In case of the experimental diet, The dietary measure offered only during the
the mixture of rye and water was addition- first two days after the chicks arrival at the
ally fermented using starter cultures for 24 h experimental unit, had a profound effect on
at 37°C before being offered. All chickens of the intestinal microbiota development. In
EICD and EIED received an E. cecorum suspen- addition, the results indicated a promoted
sion (106 colony forming units) orally at the intestinal integrity of young chicks due to the
third study day. The chickens were necrop- dietary measure.
sied on days 7, 14, 21 and 42, and the intesti-
92 PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

ABSTRACT ID-79
Butyric glycerides protect chicken enterocytes from pathogen

colonization with two different modes of action.
Amine Mellouk, Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Virginie Michel, Olga Lemâle, Tim Goossens, Jessika Consuegra
European Laboratory of Innovation, Science & Expertise (ELISE), R&I in Monogastric Animal Nutrition, Adisseo
France S.A.S. Saint Fons, France.
The Problem Results
The increasing risks of pathogenic infections Initially, BG improved the resistance of 8E11
and the ambition to reduce medication in chicken enterocytes to microbial pathogens
poultry farming have led to the emergence of invasion and toxicity. Unlike SB, BG signifi-
various preventive solutions such as α-mon- cantly decreased C. j and S.T adhesion to
obutyrin, known to have antimicrobial activ- enterocytes by 84 and 60 % respectively (P
ities. The present investigation seeks to < 0.001). BG also significantly reduced the
elucidate direct and indirect modes of action cytotoxicity of PLC at a 4-fold higher extent
of a blend of mono-, di-, and triglycerides of than SB (P < 0.001). Next, we show that only
butyric acid on the resistance ability of avian free butyric acid, released by lipase cleavage,
enterocytes to bacterial pathogens coloniza- but not BG itself, significantly increased the
tion and aggressions. basal and maximal oxygen consumption rate
in 8E11 chicken enterocytes (P < 0.001). In
How we investigated or researched the mammal colonocytes, this metabolic response
problem correlates with a shift in intestinal microbi-
ota. In this study, the microbiome analysis of
Immortalized chicken enterocytes, Chic- chickens fed BG supplemented diets revealed
clone-8E11 (8E11), were utilized for the a shift in microbiota composition, with a dras-
in vitro assays. Initially, we evaluated by tic reduction in potential detrimental facul-
CellELISA the 8E11 resistance to the adhe- tative aerobes like Escherichia coli/Shigella
sion and invasion capacities of C. jejuni (C.j.) and an increase of commensal anaerobes like
and S. Typhimurium (S.T.) after preincu- Lactobacillus (P < 0.01). These results suggest
bations with sodium butyrate (SB) or the that the BG supplementation, indirectly, favors
butyric glyceride blend (BG) at 2 mM. Next, the growth of anaerobic microbiota and disfa-
we assessed the effect of these preincuba- vors the development of aerobic potential
tions on 8E11 cell survival to the toxicity pathogens like Salmonella.
induced by C. perfringens α‑toxin (PLC)
at different concentrations by using the Implications / Conclusions
Resazurin survival test. Subsequently, we
measured the impact of SB, free butyric In summary, our results suggest that includ-
acids, and BG on the 8E11 cells mitochon- ing BG in poultry feed offers a trifold anti-
drial activity by utilizing Seahorse® technol- microbial effect. Beyond the described
ogy. After 72h incubations with the different antimicrobial properties of α-monoglycer-
sources of butyric acid, we quantified both ides, butyric-glycerides directly enhanced
basal and maximal oxygen consumption enterocytes’ resistance against pathogen
rate. Finally, we conducted in vivo assay on adhesion and toxicity. Moreover, being a
broilers fed diets supplemented or not with source of energy once cleaved, BG indirectly
BG (3 kg/ton) for 42 days. The microbial shifted the intestinal microbial ecology.
analyses were performed with 16S sequenc- Collectively, these effects promote chicken
ing on cecal content samples. resilience and enhance their resistance to
bacterial pathogens.

ABSTRACT ID-106
Clostridium perfringens chitinases, key enzymes during early

stages of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens
Evelien Dierick1, Chana Callens1, Yehudi Bloch2,3, Savvas N. Savvides2,3, Sarah Hark5, Stefan Pelzer5, Richard
Ducatelle1, Filip Van Immerseel1, Evy Goossens1
1
Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent
University, Merelbeke, Belgium
2
Unit for Structural Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
3
Unit for Structural Biology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
5
Evonik Operations GmbH, Division Nutrition & Care – Animal Nutrition, Westfalen, Germany
The Problem Results
Clostridium perfringens type G is the causative Whereas ChiB preferentially processes linear
agent of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broilers, an substrates such as chitin, ChiA prefers larger
enteric disease characterized by lesion forma- and more branched substrates, such as carbo-
tion in the small intestine. In addition to the hydrates presented by the chicken intestinal
well-studied NetB toxin, this bacterium is able mucus. This difference in substrate preference
to produce an array of other pathogen-spe- can be explained by their protein crystal struc-
cific enzymes. Two of these enzymes were tures. ChiA and ChiB, either supplemented or
identified as putative chitinases, ChiA and produced by the bacteria, led to a significant
ChiB. Interestingly, their expression is upreg- increase in C. perfringens growth. In addition
ulated during the early stages of pathogene- to nutrient acquisition, the chitinases enhance
sis, in contrast to the other genes (incl. NetB), bacterial attachment to the intestinal mucus.
suggesting a possible involvement during Both an in vivo colonization trial and a NE trial
colonization. The aim of this research was were conducted, demonstrating that a ChiA
to elucidate whether these chitinase genes chitinase mutant strain was less capable to
encode functionally active proteins and to colonize the intestine and was hampered in
study their potential involvement during the its disease-causing ability as compared to the
early stages of NE pathogenesis. wildtype strain.

problem
In conclusion, these pathogen-specific chiti-
Structural studies were performed using X-ray nases produced by C. perfringens type G
crystallography, resulting in the description strains are indeed functional proteins and
of the binding pockets and potential carbo- play fundamental roles during pathogene-
hydrate ligand interactions. In vitro binding sis through their ability to interact with the
studies as well as enzymatic activity studies intestinal mucus layer. The subsequent mucus
were performed towards multiple substrates breakdown facilitates early bacterial coloniza-
(pseudo-chitin substrates, chitin, mucus). To tion through enhanced bacterial proliferation
determine their biological relevance, in vitro and binding. Consequently, the potential of
assays were conducted studying their role chitinases as new vaccine targets should be
during either nutrient acquisition or bacterial assessed in future research.
binding to intestinal mucus. The reduced abil-
ity of chitinase mutant strains to colonize the
small intestine and induce NE was assessed
using an in vivo colonization assay and NE
challenge trial, respectively.

Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-58
Evaluation of the effects of a bacterial probiotic in experimentally

induced necrotic enteritis
Elen Rondel1, Maëliss Brunon2, Jérôme Le Douce2, Eric Pagot (DVM)2, Alain Riggi (DVM)1
1
Phileo by Lesaffre, 77 rue de Menin, 59700 Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
2
INNOZH, 2 rue Jean Rostand, 22440 Ploufragan, France
The Problem mortality. An evaluation of the specific lesions

due to the inoculated pathogens was done on
To decrease the rise of antibiotic resist- 25 birds per group which were sacrificed at
ance, the use of antibiotic growth promoters D16, and the remaining animals were kept to
(AGPs) in production animals is being reduced study compensatory growth. Body weight was
all over the world. Nevertheless, due to the measured at D10, D14, D16 and D20.
reduction of these AGPs the prevalence of
infectious diseases, such as necrotic enteritis Results
seems to emerge with increased mortality and
high economic losses as a result. The mix showed a significant impact on
mortality (40% for IccNT vs 12.5% for IccT)
How we investigated or researched the and on the number of birds displaying NE
problem lesions (median score 6 for IccNT vs 3 for
IccT). Animals surviving the Cp inoculations
Previous work carried out by ANSES and showed a decrease in growth significantly
INNOZH defined an experimental model to more severe in the unsupplemented group
evaluate the efficacy of additives on Clostrid- than the supplemented group in the 2 days
ium perfringens (Cp). This study was carried following the challenge (ADWG 15g/d for
out to evaluate the effect of mix of Bacil- IccNT vs 27g/d for IccT at D16). Those unsup-
lus amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis and plemented animals remained more impacted
B. pumilus (Microsaf®, called the mix) on by the disease in the 5 days following the chal-
NE. A total of 160 Ross 308 broilers were lenge (ADWG 28g/d for IccNT vs 38g/d for
divided into 4 groups: NINT (not inoculated, IccT at D20).
not supplemented); IccNT (inoculated with
coccidia and clostridia, not supplemented); Implications / Conclusions
IcoT (inoculated with coccidia, supplemented
with the mix at 500g/t) and IccT (inoculated A cocktail of the Bacillus species amyloliquefa-
with coccidia and clostridia, supplemented ciens, licheniformis and pumilus, alleviate the
with the mix at 500g/t). Comparisons negative effects caused by necrotic enteritis.
between the test group and the control groups
allowed evaluation of the effect of the probi-
otic on mortality, lesions induced by Cp and
compensatory growth after the challenge.
At D10, the animals from groups IccNT, IcoT
and IccT received an oral inoculation of 1mL
containing 10,000 oocysts of Eimeria maxima.
At D14 and D15, the animals from groups
IccNT and IccT received an oral inoculation
of 2mL of a mix of strains A and B of Cp at 108
bacteria/mL. During the two days following
the first bacterial infection, a clinical examina-
tion was carried out to assess morbidity and

ABSTRACT ID-104
Salmonella serotype prediction with Nanopore sequencing as a

Point-of-Care characterization tool
Samoy C.1, Lambrecht E.2, Heyndrickx M.2, Wagner P3, Antonissen G.1
1
University, Merelbeke, Belgium
2
Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Technology and Food Unit, Melle, Belgium
3
Laboratory for Soft Matter & Biophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
The Problem ing reads were employed to identify genes

associated with persistence and/or virulence,
The food production industry faces strin- contributing to the establishment of an anti-
gent food safety regulations, necessitating microbial resistance profile. Automation of
high-quality and safe raw materials. Never- all bioinformatic procedures was achieved
theless, the lack of on-farm or at-line testing through a Snakemake workflow, which is
for pathogen infections may result in poten- accessible on GitHub.
tial proliferation by the time it is detected,
thereby exerting pressure on production Results
workflows, capacity, and timelines. Point-of-
Care (POC) tools offer a solution by enabling The comparative analysis of serotype
faster identification of non-conform situa- predictions revealed a remarkable consist-
tions, potentially streamlining on-site analy- ency when employing input data from both
sis for pinpointing contamination sources. A Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illu-
promising application of nanopore sequenc- mina, as well as between the tools SISTR and
ing as a Point-of-Care characterization tool SeqSero2. A sequence coverage of 30x for
is to look for persistence and other charac- the long-reads demonstrated sufficient accu-
teristics of pathogens in the food production racy for serotype prediction in the major-
chain. At the primary production, persistence ity of cases. However, it was observed that
can be perceived at the level of colonization SeqSero2 faced challenges in distinguishing
of the animals, which results in for example between closely related biovars Gallinarum
repeated isolation of the same Salmonella and Pullorum. Utilizing a gene-centric
strain from poultry. approach, specifically targeting I137_14430
and torT in the assembled genomes, enabled
How we investigated or researched the accurate serotype identification up to the
problem biovar level. For antimicrobial resistance
profiling, Abricate and AMRFinder were
The study was initiated by sequencing the 20 successfully employed on the samples.
most prevalent Salmonella serotypes in Flan-
ders, Belgium. The bacterial samples were Implications / Conclusions
sequenced using both Illumina's short-read
technology and Oxford Nanopore Technolo- The MinION, with accuracy comparable
gies' long-read method. A benchmarking anal- to Illumina sequencers, holds promise for
ysis was subsequently conducted to compare in-house point-of-care microbial analysis
the datasets generated by the two sequencing due to its compact size and efficient process-
methods. The results from both datasets were ing. However, antibiotic resistance profiles
analyzed using SISTR and SeqSero2, tools constructed by Abricate and AMRFinder
designed for serotype prediction based on remain unverified in the laboratory.
Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies
data, respectively. Additionally, the sequenc-

ABSTRACT ID-41
Comparison of live attenuated and live-non attenuated vaccines

on the safety of the administration of an overdose using the
model of the European Monograph in SPF chickens
Marc Pagès1, Andreu Albó1, Joan Molist2, Martina Dardi2, Massimiliano Baratelli1
1
Hipra Scientific S.L.U., Spain
2
Laboratorios HIPRA S.A., Spain.
The Problem lation (DPI).
Coccidiosis poses significant challenges in Results

broiler chicken industry. Live vaccines are
commonly employed to control the disease. The OPG profiles showed a greater abundance
Depending on the type of Eimeria strains of oocysts shed in Groups B and C compared
they contain, these vaccines can be classified to Group A. Groups B and C showed some
as wild-type (non-attenuated) vaccines and birds with blood in the faeces. Group C had
attenuated ones. Limited information is avail- one dead bird attributable to the treatment
able on the safety of wild-type vaccines, espe- with confirmed grade 4 intestinal lesion scor-
cially compared to live attenuated ones. ing. No abnormal signs of disease or deaths
were recorded in Groups A and D. The IL eval-
How we investigated or researched the uation performed at 6 and 14 DPI (12 birds
problem per time point) indicated higher intestinal
lesions in Groups B and C compared to groups
The aim of this study was to compare the A and D. Statistically significantly lower BW
safety of an overdose (10X) of EVANT ® were detected at 14 DPI in groups B and C
(Group A) with two non-attenuated coccid- compared to groups A and D. Groups A and
iosis vaccines (Group B – Vaccine with D showed similar FCR from 6 to 16 DPI (0.70
3 strains of Eimeria oocysts; Group C – and 0.73 respectively), while groups B and C
Vaccine with 5 strains of Eimeria oocysts) showed higher FCR in the same period (1.07
and a negative control group (Group and 1.13 respectively).
D – Phosphate Buffered Saline Solution)
under experimental conditions. The over- Implications / Conclusions
dosage study was performed according to
the European Monograph model for safety In conclusion, the results obtained in this
trials which resemble similar conditions study indicate that the vaccine administered
to the replication of vaccinal oocysts in the in Group A is safer compared to the vaccines
litter. On day 0, 160 SPF birds (14 days old) administered in Groups B and C. Moreover,
were randomized by weight, proportion- an overdose of the vaccine in Group A (atten-
ally distributed in cages, and orally inocu- uated) does not cause major clinical signs
lated with the corresponding treatment. The of disease or mortality, only low and mild
birds were blindly monitored for 14 days. intestinal lesions are detected and has simi-
Parameters evaluated to assess the safety lar body weights and feed conversion rate to
used included Clinical Signs (CS), Mortality, the control group. It has been demonstrated
Intestinal Lesions (IL), Body Weight (BW) that non-attenuated vaccines have a higher
and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). The excre- oocyst shedding and produce more severe and
tion of the vaccinal oocysts in fresh faeces frequent clinical signs and intestinal lesions
was measured through Oocysts per gram on the animals, resulting in a loss of body
counts (OPG) from 3 to 9 days post-inocu- weight and a poorer feed conversion rate.

ABSTRACT ID-42
Safety and immunogenicity of the associated administration of

EVANOVO®, GUMBOHATCH® and a commercial rHVT-ND vaccine in
commercial broilers
Roser Morató1, Natàlia Dewe1, Joan Molist2, X. Rebordosa1, E. Sebastià1, Marc Pagès1
1
Hipra Scientific S.L.U., Amer 17170, Spain
2
Laboratorios HIPRA S.A., Amer 17170, Spain.
The Problem to their summary of product characteris-

tics. After hatching, ninety chicks from each
In ovo vaccination (IO) is a widely adopted group were monitored in separate pens under
method in global broiler poultry business. similar conditions for 47 days. The safety of
A common platform for IO vaccination is co-administration was evaluated by observing
through recombinant herpesvirus (rHVT), hatching rates, viability and possible adverse
whose genome incorporates stable inser- reactions. Newcastle disease (ND) and infec-
tion(s) of genetic material to stimulate immu- tious bursitis (IBD) specific antibody levels
nity against various diseases. In addition, were also measured 47 days after hatch-
more vaccines are being developed for in IO ing to determine the immunogenicity of the
such as EVANOVO®, a live attenuated vaccine HVT-ND vaccine and GUMBOHATCH®. Weekly
against avian coccidiosis (HIPRA, S.A.) and oocyst counts were performed until 35 days
GUMBOHATCH®, a live immune complex after hatching to evaluate vaccination with
vaccine against Infectious Bursal Disease EVANOVO® and EVANT®.
(IBD). Combining IO vaccination against
coccidiosis with other commercial vaccines Results
could optimize and minimize hatchery vacci-
nation processes without compromising No adverse reactions or clinical signs were
the immunogenicity of the co-administered observed in any group. In addition, there
vaccines. were no statistically significant differences in
the hatching rates. No significant differences
How we investigated or researched the were found in the rate of seroconversion of
problem IBD and ND antibodies during the entire study
period. Additionally, the oocyst counts profile
In this study, the safety and immunogenic- in the coccidia vaccinated groups indicated
ity of the co-administration of EVANOVO®, successful administration and replication of
GUMBOHATCH® and a recombinant turkey the Eimeria vaccine strains.
herpesvirus ND vaccine (rHVT/ND) when
mixed before IO administration to 18-day-old Implications / Conclusions
broiler embryonated eggs was evaluated. This
was compared with in-ovo administration of These results suggest that co-administering
HVT-ND vaccine and GUMBOHATCH® followed EVANOVO®, GUMBOHATCH® and HVT-ND
by a 1-day-old coarse spray vaccination with vaccines is as efficient as individual vaccine
a commercial coccidiosis vaccine (EVANT®, administration in protecting birds against
HIPRA, S.A.), as well as single administration coccidiosis, Marek's disease (MD), Newcas-
of HVT-ND vaccine and GUMBOHATCH®. The tle disease (ND) and Gumboro disease (IBD).
study included three broiler batches broilers,
each with 105 individuals. The vaccines were
stored, prepared and co-administered within
the shelf life after reconstitution according

ABSTRACT ID-43
Field experience of laying hen pullets vaccinated against

coccidiosis
Kristy Naldo1, Daniel Tolentino1, Shyong Wey Ong2, Marina Solé2, Joan Molist2
1
Hipra Philippines INC., Manila 1780, Philippines
2
Laboratorios HIPRA S.A., Amer 17170, Spain.
The Problem Results
Avian coccidiosis poses a significant and wide- The results demonstrated that Group A exhib-
spread challenge, impacting any category of ited lower cumulative Mortality (3.6% vs.
productive bird. The severity of Eimeria-re- 8.1% in Group B), higher BW (621 g vs. 606
lated damage is intricately linked to the para- g in Group B), and superior Uniformity (82.8
site burden and faecal contact. As a result of ± 3.8% vs. 73.8 ± 11.2% in Group B) at the
this, the challenge presented by this parasite conclusion of the study. Despite additional
should theoretically be less in birds reared vaccination costs, economic calculations indi-
over a slatted floor or in caged laying hens cated savings for the producer, resulting in a
and consequently, underestimated and favourable ROI of 1:3.7 for Group A compared
underrated. Subclinical coccidiosis or even to Group B.
clinical outbreaks can occur. Vaccination
against coccidiosis could improve control of Implications / Conclusions
the disease and subsequently increase the
productivity of birds raised in slatted or caged These findings suggest that mitigating the
environments. potential coccidiosis challenges with EVANT®,
even in underrated environments, can
How we investigated or researched the improve the productive performance of birds
problem and be economically beneficial compared to
the absence of preventive measures.
The aim of the study was to assess the perfor-
mance of commercial laying hen pullet flocks
under field conditions, comparing those
vaccinated against avian coccidiosis with a
live attenuated vaccine (EVANT®, HIPRA S.A.)
with a flock without any preventive meas-
ures against coccidiosis within the same
company. The study involved four laying hen
pullet flocks from a Philippine company, total-
ling 82,761 birds. Of these, 62,190 (3 flocks)
received vaccination at 1 day of life by coarse
spray (Group A), while 20,481 laying hen
pullets (1 flock) did not receive any vaccine
or treatment (Group B). The birds were reared
over slats and monitored during the first 8
weeks, with evaluation parameters including
Mortality, Body Weight (BW), and Uniform-
ity (U). Economic implications were analysed
through Return On Investment (ROI), factor-
ing in average costs for the Philippine market.

ABSTRACT ID-57
Effect of a bacterial probiotic on Campylobacter spp. cecal

carriage
Elen Rondel1, Maëliss Brunon2, Jérôme Le Douce2, Eric Pagot (DVM)2, Alain Riggi (DVM)1
1
Phileo by Lesaffre, 77 rue de Menin, 59700 Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
2
INNOZH, 2 rue Jean Rostand, 22440 Ploufragan, France
The Problem reduction of the Campylobacter spp. posi-

tive samples in the ceca (6 positive from 26
Campylobacteriosis has been for a few years samples in the Control group vs 1 from 30
the most prevalent food-borne disease in samples in the Test group, p=0,05). Neverthe-
humans. Studies have demonstrated that less, no significant difference has been seen
the highest risk for human Campylobacter on the Campylobacter counts between the
infections is associated with the consump- groups, p=0,096). At the end of the study, at
tion of chicken meat. To reduce the exposure D34, all the birds have been weighed individu-
to this pathogen, reducing the colonization ally and a significant difference has been seen
of Campylobacter in live broilers is one of for the Body Weight (1,998 kg for the Control
the avenues being studied. The aim of this group vs 2,158 kg for the Test group, p<0,001).
study was to evaluate the effect of a bacterial
probiotic, mix of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Implications / Conclusions
B. licheniformis and B. pumilus (Microsaf®,
called the mix) on cecal carriage of Campylo- In conclusion the bacterial probiotic mix
bacter spp. in a conventional broiler farm with seemed to help reduce the contamination
recurring detection problems at slaughter. of the birds with Campylobacter spp. and
contributed also to the improvement of their
How we investigated or researched the body weight at D35.
problem
The presence of Campylobacter spp. on the

farm was confirmed by laboratory analysis
before the beginning of the trial. 90 one-day
old chicks were placed to 6 pens and allo-
cated to 2 groups of 45 animals: Control, fed
a commercial diet free of the tested addi-
tive, and Test, supplemented with the probi-
otic mix at 500g/t. Animals were weighed
individually at D1, D21 and D34. At D21, 4
animals per pen were sacrificed and their
ceca sampled for microbiota analysis (results
not presented in this abstract). At D34, all the
remaining animals were euthanized, and their
ceca sampled for Campylobacter PCR analysis.
Results
Only 12.5% (7 positive from 56 samples) of

the ceca samples were positive to Campy-
lobacter spp. The comparison between the
Control group and the Test group showed a

ABSTRACT ID-93
The supplementation of lauric acid glycerides in chicken diet

improves the humoral and cellular immune response to
infectious bronchitis virus
Amine Mellouk, Virginie Michel, Olga Lemâle, Tim Goossens, Jessika Consuegra
Adisseo France S.A.S. European Laboratory of Innovation, Science & Expertise (ELISE). Department of R&I in
Monogastric Animal Nutrition. Saint Fons, France.
The Problem increased in broilers fed GLA supplemented

diet compared to the non GLA supplemented
Controlling pathogenic infections while broilers (P < 0.05) showing a better primary
reducing antibiotic usage is an important immune response. The basal secretion of
challenge during poultry production. In addi- IFN‑γ, IL‑2, IL‑10, IL‑16 and IL-21 cytokines
tion to vaccination strategies, many solutions remained similar in the spleens of all the
to enhance the immune response against experimental groups. However, the spleno-
pathogens are developed. One of those are cytes of broilers fed with GLA, showed higher
glycerides of lauric acid. Known for their activation and effector abilities. In response to
antimicrobial capacities, they may also can N‑261‑280 peptide, splenocytes from the GLA
improve the immune response to pathogens. supplemented group showed a 2-fold increase
In the present study, we aim to determine in spot numbers (P < 0.05) and 3‑fold increase
the effects of glycerides of lauric acid (GLA) in spot surfaces (P < 0.01) compared the
supplementation in chickens’ diets on the control and non-vaccinated groups. Similarly,
kinetics and levels of humoral and cellular Con A stimulation showed a 2‑fold increase of
immune response to a pathogenic challenge spot surfaces and numbers in the GLA supple-
using an in vivo model of infectious bronchi- mented group (P < 0.01).
tis virus (IBV).
problem In summary, first we show here that GLA
supplementation in the feed improves the
One-day-old Ross 308 broilers were vacci- magnitude of the primary humoral immune
nated via eye-nose drops with live attenuated response of broilers. Second, GLA enhanced
IBV and fed diets supplemented or not with cellular immune response by increasing the
GLA at 3 kg/ton. Sera samples were weekly response levels and proportions of effector
harvested from each experimental group. T lymphocytes secreting IFN‑γ. Altogether,
Anti-IBV and total IgY antibodies were quanti- we show in vivo how glycerides of lauric acid
fied in the sera by ELISA. To assess the cellular supplementation in the diet can enhance
response, chicken IFN‑γ ELISpots assays were chicken resilience against pathogenic chal-
performed on chicken splenocytes at day 28. lenges by strengthening their immune
They were stimulated for 24 h by Concanava- response.
lin A (con A) pan T cells mitogen at 5 µg/mL or
by the IBV N261-280 peptide from the nucle-
ocapsid protein at 30 µg/mL.
Results
The levels of early (day 7) specific anti-IBV

titers in broiler sera significantly 2-fold

ABSTRACT ID-102
Enhancing Broiler Performance and Sustainability: The

Synergistic Effects of Glycine and Arginine Supplementation
Hashim1 M.M., S.A. El-Safty1,2, M.A.M. Abdelaziz1,2, A.M. Abuelnaga3, M.H. Rashed3, Sohila M. El-Gameel4, M.
Abdelkareem1, and AbdelRahman Y. Abdelhady2
1
Applied Feed Research House (AFRH), Cairo 11828, Egypt
2
Department of Poultry Production, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
3
ATCO Pharma for Pharmaceutical Industries, Cairo 11811, Egypt
4
Department of Parasitology, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
The Problem The control (T1) group was fed standard diet
(SD) that contains 1.285, 1.139, 0.970 [%] Arg
The poultry industry has continuous chal- [total] in starter, grower, finisher, respectively
lenges of how to enhance broiler produc- while diets of starter, grower, finisher of T2
tive performance with better feed efficiency (PG 500 g/ t), T3 (PG 500 g/ t with Arg 250 g/
against costly feeds and, with eminent t), and T4 (SD with Arg 250 g/ t) contain 1.309,
concerns of implementing sustainable 1.163, 0.994 [%] Arg [total], respectively. The
production practices. This trial aimed at matrix value of PG blend substituted 0.49,
addressing the ability of using animal-de- 0.01, 0.04, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.01 [%] of CP,
rived Glycine (Gly) supplement [PellGell® (PG), Meth, Meth+Cys, Lys, Ther, Arg, Gly, respec-
33% Gly], product of ATCO Pharma Animal tively. Feeds (0-35 days) were presented
Health, in combination with amino acid Argi- ad-libtum in starter, grower, and finisher
nine (Arg), to improve production perfor- diets. A challenge protocol for coccidia infec-
mance and gut health of broilers. Coccidiosis tion was induced by oral administration at d
results in annual global economic losses of 24. Mortality rates (MR) and intestinal oocyst
about $2.4 billion, including production losses count (IOC) were inspected post-challenge.
and disease prevention and treatment costs
(Sewalem, 2017). Accordingly, a controlled Results
infection challenge with coccidia was carried
out during the present trial, allowing for more Our findings revealed better (P<0.05) broiler
realistic assessment of the birds' immune growth performance and feed efficiency,
competence through monitoring mortal- specifically, for T3 or T4 groups. Feed conver-
ity with true evaluation of efficacy of these sion ratio (FCR) improvements were most
supplements against coccidiosis. Despite notable in T3 group whose fed combined
recognized benefits of amino acid supple- supplements of PG with Arg. Regarding MR, it
ments, possible synergy between Gly [Pell- was noticed that lower records were noted for
Gell®] and Arg, and their economic benefits T2, and T3 groups, suggesting possible health
are still under-investigated. support associated with blending PG with Arg.
Also, return on investment (ROI) was highest
How we investigated or researched the for T4, driven by improved feed efficiency and
problem growth performance. This indicates that using
amino acids in broiler diets can be economi-
The present trial was conducted to study the cal, particularly where the benefits in perfor-
impact of PG blend with Arg on productive mance compensate for the cost of additives.
performance, carcass characteristics, immune
response against coccidiosis of broiler chick-
ens. A total of 800 one-day-old Indian River
chicks were allocated to four treatment
groups, with eight replicates per treatment. (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-102
Results of coccidia challenge revealed a stark

contrast in MR and IOC among the control
group (T1) and the other groups (T2, T3, and
T4). As T1 group exhibited higher MR (30%)
and IOC (78.50×10^3), whereas all other
groups showed zero mortality and much
lesser IOC. Remarkably, lower IOC values
were recorded by T2 (5.30×10^3) and T4
(5.95×10^3) while combining Gly with Arg in
T3 demonstrated the lowest IOC (2.15×10^3),
indicating considerable shielding effects of
dietary Gly-Arg mix against coccidiosis in
broilers.
The findings suggest that targeted amino

acid supplementation might lead to sustain-
able improvements in production outcomes,
including better growth rates, feed utili-
zation, and carcass quality as PG might
support gut health and immune function,
while Arg is known to play a critical role in
stress response. Since results of coccidia
challenge indicated that mixing PG with
Arg (P<0.05) reduces MR and IOC in birds
exposed to coccidiosis. This suggests that
such nutritional strategy might enhance
birds' resistance to intestinal pathogens,
especially Eimeria tenella as minimized MR
to zero level and potentially lowers reli-
ance on synthetic anticoccidial drugs. These
findings have valuable recommendations
for improving poultry health and contrib-
uting to more sustainable poultry produc-
tion practices.

ABSTRACT ID-108
Supporting measures to improve biosecurity compliance in

poultry farms: the NetPoulSafe project
Giuditta Tilli1, Hilde Van Meirhaeghe1, Alessandra Piccirillo2, Annick Spaans3, Arthi Amalraj4, Artur
Zbikowski5, Rozenn Souillard6, Laszlo Kovács7, Maria Kovács-Weber8, Aitor Devesa9, Sandra Sevilla-
Navarro9 [on behalf of the NetPoulSafe consortium], Justine Grillet10
1
Vetworks bv, Knokstraat 38, B-9880 Poeke, Belgium
2
Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Viale dell’Università 16, 36125 Legnaro, Italy
3
Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organization, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
4
Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University,
Merelbeke, Belgium
5
Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life
Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
6
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Unit,
France
7
Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Mobile Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest,
Hungary
8
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Animal Breeding Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
9
Poultry Quality and Animal Nutrition Centre of the Valencia Region, Castellón, Spain
10
ITAVI French Technical Institute of Poultry Farming, Rabbit Farming, and Aquaculture, Paris, France
The Problem conventional and free range, duck, turkey, and

breeder farms. Additionally, information were
Among the most efficacious strategies to collected also from n = 57 operators working
prevent gut health issues, together with on egg collection facilities, feed supplier compa-
feed additives and vaccination, biosecurity nies, hatcheries and slaughterhouses. Results of
play a significant role. However, implemen- the questionnaires, paved the way to the test-
tation and compliance of on-farm biosecu- ing and validation phase of country-specific
rity measures (BMs) might not be optimal, selected SMs successfully carried out in a set of
despite that biosecurity seems to be a well- n = 139 pilot farms. Number of pilot farms per
known concept at each level of the poultry country were representative of each national
production chain. Therefore, new strategies to poultry production. Specifically, coaching of the
improve application of BMs in poultry farms farmer (online and on-farm, individual and per
are needed. Within the European project group), biosecurity trainings and live workshops,
“NetPoulSafe (G.A. 101000728)”, the purpose participatory group meetings, virtual farm tour
was to select, test, validate and share the most and group discussion, and online sector meeting
promising supporting measures (SMs, e.g., were tested and validated SMs. Impact of SMs
trainings, coaching, e-learning modules) to implementation was evaluated for a period of
improve biosecurity in different poultry rear- at least 6 months in each farm, and their impact
ing systems from seven European countries on any biosecurity improvement was moni-
leader in poultry production (France, Italy, tored via the Biocheck.UGent scoring tool. Addi-
Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary tionally, further information on the attitude of
and Spain). the farmers/representative of each pilot farm
towards any change related to biosecurity was
How we investigated or researched the measured with the ADKAR-Partage assessment
problem tool, developed ad hoc within the project. After
the validation on field, results were massively
Information on a pre-defined set of BMs and SMs disseminated via the project channels.
was collected by the means of questionnaire
administered to a set of n = 192 farmers, and
n = 157 advisors, referring to broiler and layer (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-108
Results
Results of the questionnaires, highlighted

an overall good level of BMs implementa-
tion perceived by farmers and advisors, in
line with what already known to the most. In
parallel, results related to the SMs highlighted
the need from the interviewed stakeholders
of specific alternative methods towards BMs
implementation. Global results showed an
improvement of on-farm BMs in more than
half of the involved pilot farms after the vali-
dation of the country-specific SMs, suggest-
ing that the adoption of such methodologies
might be beneficial for biosecurity implemen-
tation and compliance, while remaining origi-
nal and cost-effective.
According to the global results of the project,

despite a general understanding of the impor-
tance of biosecurity measures, there is still
some room for improvement for its on-farm
implementation and compliance. The adop-
tion of SMs in the involved countries seems to
be a promising and innovative alternative for
addressing this improvement.

ABSTRACT ID-112
Hetasca: Serologic test for detection of roundworm infections in

poultry and its practical applications.
Maarten De Gussem, Tiago Prucha

Vetworks Poultry Consultant, Belgium
The Problem methods, detecting infections more promptly.

Notably, the test identified helminth infections
Roundworm infections in poultry have tradi- in farms previously diagnosed as free of such
tionally been diagnosed using worm counts infections through EPG and/or necropsy. Anal-
and Egg per gram faeces (EPG) counts, meth- ysis of broiler breeder samples revealed signif-
ods that, while effective, may not always icant levels of roundworm infection across
provide the earliest or most sensitive detec- various age groups, with a notable increase in
tion of infections. With the development of the infection rates in birds older than 8 weeks. The
Hetasca serologic test, there is potential for presence of maternal antibodies in chicks at
more sensitive and earlier detection of round- birth indicated transmission from grandpar-
worm infections in poultry, a critical aspect ents. The study also uncovered a correlation
for managing poultry health and preventing between roundworm infections and the pres-
disease spread. ence of Histomonas meleagridis, with all Histo-
monas-positive flocks also testing positive on
How we investigated or researched the the Hetasca test.
problem
An in vivo study was conducted to compare
the sensitivity and specificity of the Hetasca The findings from this research indicate that the
serologic test against traditional methods Hetasca serologic test is a valuable tool for the
of worm count and EPG counts. The study early detection of roundworm infections in poul-
involved 9 groups of SPF birds at 12 weeks old, try, offering greater sensitivity than traditional
including one unchallenged group, 4 groups diagnostic methods. The widespread presence
challenged with Ascaridia galli, and 4 groups of roundworm infections in broiler breeders,
challenged with Heterakis, each at varying especially in relation to Histomonas meleagridis
doses. These groups were inoculated over 9 and its implications for Colisepticaemia, under-
consecutive weeks. scores the importance of effective worming
programs. The insights gained from this study
Results could significantly impact the epidemiology of
roundworm infections, leading to improved
The Hetasca serologic test demonstrated health management practices in commercial
superior sensitivity compared to traditional layer and breeder farms.
Broiler Breeder Number of Number of Number of Hetasca Prevalence Hetasca Prevalence

Age (weeks) samples flocks positive flocks (flock level) (bird level)
Week 1-7 95 19 5 26% 9%
Week 8-12 379 44 36 82% 33%
Week 13-16 155 17 16 94% 38%
Week 17-19 405 45 41 91% 56%
Week 20-48 255 51 51 100% 97%
Total (Average) 1289 176 149 85% 51%

ABSTRACT ID-119
Reo-sequencing and genotyping are not telling the full story,

actual 2023 outbreaks from Benelux under the spotlight.
Poulpharm BV, Belgium
The Problem (primer) and inactivated (booster) breed-

ers was performed. Several strains were able
Avian Reoviruses (ARV) are non-enveloped to infect the broilers and half of the strains
viruses belonging to the family of Reoviri- showed an impact on ADG of more than 10%
dae, subfamily Spinareovirinae and genus by 21 days of life.
Orthoreovirus. ARV was first discovered as the
causative agent of tenosynovitis in chickens, Results
but meanwhile has been linked to different
diseases in chickens. Vaccination is commonly From the 70 flocks screened, in 67,14% of
used to prevent and control the diseases the cases ARV could be isolated from one or
caused by ARV, but due to the frequent emer- multiple tissue samples. Molecular analysis
gence of new variants, vaccination with showed that the ARV strains could be divided
commercial vaccines is often not successful. into 5 clusters. Results showed that despite
the standard vaccination of broiler breeders
How we investigated or researched the in Belgium the prevalence of ARV in broiler
problem flocks suffering from malabsorption problems
in Belgium is high. The virus isolates that were
In order to gain more knowledge about the found mainly belonged to genotype 2 (48.9%)
prevalence and genetic variability of the ARV of ARV, while all commercial vaccines availa-
strains circulating in Belgium, a study was ble belong to genotype 1 or ARV.
set up to screen a series of poorly performing
broiler flocks from 2019 to 2020. During this In the follow-up trial, strains that were closely
period, 70 broiler flocks suffering from malab- related to each other, isolated in 2023, were
sorption problems were selected for tissue used to challenge broiler birds. A remarkable
sampling at 28-35 days-of-age. Each time finding was that even genotype 1 strains were
liver, tendon and small intestine samples were not stopped by maternal antibodies generated
collected from 5 healthy and 5 sick animals. In by the licensed vaccine protocols (that contain
the laboratory, a 10% tissue suspension was genotype 1 vaccine strains). It was also evident
prepared for each organ. Virus isolation was that a close relation between two strains can
performed through three blind passages on give a very different clinical outcome.
primary chicken embryo liver cells. Samples
showing ARV related cytopathogenic effects Implications / Conclusions
were collected and subsequently molecu-
larly characterized based on their S1 gene. As a conclusion, any prediction on cross-protec-
The obtained sequences, including a series tion and/or virulence testing of current circulat-
of reference strains were aligned using the ing strains has limited value if not substantiated
MEGA 6.0 software and used to construct a by in vivo testing of relevant field broilers chicks.
phylogenetic tree. Sequencing as such can indicate relationships
amongst strains and production systems, but
To check if current vaccine programs were using a limited part of the genome only seems a
protecting against the isolates, an in vivo weakness at this point.
challenge at day old from the progeny of live

ABSTRACT ID-120
The influence of lauric acid and essential oils on the course of a necrotic
enteritis infection in broilers applying a subclinical disease model
K Jerez-Bogota1,2, M. Jensen1, O. Højberg2, N. Canibe2, R. Engberg2

1
Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
2
Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
The Problem Results
Necrotic enteritis (NE), triggered by Clostrid- The MIC values for each product were as follows
ium perfringens, significantly impacts the broilerPKO: 1.5 mg/ml, for the EO: oregano: 5.6 mg/ml,
industry. Stress, diet, Eimeria infection, and thyme: 5.6 mg/ml, anise: >28.15 mg/ml, clove:
reduced antimicrobial use contribute to NE. This 2.5 mg/ml, cinnamon leaf: 2.5 mg/ml. PKO and
study explores the use of lauric oils and essential
clove EO displayed in vitro synergistic action. In
oils (EO) as alternatives to traditional antimicro-
the in vivo experiment, the growth performance
bials. It specifically examines the efficacy and during the starter phase did not differ. The ADG
synergistic action of palm kernel oil (PKO) and of PKO, CEO and PKO+CEO was higher than that
clove EO against C. perfringens in a subclinical of the control group on 22 d (P =0.034). The
NE model in broilers. ADFI of PKO, CEO and PKO+CEO was higher than
that of the control group on 22 d (P =0.001). The
How we investigated or researched the overall efficiency did not differ among groups.
problem The lesion scores were influenced by the treat-
ment depending on the day (P =0.021); the
Pathogenic C. perfringens' susceptibility to PKO, CEO and PKO+CEO group had consistently
PKO and five EOs (oregano, thyme, anise, clove, lower scores compared to the control group. The
cinnamon leaf) was tested in vitro. MICs were PKO+CEO had the lowest scores on 23 and 25 d.
determined using the microdilution method in The gene copy number of Lactobacilli, E. coli and
96-well plates, with oil concentrations rang- C. perfringens were influenced by day, treatment,
ing from 0.22 to 28.15 mg/ml over an 18-24 and segment (P =0.036 , P <0.001 , P <0.001).
h spectrophotometer incubation. A check- The PKO group had the lowest levels of E. coli in
erboard assay assessed PKO and EO inter- the ileum on 23 d in the ileum and on 22 and 25
actions. In vivo, 360 1-day-old male broilers in the cecum. The PKO had the lowest levels of
(Ross 308) were divided into four groups, 22 C. perfringens in the ileum on day 23 and in the
birds per pen, across two rooms. Diets were cecum on 22 and 25 d (though similar to CEO
Control (no antimicrobials), PKO (1% PKO group on 25d).
replacing soy oil), CEO (500mg/kg clove EO),
and PKO+CEO. Over 29 days, body weight and Implications / Conclusions
feed intake were monitored for ADG and ADFI,
and feed efficiency. Birds were infected with The combination of the lauric oil PKO and
Net B positive C. perfringens (108 CFU/bird) clove EO displayed in vitro synergistic antibac-
on 18-20 d. Intestinal lesions were scored (0-6 terial action against a pathogenic C. perfrin-
scale) on days 22, 23, 25, and 28, with ileal and gens strain. Furthermore, broilers fed with the
cecal contents analyzed for bacterial counts combination had in an increased feed intake,
via qPCR. Data analysis used mixed models for lower occurrence of NE intestinal lesions and
continuous variables and ordinal models for reduced number of E. coli and C. perfringens.
lesion scores, considering treatment, day, and The combination of PKO and clove EO can be
gastrointestinal segment as fixed effects, and an effective alternative to conventional anti-
room and pens as random effects (glmmTMB, microbials in the management of broiler NE
emmeans, ordinal; R 4.3). displaying some synergistic action.

IN VITRO AND IN VIVO
MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-52
Antimicrobial Properties and Gut Colonisation of Bacillus

Darwin Horyanto1, 2, Yadav S. Bajagai1, Juhani von Hellens2, Xiaojing Chen2, Charlie Tran3, Yunjian Feng3 and
Dragana Stanley1
1
Central Queensland University, Institute for Future Farming Systems, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia
2
Bioproton Pty Ltd., Acacia Ridge, QLD 4110, Australia
3
Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
The Problem trial demonstrated improved growth and

reduced mortality rates, supporting Bacillus
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance probiotics as AGP alternatives. LC-MS anal-
(AMR) concerns has prompted a shift away ysis confirmed the presence of surfactin C
from the use of antimicrobial growth promot- analogues post-probiotic supplementation,
ers (AGPs) in animal feed. Probiotics, particu- suggesting their role in enhancing animal
larly multi-strain Bacillus-based products, are health and performance.
emerging as promising substitutes for AGPs.
problem This study highlights the potential of Bacillus
probiotics, offering improved performance
This study assessed various Bacillus strains and gut health outcomes.
in vitro and in vivo to identify optimal substi-
tutes for AGPs. As part of our in vitro study,
we conducted chemical analysis on six Bacil-
lus strains known for their ability to survive
harsh environmental conditions. Additionally,
we investigated the effects of a Bacillus-based
probiotic on broiler production performance
and gut microbial profile under a dexametha-
sone (DEX)-induced leaky gut challenge. 256
broiler chicks were assigned to four groups:
non-supplemented control (C), DEX supple-
mentation (CD), probiotic supplementation
(P), and probiotic supplementation with DEX
during challenge week four (PD).
Results
Six Bacillus strains were tested for antimi-

crobial activity against pathogens, with four
showing significant activity. Chemical analysis
of one strain, BPR-17, identified eight metab-
olites, including surfactin C analogues, which
exhibited inhibitory effects against pathogens.
Bacillus probiotic supplementation improved
production performance and altered caecal
gut microbiota, with no significant effects
observed in other gut sections. The animal
IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH 115

ABSTRACT ID-78
Experimental necrotic enteritis model in turkeys using different

Clostridium perfringens strains
Monita Vereecken1, Maja Marien1, Koen De Gussem1, Brecht Maertens2 , Maarten De Gussem2 and Luca Bano3
1
Huvepharma NV, Antwerp, Belgium
2
Poulpharm,Izegem, Belgium
3
Ististuto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Treviso, Italy
The Problem Results
Outbreaks of Clostridium perfringens (necrotic NE-related mortality started on the second

enteritis, NE) are an important reason for day after the last C. perfringens challenge in
mortality and treatment interventions in the group infected with the netB positive C.
turkeys. The most prevalent C. perfringens perfringens strain. In this group mortality
toxinotypes isolated from NE outbreaks reached 80.8%. In contrast, in none of the
of turkeys in Europe are type “A” and netB other groups, NE-related mortality was seen.
negative. An experimental NE model, caus- Clinical signs were seen in all groups chal-
ing mortality, would be an aid to investigate lenged with E. meleagrimitis, lowest scores in
preventive and curative treatment interven- the positive control group, increasing in the
tions. netB negative group and highest in the netB
positive group. NE lesion score was highest
How we investigated or researched the in the group infected with the netB positive
problem strain (average score of 2.98), followed by the
group infected with the netB negative strain
NE was induced in BUT6 turkeys by a diet (average score of 1.92), the positive control
change to a high protein diet at the age (average score of 0.92) and the negative
of 16 days, the administration of coccidia control (average score 0). Histological scores
(field strain of Eimeria meleagrimitis) at 35 were inconclusive.
days, followed by a challenge with C. perfrin-
gens type A strains on 3 consecutive days Implications / Conclusions
(38, 39 and 40 days of age). One group was
challenged with a netB negative C. perfrin- In the model, typical lesions for NE could be
gens strain, isolated from a necrotic enteri- evoked in turkeys after challenge with netB
tis outbreak in commercial turkeys. Another negative and netB positive C. perfringens
group was challenged with a netB positive C. strains. The severity of the infection was
perfringens strain isolated from an outbreak significantly higher in the netB positive chal-
in chickens, proven to cause mortality in an lenged group, with mortality reaching 80.8%
in-vivo model in chickens. Two control groups versus zero in the netB negative group. The
were included: a group of turkeys receiving a result is in contrast with field observations,
commercial diet (negative control), and one where the majority of the strains, isolated
group receiving the diet switch and coccidia from NE outbreaks in turkeys are netB nega-
challenge but without C. perfringens chal- tive. Whether netB or other unknown viru-
lenge (positive control). Birds were observed lence factors produced by this strain are
for clinical signs and mortality. The trial was responsible for the high mortality in this
terminated at 42 days of age, 2 days after the group needs further investigation.
last C. perfringens challenge. All dead and
surviving turkeys were necropsied for lesion
scoring and histological investigation of
duodenum, jejunum and ileum was performed.
116 IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH

ABSTRACT ID-91
Investigation of the effect of antimicrobial and prebiotic

substances on broiler intestinal fermentation: A novel ex vivo
simulation approach
Teemu Rinttilä
Alimetrics Research Ltd, Espoo, Finland
The Problem model. The substrates were pasteurized and

supplemented with 10 mg/mL of the antimi-
Screening the feed additive candidates in live crobial alone or with 5 mg/mL of the preb-
birds presents challenges due to high costs iotic. Unamended substrate was applied as
and susceptibility to animal-to-animal varia- a negative control (NC). Each treatment was
tion. In vivo studies in early phases of additive fermented with five replicate simulation
development require laborious trial peri- vessels in both models. The fermentation inoc-
ods and raise ethical concerns surrounding ulum consisted of fresh pooled ileal or caecal
animal use. Controlled environmental condi- digesta from five birds fed a wheat-based diet
tions are difficult to guarantee, and variations for 30 d, introduced into fermentation vessels,
in gut microbiota composition of each trial and incubated anaerobically. After 8 h (ileum)
and individual animals further affect the relia- or 9 h (caecum) at 38°C, digesta samples were
bility and generalizability of results. An ex vivo collected for analysis. Microbial gas produc-
laboratory fermentation approach, however, tion kinetics were measured at 3-hour inter-
offers a novel solution. This method allows vals, while short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs),
for a comprehensive study of the entire bacte- digesta pH and total eubacterial density (with
rial community under conditions that mimic real-time PCR) were measured at 0 h and at
the target habitat, enabling more controlled the end of simulations. Statistical analysis was
assessment of the functional response of the performed using one-way ANOVA followed by
intestinal microbiota than in vivo feeding trial Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test (P < 0.05).
set-ups. One of the most beneficial features of
ex vivo experiments is the fact that the actual Results and Conclusions
rate of production of metabolic end products
can be measured since there is no concomi- The results showed a significant suppression
tant uptake by the epithelium. of ileal microbial gas production, eubacterial
density, and SCFA production, particularly
How we investigated or researched the lactic acid, when the antimicrobial was intro-
problem duced. As a result, the ileal pH was higher than
the NC at the end of the simulation. The pres-
An ex vivo laboratory experiment was ence of the prebiotic alongside the antimi-
conducted to shed light on the fermentation crobial compound did not alter the microbial
activity in the broiler ileum and caecum when numbers or lactic acid concentration, indicat-
exposed to an antimicrobial compound alone ing that ileal lactic acid-producing bacteria are
or in combination with a prebiotic. Small unable to efficiently utilize the prebiotic as a
intestinal and caecal digesta was collected growth substrate.
from 10 birds fed a wheat-based diet for 28
d. Substrates for fermentation were prepared
from the centrifugate of the distal jejunum
and proximal ileum digesta for the ileal model,
and a blend of digesta supernatant from the
distal ileum and caecum for the caecum (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-91
In the caecum model, the addition of antimi-

crobial compound alone did not affect gas
production, but when combined with preb-
iotic, there was a substantial increase in gas
production compared with the NC. The anti-
microbial compound alone inhibited the
production of SCFAs, particularly butyric
acid, and showed a numerical reduction of
caecal eubacterial counts. Conversely, when
the antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds
were combined, there was a significant
increase in butyric and acetic acid concentra-
tions compared to the NC. Both treatments
also suppressed the formation of branched-
chain fatty acids, indicating a decrease in
caecal bacterial protein fermentation. The
results obtained strongly indicate that the
inclusion of the prebiotic in the diet leads to
favourable changes in the caecal fermenta-
tion profile, potentially mitigating the adverse
effects of the antimicrobial in broiler chickens.
Therefore, the combination of the additives
examined could be particularly beneficial in
addressing intestinal disorders arising from
a pathogenic challenge.
Overall, our ex vivo approach offers an effec-

tive method for evaluating the dynamics of the
intestinal microbiome and microbial metabo-
lism throughout different sections of the gut.
By establishing an accurately crafted ex vivo
system that mirrors the natural environment
with authentic microbiota, substrates, redox
potential, and host-produced cofactors, we
can study the fermentation under conditions
that closely resemble the in vivo setting. This
enables a more precise examination of how
the microbial community responds to various
feed additives, in a controlled and reproduci-
ble manner, surpassing the limitations of live
animal studies.

Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-48
COALMINERS: A Novel Approach to studying chronic ‘low-grade’

inflammation in production chickens
Alireza Khadem 1,2 and Christos Gougoulias V

1
Innovad, NV/SA, Cogels Osylei 33, 2600 Berchem, Belgium
2
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
The Problem the COALMINERS and real-farm environ-

ments whereas the complete recovery in the
Modern poultry broiler production strives for experimental setting may reflect the lack of
the maximum live weight which can contrib- ‘cumulative production pressure’ under such
ute to chronic intestinal inflammation and controlled conditions. In another COALMIN-
broader metabolic syndromes. There is thus a ERS iteration, aiming to study related mech-
need to establish realistic models that help the anisms, the drop from a ‘high’ (D21-28) to
industry. Several challenge models have been a ‘low-intensity’ (D29-35) natural heat-
proposed by the scientific community and stress (mean temperatures: ~10°C and ~5°C
these include biological agents/pathogens, higher than breeder standards, respectively),
chemicals, reused litter, and more recently, resulted in significant reduction in intestinal
different non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). and systemic oxidative stress expressed as
However, they all lack the realism of true live MDA (~30%; p<0.01). However, two inflam-
production. matory (IFN-γ) and immune (IgA) markers
increased significantly (~35%, p<0.05 and
How we investigated or researched the 40-60%, p<0.001, respectively), accompanied
problem by reduced systemic appetite (GLP-1; ~30%
drop; p<0.01) and enhanced DNA damage
Here, we propose a novel approach termed (8-OHdG; 1.4% increase, p =0.07).
COALMINERS (ChrOnic intestinAl infLam-
MatIoN modEl under faRming conditionS) Implications / Conclusions
in which mini-on the sides-wired-pens
(high level of replication) are placed inside The COALMINERS approach offers a novel
a commercial facility so that the birds under system for studying chronic inflammation in
study have the same cumulative environmen- chickens and addresses the needs of modern
tal production exposure. A gradient of intes- poultry production.
tinal challenges can be created by varying
degrees of exogenous nutritionally induced
stressors.
Results
In one experiment, the mean bacterial

enteritis (BE) score was statistically higher
in the COALMINERS group (when corn was
replaced with wheat) versus the actual farm
diet and a ‘clean’ experimental setting (the
latter two groups; standard corn-soy diets)
at D21 and D28 (3.75, 2.13, 2.25 and 3.25,
1.88, 1.00, respectively; n=8; p<0.005). More
importantly, the BE scores were reduced
proportionally (~13%) over time only in

ABSTRACT ID-92
Necrotic Enteritis model with regular and slow-growing broiler

breeds – a pilot study
Ellen van Eerden

Schothorst Feed Research, The Netherlands
The Problem How we investigated or researched the

problem
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an intestinal
infection in broilers, caused by overgrowth A pilot experiment was performed with 10
of pathogenic toxin-producing Clostrid- non-challenged Ross 308 birds (Negative
ium perfringens in the proximal parts of control), 20 challenged Ross 308 birds (Posi-
the small intestines. Predisposing factors tive control) and two groups of 40 challenged
such as coccidiosis are usually necessary Hubbard JA757 birds, one Hubbard group being
for the development of NE. Therefore, the four days older (“old”) than the Ross birds and
experimental NE model of Schothorst Feed the other Hubbard age group (“young”). The
Research (SFR) is based on a sequential challenge consisted of oral inoculations with
Eimeria maxima and C. perfringens chal- sporulated E. maxima oocysts on d16 (d20 in
lenge (on d16 and d21, respectively) and is Hubbard-old) and C. perfringens on d21 (d25
refined to such an extent that it is has low in Hubbard-old). The Negative control received
mortality and mild clinical signs, but still PBS instead of E. maxima and sterile liver broth
induces substantial, yet short-lasting intes- instead of C. perfringens. Intestinal lesions
tinal lesions. (differentiated as lesions due to coccidiosis or
C. perfringens) were scored in half of the birds
Until recently, the NE model at SFR has per treatment on d22 (d26 in Hubbard-old) and
only been applied in regular (fast-grow- in the remaining birds on d23 (d27 in Hubbard-
ing) broilers, but the proportion of old). The acute phase protein α1-acid glycopro-
slow-growing broilers is rapidly growing tein (AGP) was measured in serum taken on d22
in North-Western Europe. Observations in (d26 in Hubbard-old).
the field suggest that coccidiosis is more
prevalent and more severe in slow-grow- Results
ing birds. Potential reasons are a longer
lifespan, a lower body weight around 3 All birds in the Negative control remained
weeks of age when coccidiosis problems without intestinal lesions. On d22(/d26),
typically arise (which would make them the Hubbard birds had significantly lower
more susceptible to coccidiosis), and a coccidiosis lesions (P = 0.02), regardless of
different immune-coping strategy (more age group, than the Ross birds in the Positive
“pro-inflammatory”, compared to a more control. The Clostridium lesions showed no
“humoral-type” of response in regular differences between the Ross and Hubbard
broiler breeds). birds (P = 0.30) or between the two Hubbard
age groups on d22(/d26), but they tended to
Therefore, it was hypothesized that our be higher in the Hubbard birds on d23(/d27)
current NE model, which was optimized (P = 0.06), regardless of age group. There was
for regular broiler breeds, would lead to no mortality due to NE in any of the treat-
a more severe challenge in slow-grow- ments.
ing birds. This would be undesirable for
welfare reasons and for the translation of
trial results into practice. (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-92
Serum AGP was numerically higher in the

Hubbard birds than in the Ross birds, but
there were no significant differences between
breeds or Hubbard age groups (P = 0.18).
Based on this pilot, the slow-growing birds,

regardless of age at first inoculation, did
not show a more severe course of the infec-
tion than the regular birds; yet the Clostrid-
ium lesions seemed to last longer and serum
AGP was slightly higher. Further research on
a larger scale is necessary, but for now the
current NE model seems to be suitable for
slow-growing breeds too, without adaptations
in inoculation doses or age at first inoculation.

Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-30
Effect of Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 secreted metabolites on

poultry resilience.
Nuria Vieco-Saiz1, Amine Mellouk1, Tim Goossens2, Olga Lemâle3, Jessika Consuegra1
1
2
Adisseo, Gentse Baan 66/206, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
3
Adisseo NL B.V., Ruisvoorn 5, 4941 SB Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands
The Problem impacts. Specifically, PTH and NIA reduced

inflammation (23.2% and 9.7% respectively;
Bacillus subtilis DSM 29784 (Bs29784) is p < 0.0001) and HPX enhanced mucin produc-
a probiotic used in poultry nutrition, able tion by increasing 19.3% MUC2 expression
to maintain intestinal health and enhance (p = 0.011). Furthermore, PTH and HPX
animal resilience and performance. It is capa- increased epithelial resilience to an inflam-
ble of producing bioactive metabolites such matory challenge by limiting permeability
as hypoxanthine (HPX), Niacin (NIA), and increase (p = 0.024). Concerning intestinal
pantothenate (PTH). It has been assessed fermentations, PTH increased butyrate levels
previously in in vitro and in vivo conditions. to 0.31mM (p = 0.076) in ileal fermentation,
This study aimed to establish a connec- while cecal PTH increased 5.1%, 6.8% and
tion between those bioactive metabolites 16.1% the levels of acetate, butyrate, and
produced by Bs29784 and their impact on propionate respectively (p = 0.087); NIA
animal resilience and intestinal health. To this increased propionate production by 6.7% (p =
end, immune response, intestinal barrier, and 0.016) and HPX increased butyrate with 5.7%
microbiota were analyzed. (p = 0.019). All molecules lead to changes in
microbiota explaining the different fermen-
How we investigated or researched the tation patterns such as the increase of Rumi-
problem nococcus and Clostridium_XIVb in presence of
NIA or PTH and the increase of Ruminococcus,
We evaluated in vitro Bs29784 vegetative cells Anaerotruncus with HPX (p adj.= 0.040) in the
(metabolic active form), spores and metab- cecal fermentation.
olites capacity to modulate global immune
regulators and intestinal integrity using HT-29 Implications / Conclusions
reporter cell lines both in the presence and
absence of a pro-inflammatory challenge. The different tests performed in vitro have
Finally, we simulated chickens’ ileal and cecal shown that Bs29784 modulates intestinal
fermentations to determine the effect of health by acting on the three lines of resilience
Bs29784 metabolites on the microbiota and via its secreted metabolites: host immune
their fermentation profile. response, intestinal barrier, and microbiota.
Results
Bs29784 vegetative cells reduced inflamma-

tory response more significantly than the
spores (p < 0.0001), showing that its benefi-
cial effects are linked to its metabolic activity.
To test this hypothesis, we analyzed Bs29784
metabolites individually. The results suggest
that each metabolite had specific beneficial

ABSTRACT ID-56
Olive pomace extract exerts anticoccidial effect by reducing the

intracellular growth of Eimeria tenella
Marta Blanch1, Javier Regidor-Cerrillo2, Sara Arias-Maroto3, Jose J. Pastor1

1
Lucta S.A., Innovation Division, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
2
Saluvet Innova, S.L., 28040 Madrid, Spain.
3
SALUVET, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
The Problem to a lineal growth. Data were analyzed by

the Kruskal-Wallis test using the GraphPad
Avian coccidiosis is one of the most impor- Prism Software (v10).
tant intestinal diseases in poultry, caused by
intracellular protozoal parasites in the genus Results
Eimeria. The appearance of coccidiostats-re-
sistant strains as well as the potential future No effect on invasion was detected at 4 h for
restrictions on their usage has speed-up the any of the treatments. Parasite invasion at 24
research for new and natural alternatives. The h was only inhibited (48%) by ROB compared
aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoc- to NC. However, the amount of sporozoites
cidial activity of a standardized olive pomace in cells at 44h was significantly reduced by
extract (OPE) on invasion and intracellular ROB, SAL, MA60 and MA120 by 69%, 77%,
multiplication of Eimeria tenella sporozoites 52% and 63% compared to NC, respectively
in an optimized in vitro model. (mixed effect between inhibition of invasion
and intracellular growth). Moreover, intracel-
How we investigated or researched the lular multiplication rate of E. tenella between
problem 24 and 44 h post-infection was also reduced
by ROB, SAL and MA120 compared to NC by
Invasion and intracellular multiplication of 79%, 91% and 92%, respectively.
the E. tenella Wisconsin strain sporozoites
were evaluated in Madin-Darby Bovine Implications / Conclusions
Kidney cell cultures (MDBK). MBDK conflu-
ent cell monolayers in 96 well plates were In summary, the obtained results evidenced
inoculated with E. tenella sporozoites (para- the potential of OPE as a natural anticoccidial
site:cell ratio 3:1) after treatment for 1 hour alternative, with similar effects to salinomycin,
at 42 °C with: no additive (negative control, suggesting the inhibition of the intracellular
NC), robenidine at 5 ppm (ROB, positive development of the parasite as its principal
control for inhibition of invasion and intra- mode of action.
cellular growth), salinomycin at 5 ppm (SAL,
positive control for inhibition of intracel-
lular growth), or OPE at 2 doses (provid-
ing 60 and 120 ppm of maslinic acid, OPE60
and OPE120, respectively). Each treatment
was replicated 3 times per assay in 3 inde-
pendent assays. The cells were incubated
at 42ºC and humidified atmosphere of 5%
of CO2. Intracellular sporozoite invasion
was determined by qPCR from cell culture
harvested at 4 and 24 post-infection. Intra-
cellular multiplication of E. tenella was
calculated between 24 and 44h according

ABSTRACT ID-66
The in vitro efficacy of a multi-action complex: Antimicrobial

activity in the gastrointestinal tract
Riahi, I.1, Della Badia, A.1, Codina, R.1, Meca, G.2

1
Technical Department, BIŌNTE Nutrition S.L. Reus (Spain)
2
Microlab Biotech, Department of Preventive Medicine, Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Valencia, Valencia (Spain)
The Problem genic micro-organism was seeded on each

petri plate using a digralsky loop. Then, 10 μL
Poultry gastrointestinal tract microbiome of the complex, both in its ready-to-use form
has been extensively studied, due to its signif- and at a 1/10 dilution, was incorporated into
icant impact on the immune system, physi- the center of the plates. After incubation at
ology, productivity, and it is influenced by 28 °C for 24 h, microbial growth was visually
many factors (Clavijo et al., 2018). Diet is one observed and the growth inhibition halo (mm)
of the main factor that affect the microbiome for each pathogenic micro-organism in the
balance, and since the ban of antibiotic growth presence of the tested product was deter-
promoters (AGPs) in the EU, many alternative mined in triplicate.
substances have been investigated for their
potential to replace AGPs. In fact, several Results
food supplements have been designed in
an attempt to modulate the GIT microbiota, The ready-to-use formulation showed anti-
such as probiotics, prebiotics and phytogens microbial activity against the microorgan-
(Grashorn, 2010). The aim of this study was isms S. Dysenteriae, S. entericae, S. aureus and
to test the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Y. Enterocolitica, being S. dysenteriae the most
a complex, formulated with grape and olive sensitive microorganism to the tested solu-
extracts, phytogens with powerful antioxidant, tion with an inhibition halo of 10 mm. Whille E.
anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects coli, L. monocytogenes, C. albicans and C. auris
on animal performence. showed resistance to the tested product. The
only microrganism that was sensitive to the
How we investigated or researched the product with a dilution 1/10 was S. aureus,
problem with an inhibition halo of 0.1 mm.
The complex was tested against those micro- Implications / Conclusions

organism that usually induce alteration in the
GIT, like Salmonella enterica (SAL), Listeria These results showed that the ready-to-use
monocytogenes (LIS), Shigella dysenteria solution exhibited significant in vitro antimi-
(SHI), Staphylococcus aureus (STA), Yersinia crobial efficacy against Salmonella dysente-
enterocolitica (YER), Escherichia coli (E. Coli), riae, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus
Candida albicans (C. Albicans) and Candida aureus, and Yersinia enterocolitica. In particu-
auris (C. Auris). The in vitro antimicrobial lar, S. dysenteriae displayed the highest sensi-
activity of the complex was tested using 15 tivity, with a substantial inhibition halo of 10
mL of the specific growth medium for each mm. Our findings highlight the capability of
microorganism; nutrient agar (SHI, STA, YER), the examined complex to selectively suppress
Brain Heart Infusion Agar - BHI (LIS), Tryptic particular pathogenic microorganisms crucial
Soy Agar - TSA (SAL and E. Coli) and Potato to the health of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
Dextrose Agar - PDA (C. Albicans and C. Auris).
The agars were allowed to solidify at room
temperature and the corresponding patho-

ABSTRACT ID-67
The in vitro efficacy of a multi-action complex: Antioxidant

activity in human colorectal carcinoma cells (Caco-2)
Riahi, I.1, Della Badia, A.1, Codina, R.1, Meca, G.2

1
2
Microlab Biotech, Department of Preventive Medicine, Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Valencia, Valencia (Spain)
The Problem system was used to determine the reactive

oxygen species, which measures ROS activity
Different molecular mechanisms are involved in the cell by converting them into compounds
in mycotoxin-induced toxicity. Oxidative that emit a fluorescent signal.
stress and subsequent free radical genera-
tion play a pivotal role in human and animal Results
health. Indeed, an alteration in the balance
between free radicals and antioxidant defense The results showed that the formulation and
systems can induce chemical damage to the dilutions tested did not show any reduc-
DNA, proteins and lipids, as observed after tion in cell viability in the selected model.
exposure to mycotoxins (Assi, 2007). Since Therefore, the product was not cytotoxic in
exposure to mycotoxins is difficult to avoid, the Caco-2 cell model. However, the product
dietary strategies have been developed to showed a marked prolongation of cell viabil-
mitigate the damage caused by mycotoxins ity with statistical significance between 25
(Li et al.,2005). Several studies have demon- and 100% (P<0.001) of the tested product,
strated the effectiveness of compounds with which demonstrates a positive capability to
antioxidant activity in alleviating the effects of stimulate the cells growth GI tract. In the ROS
oxidative stress caused by mycotoxins. In this assay, the product was shown to significantly
respect, the inclusion of natural antioxidants reduce ROS between 1.6 and 100% (P<0.001).
has shown the ability to reduce or prevent the This demonstrates a broad spectrum of free
secondary effects of mycotoxin (Wang et al., radical scavenging activity that is the basis of
2023). Therefore, the objective of this study many mechanisms of cell death or apoptosis.
was to analyze the in vitro antioxidant capac-
ity in immortalized human carcinoma cells Implications / Conclusions
(Caco-2) of a product formulated from natu-
ral compounds with a potential to reduce the The product demonstrated non-cytotoxic
oxidative stress. effects and significantly enhanced cell viability,
indicating potential growth stimulation in the
How we investigated or researched the GI tract. Moreover, the product showed a nota-
problem ble reduction in ROS levels, highlighting its
broad-spectrum free radical scavenging activ-
A cell viability and proliferation assay of ity. These findings highlight the importance of
Caco-2 cells exposed to the different dilu- include natural antioxidants in animal diet to
tions of the product was performed to deter- mitigate the harmful effects of mycotoxin-in-
mine whether the study concentrations could duced oxidative stress, and provide a basis for
have any effect on the viability of the selected further research and potential applications to
cell model, using the MTT method (Wang et target related health problems.
al., 2023). Then, cells were tested with differ-
ent dilutions of the product and ultraviolet
(UV) radiation was used to generate reac-
tive oxygen species (ROS). A flow cytometry

ABSTRACT ID-118
In vivo differences in virulence of Clostridium perfringens strains

in an experimental necrotic enteritis model
Gryp T. , Verhelle A. , Labeeuw, E. , De Gussem M.

Poulpharm BV, Prins Albertlaan 112, 8870 Izegem, Belgium
The Problem How we investigated or researched the

problem
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an enteric disease
in poultry caused by Clostridium perfrin- In total, six groups were included, one
gens (Cp). Up until now, NE has been mainly non-challenged control group and five chal-
controlled via the use of antimicrobials. lenge groups each receiving a different field
Restrictions in the use of antimicrobials strain. All Cp strains were NetB+ and α-toxin
have led to the development of novel control producing. One replicate and 35 male Ross308
strategies which should be studied in a reli- birds per group were included.
able and reproducible model. The experi-
mental model should not only reflect the Results
clinical signs and lesions in the field, but
also take the type of product into account Significant differences between groups was
such as a feed additive or vaccine. While observed in all parameters. Results per strain
there is quite some literature available are demonstrated in the table below.
regarding predisposing factors of NE and
the optimal experimental model, literature Implications / Conclusions
regarding in vivo differences between Cp
strains is scarce. Hence, the right Cp strain We observed that one strain induced more
is usually the critical factor in an experimen- mild NE lesions, while another simulated a
tal model. Therefore, the aim of the current severe outbreak with high mortality. Hence,
study was to compare five different Cp selection of the right experimental NE model
strains in a single experimental NE model with corresponding strain is crucial in the
in Ross308 broilers. development process of new strategies in the
prevention and treatment of NE, depending
on the symptoms seen in field conditions.
N° Mean NE % NE NE-relate
Group DWG (g/day)
trials score positive (≥ 2) mortality
Strain 1 1 3.4 73.5% 5.9% 71.2
Strain 2 6 4.3 85.1% 28.9% 61.8
Strain 3 3 3.6 78.7% 8.3% 63.8
Strain 4 3 2.7 71.3% 4.1% 71.4
Strain 5 1 2.3 50.0% 0% 77.5
Control 6 0.0 0.0% 0% 85.4

GUT HEALTH MARKERS
& DIAGNOSTICS
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-23
PathKinex™, a DNA-based microbial surveillance platform can

provide insights on bacterial interactions leading to coinfections
in broiler chickens
Leyva-Jimenez, H1, Galbraith, EA2, Delago, F2, Doden, HL2, Soto, C1, Dirks, B1
1
United Animal Health, Sheridan, IN
2
Microbial Discovery Group, Oak Creek, WI
The Problem Results
Traditional pathogen diagnostic methods can The analysis revealed interesting associa-
be time-consuming, costly, and may sometimes tions between specific pathogens, providing
miss contributing microorganisms as diagnos- insight into the quantities and species compo-
tic workups often test for one pathogen at a sition which favor proliferation of undesira-
time and stop when they have reached the first ble microorganisms including those of food
answer. Some methodologies can only differ- safety concern. For instance, when comparing
entiate between positive and negative indi- the cecal microbial profile of sick and healthy
viduals and provide no additional context on broilers, it was identified that gene quanti-
pathogen quantities or relationships. Infectiousties associated with avian pathogenic E. coli
diseases in poultry result in large-scale losses(APEC), Campylobacter, and Enterococcus
from mortality, reduced performance, and trade species were higher (P<0.05) when Salmo-
restrictions. A deep understanding of microbial nella was detected. The interaction between
relationships leading to coinfections in poul- coccidia and pathogens was also investigated.
try is essential to develop targeted strategies to
Comparing broiler ceca samples, it was identi-
control opportunistic pathogen growth under fied that E. coli (P<0.01), Campylobacter jejuni
different production systems. (P<0.01), and Enterococcus cecorum (P<0.01)
virulence genes are higher in the cecum when
How we investigated or researched the Eimeria tenella was present. In contrast, when
problem comparing ileum samples, it was observed
that Clostridium perfringens (P<0.05), Campy-
For the present study, PathKinex™ was lobacter jejuni (P=0.09), and Enterococcus
employed to provide insights on bacterial cecorum (P=0.09) genes were higher in the
interactions leading to coinfections in broiler ileum when Eimeria maxima was present. The
chickens by comparing more than 3 years of microbial surveillance tool was also utilized
samplings that have been carried out at grow- to investigate the relationship between path-
out farms in multiple countries. Swab samples ogens and broiler chicken skin pigmentation.
were collected from the ileum and/or ceca Ileum samples were analyzed from poul-
of representative birds, stabilized on-site for try farms located in Central America which
preservation of microbial DNA, and assessed reported high variability in skin pigmentation,
for the presence and quantity of a broad causing an economic impact to the producers.
range of relevant microbial virulence genes
by high-throughput quantitative PCR. Path-
kinex™ generates greater understanding of
factors influencing pathogen trends and possi-
ble coinfections by detecting, quantifying, and
correlating pathogen markers and virulence
genes to health status, season, geography, or
other environmental variables of interest. (Continued on the next page)
GUT HEALTH MARKERS & DIAGNOSTICS 135

ABSTRACT ID-23
Birds with poor pigmentation showed

elevated ileal quantities of APEC gene iutA.
Ileum samples from poorly pigmented broil-
ers also tended higher for a second APEC gene
associated with iron acquisition (iroN) and
had a tendency for elevated quantities of total
E. coli (ZnT). When comparing two sampling
periods, greater quantities of E. coli eaeA
were observed in birds with poor pigmenta-
tion. The results of the microbial surveillance
suggest a relationship between elevated levels
of pathogenic E. coli and broiler chicken skin
pigmentation.
Bacterial coinfections compound risk and

severity of health challenges. The presence of
food safety-associated microorganisms such
as Salmonella may promote an environment
conducive to proliferation of other oppor-
tunistic microorganisms, potentially increas-
ing susceptibility to disease in birds. Avian
coccidiosis is associated with elevated bacte-
rial pathogen quantities. Preventing patho-
genic coinfections in poultry could ameliorate
the economic burden derived from poor skin
pigmentation.
136 GUT HEALTH MARKERS & DIAGNOSTICS

ABSTRACT ID-26
Gut health markers in the ceca of broiler chickens as a means to

explain the response to Eimeria challenge
Virginie Blanvillain1, Matthew Jones2, and Charles Hofacre2

1
AB Vista, Marlborough, UK
2
Southern Poultry Research Group, Athens, GA, USA
The Problem nated group, and the highest in the non-vacci-

nated challenged group (P<0.05). Cumulative
Coccidiosis is a disease caused by Eimeria mortality associated with coccidiosis was
parasitic protozoa. Amongst the Eimeria significantly greater in the non-vaccinated
species, Eimeria tenella develops in the ceca. challenged group as compared to the other
Because ceca is a major site of fermentation, groups (P<0.05). The butyrate producing
dysbiosis caused by coccidiosis can alter the bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococ-
microbiome of broiler chickens, hence impair caceae) were reduced at 42 days of age in the
performance. challenged groups, which was also associated
with a lower content of VFA (P<0.05), and less
How we investigated or researched the butyrate and more branched-chain fatty acids
problem (BCFA) when expressed as a percentage of VFA
(P<0.05). Escherichia coli quantification was
Nine-hundred day-old broiler chickens were significantly greater in the vaccinated group
randomly assigned to 36 pens and split into 3 at 42 days of age (P<0.05), whereas no signif-
groups. At placement, group 1 was vaccinated icant difference was observed in Clostridium
against coccidiosis. Along with a non-vacci- perfringens.
nated group, the vaccinated group was chal-
lenged with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria Implications / Conclusions
tenella and Eimeria maxima at 22 days of age.
Group 3 was a control group and was neither Eimeria challenge impacted the cecal micro-
vaccinated, nor challenged. At 28 days of age, biome by reducing butyrate-producing bacte-
the cecal content of one bird per pen was ria presence, hence decreasing butyrate and
collected in a buffer solution (BioFreeze®, total VFA concentration in the ceca. Butyrate
Alimetrics Diagnostics) and analyzed for and other VFA are known to support the
volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile by mass spec- immune system and provide energy to the
troscopy, and for targeted bacteria families by epithelial cells. Although not significant, the
real-time qPCR. Statistical analysis consisted vaccinated group showed higher levels of
of an ANOVA with group and age effects, and VFA and butyrate as compared to the unvac-
their interaction, after data transformation cinated challenged group, which may explain
where applicable, and validation of normal the improvement in feed conversion and
distribution. Differences were significant for mortality in the former. The greater propor-
a P-value lower than 0.05 following Student’s tion of BCFA in the challenged group may
T-test. be explained by more protein fermentation
occurring in the ceca as more protein ends up
Results in the hindgut, rather than being absorbed
to generate BWG. Gut health markers can be
At 42 days of age, body weight gain (BWG) was measured in the ceca to better understand
greater in the control group as compared to how Eimeria invasion impairs performance,
both challenged groups (P<0.05). The cumu- and how cecal microbiome may support the
lative feed conversion ratio was the lowest in host response.
the control group, intermediate in the vacci-

ABSTRACT ID-105
Proteomic Insights into the Gut Health of Broilers: Blood-based

Biomarkers to Bridge Inflammatory Models
Svitlana Tretiak1,5, T. Maia2,3,4, F. Impens2,3,4, T. Rijsselaere5, F. Van Immerseel1, G. Antonissen1

1
Livestock Gut Health Team (LiGHT) Ghent, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
2
VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB Research Building FSVMII, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, Ghent, Belgium
3
Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Campus University Hospital Ghent (UZ Gent); Corneel
Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
4
VIB Proteomics Core, UGent-VIB Research Building FSVMII, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75; 9052 Ghent, Belgium
5
Impextraco NV, Wiekevorstsesteenweg 38, 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium
The Problem Results
In broiler chickens, optimal gut health is a Irrespective of infection model used, we noted
crucial factor that impacts animals’ growth, considerable changes on the level of blood
welfare, and mortality. Necrotic and bacterial plasma proteome in response to intestinal trig-
enteritis (NE and BE, respectively) diseases are gers. In the context of both NE and BE, eight
significant contributors to productivity loss in identified proteins—-integrin subunit β-1
poultry production. Timely and accurate detec- (ITGBL1), thrombospondin-2 (THBS2), CD109
tion of intestinal failure is imperative, though molecule (CD109), mannan binding lectin serine
yet currently inadequate. Proteomics, the large- peptidase 2 (MASP2), chemokine (CCL26), peri-
scale study of proteins, has become increasingly ostin (POSTN), transforming growth factor-be-
vital in identifying biomarkers for avian gut ta-induced protein Ig-h3 (TGFB1), leucine
health. Evaluating the behavior of certain blood rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG1)—were consist-
protein markers could serve as a method for ently differentially regulated, amongst which
screening, evaluation and prediction of health three exhibited a positive correlation, while five
impairment, providing a valuable tool for early showed a negative correlation with the severity
intervention. of enteritis. This differential regulation under-
scores the intricate role these proteins in inflam-
How we investigated or researched the matory processes, cell-matrix interactions, and
problem immune responses, all of which are critical in
sustaining gut integrity.
The study specifically applied comparative
mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics Implications / Conclusions
to explore host proteome response to severe
and/or moderate types of enteritis. In detail, NE This research lays the groundwork for the
model , involving Eimeria and NetB+ Clostridium development of diagnostic tools and targeted
perfringens as predisposing factors, was imple- interventions to improve poultry gut health,
mented to induce severe intestinal inflammation. fundamentally contributing to general under-
In contrast, a comparatively moderate enteri- standing of the molecular basis of enteric
tis (BE) was induced with a mixture of bacte- diseases in broilers. The identification of
rial opportunistic pathogens and commensals. common protein denominators in both NE and
Through shotgun proteomics blood plasma from BE models as well as unlocked correlation with
broiler chickens affected by NE and BE was inde- disease severity reinforce the biomarkers poten-
pendently analyzed, alongside healthy controls. tial of these proteins. Future research should
To pinpoint candidates for gut health biomark- prioritize validating the sensitivity and speci-
ers we focused on identification of differentially ficity of the novel molecules in diverse poultry
expressed proteins in both diseased states, populations and conditions.
compared to non-challenged baselines.

GUT HEALTH MARKERS
& DIAGNOSTICS
ABSTRACT ID-4
Dietary inulin and xylanase can enhance caecal butyric acid

production in broilers
V. Pirgozliev1, S.C. Mansbridge1, I.M. Whiting1, E.A. Johnson2, F. Drijfhout2, D. Yovchev3, S.P. Rose1
1
The National Institute of Poultry Husbandry, Harper Adams University, TF10 8NB, UK
2
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
3
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, 6000, Bulgaria
The Problem into four equal batches. The first part was left
as the control (C); the second part was supple-
Inulin (IN), usually obtained from chicory roots mented with 100 FXU/kg a commercial XYL
(Chichorium intibys L.) is one of the most used (Ronozyme WX (CT), DSM, Switzerland); the
and most effective prebiotics. Inulin resists the thirds part was supplemented with 20 g/kg IN
breakdown by digestive enzymes in the upper powder (Bioglan®, Holland & Barrett Nunea-
GIT of poultry and if unchanged it reaches the ton, UK); the last part was supplemented with
large intestine, where it undergoes fermenta- both, XYL and IN, at the same previous levels. At
tion and becomes a substrate for some strains the end of the study, one bird per pen, selected
of bacteria. Dietary xylanase (XYL) is known at random, was electrically stunned and killed
to reduce digesta viscosity, improve digestion by exsanguination. Following death, a segment
and absorption of nutrients and dietary energy. of middle jejunum was used to measure villus
Exogenous XYL may also partially hydrolyse dimensions. Fresh caecal digesta samples
the cell wall pentosans, producing short-chain were collected for determination of SCFA
xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), which can possess concentration.
prebiotic properties when fermented in the
chicken caeca. Information on the response of Results
broiler chickens to inclusion of IN, alone or in
combination with XYL on gut health of poultry is Regarding villus morphometry, there were
limited and contradictive, as dietary fibre levels many interactions between the studied treat-
may interact. The objective of the current study ments, resulting in a complex set of results.
was to examine the effects of IN, individually or In summary, feeding IN reduced villus width
in combination with XYL on gut health, including (VW) compared with the rest of the treat-
jejunal villus morphometry and caecal short- ments (P = 0.001). There were no pronounced
chain-fatty-acids (SCFA) production in broiler differences between treatments regarding
chickens fed two wheat-based diets with high villus height (VH). Overall, the crypt depth
(HF) or low (LF) fibre contents. (CD) was deepened in birds fed HF compared
to LF diets only but IN or XYL supplemen-
How we investigated or researched the tation did not bring clear changes. Feeding
problem individually XYL and IN, increased (P < 0.05)
caecal butyric acid (BA) and BA:AA (AA; acetic
The experiment was approved by Harper Adams acid) index increased (P < 0.001) with dietary
University Research Ethics Committee. Three- XYL supplementation.
hundred-and-twenty (320) ten-day-old female
Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated to Implications / Conclusions
64 pens (0.36 m2; 5 birds in a pen). The study
continued from 10 to 21 d age. Eight diets in The results suggests that both, IN and XYL,
total were used in this study (8 replicates per can serve as a potential feed additive that
treatment). Two diets containing 670 g/kg of promote gut health of birds and supports
LF or HF wheat were prepared after mixing with chickens to cope with various stress factors
330 g/kg of a balancer. Each diet was then split during production.

ABSTRACT ID-13
Broiler performance associates with the fecal biomarker

ovotransferrin: a field study
Katrien Rysman, Venessa Eeckhaut, Richard Ducatelle, and Filip Van Immerseel
Livestock gut health team (LiGHT) Ghent, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
The Problem Results
In the field, a decreased broiler perfor- A high coefficient of variation (CV) for the
mance is often caused by the presence of OVT (between farms; 83.45%, within farms;
common subclinical intestinal health prob- 95.13%) was found compared to the histo-
lems of ill-defined etiology. Disadvantages pathological parameters, better known as
of current gut health diagnostics (as being the golden standard for gut health evalua-
more subjective and time-consuming) have tion. Within the histopathological parameters,
urged the search for more objective, easy- the CV of the CD3+ (between farms; 36.38%,
to-measure biomarkers. The quantification within farms; 26.13%) was relatively higher
of faecal biomarkers can be a novel, non-in- than the CV of the villus length (between
vasive method for gut health evaluation in farms; 10.91%, within farms; 15.48%), the
commercial broilers. crypt depth (between farms; 15.91%, within
farms; 14.10%) and the villus-to-crypt ratio
How we investigated or researched the (between farms; 22.08%, within farms;
problem 20.53%). On farm level, the OVT concentra-
tion was negatively associated with the aver-
We investigated whether the faecal age slaughter weight (P = 0.005), daily weight
biomarker, ovotransferrin (OVT), could gain (P = 0.007), and the EPI (P = 0.009). At
have value for the gut health evaluation in broiler level, the results of a linear mixed
commercial broilers. More precisely, the model showed a significant negative associ-
OVT concentration was quantified in faecal/ ation between the colonic OVT and the villus
colonic content of 28-day-old broilers orig- length (P = 0.044), and between the colonic
inating from 27 commercial farms. Here- OVT and the villus-to-crypt ratio (P = 0.050).
with, associations were made between the
OVT concentration, broiler performance Implications / Conclusions
and histology parameters. On day 28, we
randomly selected and euthanized eight In conclusion, the results of the present study
animals per farm. Microscopical evalua- suggest that measuring the OVT quantifi-
tion of a duodenal section was performed cation in faecal/colonic material may be a
to determine the intestinal villus structure valuable tool for gut health evaluation in the
(villus length, crypt depth) and the inflam- field. Because the colonic OVT concentration
matory status of the gut (CD3+ T-lympho- associates with broiler performance, further
cytes area percentage). ELISA was used research should investigate the efficacy of OVT
to quantify OVT concentrations in faecal/ earlier in the production round. In this way, an
colonic content. Further, performance data early decline in broiler performance might be
was collected at the end of each production predicted with the help of OVT quantification.
round, including the FCR, average weight
at slaughter (kg), age at slaughter (d), daily
weight gain (g/d), the dropout (%) and the
European production index (EPI).

ABSTRACT ID-31
The importance of monitoring Day Old Chicks for Salmonella spp.

with rapid on-site PCR test, a case study in Taiwan
Fu Choong Keat1, Wei-Fen Tsai2, Ping-Han Chung2, and Simon Chung2

1
Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL, USA
2
GeneReach Biotechnology Corp., Taichung City, Taiwan.
The Problem quality check when receiving day old chick.

Providing detection performance equiva-
Salmonella infections, such as Salmonella lent to ISO reference method, the automated
Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis are POCKIT™ Central Salmonella system can serve
zoonotic which also posted great impact to as an effective tool with minimized human
poultry industry. It is important to identify error for Salmonella detection.
the source of Salmonella contamination for
disease prevention and control especially
from the upper most poultry supply chain
which is day old chicks from the parent stocks
and the environment. However, the status of
Salmonella in many countries or operations
are undefined unless we test it by PCR or
bacteriology method. Conventional bacterial
isolation and identification method are not
promising due to time consuming, laborious
and potentially under diagnose due to unsuc-
cessful cultivation.

problem
PCR test for identifying the Salmonella spp.

in the day-old chicks from meconium and
cloacal swabs when arrival to the farm. Posi-
tive sample were further test for bacteriology,
serotyping and anti-microbial sensitivity test.
Results
41% positive rate in meconium and 29%

in cloacal swabs for Salmonella spp. were
detected. Positive sample were further
isolated for serotyping and AMR profiling.
46.7% contamination was correlated to day
old chick management and 61.8% contamina-
tion was correlated to horizontal transmission.
High incidence of day-old chick salmonella

contamination points out the importance of

ABSTRACT ID-32
Using on-site PCR for epidemiological investigation of Salmonella

spp. in Taiwanese broiler farm
Fu Choong Keat1, Wei-Fen Tsai2, Ping-Han Chung2, and Simon Chung2

1
Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL, USA
2
GeneReach Biotechnology Corp., Taichung City, Taiwan.
The Problem results shed light on the prevalence and

distribution of Salmonella contamination
Salmonella Spp. screening poses challenges throughout the production cycle, emphasiz-
due to its labor-intensive nature, time-con- ing the importance of proactive biosecurity
suming process and potentially under diag- measures. Implementing on-site PCR testing
nosing result from failure of culture by enables early detection, enhancing the ability
bacterial method. to monitor and manage Salmonella contami-
nation effectively. Future investigations focus-
How we investigated or researched the ing on serotyping and antimicrobial resistance
problem will further improve our understanding and
control of Salmonella Spp. in Taiwan broiler
This study utilized on-site PCR testing for farms.
the epidemiological investigation of Salmo-
nella Spp. in 2 Taiwanese broiler farms. The
objective was to evaluate the prevalence and
distribution of Salmonella contamination
throughout the 3 production cycle, involving
a total of 200,000 chickens per cycle. Sampling
was performed at various stages, including
before introducing new flocks, day-old chicks
(DOC), during the rearing period and after
chicken harvest. Swab samples were collected
5 each from the nipple, feed tray, chicks trans-
port box, and cloacal of weak chicks individ-
ually 5 pooling swabs into Buffer peptone
water (BPW) at least for 18 hours 37°C (± 2°C)
before PCR test.
Results
The vertical transmission were at 35% (farm

A) and 21 % (farm B) indicating alert to the
broiler supplier for immediate attention and
broiler farm for further actions at day-old.
Boot swab samples are 95%-100% positive
rates during the rearing period.
This study exemplifies the applicability and

benefits of on-site PCR for Salmonella Spp.
screening in Taiwanese broiler farms. The

ABSTRACT ID-70
Evaluation of non-invasive methods for analysing the

functionality of the microbiome in broiler chickens.
Virginie Blanvillain1, Xavière Rousseau1, Tara York1, Michelle Stewart1, Sanni Jappinen2 and Gilson Gomes1
1
AB Vista, Marlborough, UK
2
Alimetrics Diagnostics, Finland
The Problem fibre-fermenting bacteria presence (Rumino-

coccaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacterium),
Veterinarian intervention and euthanization nor was a significant difference found in the
is needed to obtain cecal contents for micro- VFA profile, apart from the branched-chain
biome analysis in poultry, therefore finding a fatty acids (BCFA) and lactate levels (P<0.05).
non-invasive sampling method that provides However, both fibre-fermenting bacteria
results similar to cecal contents is desired to and individual VFAs significantly differed
allow for microbiome analysis in commercial between fecal droppings and cecal contents
poultry facilities. in the second study (P<0.05). In both stud-
ies, no significant differences were observed
Investigation Methods in the quantification of Clostridium perfrin-
gens and total Salmonella for fecal and cecal
Two studies were conducted to compare droppings, as compared to cecal contents.
gut health biomarkers collected from cecal However, Escherichia coli quantification
contents, and either cecal droppings or fecal differed between fecal droppings and cecal
droppings in broiler chickens at 4 weeks of contents (P<0.05), while no differences were
age. The first study was conducted in a floor observed between cecal droppings and cecal
pen facility in Finland. Cecal droppings were contents (P=0.87).
collected from 10 birds, each followed by
cecal content collection. The second study Implications / Conclusions
was conducted in the USA with birds raised
in 4 separate commercial houses. Fecal drop- Cecal droppings may be considered as a
pings were collected from 15 birds per house non-invasive method to quantify VFA’s,
directly from the cloaca, and cecal contents commensal and pathogenic bacteria found
were collected after euthanizing the birds. within the ceca. This study corroborated
Once samples were collected, they were the observations of Kers et al. (2019) and
preserved in a BioFreeze solution for future Pauwels et al. (2015) who demonstrated simi-
analysis. All samples were analyzed for vola- lar bacteria profiles in cecal droppings and
tile fatty acids (VFA) and lactate by mass spec- cecal contents. VFA’s are produced in the ceca,
trometry. The presence of targeted bacteria therefore it was not surprising fecal droppings
was measured using real-time qPCR (Alimet- differed in their VFA profile, when compared
rics Diagnostics). Statistical differences were to the cecal contents. However, Clostridium
determined using ANOVA by sample type, perfringens quantification from fecal drop-
with a significant P-value of 0.05. House was pings and cecal contents were similar, hence
added as a random effect for the second study suggesting fecal droppings may be used to
after validation of normal distribution of the measure pathogen load in the lower gut in
responses. broilers. However, additional data is needed
before implementing into other poultry
Results species such as breeders and laying hens.
In the first study, cecal contents and cecal

droppings did not differ significantly in

ABSTRACT ID-99
BioFreeze® − A cutting-edge solution for intestinal sample

preservation
Tommi Timoharju
Alimetrics Diagnostics, Espoo, Finland
The Problem Ruminococcaceae, Clostridium sensu stricto,

Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp.,
Proper preservation methods for intestinal Bacteroides spp. and Escherichia coli.
samples are essential for ensuring the accu-
racy, reliability, and reproducibility of microbi- Results
ota laboratory analyses. Various preservation
and shipping methods exist for biological The study results demonstrated that the BioF-
samples, with considerations for maintaining reeze® preservation method at room tempera-
sample integrity and complying with safety ture was able to stabilize and protect microbial
regulations. Inappropriate stabilization of DNA from degradation comparable to storage at
intestinal samples may result in compromised -20 ºC. The quantity of total eubacteria remained
analytical results or wrong interpretations stable for a duration of two months. Further-
and ultimately lead to incorrect product devel- more, the results also indicated that the micro-
opment decisions or dosage administration. biome profile of samples stored at -20 ºC began
to undergo changes over time, with the propor-
How we investigated or researched the tions of the most abundant bacterial groups in
problem broiler chicken caecum shifting after only 14
days. Conversely, samples stored in BioFreeze®
The aim of this study was to evaluate the at +4 ºC and +20 ºC for 14 days maintained
variations in gut microbiome profiles a microbiome profile similar to the control
resulting from varied storage condi- samples. However, by day 30, the BioFreeze®
tions. Initially, fresh caecal samples were preserved samples also exhibited a slight drift
collected from broiler chickens with three in the profile, although not as pronounced as in
biological replicates and carefully homoge- the -20 ºC preserved samples.
nized. The samples were then divided into
three groups: fresh caecal digesta samples Implications /Conclusions
collected on day 0 as the control group,
samples stored at -20 ºC, and samples The commonly used method of freezing intes-
preserved in BioFreeze ® buffer (devel- tinal samples and shipping them on dry ice is
oped at Alimetrics Diagnostics) at +4 ºC, considered the gold standard in gut microbi-
+20 ºC, and +35 ºC for 14, 30, and 60 days. ology. Despite its widespread use, this method
Subsequently, microbial DNA in the digesta presents several challenges, including the
samples was extracted and purified, and logistical difficulties of obtaining and storing
real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was dry ice, safety concerns during handling, high
used to analyze several microbial targets to shipping costs, regulatory compliance issues,
provide insights into the impact of differ- and customs clearance procedures.
ent storage conditions on the caecal bacte-
rial community structure. In addition to
the total eubacteria, the quantities of the
following dominant bacterial groups, genera
or species residing in the broiler caecum
were assessed with qPCR: Lachnospiraceae, (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-99
These limitations highlight the need for alter-

native preservation solutions that can protect
samples at ambient temperature, prevent
bacterial lysis and endonuclease activity, and
do so in a cost-effective manner.
Our study demonstrated that the BioFreeze

technology offers a reliable alternative for
sample preservation. This method provides
a standardized, user-friendly solution for
sample collection and transportation, effec-
tively overcoming the practical challenges
associated with traditional freezer storage
and dry ice shipping. It is noteworthy that the
BioFreeze® system not only preserves micro-
bial DNA effectively but also safeguards many
immunological and chemical biomarkers,
thereby enhancing the benefits of gastroin-
testinal sample analysis.

ABSTRACT ID-111
Hetasca: Serologic test for detection of roundworm infections in

poultry and its practical applications.
Maarten De Gussem, Tiago Prucha

Vetworks Poultry Consultant, Belgium
The Problem Notably, the test identified helminth infec-

tions in farms previously diagnosed as free of
Roundworm infections in poultry have tradi- such infections through EPG and/or necropsy.
tionally been diagnosed using worm counts Analysis of broiler breeder samples revealed
and Egg per gram faeces (EPG) counts, methods significant levels of roundworm infection
that, while effective, may not always provide the across various age groups, with a notable
earliest or most sensitive detection of infections. increase in infection rates in birds older than
With the development of the Hetasca serologic 8 weeks. The presence of maternal antibod-
test, there is potential for more sensitive and ies in chicks at birth indicated transmission
earlier detection of roundworm infections in from grandparents. The study also uncovered
poultry, a critical aspect for managing poultry a correlation between roundworm infections
health and preventing disease spread. and the presence of Histomonas meleagridis,
with all Histomonas-positive flocks also test-
How we investigated or researched the ing positive on the Hetasca test.
problem
An in vivo study was conducted to compare
the sensitivity and specificity of the Hetasca The findings from this research indicate that
serologic test against traditional methods the Hetasca serologic test is a valuable tool for
of worm count and EPG counts. The study the early detection of roundworm infections
involved 9 groups of SPF birds at 12 weeks old, in poultry, offering greater sensitivity than
including one unchallenged group, 4 groups traditional diagnostic methods. The wide-
challenged with Ascaridia galli, and 4 groups spread presence of roundworm infections
challenged with Heterakis, each at varying in broiler breeders, especially in relation to
doses. These groups were inoculated over 9 Histomonas meleagridis and its implications
consecutive weeks. for Colisepticaemia, underscores the impor-
tance of effective worming programs. The
Results insights gained from this study could signif-
icantly impact the epidemiology of round-
The Hetasca serologic test demonstrated worm infections, leading to improved health
superior sensitivity compared to traditional management practices in commercial layer
methods, detecting infections more promptly. and breeder farms.
Broiler Breeder Age Number of Number of Number of Hetasca Prevalence Hetasca Prevalence
(weeks) samples flocks positive flocks (flock level) (bird level)
Week 1-7 95 19 5 26% 9%
Week 8-12 379 44 36 82% 33%
Week 13-16 155 17 16 94% 38%
Week 17-19 405 45 41 91% 56%
Week 20-48 255 51 51 100% 97%
Total (Average) 1289 176 149 85% 51%

ABSTRACT ID-116
Prevalence of Eimeria species in broilers flocks in Vietnam based

on Oocysts shedding monitoring under different anticoccidial
programs
Duong-Do-Thi-Thuy1, Trinh-Phan-Huu-Huong1, David Marks1, Maarten De Gussem2

1
Poulpharm Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
2
The Problem As from 1 week-of-age E. acervulina is the

earliest species detected and additionally
To optimize the effectiveness of coccidiosis the most dominant species found at all age.
program in broiler flocks, understanding Number of positive samples increased from 2
the distribution of Eimeria species as well as weeks-of-age with a peak at 3 weeks.
oocysts number is necessary.
The OPG results per species demonstrated the
A prevalence study of Eimeria species in broil- highest number for E. acervulina at 3 weeks-
ers flocks was conducted in Vietnam in which of-age (92,475 OPG) followed by E. praecox at
litter samples from several farms under differ- 6 weeks-of-age (89,740 OPG). Other species
ent anticoccidial programs were collected. including E. tenella, E. maxima, E. mitis
recorded only low oocyst number
problem Implications / Conclusions
Over a period of 2 years, 104 litter samples Despite the fact that samples were collected
were collected in broiler farms, not vacci- from broiler farms under different anticoc-
nated for coccidiosis and located at Southern cidial programs, there was a 94,2% sample
Vietnam. At sampling allocated birds ranged positivity with Eimeria spp. This means that
between 1 and 8 weeks-of-age. Representa- early screening is essential in prevention and
tive flock samples were collected combining control of coccidiosis in broiler farm. Addi-
normal intestinal and caecal droppings. tionally, the distribution between species was
age dependent. In this, E. acervulina was the
Per sample 4 g feacal material was used to most dominant species with infestations at all
prepare and oocyst suspension in saturated ages. Similar, E. praecox were common species
saline solution and counted by McMaster found in all ages except the first weeks-of-
method (10x10 magnification). age. Other Eimeria species were detected
between 2 to 5 weeks-of-age. Nevertheless,
Oocysts of Eimeria spp. were identified by OPG numbers show that pathogenic species
morphology (size, color, and structure). Differ- such as E. tenella and E. maxima had lower
entiation of each species was recorded and OPG detection as compared to E. acervulina
described as a number of Oocyst Per Gram at that time. Therefore, thorough under-
litter (OPG).. standing of Eimeria species distribution may
assist in optimizing coccidiosis programs and
Results controlling coccidiosis in the field.
All Eimeria species were demonstrated with

a distribution of 86 % E. acervulina, 71% E.
praecox, 59% E. maxima, 29% E. tenella and
19% E. mitis.

ABSTRACT ID-117
Novel molecular tools for coccidiosis research, practical application
Gryp T., Maertens B., Verstraeten M., Vercaemer J., Meesseman V., Doner S., De Gussem M
The Problem (Combination of multiple primers and probes

in 1 reaction)
Up to the present day, the classis McMas-
ter method has been used worldwide as the Results
standard method for quantitative detection
of both protozoal oocysts as for helminth The results of the Cox qPCR, which is consid-
eggs in faecal samples. During counting, a ered the golden standard, were compared
species differentiation can be performed in with the OPG counts and multiplex Cox qPCR
case of coccidiosis of chicken, as virulence results. In general, a higher relative accuracy
is strongly related with the seven species was observed with the Multiplex Cox qPCR
causing infection. However, this type of compared to the OPG count. In addition, the
morphological differentiation has its limits relative accuracy of the Multiplex Cox qPCR
due to interspecies variation and human increases as the concentration of the Eimeria
errors which leads to incorrect differen- spp. increases, almost reaching the same rela-
tiation. In the past years, molecular tech- tive accuracy as the Cox qPCR when the OPG
niques have entered the diagnostic world of count of the Eimeria spp. is above 2500.
parasitology, as an alternative for the clas-
sic OPG, whereby several studies assessed Implications / Conclusions
primers to differentiate Eimeria species by
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Unfortu- The combination of the new extraction
nately, DNA extraction methods are labor method with the multiplex Cox qPCR reduces
intensive and often too costly to implement the cost for the veterinarians and farmers but
in routine diagnostic labs for coccidiosis also reduces resources and waste. In conclu-
monitoring, and are typically restricted to sion, a new extraction method combined with
trial settings with high funding availability. the multiplex qPCR for coccidiosis monitoring
Therefore, a new automated DNA extraction can be proposed as the new golden standard
protocol and multiplex Cox qPCR was devel- for field diagnostics of coccidiosis excretion
oped in order to make quantitative PCR patterns. Veterinarians and farmers have
(qPCR) differentiation of Eimeria species access to a more accurate interpretation and
more cost-efficient, and accessible for field complete overview of the coccidiosis infec-
veterinarians and farmers in the poultry tion pressure of the flock in a cost efficient and
field.. sustainable way.

problem
In order to validate, twenty samples were

included on which the following anal-
yses were performed to determine the
abundance of the different Eimeria spp.:
Basic method - Oocysts per gram faeces (OPG)
Golden standard method - Cox qPCR
(1 reaction for each Eimeria spp.)
New developed method - Multiplex Cox qPCR

INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT
SOLUTIONS
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-50
Dietary Zn amino acid complex and vitamin E levels effects in

young broilers and during heat stress challenge in the finisher
phase
A. De Grande1, R. Ducatelle2, E. Delezie1, F. Van Immerseel2, S. Leleu1, L. Linares3, C. Torres3

1
Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Belgium
2
Livestock gut health team (LiGHT) Ghent, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
3
Zinpro Corporation, Boxmeer, Netherlands
The Problem morphology and intestinal inflammation as

measured by infiltration of CD3 positive cells.
Supporting early gut development and intes- Ileal content was used for determination of
tinal integrity is a key element in health and ovotransferrin concentration (Study 2).
performance. An underdeveloped gut can lead
to nutritional losses, promote immune activa- Results
tion, and thus cause increased inflammation.
Heat stress disturbs the normal physiologi- Broilers supplemented with ZnAA were heav-
cal functioning and damages cells, leading to ier in the starter phase compared to ZnSO4.
a detrimental impact on animal health and Replacing ZnSO4 with ZnAA at a vitamin E
performance. Some nutrients such as zinc level of 50 IU/kg increased mean body weight
and vitamin E are both vital antioxidants that and body weight gain, and lowered feed
play key roles in maintaining the integrity and conversion ratio during the starter period. In
function of the immune system, and for play- the ZnAA group, more energy was available
ing roles in preserving physical tissue barriers for growth likely because birds had longer villi,
during stressful periods. which increases the absorptive area of the
intestinal tract and hence feed efficiency. The
How we investigated or researched the birds in the ZnSO4 group used more energy
problem to respond to the dysbiosis created in the gut
(as shown in a higher T-cell increase); and the
Two studies were conducted to evaluate the ZnAA fed birds had greater gut barrier integ-
effect of Zn source on broiler performance and rity (as measured by ovotransferrin) after the
intestinal health. Day-old Ross 308 male broil- intestinal challenge. Therefore, during the
ers were fed wheat-rye base diets, with no finisher period, when the heat stress model
addition of NSP enzymes to promote a nutri- was applied, a higher weight gain and a lower
tional challenge (dysbiosis) to 36 days. Zinc feed conversion ratio was obtained by replac-
was supplemented at 60 ppm Zn as Zn sulfate ing ZnSO4 with ZnAA when supplementing
(ZnSO4) or Zn amino acid complex (ZnAA: 50 IU/kg of vitamin E. The ZnAA fed broil-
Zinpro® Availa® Zn). Study 1 had 680 broilers, ers also showed a trend towards decreasing
2 treatments, 10 repetitions. Study 2 evalu- abundance of several genera belonging to the
ated the interaction of Zn source (ZnSO4 vs. Proteobacteria phylum, a group of bacteria
ZnAA) and vitamin E level (50 vs. 100 IU/kg) that thrives under inflammatory conditions
on performance and intestinal health of broil- and are associated with gut dysbiosis and
ers exposed to chronic cyclic high tempera- epithelial dysfunction, compromising bird
tures in finisher phase (32 °C ± 2 °C; RH 55 performance.
- 65% for 6 h from day 28 to 36) (4 treat-
ments, each replicated 9 times). In both stud-
ies, sections of the duodenum were sampled
on days 10, 28, and 36 to evaluate intestinal (Continued on the next page)
INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS 153

ABSTRACT ID-50
The ZnAA fed broilers were heavier with

a higher breast meat yield at 36d (study 2).
Breast meat was characterized by a signifi-
cantly lower drip loss and thawing loss than
breast meat of birds that were fed a diet
supplemented with ZnSO4.
Feeding broilers with ZnAA and ZnAA + 50 IU

Vit E improved early growth and the presence
of ZnAA strengthened the intestinal barrier
leading to less gut damage during heat stress.
Performance and resilience against heat stress
can be positively influenced via supplementa-
tion of zinc as ZnAA.
154 INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

ABSTRACT ID-62
Effects of Nano-silicate platelets (NSP) on the respiratory tract

health of broiler chickens under ammonia exposure
Maraddin and National Chung Hsing University
Ammonia (NH3) has long been considered group (CON), 0.1% NSP group (NSP), NH3
a crucial issue for all species of organisms group (CON+), NH3 plus 0.1% NSP group
because it poses to biodiversity, eutrophica- (NSP+). The result showed that supplemen-
tion, water quality and health of animals and tation 0.1% NSP and NH3 plus 0.1% NSP
human, as well as triggering global climate increased growth performance by minimized
change. United States Environmental Protec- damaged of respiratory tract of broiler chick-
tion Agency (U.S. EPA), estimated that in the ens. Furthermore, NSP enhanced expression
United States, 2.66 million metric tons of of claudin 1 (CLDN1), occludin (OCLN) and
ammonia will be released into the atmos- upregulated antimicrobial peptides Avian
phere annually by 2030. China and India beta-defensin (AvBD1), (AvBD8), and cathel-
accounted for 80% of imports to Asia, with icidins3 (CATH3) by decreased suppression
poultry farming being the primary source of macrophage production and pro-inflam-
of ammonia pollutant. According to some matory cytokine of IL-1β, these results were
researches, negative effect of ammonia can irrelevant to the CON and CON+ groups.
harm the trachea, lung, liver, kidney, intesti-
nal tract, and even the brain in both animals NSP's extensive surface area facilitated
and human. Even at low concentrations, enhanced absorption and targeted delivery
prolonged exposure to ammonia in the poul- of nutrients, resulting in higher body weight
try building increases the risk of respiratory (BW), body weight gain (BWG), reinforced
tract diseases. In other hand, farmworkers mucosal integrity, fortifying the respiratory
in the poultry house have an increased risk tract's physical barrier and impeding patho-
of developing respiratory diseases, including gen invasion. NSP also promoted the recovery
pneumonia, rhinitis, and asthma. of mucosal epithelial layers in the respiratory
tract after ammonia exposure.
Nano silicate platelet (NSP) is a kind of natural
silicate clay exfoliated from montmorillonite
(MMT) that has been known as a biomedical
product for drug delivery, chronic diarrhea,
and powerful adsorptive and absorptive prop-
erties to biomolecules. By exfoliated from the
layered structure of sodium montmorillonite
(Na+-MMT), Nano silicate platelet (NSP) rela-
tively large size (�100 × 100 × 1 nm3), dispers-
ibility in water, abundant negative charge on
the surface, high anionic surface area (ca. 720
m2/g), and strong absorption force (van der
Waals) plus hydrogen bond make NSP highly
affinity for biomolecules such as bacteria and
viruses (80 nm).
Here, we investigated the effect of nano-sil-

icate platelets (NSP) on respiratory tract
health of broiler chicken under the ammonia
exposure. Four groups were formed: control

ABSTRACT ID-83
Evaluation of the protective capacity of an innovative anti-

mycotoxins agent against the detrimental effects of aflatoxin b1
and fumonisins in broiler chickens
riahi, I.1, Della Badia, A.1, Sturza, D. 2, Giacomini, L.2, Mallman A. C.3.
1
Instituto Samitec, Santa Maria (Brazil); Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Laboratório de Análises
2
Micotoxicológicas, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
The Problem each for 21d. Dietary treatments included: T1

as control diet; T2: challenged diet with 100
The exposure to aflatoxins (AFB1) and fumonis- mg/kg of FB1 and FB2; T3: control diet plus
ins (FB1 and FB2) represents a major risk to the the anti-mycotoxin agent; T4: the control diet
health and productivity of poultry. AFB1 nega- with 100 mg/kg of FB1 and FB2.
tively affect intestinal integrity by reducing the
villus height/crypt depth ratio and absorptive Feed intake and BW were recorded weekly
surface area, while FBs exacerbate these effects, in both trial 1 and 2 to calculate BW at 21d,
leading to further compromise the animal health BW gain and average daily gain (ADG). On 21d,
(Zhang et al., 2023). Effective management strat- tissue samples from intestine were collected
egies are essential to mitigate the adverse effects for histopathological examination of intestine,
of mycotoxin exposure. The aim of this study morphometric measurements and microbi-
was to evaluate the efficacy of an anti-myco- ological analysis in both trials. Data were
toxin agent (containing selected binding mate- analyzed by Student's t-test and Welch's t-test
rial combined with natural extracts and yeasts) using Jamovi and Minitab 16.
in mitigating the intestinal epithelium damage
induced by AFB1 and FB1 and FB2 boosting the Results
performance parameters in broilers chickens.
Trial 1. AFB1 exposure reduces the villus
How we investigated or researched the height/crypt depth ratio (P<0.001) and the
problem absorption surface (P<0.001), suggesting that
the inclusion of the anti-mycotoxin product
Trial 1. A total of 600 one-day-old Cobb 500 improves the gut integrity of broilers chickens
male broilers (BW: 45.5± 3.06 kg) were allo- challenged by AFB1 (P<0.001). No differences
cated in environmentally controlled poultry were detected the intestinal microbial counts
house and randomly assigned into 4 treat- (e.g. total Bacillus and Enterobacteria, or its
ments with 12 replicate cages of 10 broilers ratio). In terms of productive parameters, the
each for 21d. The experiment design consisted tested agent improved the body weight and
of 4 dietary treatments: T1: control diet; T2: the growth gain during 21d in broilers chal-
challenged diet with 2.8 mg/kg of AFB1; T3: lenged by AFB1 (P<0.001); while feed intake
control plus the anti-mycotoxin agent; T4: the was restored in broilers challenged by AFB1
control diet in combination with 2.8 mg/kg (P=0.003).
of AFB1.
Trial 2. A total of 600 one-day-old Cobb 500

male broilers (BW: 45.4± 3.22 kg) were allo-
cated in environmentally controlled poultry
house and randomly assigned into 4 treat-
ments with 12 replicate cages of 10 broilers (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-83
Trial 2. FB1 and FB2 exposure reduced the

villus height/crypt depth ratio and the
absorption surface in this specie (P<0.001).
This would indicate that the product enhances
the villus height/crypt depth ratio of broilers
chickens exposed to this mycotoxin. Overall
total enterobacteria counts in the intestine
were reduced by anti-mycotoxin agent
(P<0.005). Body weight and growth gain
during 21d were improved in broilers chal-
lenged by FB1 and FB2 (P<0.005), suggest-
ing the efficacy of the product in this specie
exposed to FBs.
The innovative anti-mycotoxins agent contain-

ing selected binding material combined with
natural extracts and yeast product improved
the gut integrity and enhanced animal perfor-
mance in broiler chickens.

ABSTRACT ID-113
Using blood pH and CO2 in broilers under high altitude, humidity

and temperature to optimise performance
A.Fernández-Gutiérrez2, L.N. Salgado-Gutiérrez1, G. Quintana-Ospina1, Carlos E. Vier3, M. De Gussem2

1
Grupo BIOS Inc., Envigado 055420, Antioquia, Colombia
2
Vetworks BVBA, Knokstraat 38, B-9880 Poeke, Flanders, Belgium
3
Vetworks do Brasil
The Problem The pH and pCO2 range in 5 groups of houses

were as shown below:
Heat stress is recognised by the poultry indus-
try as one of the main hurdles for broiler T04 (7.43) > T02 (7.41) > T01 (7.39) ; T03
performance in many areas in the world, this (7.39) > T05 (7.35) (pkw < 0.001 ***) for pH
is because feed has to be restricted to mini-
mase heat stress and related mortality. There T04 (7.42) > T02 (7.41) ; T01 (7.40) > T03
are interventions such as management and (7.40) > T05 (7.36) (pkw = 0.004 **)
nutrition that can help to reduce heat stress
and minimase feed restriction but these are T05 (51) ; T03 (50) ; T01 (49) > T02 (49) >
financially inviable. T04 (46) (pkw = 0.010 **) for pCO2
How we investigated or researched the T05 (50.5) > T03 (48.9) ; T01 (48.6) ; T02
problem (48.1) > T04 (47.1) (pkw = 0.095)
Blood parameters can be good indicators of Implications / Conclusions

the metabolic situation in animals included
birds. Whole blood was analised by a gas pH and pCO2 can be used as an indicator of the
analiser machine to measure several blood metabolic rate of the birds and therefor allow
parameters: Glucose, lactate, pH, pO2 and pCO2 a finer control of feed restriction, allowing
being the main ones. to know the optimal level of feed restriction
without metabolic problems in the birds and
A commercial broiler farm at high altitude, therefore getting better flock performance.
humidity, and temperature with 16 houses
was used for the study, 5 males were blood
sampled ( brachial vein) per house from week
3 (4 houses) and all houses at week 4, 5 and 6.
Results
From all the blood parameters measured, pH

and pCO2 results were the most reliable to
assess broilers metabolic rate.
The normal blood pH in unstressed birds

is 7.5 (range in 11 species 7,43-7,58, mean =7.52,
Calder and Schmidt-Nielsea. 1968), in pigeons
ranges ( venous-versus arterial) pH 7.36-7.43,
Butler et al., 1977, In the case of pCO2 range for
venous blood 48-69 mm (Hg), Van As et al, 2010

ABSTRACT ID-115
Evaluation of the e. Acervulina and e. Maxima scoring system in

anticoccidial sensitivity tests (ast’s)
Brecht Maertens (B.M.), Maarten De Gussem (M.D.G)

The Problem not to be correlated with increasing chal-

lenge doses from certain dose levels onwards.
Coccidiosis is one of the most economically Furthermore, due to occasional absence of
devastating diseases of poultry industry. The macroscopic lesions while challenge was
infestation can be caused by several Eimeria successful, birds are often given a score zero,
species, each with its own characteristics. John- while daily weight gain is strongly reduced
son and Reid (J&R) have published in 1970 a due to the infection, which further complicates
scoring system for Eimeria species specific intes- interpretation of efficacy of anticoccidials and
tinal lesions induced by the different species. On the J&R lesion scoring system. Yet a correla-
this day this lesion scoring system is still used tion was found between the consistency of the
as the golden standard in both the field prac- caudal mid-intestinal content and the daily
tises as in experimental conditions such as anti- weight reduction in both dose response stud-
coccidial sensitivity studies (AST’s), which are ies as efficacy studies. For E. acervulina it was
used to determine the efficacy of anticoccidials found that the scoring system was solid, yet
in the prevention of Eimeria infections in chick- maximal lesions were already observed at
ens. During these AST studies, parasitological low challenge doses, which had only a minor
parameters (intestinal lesions) are monitored impact on body weight and daily weight gain.
as a primary parameter according to regulation Yet, when looking beyond the duodenum into
authorities and zootechnical parameters such as the cranial mid-intestine, it was found that
body weight and daily weight gain are included lesions distribution increased with increasing
as secondary parameters. Yet often, the corre- doses and daily weight gain reduction.
lation between the intestinal lesions score and
daily weight gain are not clear. Implications / Conclusions
How we investigated or researched the Our findings indicate the importance and
problem higher relevance of daily weight gain obser-
vations compared to the induction of intes-
Dose response studies and efficacy studies tinal lesions. Furthermore for E. maxima and
with registered anticoccidials were conducted E. acervulina, it was confirmed that the scor-
for both E. acervulina and E. maxima with ing system has limitations, which makes it
multiple pure species and mixed species difficult to routinely obtain high scores with
isolates. Intestinal lesions and daily weight some field strains and even more difficult to
gain were monitored on day 5, 6 and 7 post determine potential efficacy of anticoccidial
challenge. All parameters from the J&R scor- drugs, if efficacy is evaluated on reduction of
ing system were recorded individually and lesions. To overcome this problem we suggest
additional parameters were included. an additional parameter for E. maxima, caudal
mid-intestinal content consistency, and have
Results developed an adjustment to the scoring
system. For E. acervulina our findings are that
For E. maxima, it was found that the occur- the scoring system is solid but should be more
rence of petechiae is not specific for E. maxima focused on the cranial mid-intestine instead of
infections and its abundancy is confirmed the duodenum.

SOLUTIONS
Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-3
Effects of dietary inclusion of palm kernel cake 5% and 10% on

performance, carcass traits, cooking loss and cost efficiency in
broiler chickens
J.J. Choong1, Y.H. Siaw1, K.Y. Mark Chan1, I. Zulkifli2

1
Elanco Animal Health Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
2
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
The Problem stages of the study. Carcass traits, cooking loss,

and litter moisture content were also evaluated.
The poultry industry in Southeast Asia faces
challenges due to its reliance on imported feed Results
ingredients like corn and soybeans. This study
explores the potential of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC), The study revealed that the inclusion of 5%
a by-product abundant in palm oil-producing or 10% PKC in the diet did not negatively
nations, particularly in Malaysia, as an alter- impact broiler growth performance. While
native or partial replacement for protein and feed intake was lower in the PKC groups
energy sources in poultry feed. Despite PKC's during initial feeding periods, this did not
limitations, including moderate energy and result in adverse effects on the final cumu-
crude protein content, high fiber, low essential lative weight gain and feed conversion ratio.
amino acids, poor nutrient digestibility, and The final body weights were recorded at
reduced palatability, this research investigates 2.357 kg (0% PKC), 2.234kg (5% PKC) and
its suitability as a sustainable feed option for the 2.378kg (10% PKC) whilst the cumulative
poultry industry in Malaysia. feed conversion ratios were recorded at 1.43
(0% PKC), 1.45 (5% PKC) and 1.40 (10% PKC).
How we investigated or researched the Furthermore, no significant differences were
problem observed in carcass yield, organ weight, cook-
ing loss, or litter moisture across the dietary
The objective of this study is to assess the effects groups. Feed cost analysis indicated that diets
of different inclusion levels of PKC (0%, 5%, and with 10% PKC had the lowest feed costs and
10%) on the growth performance, feed costs, made them a cost-effective option. With 10%
and carcass traits of broiler chickens. The study PKC dietary, a total reduction of USD8.20 per
involved 750 one-day-old male broiler chicks metric ton (grower) and USD3.40 per metric
(Cobb 500) randomly assigned to groups and ton (finisher) in cost compared to control
placed in floor pens with appropriate ventilation group (0% PKC).
and conducted from day old up until 35 days of
age. The birds were vaccinated against Newcas- Implications / Conclusions
tle disease and reared under controlled envi-
ronmental conditions. They were provided with This study suggests that broilers can effectively
starter, grower, and finisher diets formulated utilize diets containing 5% and 10% PKC with-
to meet their nutritional requirements. Three out compromising the growth performance,
dietary groups were established: 0% PKC (nega- carcass traits and cooking loss. Additionally,
tive control), 5% PKC, and 10% PKC, with 10 incorporating 10% PKC in the diet can lead
replicate pens per group. The PKC diets were to reduced feed costs. Therefore, it is recom-
reformulated to replace mainly the wheat bran mended to include 10% PKC in both grower
and corn. Growth performance indexes, includ- and finisher diets for broilers in areas where
ing feed consumption, weight gain, and feed PKC is abundant, hence moving forward to more
conversion ratios, were recorded at different sustainable poultry production.

ABSTRACT ID-10
Efficacy of the Quillaja based dietary supplementation on

performance and health on poultry Coccidiosis challenged.
Victoria Tapia, Rosa Navarro, Hans Konsens, Sebastian Decap

Plantae Lasb SpA
The Problem and T5 groups versus untreated/challenged

birds (T1), with an increase of 7 % in all cases.
Coccidiosis has been the most frequently However, T3 showed a significant reduction
reported and economically important disease (22%). T2 and T5 had the lowest FCR and
in the poultry industry. It is caused by intracel- highest ADG of all treatments, although they
lular parasites that affects the animal´s intes- did not differ significantly from T4, show-
tinal leading morbidity and mortality as well ing that Quillaja is highly effective as natural
as poor performance. Nowadays, the trend treatments. Moreover, these results showed
towards using compounds derived from natu- a significant effect using encapsulated Quil-
ral sources such as Quillaja extract, has gained laja extract in comparison with non-encapsu-
attention as an alternative to replace tradi- lated. Feed intake did differ slightly between
tional drugs. Thus, this study aimed to assess treatments in the study. The results clearly
and compare the effectiveness of Quillaja show difference in bacterial analysis of T2,
extract (QE) vs encapsulated Quillaja extract T3, and T5 groups versus T1, with an aver-
(EQE) in mitigating the impact of a protozo- age reduction of 20 % for E. coli, 35% for C.
an-induced intestinal disease in poultry. perfringens and 60% for Salmonella Inci-
dence. There were high lesions detected in
How we investigated or researched the T1 on day 21. Average lesion score in T2, T4
problem and T5 groups was 69%, 82% and 82% lower
than T1, respectively, while lesion scores in
A total of 2,600 one-day-old chickens were T3 also did differ significantly from T1 but
randomly allocated to five experimental the reduction was lower (46%). Villi meas-
groups (10 reps/treatment, 52 birds/rep). urements showed a significant increase in
Diets were supplemented with Nicarba- all treatments in comparison with T1 group,
zine 125 g/ton (T2), Nicarbazine 125 g/ton except T3. Finally, except for T3, all treatments
+ QE 30 g/ton (T4), QE 30 g/ton (T3) and had significantly lower crypt depth than T1.
EQE 45 g/ton (T5). Control was not supple-
mented (T1). The litter was inoculated with Implications / Conclusions
a mix of E. acervulina (5x105 oocysts/bird), E.
maxima (8.5x104 oocysts/bird), and E. tenella Quillaja extract resulted in an efficient natu-
(1.75x105 oocysts/bird). Feed intake (FI) and ral alternative as treatments for coccidiosis
body weights (BW) were recorded on Days 0, in poultry, showing similar performance like
14, and 21. Fecal and histological samples (Day medicated treatments. However, this study
14 and 21) were collected for bacterial analy- demonstrated that using encapsulated Quil-
sis, oocyst count, mortality and villi measure- laja extract was able to obtain the best results.
ments. The data were analyzed by Duncan's On the other hand, a synergist effect was
New Multiple Range Test. observed using a combination of Quillaja and
Nicarbazine.
Results
For the period 0-21 days, there was a notice-

able difference in ADG of treated bird T2, T4

ABSTRACT ID-18
Effect of Multienzymes on Hen Production, Egg Quality, Gut

Morphology, and Relative Digestive Organ Weights in 96-Week
Late-Phase Hens
Royd Joseph Mosaso1, DVM, Jay Ronel Conejos1, PhD, Mary Jasmin Ang2, PhD, Jacoba Bromfield3, PhD,
Darwin Horyanto3 and May Kathleen Manimtim3, DVM, EMBA
1
UPLB CAFS-IAS
2
UPLB CVM -DBVS
3
Bioproton Pty Ltd.
The Problem hens in each cage. Hen production and egg

qualities were recorded for 16 weeks, and at
Extending the flock beyond the breed's recom- the end of the experiment, 12 hens from each
mended production age is now a common treatment were sacrificed for gut morphology
trend—not only in the Philippines, but many and organ weighing.
developed countries are leaning toward this
practice. Egg quality and production are to Results
decline at this age, prompting farmers to
provide only a relatively cheap or low-qual- After 16 weeks, there were no significant
ity feed formulation, just enough for the changes in weight gain among the dietary
continuity of farm operation. The purpose groups (P > 0.05). Feed intake was highest
of such actions is economical, but this comes in T1 (P = 0.0102) due to its less fibrous feed
at a significant cost. Besides egg quality and composition compared to T2 and T3, which
bone health problems, late-phase hens have used rice bran to lessen the ME content. T3
gastrointestinal issues at stake. Aside from the
had been able to be at par with T1 in terms
anti-nutritional factors' presence in low-qual-of egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and
ity feeds, older animals had an age-associated FCR (P > 0.05). T3 also demonstrated superior
decline in gut functions, including the diges- albumen height and Haugh unit compared to
tion and absorption of essential nutrients, T1 and T2 (P = 0.0033 and P = 0.0464, respec-
thereby affecting overall productivity. This tively). Other favourable egg traits in T3
study aims to evaluate the effect of reduc- included eggshell width, length, and egg shape
ing feed energy level with the inclusion of a index (P < 0.05). Gut morphology analysis
multienzyme (Natuzyme™) product, which showed T1 was the same as T3 regarding villi
is composed of cellulase, xylanase, beta-glu- height and goblet cell count (P > 0.05). Mean-
canase, pectinase, mannanase, alpha-amylase, while, T3's crypt depth tended to be the same
protease, and phytase as T1 and better than T2 (P = 0.06). Lastly, no
significant changes were observed in organ
How we investigated or researched the weights except for the crop, which was high-
problem est in T3 (P = 0.044). This was an adaptative
response due to improved hydrolyzation of
A total of 324 Dekalb hens, aged 96 weeks (n non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in T3. This
= 324) were randomly assigned to one of the process decreased the passage rate, prolong-
three (3) dietary treatments in a completely ing the retention time of feeds staying in the
randomized design (CRD). The dietary treat- crop and eventually increasing pressure and
ments were: T1, the basal diet; T2, a reduced size.
energy diet (-90 Metabolizable Energy, ME);
and T3, a reduced energy plus a multienzyme
product (350 g/tonne). Each treatment had
27 cage replicates with 4 (four) active laying (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-18
The research findings suggest that incorpo-

rating the multienzyme product at a rate of
350 grams per tonne into layer diets despite
decreased energy (-90 kcal/kg ME) had no
negative effects, improved production metrics,
and upheld gut health. This indicates farm effi-
ciency without sacrificing animal nutrition,
making it an attractive option for farmers
wanting to extend their flock age.

ABSTRACT ID-103
Impact of early feeding and time of hatch on duodenal

morphology and nutrient metabolism during the first week of life
in conventional and slow growing broilers
Niamh Cleiren1, Rutger Smets1, Evelyne Delezie2, Marta Lourenço2, Geert Janssens3,
Luc Duchateau4, Gunther Antonissen1
1
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Ghent
University, Belgium
2
Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research, Belgium
3
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Belgium
4
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition,
Ghent University, Belgium
The Problem day 7 and are largely related to the HW. For
Ross, Mean Villus Length (MVL) and Mean
In current practice it is not uncommon for Muscle Thickness (MMT) were significantly
hatchery hatched broiler chicks to spend up increased in late hatchers compared to the
to 24 hours or more post-hatch, depending early hatchers. Late hatchers also show
on region, without access to feed or water. As significantly higher NEFA concentrations
many crucial developments are yet to take and lower TRIG concentrations. MVL, MMT
place shortly after hatch, optimal manage- and TRIG results followed a similar pattern
ment and care is critical during this period in the slow growers. For Hubbard, MVL also
and research is therefore needed. showed a significant treatment effect, with
T2 chicks having decreased MVL versus T0
How we investigated or researched the and T1 chicks.
problem
For this study, 960 Ross 308 and 960 Hubbard
Redbro broilers were hatched on-farm and These preliminary results show that the influ-
each divided into different hatching windows ence of time of hatch should not be disre-
(HW): early, mid or late hatched chicks. HW garded in studies concerning the impact of
were subdivided into three treatment groups: early access to feed in broilers. Differences in
immediate access to feed post-hatch (T0), duodenal morphology and nutrient metabo-
feed access at 24h biological age (T1) and lism for both slow and fast growing broilers
48h (T2). Chicks were sampled intensively were mainly detected at day 7.
during the first two weeks of life. Duodenal
morphology was measured using ImageJ soft-
ware on PAS-stained samples. Non-esterified
fatty acids (NEFA) and triglyceride (TRIG)
concentrations were determined with ELISA
on plasma of fasted chickens (4h).
Results
Preliminary data analysis (up to day 7) was

done in R using a linear mixed-effects model
with HW and treatment as main effects. In
general, for both breeds, significant differ-
ences between groups are most prevalent at

ABSTRACT ID-114
Validation of a Camera System for Assessing Mobility in Broiler

Chickens
Patricia Soster de Carvalho1,2, Giuditta Tilli3, Wout Verbeure2, Pieter-Jan Dhaese2, Adriaan Verhelle2,
Jennifer Hautekeur2, Annelike Dedeurwaerder2, Gunther Antonissen1, Maarten De Gussem2,3
1
University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
2
Poulpharm bvba, Prins Albertlaan 112, 8870 Izegem, Belgium
3
Vetworks bv, Knokstraat 38, B-9880 Poeke, Belgium
The Problem from 0 to 5). The selected chickens were

divided, with 50 assigned a score of two in one
Modern commercial broilers are known for pen and the remaining 50 assigned a score
their rapid growth and efficient feed utiliza- of three in other pen. Each pen had a size
tion. The increased feed intake has driven of 5x5m² and a litter score three. For three
genetic enhancements for improved digest- consecutive days, the chickens were recorded
ibility, making gut health a key factor for using a specific video-diagnostic tool to eval-
ensuring proper digestibility and broiler uate mobility by evaluating ‘average distance’
performance. Imbalances in gut health can traveled by a chicken, and ‘averaged distance
result in poor litter quality (e.g., wet litter), per moving object’. During the same days, the
leading to locomotor disorders, such as lame- veterinarians evaluated the GE of the chick-
ness. Consequently, monitoring of lame birds, ens, ensuring that the chickens maintained
whose mobility is decreased, represents an the same score until the end of the experiment.
indirect tool for gut health measurement. Gait If a chicken's score increased or decreased
score (GE), is a common method for subjec- during these days, the birds were replaced
tively evaluating lameness and mobility in with new chickens to ensure that all chickens
broilers. Manual gait scoring (MGE) relies in one pen had a GE of 2, and the other pen
on trained operators typically performing had a GE of 3.
the scoring at specific point in the end of the
production cycle, making the methodology Results
time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requir-
ing precise planning. To optimize scoring The MGE exhibited a correlation with activity
activities, the use of on-farm camera system levels assessed through the camera system
(CGE) to assess broiler`s mobility during tool, specifically in terms of the 'averaged
the entire production cycle might be a valid distance per moving object.' Notably, the aver-
alternative. However, little is known about age distance traveled by chickens was signif-
the application of image analysis for GE in icantly higher in the MGE labeled as two, as
broilers. Therefore, the primary objective of opposed to the group scored three (P < 0.05).
this research is to validate a CGE for broilers’
decreased mobility early detection. Implications / Conclusions
How we investigated or researched the Preliminary results of this study suggest that
problem the use of on-farm applied camera systems
appears to be a promising alternative to tradi-
A total of 100 male broiler chickens, aged tional scoring. Consequently, CGE might be
four weeks, were manually selected from a considered as reliable as MGE to assess mobil-
commercial trial by two veterinarians expe- ity in broiler chickens and, indirectly, litter
rienced in the traditional Bristol MGE system quality and gut health status, while being less
(assessed using a standardized 6-point scale time-consuming and labor-intensive.

SOLUTIONS
ABSTRACT ID-05
Novel Approaches for Managing Intestinal Health in Poultry as

the key role to control and prevent diseases in poultry.
Aman NTISERURWA
Bachelor student in veterinary medicine at the university of Rwanda Nyagatare campus
Intestinal health plays a vital role in poultry's Key words

disease control and prevention, as it directly
influences their productivity, welfare, and Intestinal health, Poultry, Disease control,
profitability. This abstract explores innovative Prevention, Management solutions, Gut health
management solutions aimed at promoting disorders
optimal intestinal health in poultry farming
systems. It investigates various strategies,
including novel nutrition practices, the utili-
zation of probiotics and prebiotics, immu-
nomodulation techniques, and stringent
biosecurity measures. These approaches
have shown promising resuwlts in improv-
ing intestinal health and mitigating the risks
associated with gut-related disorders. The
abstract emphasizes the importance of main-
taining a healthy gut for efficient nutrient
absorption, growth, and disease resistance.
It discusses how nutritional interventions,
such as well-balanced diets and feed addi-
tives, contribute to supporting gut health.
The role of probiotics and prebiotics in foster-
ing a healthy gut microbiota and enhancing
immune function is also explored. Addition-
ally, the abstract addresses the implementa-
tion of immunomodulation techniques, such
as vaccination and immune-stimulating addi-
tives, to strengthen the immune system and
sustain gut health. It underscores the signifi-
cance of employing robust biosecurity meas-
ures, including strict hygiene practices and
thorough disease surveillance, to prevent
the introduction and spread of pathogens.
The abstract concludes by highlighting the
implications of adopting these management
solutions, including improved productivity,
welfare, and profitability in poultry farming,
as well as reduced risks of gut-related disor-
ders. Overall, these innovative approaches
provide valuable insights for poultry produc-
ers to effectively manage intestinal health,
control diseases, and maintain the well-be-
ing of their flocks.

ABSTRACT ID-22
The Integration of Smart Technologies in Indonesian Poultry

Farming
Setiawan Guntarto, PT. Sinergi Ketahanan Pangan

Chickin Indonesia
The Problem water management, resulting in cost savings

and environmental benefits. The centralized
Traditional poultry farming practices in Indo- farm management system provided data-
nesia face multifaceted challenges related to driven insights, enabling informed deci-
operational efficiency, data management, and sion-making for farmers and integrators alike.
market accessibility. These challenges hinder Additionally, integrators' offtake guarantees
the poultry industry's growth and sustaina- offered economic security to farmers, promot-
bility. Key issues encompass labor-intensive ing the broader adoption of smart farming
data gathering, resource inefficiencies, and practices.
limited market reach. Additionally, ensuring
the welfare of chickens remains a concern. Implications / Conclusions
How we investigated or researched the The integration of cutting-edge smart tech-

problem nologies into the Indonesian poultry farming
landscape offers a transformative solution to
A comprehensive assessment of the Indo- industry challenges. This approach stream-
nesian poultry sector revealed significant lines farm management, enhances data visibil-
challenges, including labor-intensive and ity, and improves animal welfare. Additionally,
error-prone manual data collection, resource it contributes to the industry's sustainable
inefficiencies, and limited market access. The development, benefiting both integrators
prevalent "kemitraan" or partnership model and farmers. The successful pilot initiatives
lacked advanced technological solutions. To demonstrate the potential for widespread
address these issues, research delved into adoption, promising increased efficiency,
emerging smart farming technologies such data-driven decision-making, and improved
as Chicken Apps, Computer Vision, and IoT economic viability for Indonesian poultry
Microcontrollers. Pilot projects were initiated farming.
in collaboration with integrators and farm-
ers, implementing Chicken Apps for stream-
lined data collection and real-time monitoring
via Computer Vision and IoT Microcontrol-
lers. This pilot facilitated comprehensive data
collection and analysis, enabling insights into
the transformative impact of technology adop-
tion.
Results
The integration of Chicken Apps enhanced

operational efficiency through automated
data collection, reducing manual labor and
errors. IoT Microcontrollers optimized
resource utilization, especially in feed and

ABSTRACT ID-38
Could an acid butyric improve the small intestinal

histomorphometry and persistency in laying hens?
Rafaela Pereira1, Thaiza Braga1, Susanne Kirwan2

1
Kemin do Brasil Ltda, Animal Nutrition and Health Division, 13279-450, Valinhos, Brazil;
2
Kemin Europa NV, Herentals, Belgium.
The Problem B. Following the peak, production declined at

the rate of 4 %/wk until 38 wk of age in both
One current challenge in egg production is flocks when egg production averaged 92,2%
the persistency of lay and the concept of the in flock A and 91,65% in flock B. Between 46
“long life” layer. Persistency is understood to and 53 wk of age, egg production increased
be associated with maintenance of intestinal at the rate of 0,52%/ wk (flock A) and 0,44%
health to sustain egg quality in increasingly (flock B) to week 53, when egg production
longer laying cycles. averaged 96,73% and 93,90% in the flock A
and B respectively.
problem The histomorphometry analysis of the intes-
tinal mucosa showed higher villus height in
This study was conducted at commercial farm, hens at 53 weeks in relation to 45 weeks for
located in the Northeast region of Brazil. Two duodenum (833 &740 µm), jejunum (795
flocks (A and B) of 40,000 laying hens White &737 µm) and ileum (768 & 679 µm). The
(Lohmann) each were analyzed from 1 to 53 crypt depth also was higher in all segments
weeks of age. The flocks had the same conditions comparing 53 weeks in relation to 45 weeks.
(facility, management, diet) in the entire period. Contrary to expectations, it was the older
The diet used was based on corn and soybean hens (53 weeks of age) supplemented with
meal without any butyric acid supplementation butyric acid which had higher villus height in
until 45 weeks. At 46 weeks of age all hens from the gut compared to the younger hens without
both flocks started to be supplemented with one butyric acid supplementation.
calcium butyrate at an inclusion of 0,03%. From
46 to 53 weeks the only change was the supple- Implications / Conclusions
mentation of butyric acid. Egg production was
recorded weekly in both flock and compared to Dietary supplementation with calcium
the standard values for egg production data of butyrate at 0,03% improved egg production
Lohman White. Sampling from each gut segment after peak of production, as well as increasing
(duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were collected duodenum, jejunum and ileum villus height
from 10 euthanized hens at 45 weeks (before in layer hens which might be associated with
the butyric acid supplementation) and 53 weeks improved lumen health.
(8 weeks after butyric acid supplementation)
to determine the histomorphometry gut (villus
height and crypt depth). The data analysis was a
quantitative comparation between each param-
eter (before and after of butyric acid supplemen-
tation).
Results
Average of peak egg production was 96% at

30 wk of age in flock A and 95,63% in flock

ABSTRACT ID-46
Bacillus subtilis PB6-Unique tool to manage gut health in broilers
Venket M Shelke, Partha Das, R Chanthirasekaran, Chandrasekar S

Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, 600058, India
The Problem Results
Broiler performance is directly correlated The results of this study showed that the over-
with intestinal health. Deviation in intes- all average dysbacteriosis score was 0.89,
tinal health will lead to common enteric and in CLOSTAT™ users the score was 0.85.
issues like Bacterial Enteritis (BE), Necrotic This was significantly lower than that of the
Enteritis (NE), and Coccidiosis. Antibiotic non-CLOSTAT™ users (0.96).
Growth Promoters (AGPs) are used as
economically viable options to maintain gut Implications / Conclusions.
health. However, continuous usage of these
AGPs resulted in resistance of pathogens The overall findings of the study indicated
to antibiotics, accumulation of antibiotic that across the South Asia broiler market, the
residues in meat and meat products, and incidences of coccidiosis and dysbacteriosis
reduced broiler performance. This resulted were there irrespective of season. During this
in a ban or restriction on the usage of AGPs study, we found that CLOSTAT™ users were
in many countries in the world. With the ban able to maintain better intestinal health than
on AGPs in many countries, dysbacteriosis non-users during the year 2022. The Study
and NE started showing up at an increased concluded that CLOSTAT™ having a unique
level. NE is one of the most prevalent intes- Bacillus subtilis PB6 strain is a reliable and
tinal health issues, especially in its subclin- sustainable solution for managing dysbac-
ical form causing huge losses to the broiler teriosis even in challenging situations like
industry. Annual losses due to high mortal- coccidiosis, non-conventional raw material
ity and poor performance caused by NE have pressure, overuse of AGPS and AGP bans. So
been estimated to be over USD 4 billion. CLOSTAT™, being an active microbial contain-
ing Bacillus subtilis PB6, can maintain intesti-
How we investigated or researched the nal health by not only its direct killing action
problem on Clostrium & and perfrengens but also by
maintaining the harmony of intestinal micro-
As an effective tool to manage this intestinal biota & and CLOSTAT™can be used as a unique
health issue, Kemin came up with the novel tool to maintain the gut health, as a complete
probiotic Bacillus subtilis PB6 (CLOSTAT™). replacement for AGPs or with AGPs with its
Intestinal Health Management by Kemin subtherapeutic dosage by poultry producers.
comprises surveillance by the technical
team by conducting periodical lesion scor-
ing and demonstrating the efficacy and
consistency of CLOSTAT ™ throughout the
year in different seasons in the cases of
dysbacteriosis and NE. The present study
compared the efficacy of CLOSTATTM during
the year 2022 in South Asian countries
(India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh)
with a focus on broiler chickens aged 15 to
45 days.

ABSTRACT ID-63
Evaluation of the effect of different methods of application of a

coccidiosis vaccine on performance and oocyst excretion in
commercial white layers.
M. De-Soler1, M. Pagès1, M. Baratelli1, J. Molist2, S. De-Castro2, M. Dardi2, G. Bouwhuis3

1
Hipra Scientific, S.L.U., Amer, Girona, Spain
2
Laboratorios Hipra S.A., Amer, Spain
3
Poultry Research & Innovation Center BV, Emmen, the Netherlands
The Problem peak on day 14 followed a similar pattern. On

day 21, a third peak was detected, in which
The aim of the study was to test the effect the coarse spray group exhibited the high-
of different methods of application of a live est counts, followed by the on-feed group,
attenuated coccidiosis vaccine on perfor- and lastly, the eye drop group. Moreover, the
mance and oocyst excretion in pullets. average OPG during days 5-10 (represent-
ing the vaccine uptake after each application
How we investigated or researched the method) and the average OPG during days
problem 14-28 (reflecting the uptake of oocysts from
the faeces) was also calculated. As a result,
90 day-old pullets of the Lohman LSL Clas- the eye drop application method appears to
sic White breed were allocated into 3 groups have the highest vaccine uptake, resulting in
of 30 animals each. These groups received lower oocyst excretion in the second phase,
a coccidiosis vaccine for long-life birds, while the coarse spray and on-feed methods
EVALON® (HIPRA S.A.), on the first day of life showed a lower vaccine uptake and higher
using three different methods: coarse spray oocyst excretion in the second phase.
(Group A), eye drop (Group B), and on-feed
application (Group C). The birds were housed Implications / Conclusions
in pens with wood shavings. During the
28-day study period, the productive perfor- In summary, all the treatments exhibited
mance was evaluated by assessing body consistent patterns of oocyst excretion, show-
weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake ing peaks at day 21 followed by a decline.
and feed conversion rate during four peri- This consistency confirms comparable levels
ods: days 0-7, days 7-14, days 14-21 and days of replication of the live attenuated vaccine
21-28. Additionally, oocyst counts per gram achieved through the three different adminis-
(OPG) were determined using fresh faeces on tration methods without affecting the growth
various days throughout the study. performance of the birds.
Results
No significant differences in body weight, daily

weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion
rate were observed between the three groups.
Regarding oocyst counts in fresh faeces, all the
groups exhibited a peak in oocyst excretion on
day 7 of the study, with the eye drop method
showing the highest counts, followed by the
coarse spray method, and the on-feed method
displaying the lowest counts. A subsequent

ABSTRACT ID-75
Supplementing broilers with 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 of

fermentative origin in the first two weeks of life reduces the risk
of skeletal issues
Wouter Van der Veken, Veerle Hautekiet & Wim Schelstraete

Huvepharma® NV, Uitbreidingstraat 80, 2600 Berchem, Belgium
The Problem top of the standard premix including vitamin

D3. The remaining 1255 flocks did not receive
Skeletal diseases, such as tibial dyschondro- any additional vitamin D metabolite on top
plasia (TD) and rickets, are still prevalent in of the premix. Similarly, the rickets analysis
broiler production. TD can account for up to was based on a total of 5703 broiler flocks,
30% of all bone diseases in poultry, some- with 4605 flocks supplemented with 25(OH)
times resulting in up to 10% mortality. Simi- D3 versus 1098 control flocks.
larly, rickets are associated with hindered
skeletal development as well as limb weak- Animals from all groups were evaluated for
ness, leading to an increase in lameness and the presence of TD and rickets during stan-
other related issues. This is especially the case dard scoring sessions, spread out over the
for rapidly growing animals such as broilers, full production cycle. Data was uploaded to
with a clear link to disturbances in the vitamin Aviapp® and analysed based on odds ratios,
D levels in the first weeks of life as contribut- adjusted for age of the flock as well as the
ing factors. The importance of reducing these supplementation of 25(OH)D3. Significance
challenges in modern poultry production was set on a value of P<0.05.
is clear. At the same time, it highlights why
good vitamin D supplementation in the diet Results
is crucial. There are several dietary vitamin
D forms and metabolites which could be used Inclusion of 25(OH)D3 during at least the first
in animal diets, although there are noticeable 14 days of life significantly reduced the TD and
differences in bioavailability, toxicity risks and rickets prevalence, showing an overall odds
practical considerations (Biehl et al., 1998). ratio of respectively 1.86 and 2.45 (P<0.001).
From the available metabolites, 25-hydroxy This odds ratio indicates that compared to no
vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) stands out (Borel et 25(OH)D3 supplementation, adding 25(OH)
al., 2015; Świątkiewicz et al., 2016; Fritts and D3 from fermentative origin to the diet for at
Waldroup, 2003). least the first 14 days of life translates to a
significantly reduced risk of TD and rickets of
How we investigated or researched the around 50%.
problem
A statistical analysis was carried out with
the help of Aviapp®, Huvepharma®’s broiler Bio D® significantly reduced the risk of tibial
health platform. The information used in the dyschondroplasia and rickets in broilers
analysis originated in the United States and when added to the diet for the first 14 days
was shared anonymously by the platform’s of life. The vitamin D metabolite thus helps to
users. In the TD prevalence analysis, a total manage the challenges related to proper skel-
of 6418 broiler flocks were analysed: 5163 etal development, as it remains an important
of these had been supplemented with Bio topic in modern poultry production.
D® (25(OH)D3 source of fermentative origin,
Huvepharma®) in the first 14 days of life, on

ABSTRACT ID-84
Impact of ENTEROSURETM Dietary Inclusion on Broiler Chickens

with Alternative Feed Ingredients
Han Lee1, Apichaya Taechavasonyoo1, Grant Chuan Hao Tan1, Rafael Hermes1, Jun Young Mun2, Jin Soo Kim2
1
Kemin Industries (Asia) Pte Ltd, Singapore; 2Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea
The Problem bility, accompanied by distinct changes in gut

microbiota with probiotics Probiotic supple-
Broiler chicken growth, health, and perfor- mentation in alternative raw material diets
mance are intricately linked to dietary tran- (CAC and CAA) increased overall weight gain,
sitions, especially with alternative feed but higher feed conversion ratios were noted
ingredients. Traditional feed ingredients face in CAA with probiotics. The microbial dynam-
challenges related to sustainability and esca- ics within the gut showcased compelling shifts
lating costs, prompting exploration of alterna- in population structures. The introduction of
tive materials. The potential negative impacts probiotics was associated with a beneficial
of these changes on nutrient utilization, bird increase in Lactobacillaceae and Lactobacillus
performance, and health, particularly through populations. Conversely, there were reduc-
alterations in gut microbiota, necessitate tions in Streptococcaceae and Staphylococcus.
effective strategies. This microbial modulation indicated a posi-
tive impact on the gut microbiota, potentially
How we investigated or researched the influencing nutrient absorption, immune
problem response regulation, and pathogen exclusion.
Furthermore, the supplementation of probi-
We conducted a comprehensive study involv- otics consistently maintained gut microbiota
ing 240 Ross 308 day-old chickens randomly diversity across all diet types. This stability
assigned to six experimental conditions in was particularly evident in the elevated pres-
a 3×2 factorial design. Three diet variants ence of Lactobacillus, a beneficial bacterium
(corn-soy starter, grower, and finisher, CCC; known for its role in supporting gut health.
corn-soy starter, alternative feed ingredients These positive effects were sustained from
grower and corn-soy finisher, CAC; corn-soy day 21 to day 35, indicating a lasting impact
starter, alternative feed ingredients grower of probiotic supplementation on the microbial
and finisher, CAA) and two probiotic supple- community within the chicken gut.
mentation levels (0% and 0.05% ENTERO-
SURETM) were considered. We assessed the Implications / Conclusions
influence of diet quality and probiotic supple-
mentation on growth performance, nutrient Our findings emphasize the synergistic
digestibility, and gut microbiota composition. benefits of conventional diets and probi-
Various parameters, including weight gain, otic supplementation in optimizing broiler
feed conversion ratios, and microbiota popu- chicken performance and gut health. The stra-
lation dynamics, were evaluated. tegic combination mitigates potential nega-
tive impacts of ingredient changes, ensuring
Results beneficial gut microbiota and optimal bird
performance. This study holds substantial
The study revealed notable insights into the implications for poultry health management,
interaction of dietary variants and probiotic offering valuable insights for sustainable and
supplementation in broiler chicken nutri- effective poultry nutrition strategies.
tion. Traditional corn-soy diets (CCC) showed
improved weight gain and nutrient digesti-

ABSTRACT ID-85
The potential for improving egg quality and tibia characteristics

via microbiome changes in laying hens
Hans Lee1, Justin Tan1, Raquel Rodriguez Sanchez2, Natasja Smeets2, Susanne Kirwan2, Jung Min Heo3, Elijah
Ogola Oketch3
1
Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health, Asia Pacific
2
3
Chungnam National University
The Problem intake, FCR, egg weight, egg mass, egg loss
percentage. Egg quality (eggshell thickness
Formulating layer diet is a continuous strug- and strength, Haugh units, yolk and shell color,
gle to supply sufficient calcium for shells, yolk cholesterol, yolk and albumen weight)
while maintaining the health of the birds and was assessed on days 42, 70 and 98 of the
achieving favorable protein digestion. This study for 30 eggs/replicate. At the end of the
challenge has become more severe due to the experimental period (12 weeks), 6 birds per
genetic progress towards higher laying rates treatment were randomly selected and sacri-
and longer life cycles. Due to this challenge, ficed for tibia and cecal microbiota composi-
practitioners are exploring tools to improve tion analyses.
mineral uptake and subsequently egg-shell
quality without diminishing bone minerali- Results
zation. Changes in the microbiome may have
potential to promote better use of calcium, Results showed marginal improvements in
thus a probiotic could be a plausible applica- egg weight and feed intake were observed at
tion in feeding high-yielding hens. specific time points with probiotic supple-
mentation. However, overall laying perfor-
How we investigated or researched the mance remained largely unaffected by
problem probiotic inclusion. Egg quality analyses
revealed significant improvements in break-
This 12-week trial investigated the effect of a ing strength, shell color, thickness, albumen
novel probiotic mixture on the performance, height, Haugh units, and yolk color with probi-
egg quality, tibia characteristics, and intesti- otic inclusion, particularly on day 42 and
nal microbiota of 216 commercial laying hens. 98. Tibia traits, including calcium content,
The laying hens, aged 23 weeks at the start weights, and density, showed significant
of the experiment, were subjected to three improvements with probiotic supplementa-
dietary treatments: a standard control diet tion. In addition, cecal microbiota analysis
without supplementation, the standard diet indicated higher Bifidobacteria and Lactoba-
with the recommended probiotic inclusion cilli populations with probiotic feeding.
level (Bacillus spp. ATCC PTA-6737, ATCC
PTA-127114, ATCC PTA-127113, ENTERO- Implications / Conclusions
SURETM; 3x108 CFU/kg of feed; 500 g/t), and
the standard diet with a high dose of the The study indicates the potential of the probi-
probiotic (3x109 CFU/kg of feed; 5 kg/t). A otic in enhancing egg quality and promot-
total of 36 cages, with 6 birds per cage (the ing beneficial intestinal microbiota, mineral
experimental unit) was used. The study absorption, and bone mineralization in laying
encompassed a two-week adaptation period, hens.
and a twelve-week experimental period.
Performance parameters were reported and
calculated biweekly: egg production rate, feed

CONTROL SOLUTIONS
TO GUT HEALTH
Oral presentations
ABSTRACT ID-08
Improvement of gut health and performance in poultry with a

solution of fatty acid esters
Clarisse Techer and Julie Castier

Mixscience
The Problem challenges (LPS). In vivo trial was performed

on a necrotic enteritis (NE) model on broil-
In poultry, Fatty Acid Esters (FAE)- based solu- ers, comparing 4 groups with 110 animals
tions can contribute to gut health in different per group: Control (infected untreated), Posi-
ways such as their antimicrobial effects, their tive Control (infected treated with antibiotic
ability to maintain a healthy balance of bacte- (ATB)), 2 groups with low and high dosage (1
ria in the gut or to promote the gut maturation and 5 Kg/T) of Lumigard Most supplemen-
and integrity, the modulation of the immune tation.
system and the prevention of inflammation.
However, according to the type of FAE, i.e their Results
carbon lengths and their forms (mono, di or
triglycerides), different modes of actions can When evaluating the antimicrobial effect of
be predominant in the gut, with thus, variable the blend of FAE, it appeared particularly effi-
effects on animal health and performance. It is cient against Gram positive bacteria, with
also essential to confirm the expected activi- MICs values ranged from 32 ppm for Clostrid-
ties through different in vitro or in vivo models. ium perfringens to 250 ppm for Staphylococ-
The present data give an overview of comple- cus aureus. The adhesion tests, performed
mentary effects of an association of mono- to evaluate the ability of FAE to inhibit the
glycerides of short and medium chain fatty colonization of pathogens on epithelial cells,
acids through their antimicrobial and anti-in- showed reduction of adhesion from 43% to
flammatory activities in vitro and their in vivo 89% according to the tested strains. Concern-
effects in the microbiota, intestinal morphol- ing FAE activities on inflammation medi-
ogy and performance of broilers. ators in vitro, a significant decrease of IL-8
and TNF-α was observed. IL-8 and TNF-α
How we investigated or researched the reductions varied, respectively, from 32% to
problem 74% and from 51% to 99% according to the
dosage of FAE tested. In vivo trial confirmed
Antimicrobial activity of a unique blend of the positive effects on the FAE blend on path-
short and medium chain fatty acids monoglyc- ogens such as Clostridium perfringens. Indeed,
erides (Lumigard Most, Mixscience, France) microbiota relative abundance of Clostrid-
has been evaluated, using Minimum Inhibi- ium was reduced by an average of 30% and
tory Concentrations (MICs) and competitive/ 50% in fatty acid esters groups, respectively,
exclusion adhesion tests. MICs determina- compared to control.
tion was performed toward different Gram
positive and Gram negative bacteria. Adhe-
sion tests were evaluated on HT-29 intestinal
epithelial with different FAE dosages (from
0.3 to 3 g/L), toward Gram negative bacteria.
The effects of FAE on pro-inflammatory medi-
ators (IL-8 and TNF-α) were tested at 0.3, 0.6
and 1 g/L, on cells culture models (HT-29 and
THP-1) after bacterial (E. coli) and endotoxins (Continued on the next page)
CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH 181

ABSTRACT ID-08
In concert with the antimicrobial effect and

their ability to balance the microbiota with
the maintaining of the beneficial microflora,
inclusion of FAE has shown direct effects on
the histomorphology of the gut by increasing
the villus length by 14% in low dosage group
compared to negative control group and
improvement of growth performance (-0.02
to -0.04 pts of cFCR compared to the controls).
The use of a combination of fatty acid esters

showed different complementary mode of
action in vitro and in vivo. This specific blend
of FAE (Lumigard Most) appeared useful in
preventing and mitigating microbial disease
in animal production and represents, thus, a
relevant alternative to antibiotics use.
182 CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH

ABSTRACT ID-17
Decoding Betaine: Exploring Intestinal Barrier Interaction in

Broiler Chicken
Ana Gavrău1, Michael Hess2, Wageha Awad2

1
Agrana Sales & Marketing GmbH, Vienna, Austria
2
Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of
Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
The Problem use. For normalization, RPL-13 (ribosomal

protein L-13) and TBP (TATA box binding
The intestinal epithelium acts as a barrier that protein) were used as reference genes since
limits the interaction between luminal contents, they gave very low expression variation in
such as gut bacteria, the underlying immune both jejunum and cecum. For the paracellular
system, and internal organs. The dietary compo- permeability Ussing chamber measurements
nents can directly affect this interface. Betaine were performed.
is a component of poultry diets and has posi-
tive effects on their digestion, integrity of cell Results
membrane and overall performance of the birds.
However, the specific mechanism regarding The initial BW of the chickens did not differ (P
how betaine improves the intestinal integrity > 0.05) between the groups. At the end of the
remains elusive. In addition, there are differ- experiment (d 35), there were no significant
ent sources of betaine such as natural betaine, difference between control birds and birds
extracted from natural sources- sugar beet supplemented with betaine-HCL. However, the
molasses and synthetic betaine like anhydrous body weight and weight gain were significantly
betaine or betaine-HCl. Therefore, our aim was (P < 0.05) increased by the dietary inclusion
to identify the effect of betaine supplementa- of n-betaine compared with other treatments.
tion (natural and betaine-HCL) on gut integrity It was found also that an increased paracellu-
and permeability in broiler chickens by Ussing lar permeability in birds supplemented with
chamber measurements, and the immune syn-betaine-HCL, measured by the Ussing cham-
response. ber, was associated with a down-regulation of
the claudin-5 and zonulO-1 mRNA expression in
How we investigated or researched the the small and large intestine. Moreover, syn-be-
problem taine-HCL supplementation also resulted in
down-regulation of TLR-4 in cecum, suggesting
Hundred and five 1-day-old broiler chicks that the greater intestinal permeability may be
were randomly assigned into three groups (35 a TLR-4-dependent process. In addition, syn-Be-
birds/group): control, natural (n-)betaine (1 taine-HCL supplementation resulted in up-reg-
kg of active Betaine/ton of feed) and synthetic ulation of INF-γ, which plays an important role
(syn-)betaine‐HCL (1 kg active Betaine /ton in intestinal barrier dysfunction. On the contrary,
of feed). Body weight (BW) was determined n-betaine supplementation resulted in up-regu-
at first day of life and then every week until lation of OCLD, which may play a role in improv-
35 days of age. At 21, 28 and 35 days of age, ing TJ barrier function. Moreover, the expression
five birds from each group were euthanized of IFN-γ in jejunum was significantly downregu-
by injection of thiopental (20 mg/kg) into lated at 21 d of age in birds supplemented with
the wing vein and by bleeding of the jugular n-betaine.
vein for necropsy and sampling. For RT-qPCR,
samples from jejunum and cecum were taken,
washed with ice-cold buffered saline, placed
in RNA later and stored at −80 °C until further (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-17
The results demonstrate the complex relation-

ship between dietary supplementation and
intestinal barrier function. Besides, the results
indicate that the dysregulation of TLR -4 and
INF-γ in syn-betaine-HCL supplemented birds
may lead to alterations in the gut permeability.
The findings revealed also that n-betaine had
the potential to modulate the expression of
certain TLRs and consequently enhance the
immune response in chickens. In conclusion,
n-betaine can promote the intestinal health
by supporting intestinal integrity and modu-
lating microbial fermentation, as it serves as
a methyl donor and a direct substrate for gut
microbes.

ABSTRACT ID-64
Supplementation of a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from

marine algae positively influences performance and gut integrity
of broilers during a necrotic enteritis challenge
Maria Garcia Suarez2, Candice E.C. Blue, Maria Rodriguez2 and Rami A. Dalloul1
1
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
2
Olmix SA, Z.A. du Haut Du Bois, 56580 Bréhan, France
The Problem Results
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a complex poul- Overall, PC, AGS, and AGH had significantly
try disease caused by the Gram-positive, lower mortality, ADFI, and FCR, and greater
spore-forming, opportunistic pathogen ADG compared to NC. Additionally, PC, AGS,
Clostridium perfringens. In poultry production, and AGH significantly reduced NE lesions
losses can be attributed to reduced perfor- compared to the NC group on d 21. There were
mance and higher mortality rates. no significant differences in mRNA abundance
of CLDN1, CLDN3, ZO2, and OCLDN on d 21
How we investigated or researched the among all treatments. However, on d 42, AGS
problem and AGH showed greater mRNA abundance of
CLDN1, ZO1, and ZO2 (P < 0.05) compared to
This study employed an experimental NE NC and PC groups.
model involving co-infection with Eimeria
maxima (day [d] 14) and C. perfringens (d 19) Implications / Conclusions
to assess the effectiveness of a sulfate poly-
saccharide extracted from marine algae in Collectively, the enhancements in perfor-
mitigating the adverse effects of NE in broil- mance, reduction in lesion scores, and
ers. A total of 600 d-old Ross 708 male broil- increased post-infection expression of tight
ers were randomly assigned to one of four junction protein mRNA demonstrate the
treatment groups: NC (negative control, fed a potential of this marine algae-derived dietary
corn-soybean meal diet); PC (positive control, supplement as an effective alternative to anti-
fed NC + 15 ppm Avilamycin and 125 ppm biotic growth promoters. This approach has
Amprolium); AGS (Algoguard Standard, fed the potential to alleviate the negative impacts
NC + Algoguard added at 0.1% of the diet); of the disease yet further investigations into
and AGH (Algoguard High, fed NC + Algoguard its mode of action under various enteric chal-
added at 0.2% of the diet). Average daily feed lenges are warranted.
intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and
feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated
and adjusted for daily mortality. On d 21, the
jejunum and ileum of four birds per pen were
examined for NE lesions. On d 14, 21, and 42,
jejunum samples from one bird per pen were
collected to measure mRNA abundance of
claudins (CLDN) 1 and 3, zonula occludens
(ZO) 1 and 2, and occludin (OCLDN). Data
were analyzed using JMP, and significance
between treatments was identified by LSD (P
≤ 0.05).

ABSTRACT ID-94
Growth performance and intestinal health improvements in

broiler chickens receiving a bacterial xylanase and undergoing an
intestinal challenge
Christelle Boudry1, Mariana Lemos de Moraes2, Marcia de Souza Vieira2, Heitor Vieira Rios2, Yuri Katagiri
Dalmoro3, Ludovic Lahaye2, Thais Bastos Stefanello3, Danielle Marie Estacio2, Catarina Stefanello3
1
Belfeed, Andenne, Belgium
2
Jefo Nutrition Inc., Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
3
Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
The Problem were compared by Fisher test and non-par-

ametric data was submitted to Kruskal-Wal-
Besides being used in animal diets to improve lis followed by Dunn test at 5% and 10% of
nutrient digestibility, bacterial xylanases significance.
release arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS)
in the digestive tract that can be used by the Results
beneficial microbiota. Although there are
studies showing the beneficial effect of the At d42, ER+XYL treatment presented 5%
bacterial xylanase on the intestinal microbi- higher (P<0.05) BWG and 4.1% lower
ota, not much attention has been given to its (P<0.10) FCR compared to those from ER and
effects on gut health. showed similar performance to CT. Birds from
ER+XYL presented higher (P<0.05) IDE and
How we investigated or researched the DM at 21d when compared to ER, not differing
problem from CT. At 42 d, ER+XYL presented the high-
est (P<0.05) DM among treatments and higher
900 one-d-old chicks were allocated to 3 treat- (P<0.10) IDE and CP than ER, not differing
ments (10 replicates each) for 42d. Diets were from CT. The lowest (P<0.05) FITC-d level was
corn-soy-based and treatments were: CT: observed for the ER+XYL, showing a lower
Control (standard diet); ER: energy reduced intestinal permeability. Concentrations of the
diet; and ER+XYL: ER + 100 g/t of a bacterial SCFA were greater (P<0.05) at 21d for ER+XYL
xylanase. Metabolizable energy reductions and CT compared to ER. At 42d, propionic
of ER diets were based on the arabinoxylan acid was greater (P<0.10) for CT and ER+XYL
content: 80, 82, 87, 92 kcal/kg for pre-starter, compared to ER. A higher SCFA concentration
starter, grower, and finisher, respectively. can be related to a better intestinal health,
Birds were challenged with Eimeria spp. at which is corroborated by a numerical lower
d1 and with Clostridium perfringens (108CFU/ ISI score for the ER+XYL group (P>0.10) at
bird) at d12, 13, 14. Feed intake (FI), body the macroscopic level (12.9, 14.5, and 15.6 for
weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion (FCR) ER+XYL, ER, and CT respectively).
were evaluated. At 17d, one bird/pen received
fluorescein-isothiocyanate dextran (FITC- Implications / Conclusions
d) orally and blood samples were collected.
Ileal digestible energy (IDE), ileal digesti- In conclusion, the bacterial xylanase was able
bility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein to compensate the effects of energy reduc-
(CP), and concentrations of short chain fatty tion on energy utilization, nutrient digesti-
acids (SCFA) were evaluated at d21 and 42 bility, and growth performance. Additionally,
using 4 birds/pen. I See Inside methodology the enzyme promoted better intestinal health
was applied on d21 using 20 birds/treat- (lower gut permeability) which can be
ment to evaluate intestinal lesions. Paramet- explained by the fermentation of AXOS.
ric data was submitted to ANOVA and means

ABSTRACT ID-95
Reversing antibiotic sensitivity. Development of a challenge

model against β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli
Rosa Franco-Rosselló1, Ana I. García-Ruiz1 and Alfredo Corujo-Fernández2

1
Trouw Nutrition R&D, Trouw Nutrition, CM-4004, km 10.5, 45950 Casarrubios del Monte, Toledo, Spain.
2
Trouw Nutrition Masterlab, Ronda de Poniente, 9, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.
The Problem chicks (seeders) per pen were orally inoculated

in the crop with 200 μl (102 cfu E. coli) contain-
Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health ing a mixture of two strains of ESBL-producing
concern, and the World Health Organization E. coli. Colonization was assessed by cloacal
has considered beta-lactamase-producing swabs at 11 and 30 days (n=96; chromID®ESBL).
gram-negative bacteria among the world’s most Growth performance was measured at the end
serious or critical threats. The extended-spec- of each feeding phase.
trum β-lactamase (ESBL), continuously detected
in Enterobacteriaceae, including Escherichia coli, Results
provides antibiotic resistance by breaking the
β-lactam ring through hydrolysis. The β-lactam In terms of the prevalence of ESBL E. coli, there
ring inhibits bacteria growth and is found in was no overall treatment effect when considering
β-lactam antibiotics, commonly used for treat- the two ages (11 and 30 days; P>0.05). However, a
ment and prevention of bacterial infections. treatment × age interaction was observed (P<0.05).
Moreover, E. coli, reported in highest prevalences No differences between treatments were found at
in broiler chickens, can spread these antimicro- 11 days (P>0.05). Conversely, at 30 days, a reduc-
bial resistance genes to humans via horizontal tion in the percentage of positive cases was noted
gene transfer. The current study aimed to test in chicks fed the additive treatment compared
the effectiveness of a microencapsulated feed to the control group (56% to 42% vs. 64% to
additive that combine the synergistic proper- 25%; P<0.05). Except during the grower phase
ties of essential oils (thymol and eugenol) with (10-28 days), no differences in performance were
short-chain esterified butyric acid. The goal was observed (P>0.05). During the grower phase,
to reduce the excretion of ESBL-producing E. coli chicks fed the additive group showed improve-
in broiler chickens, with the aim of decreasing ment (P<0.05) in BW, DWG, and DFI compared
the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in the to the control group. The additive also enhanced
environment. (P<0.05) DFI, and there was a tendency to improve
(P<0.10) FCR compared to the control group
How we investigated or researched the throughout the entire cycle (0-42 days).
problem
A total of 456 male day-old Ross 308 chicks,
confirmed as ESBL negative, were distributed In summary, the study tested a feed addi-
among 24 pens (19 birds/pen) and randomly tive against ESBL-producing E. coli in broiler
assigned to two dietary treatments: 1) a control chickens. While no effect was seen at 11
group fed a commercial diet without additives, days, a significant reduction occurred at 30d.
and 2) an additive group fed a commercial diet Improved growth performance was observed
supplemented with 0.30 kg/metric tonne of during the grower phase. Currently, higher
a feed additive containing essential oils and dosage testing is underway, aiming to enhance
short-chain esterified butyric acid throughout the additive's efficacy in reducing ESBL preva-
the entire 42-day growth period. All animals lence and promoting broiler growth. Further
followed a three-phase feeding program (0-10d, research is needed to validate its practical
10-28d, and 28-42d). On the third day of life, four application.

ABSTRACT ID-107
Essential oil and probiotic combination: A gut health powerhouse

tackling subclinical dysbiosis
Amir E. Ghane, Fajrin Sidiq, Kirsty Gibbs, Sasha A.S. van der Klein
Danisco Animal Nutrition & Health, IFF, Willem Einthovenstraat 4, 2342 BG, Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
The Problem sition at d 24. Statistical analysis used ANOVA

with treatment as a fixed effect and Tukey’s
Subclinical intestinal dysbiosis in broilers is adjustment for means separation, differences
a growing issue, yet providing solutions can reported as significant with P < 0.05 and
be challenging due to the multifactorial back- considered trends with 0.05 < P < 0.10.
ground of the disorder. This study elucidated
the combined effects of an essential oil blend Results
and a water applied probiotic in broilers.
Final d 42 BW was reduced in the CC
How we investigated or researched the compared to the UC by 6.1%, and increased in
problem the EO, PRO, and EO+PRO by 4.3%, 2.7%, and
5.4% compared to the CC, where the EO+PRO
Treatments were an unchallenged control treatment was not significantly differing
(UC), a dysbiosis challenged control (CC), a CC from the UC treatment. Overall mortality
with dietary inclusion of 100g/T of an essen- tended to be reduced in the EO+PRO treat-
tial oil blend to provide 4.5 g/kg cinnamal- ment (3.0%) compared to the CC (7.7%).
dehyde and 13.5 g/kg thymol (EO), a CC At d 24, ileal CP were significantly reduced
with daily applied dual probiotic adminis- from 1.58E5 in the CC to 2.14E4, 2.69E4, and
tered via the waterline containing Lactoba- 2.19E4 CFU/g and cecal E. coli was decreased
cillus acidophilus AG01 and Bifidobacterium from 1.12E7 to 3.47E6, 4.79E6, and 1.62E6
animalis subsp. Lactis AG02 to provide 1E8 CFU/g in the EO, PRO, and EO+PRO treatments
CFU/bird/day (PRO) and a combination the respectively. Microbial lactic acid produc-
latter two treatments (EO+PRO). The chal- tion was decreased in the CC (2.55 mmol/
lenge included a predisposition of Escheri- kg) compared to UC (4.27 mmol/kg), and the
chia coli at d 7 of 1E8 CFU/bird, an Eimeria EO, PRO, and EO+PRO treatments restored
challenge at d 15 of 4000 oocysts/bird each values to 4.55, 4.01, 7.08 mmol/kg respec-
of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina, and tively. Immunological parameters showed a
1E9 CFU/bird of Clostridium perfringens (CP; host-level response, as circulatory AAGP at d
netB+ strain) at d 18-20 administered via oral 42 was increased by the challenge from 349
gavage. Three-phase corn/soy- based diets in the UC to 443 mg/L in the CC and reduced
were fed ad lib. The 12 pens per treatment had to 294, 297, and 289 mg/ml in the EO, PRO,
clean wood shavings with 25 Ross 308 birds and EO+PRO treatments, respectively. SIgA
each. Performance (bodyweight, feed intake, increased by 10, 16, and 41% compared to
feed conversion ratio and mortality) was the CC in the EO, PRO, and EO+PRO treatments
recorded by dietary phase and up to d 42. On respectively, indicating intestinal immuno-
d 24 and d 42, ileal and cecal content samples logical defense was enhanced by individual
were used for enumeration of Lactobacillus, products and suggested a synergistic effect
CP, and E. coli. Serum samples were analyzed when combined.
for the acute phase protein alpha-1-acid-gly-
coprotein (AAGP), and ileal mucosal scrapings
were analyzed for sIgA. Cecal samples were
analyzed for volatile fatty acid (VFA) compo- (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-107
The combination of a dietary essential oil

blend and a dual water applied probiotic can
mitigate the effects of a dysbiosis challenge,
restoring broiler performance, modulating
the intestinal microbiome, enhancing intes-
tinal defense, and reducing signs of systemic
inflammation. The combination can be an
important tool in the growing challenge to
resolve dysbiosis in broilers.

CONTROL SOLUTIONS
TO GUT HEALTH
Pitch presentations
ABSTRACT ID-12
Improving Productivity and Resilience to Enteric Stress of Laying

Hens in Demanding Commercial Environments via Precision
Glycan Supplementation
F. Petranyi1,2, Y. Bajagai1, D. Stanley1

University of Central Queensland - Australia.
1
Dsm-Firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health.

2
The Problem and had a lower feed conversion (FCR) with a

reduction of 9 FCR points per feed kg/dozen
In animal husbandry's ever-evolving domain, eggs and 15 FCR points per feed kg/egg kg (FCR;
persistent challenges concerning disease P<0.0001). Ileum histology had a significantly
control, maintaining animal welfare standards, higher count of goblet cells in PB (P=0.005).
and the requirement to adhere to antibiot- Gut scoring showed significantly higher dysbi-
ic-free criteria prevail. A fundamental deter- osis in CT (P=0.001); CT had higher undigested
minant of poultry health and performance lies feed and compromised gut integrity. Lactoba-
in the proficient management of gut micro- cillus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Campylobacter
biota. Incorporating precision glycans as exhibited noteworthy alterations. Lactobacillus
dietary supplements introduces a promising consistently exhibited a higher presence in PB at
tool for this intricate scenario. These glycans 28 weeks across all gut sections. Campylobacter
play a critical role in fortifying gut health and exhibited low occurrences except in CT ileum
immune response, potentially reducing reli- content and mucosa, with a higher presence.
ance on antibiotics. Escherichia-Shigella showed a higher presence
in CT ileum content and cloacal swabs during
How we investigated or researched the early and mid-lay. Late lay exhibited a higher
problem abundance in PB cloacal swabs than in CT.
40.000 commercial free-range egg pullets, Implications / Conclusions

originating from a singular rearing shed, were
utilized to ensure trial reliability. Each shed Precision glycans impact the microbiota in
segment was equipped with independent silos commercial layer hens, enhancing their over-
and feed lines. Two groups were established: all performance. Improvements in key perfor-
glycan treatment (PB) and control group (CT). mance indicators could be accredited to an
Three sampling intervals were established at augmented gastrointestinal tract functional-
28 weeks (early lay), 50 weeks (mid-lay), and ity supported by relevant observations. Upon
72 weeks (late lay) of age. Forty birds were examining the 28-week results, distinctions
analysed for microbiota DNA analysis at differ- emerged between PB and CT. PB had a prev-
ent gut sections. Gut health was assessed accord- alence of lactic acid bacteria commonly asso-
ing to the De Gussem method to compliment ciated with probiotics. In contrast, CT had a
ileum histology. Performance metrics were prevalence of potential pathogenic groups,
recorded daily, including mortality, feed conver- such as Escherichia-Shigella and Campylo-
sion, egg quality, and egg production. bacter. These indicate that precision glycans
contribute to developing more resilient birds.
Results Nevertheless, further research is essential to
expand the comprehension of the underlying
PB had superior performance compared to mechanisms of precision glycans in poultry
CT: lower cumulative mortality (P<0.0001), production, thereby ensuring sustainable and
yielded 3.55 more hen-housed eggs (P<0.0001) efficient outcomes.

ABSTRACT ID-35
Garlic and cinnamon feed additive improves layers’ performance

during a roundworm natural challenge
Montagnon, A.1, Brink, M.1, Serrano, J.1, Vandendriessche, V.1

1
Orffa Additives B.V., Breda, The Netherlands
The Problem Return on investment (ROI) was calculated by

dividing the egg selling price (1.37 USD/dozen
Ascaridia galli, also called roundworm, is a eggs) by the feeding cost. Ten fresh fecal samples
gastrointestinal parasite often found in free- per barn were collected every 21-25 days, to
range layers. Since the 2012 ban of battery investigate the presence of eggs and worms.
cages in the European Union, the preva-
lence of infections increased. The presence Results
of roundworms can negatively affect nutri-
ents’ digestibility and absorption. Co-infec- For barns G2A and G2B (antiparasitic drug
tions (e.g. with Eimeria) can appear, leading treatment), no statistical differences between
to depressed bodyweight and mortalities. The the trial and historical egg production (P=0.478
control of roundworms is difficult as the eggs and P=0.508, respectively) was shown. However,
are resistant to anthelmintics and survive for for the barns receiving the garlic and cinnamon
long periods in the environment. The aim of blend, a significant increase of the weekly egg
this study was to assess the effect of a garlic production was observed for all barns (G1:
and cinnamon blend compared to an anthel- +1.5%, P=0.020 ; G3A: +2.7%, P=0.0005 ; G3B:
mintic on the performance of layers naturally +2.8%, P=0.0004). For barn G1, the supplemen-
challenged with roundworms. tation of the garlic and cinnamon blend lead
to an increase in egg production by 132 dozen
How we investigated or researched the eggs, resulting in a ROI of 3.35. On the third farm,
problem the supplementation resulted in increased egg
production by 189 and 272 dozen eggs for
This field trial was carried out on 3 commer- G3A and G3B respectively, and in a ROI of 4.3
cial farms in Mexico, with 6300 Lohman Brown for G3A and 4.7 for G3B. For both treatments,
layers housed in free-range systems. The first the number of worms and eggs in the feces
farm (G1) consisted of 1500 birds at 40 weeks decreased numerically over time. No adverse
old of age. The second farm had 2 different effects on the mortality and organoleptic prop-
barns (G2A and G2B), each with 1000 birds erties of the eggs were observed in both treat-
at 18 weeks old. The third farm contained ments.
2 barns (G3A and G3B), with 1200 and 1600
birds respectively, both at 60 weeks old. All Implications / Conclusions
barns tested positive for the presence of round-
worms. Layers in barns G2A and G2B were fed The anthelmintic drug didn’t have an impact
a conventional antiparasitic drug as top-dress- on the layers’ performance, which may indi-
ing. Birds in barns G1, G3A and G3B were fed cate a lack of action against the roundworms
a garlic and cinnamon feed additive (Excential in this study. However, the supplementation
Alliin Plus, Orffa Additives B.V.) as top-dressing, of the garlic and cinnamon blend significantly
at 500 ppm the first and second months and 350 increased the egg production in layers with
ppm during the third month. In each barn, egg an Ascaridia galli infection. This performance
production was recorded weekly, and compared enhancement also improved the profit of the
to the historical production of the farms. Data farms by resulting in a positive ROI.
were statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA.

ABSTRACT ID-49
Effect of water application of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT

5940 in effervescent tablet form on Broiler Performance under
Commercial Conditions
April Santos1, Nadia Yacoubi2, Girish Channarayapatna3

1
Evonik Philippines Inc.
2
Evonik Operations GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany
3
Evonik (SEA) Pte. Ltd. Singapore
The Problem following these application days (1-3; 10-12;

21-23; 27-29). Breeder flock source, feed
Gut health and its related challenges have and environment factors were considered to
become one of the most important parameters minimize variance that can influence perfor-
for profitable and sustainable poultry produc- mance. Water samples were taken at differ-
tion. In the transition towards antibiotic-free ent positions in all drinking lines and during
production, maintaining a balanced intestinal all application periods to check homogenous
microbiota is a demanding and complex task. distribution of the probiotic. Feed, water
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 probi- consumption and mortality were collected
otic went through multi-parameter selection daily. Weekly body weights were also collected
process to ensure efficacy and activity under to calculate for feed conversion ratio. Slaugh-
extreme conditions. Water application of ter parameters like hock burn, pododermati-
probiotics are usual practice to react to daily tis and factory rejections were also measured.
stress situations regardless of current feed
formulation but they can negatively impact Results
the formation of biofilm due to its sugar-base.
The innovative sugar-free effervescent tablet Spore count performed showed a homoge-
aims to address this challenge and ensures a nous distribution of the probiotic along and
homogeneous distribution and release of the between drinking lines but also during the
probiotic spores in water without stirring. different supplementation periods. The
final body weight of birds in treatment
How we investigated or researched the houses was higher by 34g (2.27 kg vs. 2.23
problem kg). While treatment houses also recorded
1.2% lower mortality of birds. Decrease in
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects feed:water ratio (1.85 and 1.78 for control
of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 and treatment, respectively) was observed
applied via water on growth performance which resulted to improved hock burn and
of broilers under commercial conditions in pododermatitis scores of birds by 5% in all
UK for 36 days. A total of 219,000 ROSS 308 three treatment houses as well as less factory
day-old broilers were randomly distributed rejects compared to the control group. This
to 2 groups. Groups mainly included were may be attributed to the application of Bacil-
(1) three control houses with no probiotic lus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 via water
application in water and (2) three treatment delivering a healthy and well-balanced gut
houses received Bacillus amyloliquefaciens microflora. These performance improvements
CECT 5940 via water in the form of efferves- translated to 5.4 Return on Investment.
cent tablets with 36,500 birds per each house.
One tablet was dissolved in a 20 L stock solu-
tion and then supplemented to the drinking
line at a concentration of 2% intermittently (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-49
Similarly, additional runs of experiments

were conducted for another 3 broiler cycles.
Summary of the 4 cycles delivered 3,024
more birds at slaughterhouse translating to
additional 13,250 kgs total weight and a total
return on investment of 6.0.
Efficient poultry production is a balancing act

between various factors, with nutrition and
gut health playing a crucial role. The inno-
vative Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940
probiotic in effervescent tablet can be applied
conveniently on-demand via water to rapidly
improve the composition and balance of the
intestinal microbiota without the challenge
on biofilm formation and homogeneity. Feed-
ing trials demonstrated that livestock perfor-
mance and ROI increased with this solution.
Benefits also include product compatibility
with other feed additives in various water
conditions.

ABSTRACT ID-77
Comparison of the efficacy of different coccidiosis control

programmes
Ben Dehaeck1, Wim Schelstraete1, Maja Marien1 And Monita Vereecken1

1
The Problem 5 for the nicarbazin/monensin and salino-

mycin programme versus programme 2. E.
Most coccidiosis control programmes are using maxima scores were respectively 0.15, 0.08
a combination product in the starter and grower and 0.1 points lower in week 3, 4 and 5 for
feed followed by an ionophore. The goal of this programme 1. Scores in week 3 and 4 were
study is to compare 2 of the most commonly significantly lower versus programme 2,
used shuttle programmes (nicarbazin/monen- p-value < 0.05. E. tenella scores were respec-
sin followed by salinomycin and nicarbazin/ tively 0.07, 0.05 and 0.15 points lower in week
narasin followed by narasin) and estimate their 3, 4 and 5 for the nicarbazin/monensin and
efficacy on coccidiosis control. salinomycin programme. All E. tenella scores
were significantly lower in comparison to
How we investigated or researched the programme 2, p-value < 0.05.
problem
Data used for the current evaluations origi-
nates from Aviapp®, a software platform to This study demonstrated that the evaluated
collect health and performance data. Data shuttle programmes had significant differ-
from 815 flocks, from 209 different farms ences in lesion scores for E. maxima and E.
located in 4 different countries, using the shut- tenella and numerically differences for E. acer-
tle programme nicarbazin/monensin – salin- vulina. All scores were in favor of the nicar-
omycin (programme 1) were included . For bazin/monensin (Monimax®) followed by
the shuttle programme nicarbazin/narasin salinomycin (Sacox®) programme.
– narasin (programme 2) 451 flocks from 196
different farms located in 5 different countries
were included in the analysis. The average day
to switch from the combination product to
the ionophore was 17.6 days for programme
1 and 18.6 days for programme 2. Coccid-
iosis lesion scoring data for E. acervulina, E.
maxima and E. tenella, collected from broil-
ers between 3 and 5 weeks of age were used
to compare the efficacy of the programmes.
A linear mixed effect model was used with
the week in which the scoring took place, the
programme and their interaction as a fixed
effect and a random farm effect to accommo-
date for differences in farm characteristics.
Results
E. acervulina scores were respectively 0.15,

0.04 and 0.18 points lower in week 3, 4 and

ABSTRACT ID-80
Evaluating a phytogenic-saponin blend in coccidiosis

management programs
S. M. Ramirez1, G. R. Murugesan1, and B. Lumpkins2

1
dsm-firmenich Nutritional Products AG, Wurmisweg 576, CH-4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
2
Southern Poultry Feed & Research Inc., Athens, Georgia, United States
The Problem Results
Coccidiosis continues to be a top health chal- In the first study, both Zoalene and PY reduced
lenge for the poultry industry resulting in (P<0.05) FCR compared with CC for the
significant economic impact. While anticoc- 42-day study duration. On day 21, PY reduced
cidials such as chemicals and ionophores have (P<0.05) lesion scores compared with CC
been used successfully for decades, new regu- while Zoalene was intermediate. In the second
lations and consumer preferences in addi- study, Shuttle1, Shuttle2, and PHYSA reduced
tion to concerns with anticoccidial resistance (P<0.05) overall FCR compared to CC. Body
are changing how coccidiosis is managed on weight gain increased (P<0.05) in Shuttle1
farm. Many producers have adopted shut- and Shuttle2 compared with CC and PY which
tle, bio-shuttle, and/or rotation programs as were not different from each other. On day 21,
part of their coccidiosis management strategy. Shuttle1, Shuttle2, and PY reduced (P<0.05)
Phytogenics and saponins both have anticoc- lesion scores compared with the CC.
cidial properties and the combination of both
can be a useful tool in coccidiosis manage- Implications / Conclusions
ment.
Four programs evaluated across two stud-
How we investigated the problem ies: 1) a straight weaker chemical coccid-
iostat (Zoalene), 2) a shuttle program
Two studies utilized Cobb 500 males with 7 including nicarbazin and narasin, 3) a shut-
pens per treatment and 25 birds per pen for tle program including nicarbazin and PY, and
a 42-day duration. Basal diets were formu- 4) a straight phytogenic/saponin blend (PY).
lated to meet or exceed nutrient and energy Each program was effective in mitigating the
requirements and were based on corn and Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens challenge
soybean meal. Each bird was challenged with to varying degrees. The phytogenic-sapo-
5,000 Eimeria maxima oocysts on day 14 and nin blend included as a straight program
1.0 × 108 CFU of Clostridium perfringens on was comparable to a straight weak chemi-
day 19, 20, and 21. Data were analyzed via the cal (Zoalene) program. Including the phyto-
GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with significance genic/saponin blend in a shuttle program
reported at P < 0.05. In the first study, 525 with nicarbazin in the starter resulted in simi-
birds were allotted to one of three treatments: lar results to narasin when used in the grower
1) challenged control (CC), 2) CC + Zoalene and finisher stages. Understanding gaps or
(0.5 kg/MT), and 3) CC + phytogenic-saponin targets to fill in coccidiosis management can
blend (PY, 125 g/MT). In the second study, 700 help identify new strategies that can help opti-
birds were allotted to one of four treatments: mize the current program.
1) challenged control (CC), 2) CC + Shuttle1
(nicarbazin for 0 – 21 days, Narasin for 21 – 35
days), 3) CC + Shuttle2 (nicarbazin 0 – 21 days,
PY for 21 – 35 days) and 4) CC + PY. In both
studies, performance, mortality, and lesion
scores on day 21 were measured.

ABSTRACT ID-86
Probiotics for young layers: can microbiome modulation benefit

performance and egg quality?
Hans Lee1, Justin Tan1, Raquel Rodriguez Sanchez2, Natasja Smeets2, Susanne Kirwan2, Jin Soo Kim3, Jun
Young Mun3
1
2
3
Kangwon National University
The Problem and albumen weight and percentages) was

assessed on days 42, 70 and 98 of the study. At
Layers have traditionally been less antimicro- the end of the experimental period (12 weeks),
bial dependent than other poultry systems. fecal samples from each cage were taken for
However, the aim to produce from hatch fecal microbiota analysis.
with as little antimicrobial use as possible
is increasing. This has prompted research Results
towards the characterization of the gastroin-
testinal system and its bacterial population to Results indicated overall good animal perfor-
discover alternative ways to manage poultry mance in accordance with breed standards.
health to antibiotics. One such alternative are Probiotic supplementation significantly
probiotics; for their potential to improve bird improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and
health as well as production parameters. The egg mass in the study period of 9-12 weeks,
present study aims to evaluate the effects of and the overall study period from 0-12 weeks
probiotic-induced microbiota on young layers. compared to the control group. The probiotic
supplementation also resulted in a signifi-
How we investigated or researched the cantly higher laying rate in the final period
problem from 9-12 weeks, and the overall period
from 0-12 weeks. Additionally, the probiotic
This study assessed the effectiveness of a significantly enhanced yolk color in week
novel probiotic mixture supplementation 12, whereas no significant differences were
in laying hen diets (ISA brown, 23 weeks at observed in other egg quality parameters.
start) and its impact on performance, egg Microbiota analysis revealed higher Lactoba-
quality, and fecal microbiota. Two treatments cillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. and lower
were compared: a control diet (no supple- coliforms in probiotic supplemented groups
mentation) versus a probiotic supplemented compared to the control group, mainly at 12
diet (Bacillus spp. ATCC PTA-6737, ATCC weeks of age.
PTA-127114, ATCC PTA-127113, ((ENTERO-
SURE™) 3x108 CFU/kg of feed). Each treat- Implications /Conclusions
ment was replicated seven times, with one
cage representing an experimental unit, each This study demonstrated the efficacy of a
housing nine hens. Following a two-week novel probiotic, which improved egg produc-
adaptation period, the experimental diets tion and feed efficiency. These findings
were provided ad libitum for 12 weeks, for support the use of this probiotic as a novel
a total of 98 days. Performance parameters beneficial additive in the diets of laying hen
were reported and calculated every four from an early age.
weeks: egg production rate, feed intake, FCR,
egg weight, egg mass, egg loss percentage. Egg
quality (eggshell thickness, eggshell strength,
Haugh units, yolk color, yolk cholesterol, yolk

CONTROL SOLUTIONS
TO GUT HEALTH
ABSTRACT ID-11
Dietary supplementation with Citrus extract increases

endogenous butyric acid concentration in the gut.
Sekhou CISSE1,2, Julia Laurain2, Paul Engler1,2, Truong Ngo3, Mohamed El Amine BENARBIA 1,2
1
Joint Lab ANR FeedInTech (FIT: SONAS/Nor-Feed)
2
Nor-Feed SAS, 3 rue Amédéo Avogadro, 49070 Beaucouzé
3
Nor-Feed Vietnam, Park 7, Vinhomes Central Park, 720A Dien Bien Phu, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh
The Problem Results
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as Results showed that SNCE supplementation
butyric acid, are essential for the optimal significantly increased the percentage of
development of animals, thanks to their posi- caecal butyric acid content at d12 (14.39%)
tive effects on intestinal microbiota. Indeed, compared to the control group (12.32%,
several studies revealed that SCFAs contribute p= 0,0088, T-test). At d34, the percentage
to an improved feed digestibility by preserv- of butyric acid was still numerically higher
ing gut integrity, resulting in better animal in SNCE group (14.75%) compared to the
growth performance. In a context where the control group (13.21%) but the difference
feed is increasingly expensive, stimulating was not significant (p > 0.05, t-test).
SCFAs 's concentration in the gut could there-
fore be a good solution to improve animals' Implications / Conclusions
intestinal health and performance. This study
aimed to evaluate the effect of a commercial SNCE supplementation increased the endog-
standardized natural citrus extract (SNCE) enous butyric acid rate in broiler chickens’
supplementation on SCFAs content in broiler guts. The better effect was observed at d12,
chicken guts. In this study, we focus on when the intestine is still immature and path-
butyric acid, one of the main important SCFAs ogenic phenomena begin to appear. Accord-
involved in animal intestinal health. ing to these results, SNCE could be a good
solution to strengthen the digestive safety of
How we investigated or researched the young animals. Further studies are needed to
problem confirm this hypothesis.
The trial was conducted in an experimental

farm in North America. 1344 one-day-old
male Ross 308 broilers were divided into 2
groups:
Control group fed a standard diet;
SNCE group fed a standard diet supplemented

with 250 ppm of SNCE.
Each group consisted of 16 replicates of 42

birds. Birds were reared from d 0 to d 34. At
d 12 and d 34, 8 birds per group were euth-
anized and caeca samples were collected to
determine the butyric acid content by GC-MS
analysis. Results were expressed in % of
butyric acid relative to total SCFA.

ABSTRACT ID-14
Comparative study of superworm and mealworm on growth

performance, carcass trait and histomorpholohy of japanese quail
Rafi Ullah,Zeshan Ahmad,Sarzamin khan and Asad Sultan

Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture,
Peshawar-Pakistan
The Problem of 3g/kg meal worm and 3g/kg super worm in

combination as compared to the other groups.
According to the International Feed Industry Quail fed with 3g/kg meal worm and 3g/kg
Federation (IFIF), by 2050, there was more super worm meal in combination showed
than 10 billion people on the planet. The improved dressing % (P<0.05). The current
consumption of animal’s protein is expected research revealed that combination of meal
to almost double as a result of the expand- worm and super worm meals at the of rate of
ing population (Hong et al., 2020). To effec- 3g/kg of each in the quail diet had decreased
tively meet this growing need for food and to the feed intake, improved FCR, weight gain,
account for this increase in food consumption, dressing %, and gut histomorphology.
Pakistan being an agricultural country, shares
19.3% of the total Gross domestic product Implications / Conclusions
(GDP), which is the backbone of its economy.
Mealworm and Super-worm meals supple-
How we investigated or researched the mentation in quail diet decreased feed intake,
problem feed conversion ratio and increased the gain
in weight.
Insects are currently getting a lot of interest
as a possible source of chicken feed because The inclusion of meal worm and super worm
of their abundant availability and low cost meals in combination at (3g/kg + 3g/kg) was
(Moula and Detilleux, 2019). Insects are natu- proven to be the safe level in quails feed.
rally eaten by wild birds and free-range chick-
ens (Biasato et al., 2016). Insects are currently
believed to offer the highest nutritional value
and density of protein, fat, vitamins, fiber, and
minerals, making them a highly healthy food
source (Islam and Yang2017). Due to their
top quality and high amount of fatty acids
and amino acids profile, mealworms (Tene-
brio Molitor) and super worms (Zophobas
Morio) and are widely considered as impor-
tant sources of lipids and protein for numer-
ous species (Benzertiha et al.,2019).
Results
The combine inclusion of mealworm and

super worm meals at the level of 3g/kg of each
in the feed resulted in a significant (P<0.05)
increase in weight gain compared to the other
groups. The FCR values of quail chicks were
significantly (P<0.05) improved by addition

ABSTRACT ID-15
Management of combined toxicity of aflatoxins, DON and

ochratoxin A on the intestinal health of commercial layers
Lv-Hui Sun1, Swamy, H.V.L.N2., and Guanlin Wang2

1
Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
2
Trouw Nutrition, Stationsstraat 77, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
The Problem mycotoxins reduced villus height in duode-

num, jejunum, and ileum, villus height/crypt
Mycotoxins are ubiquitous in nature and depth in duodenum, and crypt depth in ileum
can be present in many raw materials and (P < 0.05). Interestingly, TOXO HP and XL alle-
complete feeds used in poultry industry. Intes- viated most of these adverse effects induced
tinal health can be compromised by multiple by mycotoxins in duodenum, jejunum, and
mycotoxins in poultry. Such an adverse effect (or) ileum (P < 0.05).
will reduce the nutrient absorption leading to
poor FCR. On top of this, compromised intesti- Implications / Conclusions
nal epithelial cells allow the increased trans-
location of bacteria and toxins into the blood It can be concluded that the intestinal health
stream leading to systemic challenges. of commercial layers can be compromised by
the exposure to multiple mycotoxins in the
How we investigated or researched the feed. Mycotoxin mitigation products, with
problem multiple modes of action, can be added to the
complete feed to provide an effective solution
Three hundred and sixty 26-week-old Roman for the mycotoxin risk in the commercial layer
laying hens were randomly allocated into industry.
four experimental groups with 10 replicates
of nine birds each. The four groups received
either a basal diet (BD; Control), a BD supple-
mented with 0.15 mg/kg AFB1 + 1.5 mg/kg
DON + 0.12 mg/kg OTA (Toxins), a BD + Toxins
with Toxo-HP binder (Toxins + HP), or a BD +
Toxins with TOXO XL binder (Toxins + XL) for
12 weeks.
Results
Compared to the control, dietary mycotoxins

induced atrophy and fracture of intestinal villi,
severe
degeneration, necrosis, and desquamation of

the villous epithelial cells, hemorrhages and
inflammatory cell infiltration in submucosa
and lamina propria, and (or) goblet cell hyper-
plasia in the intestinal gland in the duodenum,
jejunum, and ileum. Generally, TOXO HP and
XL mitigated most of these histopathological
alterations induced by mycotoxins. Compared
to the control, dietary supplementation of

ABSTRACT ID-16
A saponin-aluminosilicate blend can serve as a complementary

strategy for coccidial risk management in broilers
M. Brink1, J. Serrano1, B. Maertens2

1
Orffa Additives B.V., Breda, The Netherlands
2
Poulpharm BV, Izegem, Belgium
The Problem 0.091). The increase in total intestinal lesions

caused by Eimeria was significantly compen-
Coccidiosis is one of the most prevalent sated by ITC-Max (P = 0.007) and numerical
diseases affecting poultry production. Despite improvements were observed for ITC-Max/SQ
the use of anticoccidials, the disease cannot (P = 0.270). The loss in performance caused
be fully prevented and even subclinical levels by Eimeria was significantly compensated
of Eimeria infection results in performance for ITC-Max low/SQ, similar to the effect
losses and high hidden costs. The aim of this resulting from ITC-Max (P < 0.001 for both).
study was to evaluate the efficacy of a sapo- However, for ITC-Max/SQ, the positive effect
nin-aluminosilicate blend (Excential Sapphire on growth and feed conversion ratio numeri-
Q, Orffa Additives BV) as an aid in the control cally exceeded the effects obtained by ITC-Max
of coccidiosis in broilers. (P < 0.001).

problem
These results suggest that the saponin-alu-
A total of 252 one-day -old male Ross 308 minosilicate blend may complement the
broilers were housed in cages assigned to activities of anticoccidials. When feeding
one of six dietary treatments, each with six saponin-aluminosilicate in addition to an
replicates: uninfected, untreated control anticoccidial, at a normal inclusion rate, it
(UUC); infected, untreated control (IUC); can further compensate for the zootechnical
infected control receiving an anticoccidial performance reductions caused by Eimeria
(Maxiban®) at a commercial dose (ITC-Max); infection. A better growth and feed efficiency
or saponin-aluminosilicate blend (ITC-SQ); will alleviate the high hidden costs associated
infected control receiving saponin-alumino- with subclinical coccidiosis. Performance can
silicate blend + anticoccidial at a commercial also be maintained by partially replacing anti-
dose (ITC-Max/SQ); infected control receiving coccidials with saponin-aluminosilicate blend.
saponin-aluminosilicate blend + a lower dose
of anticoccidial (ITC-Max low/SQ). On day 15,
broilers were orally inoculated with 1 mL of
distilled water containing Eimeria acervulina,
E. maxima, and E. tenella oocysts, except for
UUC, which was sham-inoculated.
Results
At 21 days of age, a significant reduction in

oocyst excretion compared to IUC broil-
ers was observed for broilers treated with
ITC-Max/SQ (P = 0.007) and ITC-Max low/SQ
(P = 0.019) and even surpassed the reduction
in oocyst shedding achieved by ITC-Max (P =

ABSTRACT ID-19
Dietary sodium diformate affects the faecal Coliform-count of

poultry in the tropics – A performance analysis
Christian Lückstädt, Rodolfo Adriano and Kevin Teh

ADDCON GmbH, Bitterfeld, Germany
The Problem additive on the inhibition of coliform bacte-

ria in the faeces of broiler, breeder and layer.
Microbiological integrity of eggs and meat is Those studies were carried out between 2009
an important issue, while bacterial pathogens and 2021 under commercial and institutional
in feed and environment of poultry units can conditions. The final dataset contained the
have serious consequences for bird health results of 7 trials with NDF-inclusion, which
and productivity. Colibacillosis, a syndrome ranged from 0.1% to 0.3%. Results are
caused by E. coli, is one of the most common expressed as percentage difference from the
infectious bacterial diseases in poultry. E. coli negative control and a confidence level of 95%
infections rank among the top two health was defined for these analyses.
concerns for both cage-housed and cage-free
layers, according to a survey conducted by the Results
Association of Veterinarians in Egg Produc-
tion in the US. For broiler it is a well-estab- The average level of dietary NDF from the
lished fact that systemic E. coli infections dataset in all treated layers and breeders was
contribute heavily to the early mortalities of 0.20%. A typical dosage of Formi NDF in poul-
commercial broiler chickens. Various experts try ranges from 1‑3 kg/tonne feed, depend-
suggested the use of chemical additives to ing on age (dietary protein level), type (layer,
control bacterial pathogens in feed – this may breeder or broiler), feeding (restricted vs. ad
primarily involve the use of organic acids. libitum) and hygienic status of the farm. The
Improving hygienic conditions and poultry inclusion of the product resulted in a signifi-
performance with the aid of organic acids has cant (P<0.05) reduction of 91.2% of the E.coli
been reported by many sources. An impor- count in the faeces of those birds.
tant limitation, however, is that organic acids
are rapidly metabolised in the foregut (crop Implications / Conclusions
to gizzard) of birds, which will reduce their
impact in the intestine. Sodium diformate The use of organic acid salts in the diet clearly
(traded as Formi NDF, ADDCON – hereafter has a range of beneficial effects in poultry.
abbreviated as NDF), a patented double salt In this case, their application in biosecurity
of formic acid, has been proven to be effective management through the feed assists the bird
against pathogenic bacteria along the whole to combat intestinal bacterial pathogens and
gastro-intestinal tract. The current study aims reduces therefore the risk of cross contam-
in giving an overview of the achieved results ination via faeces. This concept has been
in terms of Coliform-reduction in broiler, proven the world over and the use of organic
breeder and layer in the tropics. acids, their salts – and especially dietary
sodium diformate (Formi NDF) is irrefutably
How we investigated or researched the an effective and sustainable tool to enhance
problem and secure the birds performance, also under
tropical production conditions.
This study analysed the average impact from
all studies carried out in tropical countries
in Asia and Latin America on the effect of the

ABSTRACT ID-20
Effects of Quillaja and Yucca combination product at different

inclusion levels and duration of use in broilers subjected to
intestinal challenge model.
Vasil Stanev1, James McNaughton2, Tim Buisker3, Sarawut Tanasatian1, Luis Gomez1, Sandra Bonaspetti1
1
2
AHPharma, Inc., Hebron, MD 42830, United States.
3
Smart Data Science Solutions, Galena, IL 61036, United States.
The Problem sloughing and 4 – actual necrosis or bleeding

observed. The same birds were also sampled
Numerous scientific publications and for cecal C. perfringens and E. coli count and
commercial use data indicate the positive Salmonella spp. incidence.
effect of Q. saponaria and Y. schidigera combi-
nation product (QYP) on broilers’ perfor- Results
mance when exposed to different challenge
or non-challenge models. The current study An overview of intestinal health parame-
aims to investigate the effects of QYP at differ- ters is provided in Table 1. At 21d intestinal
ent inclusion rates and phase of use on intes- inflammation scores, E. coli counts, oocyst
tinal health and performance in a floor pen per gram (OPG), and Salmonella spp. inci-
trial model, mimicking field enteritis infection, dence were significantly reduced in the QYP
compared to an infected untreated control supplemented groups correlated to the inclu-
(IUC). sion rate with significant differences for the
different inclusions. C. perfringens counts
How we investigated or researched the were reduced only when QYP was fed at 500
problem g/t. The same correlation with the inclusion
rate was observed at 42d. QYP demonstrated
A total of 5616 as hatched day-old Ross 708 residual effect for intestinal inflammation, C.
broilers were allocated to 9 treatments as perfringens counts, OPG, and Salmonella inci-
per Table 1 with 12 replicates each and 52 dence: groups that were supplemented during
birds per pen. Birds were placed on used litter 0-29d only, showed significant improvement
known to contain coccidia, C. perfringens, E. compared to IUC at 42d. An overview of zoot-
coli, Salmonella spp., and other pathogens. echnical performance and processing char-
Additionally, before birds’ placement, litter acteristics is provided in Table 2. At 21d BW
was supplemented with 100,000 oocysts/ was improved significantly proportionally
bird, primarily E. acervulina and E. maxima, to the inclusion rate in line with the intesti-
to mimic natural field enteritis infection. nal health parameters. Same inclusion rate
Mortality, body weight (BW), body weight gain correlation persisted at 42d. The best effect
(BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), European was achieved in groups supplemented 0-42d.
Poultry Efficiency Factor (EPEF), and BW Groups supplemented 0-28d provided resid-
coefficient of variation (CV) were measured ual significant improvement at 42d, while
at 42d. At 28d BW was measured as well. At groups supplemented 28-42d only, did not
21d and 42d, 4 birds per pen were humanely provide significant improvement of FCR.
sacrificed and scored for intestinal inflamma-
tion as follows: 0 – no lesions found; 1 – mild
hyperemia, but no cell sloughing or mucous; 2-
moderate hyperemia and /or mild cell slough-
ing; 3 – severe hyperemia and/or severe cell (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-20
Table 1: Overview of Intestinal Health Parame- Means with different letters in the super-
ters: Intestinal Inflammation Lesion Scores and scripts are significantly different, P ≤ 0.05.
Pathogen Loads Statistical analysis deploying ANOVA and Fish-
er’s LSD test to separate treatments in differ-
Means with different letters in the super- ent statistical groups was applied.
scripts are significantly different, P ≤ 0.05.
Statistical analysis deploying ANOVA and Fish-
er’s LSD test to separate treatments in differ-
ent statistical groups was applied.
Table 2: Overview of Zootechnical Results and

Processing Characteristics (Continued on the next page)
Table 1
Mortality BW BW BW BWG Carcass Breast Abdom.

FCR EPEF
Treatment (%) (g) (g) CV (g) yield % yield % fat %
d 0-42 d 28 d 42 d 42 d 0-42 d 0-42 d 0-42 d 42 d 42 d 42
IUC 7.99 a
1293 c
2490 g
12.81 a
2453 g
1.890 a
278 e
70.94 d
25.57 de
1.49 ab
QYP 250 g/t 0-28d 3.47 c 1371 b 2580 ef 11.07 bc 2543 ef 1.851 abcd 312 c 70.88 d 25.51 e 1.46 abc
QYP 250 g/t 29-42d 5.56 b 1293 c 2547 f 12.83 a 2510 f 1.877 ab 297 d 73.18 bc 26.08 c 1.44 bc
QYP 250 g/t 0-42d 2.78 cd 1371 b 2621 d 10.52 bcd 2584 d 1.838 bcde 323 b 72.86 c 26.03 cd 1.49 ab
QYP 500 g/t 0-28d 1.74 de 1410 a 2691 ab 10.03 d 2653 ab 1.798 abc 342 a 74.75 a 26.76 ab 1.46 abc
QYP 500 g/t 29-42d 6.42 b 1297 c 2581 e 12.92 a 2543 e 1.861 abc 301 d 75.53 a 26.37 bc 1.50 a
QYP 500 g/t 0-42d 0.69 e 1371 b 2700 a 9.77 d 2663 a 1.794 f 351 a 74.36 ab 27.19 a 1.44 bc
QYP 250 g/t 0-28d

2.78 cd 1371 b 2655 c 11.33 b 2618 c 1.821 cdef 331 cb 74.74 a 26.76 ab 1.42 c
500 g/t 29-42d
QYP 500 g/t 0-28d
0.69 e 1406 a 2660 bc 10.32 cd 2623 bc 1.814 def 342 a 74.34 ab 26.86 a 1.45 abc
250 g/t 29-42d
Table 2
Intestinal C. perfringens (CFU/g E. coli Salmonella Incidence Eimeria spp.

Treatment Inflammation log 10) (CFU/g log 10) (%) OPG (log 10)
d 21 d 42 d 21 d 42 d 21 d 42 d 21 d 42 d 21 d 42
IUC 1.79 a 1.80 a 4.42 a 4.82 a 6.73 a 6.69 a 83.33 a 84.17 a 6.60 a 7.06 a
QYP 250 g/t 0-28d 0.79 b 0.40 b 4.15 a 3.54 bc 6.13 b 6.65 a 56.25 b 49.17 bc 5.95 b 5.99 b
QYP 250 g/t 29-42d 1.75 a 0.44 b 4.49 a 3.68 b 6.70 a 6.04 b 79.16 a 47.50 bc 6.76 a 6.12 b
QYP 250 g/t 0-42d 0.77 b 0.48 b 4.11 ab 3.59 bc 5.89 b 6.10 b 52.08 b 43.33 c 6.21 b 5.96 b
QYP 500 g/t 0-28d 0.13 c 0.11 c 3.56 c 3.42 c 5.09 c 6.20 b 16.67 c 22.50 d 5.44 c 6.07 b
QYP 500 g/t 29-42d 1.83 a

0.06 c
4.46 a
2.85 d
6.73 a
5.35 c
83.33 a
55.83 b
6.74 a
5.53 c
QYP 500 g/t 0-42d 0.13 c 0.06 c 3.55 c 2.87 d 5.05 c 5.37 c 27.08 c 26.67 d 5.49 c 5.39 c
QYP 250 g/t 0-28d

0.77 b 0.07 c 4.29 a 2.85 a 5.96 b 5.39 c 45.83 b 55.83 c 6.16 b 5.45 c
500 g/t 29-42d
QYP 500 g/t 0-28d
0.06 c 0.13 c 3.73 bc 3.75 b 4.90 c 6.05 b 16.67 c 44.17 bc 5.27 c 6.12 b
250 g/t 29-42d

ABSTRACT ID-20
The results above are in line with previous

reports from Bafundo et al. (2021) that QYP
provides an improvement of performance,
inflammation, or pathogen related parame-
ters in broilers in both pathogen challenge
and non-challenge models proportionally
corelated to the inclusion rate. In the current
trial, for both inclusion rates, 250 g/t and 500
g/t respectively, a positive effect was shown
when QYP was supplemented 0-42 days or
at least 0-28 days of age. When product was
provided only during 28-42 days of age results
were not significant for most of the parame-
ters measured. The above findings are in line
with previously suggested mode of action
through improved immunity development,
reduced inflammation and tissue damage,
and faster recovery, rather than direct anti-
coccidial effect (Stanev et al., 2024). Based on
the proposed mode of action and the current
trial results, a conclusion can be made that the
optimum effect of the product can be achieved
when supplemented during the whole grow
out period or at least in the first four weeks
of life.

ABSTRACT ID-21
Effect of Quillaja and Yucca Saponins and Polyphenol

Combination on Broiler Performance, Intestinal Health and
Potential to Reduce the Use of Antibiotics.
Charles Siregar1, Chee Seng Huan2, Vincentia Maria2, Astiari Tia Legawa2, Setia Hadi1, Vasil Stanev3, Sarawut
Tanasatian4.
1
Phibro Corporation Limited, Jakarta 12560, Indonesia
2
Malindo Research and Development Farm, Kabupaten Purwakarta, West Java 41182, Indonesia
3
Phibro Animal Health SA, 1300 Wavre, Belgium
4
Phibro Animal Health Company, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand
The Problem fresh rice hulls litter. Stocking density was

15 birds/m2. Birds were provided ad-libitum
The current study aims to assess the effect with 3-phase diet (0-10, 11-21 and 22-32
of a phytogenic product, based on Quillaja days) formulated as per the genetics specs
saponaria and Yucca schidigera saponins and supplemented with in-feed anticoccidial
and polyphenols with a minimum content of (semduramicin+nicarbazin/semduramicin
3.5% triterpenoid saponins (QYP) in a setting shuttle). The treatments were: 1) NC –
mimicking intensive poultry production. non-supplemented standard diet; 2) BMD at
Broiler performance: body weight (BW), body 100ppm 0-10 days and 50 ppm 12-32 days
weight coefficient of variation (BWCV), aver- of age; 3) HAL at 60ppm from 0-32 days of
age daily weight gain (ADWG); feed conver- age; 4) TAQ at 150g/t 0-32 days of age; and 5)
sion ratio (FCR); mortality+culling (M+C); QYP at 250g/t 0-32 days of age. Results were
European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF), analysed statistically: ANOVA and Tukey’s
food pad dermatitis (FPD) at 32 days of age HSD as post hoc analysis. Statistically signif-
(Berg, 1998) and intestinal health: coccidiosis icant differences were considered at P < 0.05.
scoring (Johnson and Reid, 1970) and dysbac-
teriosis (DB) scoring (Teirlynck et al. 2011) at Results
21 and 32 days of age, have been compared
to non-supplemented control (NC), the poly- Overall birds’ performance was meeting or
peptide antimicrobial compound bacitracin exceeding genetic guidelines with ADWG of
methylene disalicylate (BMD) and the quino- 66.79g average for the study. Average BW at 32
line antibacterial compound halquinol (HAL), days was 2179g with no significant difference
also known as chlorohydroxyquinoline, as between treatments. FCR of QYP was signif-
well as to a phytogenic product based on icantly better than BMD. Mortality was low,
thyme oil, synthetic star anise oil and quillaja on average 1.05% with no signifficant differ-
bark powder containing 2-4mg/g thymol and ence between different treatments, while cull-
40-50mg/g anethole (TAQ). ing was signifficantly lower in the QYP group
compared to the BMD group. Calculated aver-
How we investigated or researched the age EPEF was 490 and Foot pad dermatitis
problem was not severe: average FPD score of 0.50
with no significant difference between treat-
A total of 5400 Ross 308, broilers were ments.Intestinal health of the birds was good
randomly allocated to 60 floor pens in 5 with no significant difference among different
treatments with 12 replicates each and 90 treatments. Average E. acervulina (duodenal
(45 male and 45 female) birds per replicate lesion score) at 21 and 32 days were 0.00 and
in a complete randomized block design. Floor 0.07 respectively. Average E. maxima (ileal
pens were allocated in a closed, environmen- lesion score) at 21 and 32 days were 0.68 and
tally controlled house and covered with 5cm 0.55. Average E. tenella (caecal lesion score)

212
ment.
ABSTRACT ID-21
3.35 respectively.
birds’ performance, health, and welfare.

scripts are significantly different, P ≤ 0.05.
uct, thus it is a valid alternative to AGPs and
microbial resistance, without compromise on

age DB score at 21 and 32 days were 2.40 and
The results demonstrated that QYP provided
health, and welfare (FPD scores) compared to

similar or superior performance, intestinal
tional production systems to limit the use of

can be used in both organic, but also conven-
BMD, halquinol and another phytogenic prod-
at 21 and 32 days were 0.25 and 0.15. Aver-
antibiotics and thus reduce the risk of anti-

Means with different letters in the super-
Table 1: Overview of trial results per treat-
Table 1
Dysbact. lesion Duodenal lesion Ileal lesion Caecal lesion

BW BW CV ADWG FCR EPEF Mortality % Culling % FPD
CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH

score score E.acervulina E. maxima E. tenella
Day 21 Day 32 Day 21 Day 32 Day 21 Day 32 Day 21 Day 32 Day 32 Day 32 Day 0-32 Day 0-32 Day 32 Day 0-32 Day 0-32 Day 32
NC 2.417 3.167 0.000 0.083 0.833 0.583 0.500 0.167 2166 2.15 66.40 1.384 ab 486 1.11 0.91 ab 0.46
BMD 2.750 2.833 0.000 0.000 0.833 0.500 0.167 0.083 2194 2.97 67.27 1.391 a 487 0.92 1.85 a 0.58
ab ab
HAL 2.417 4.083 0.000 0.000 0.583 0.667 0.333 0.167 2179 2.58 66.81 1.376 490 1.32 0.91 0.47
TAQ 2.000 3.417 0.000 0.000 0.500 0.500 0.083 0.083 2179 2.17 66.80 1.376 ab 491 0.81 1.31 ab 0.48
QYP 2.417 3.250 0.000 0.250 0.667 0.500 0.167 0.250 2174 1.90 66.63 1.370b 494 1.11 0.40 b 0.51
Average 2.400 3.350 0.000 0.067 0.683 0.550 0.250 0.150 2179 - 66.79 1.380 490 1.05 1.09 0.50
P value 0.648 0.139 - 0.213 0.309 0.908 0.133 0.785 0.280 - 0.296 0.047 0.598 0.806 0.044 0.533
SEM1 0.149 0.157 0.000 0.040 0.061 0.065 0.056 0.047 6.842 - 0.213 0.002 2.076 0.134 0.159 0.024
ABSTRACT ID-24
Live Salmonella vaccine compatibility with competitive exclusion

solution.
F. Barbé1, A. Sacy1, A. Nozeran1, V. Pain2

1
2
SOCSA Elevage, 11 rue d’Ariane, 31240 L’Union, France
The Problem Pearson correlations were analyzed between

the different parameters. All statistical analy-
In poultry production systems, vaccina- ses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics
tion has become a complementary strategy 26.0. Significance level was set at 5% (P≤0.05)
to control Salmonella prevalence, with effi- and statistical trends were reported at 10%
cacy reported on the reduction of pathogenic (P≤0.1).
Salmonella in the feces, tissues and eggs of
chickens. Due to the specificity of the strains Results
targeted by the vaccines, they are often used
in conjunction with alternative microbial solu- All birds from control and AviGuard groups
tions to achieve the best results with strict were found positive for the translocation of the
biosecurity measures (Redweik et al., 2020; Salmonella strain from the vaccine to the liver
Mastroeni et al., 2000). The objective of this and to the ceca. Salmonella count was similar
study was to demonstrate the compatibility (not statistically different) between the 2 groups
of a competitive exclusion product (AviGuard, in the liver (control: 4.42 log/g liver; Aviguard:
Lallemand) with live Salmonella vaccine. The 4.68 log/g liver) and in the ceca (control: 6.94
recovery in the liver and ceca of broiler chicks log/g ceca; Aviguard: 6.84 log/g ceca). The
of the Salmonella strain used in the vaccine weight of liver was positively correlated to
was used to demonstrate vaccine uptake. chick body weight (R2 = 0.64, P<0.01), while
the weight of ceca was constant whatever the
How we investigated or researched the chick weight. Interestingly, the total count of
problem Salmonella translocated in the liver was nega-
tively correlated to the chick weight (R2 = 0.58,
A broiler model was developed to test the P=0.01), while there was no correlation between
compatibility of the co-administration on the the total count of Salmonella colonizing the ceca
same day. 40 Ross 308 day old chicks were and the chick weight. As a result, due to a dilu-
conjointly dosed by gavage at day 1 (0.5 mL/ tion effect, Salmonella concentration in the liver
chick) with live attenuated Salmonella vaccine was negatively correlated to the chick weight
(Cevac Salmovac, Ceva: 8 x 108 cfu/chick) (R2 = 0.66, P<0.01), while Salmonella concentra-
and with either water (control: n = 20) or tion in the ceca was not correlated to the chick
AviGuard (n = 20). The birds were humanely weight.
euthanized at day 4 and live body weight,
liver weight and ceca weight were individu-
ally measured. The number of birds positive
for Salmonella vaccine strain (S. enteritidis)
in liver and ceca samples was determined for
each group and Salmonella count was addi-
tionally performed in 5 chicks per group
and expressed as log/g of organ. Live body
weight, liver weight, ceca weight and Salmo-
nella count in liver and ceca was analyzed
by T-test, comparing the 2 groups. Moreover, (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-24
The competitive exclusion solution tested

in this study had similar Salmonella vaccine
strain positivity in the liver and the ceca,
compared to control group (vaccine alone),
showing no interference in the ability of the
Salmonella vaccine to translocate in the liver
and to colonize the ceca. These results confirm
previous compatibility results between this
solution and Salmonella live vaccine (Barbé
et al., 2024). Moreover, this study allowed
to demonstrate an effect of the chick body
weight, different depending on the organ
considered. Heavier chicks displayed less
Salmonella translocation in the liver, while
Salmonella colonization in the ceca appeared
independent from chick body weight. While
liver is a closed organ, ceca are open. It can
be hypothesized that a “gut barrier” could be
settled earlier in heavier birds, as it is the case
for the intestinal barrier (“gut closure”) put
in place earlier in heavier piglets (Ayuso et
al., 2021; Olszewski et al., 2021; Tang & Xiong,
2022; Tao et al., 2019; Wijtten et al., 2011).
The present compatibility results between
this solution and Salmonella live vaccine
is all the more important that Aviguard is
renowned to be able to prevent the translo-
cation of wild Salmonella strains and other
opportunistic pathogens (E. coli, Clostridium,
Campylobacter, Enterococcus) (Achard et al.,
2023; Dame-Korevaar et al., 2020; Demey &
Chevaux, 2022; Hofacre et al., 2019; Kerr et
al., 2013; Szott et al., 2022), but allows here
the translocation of the Salmonella vaccine
strain. Whereas the Salmonella vaccine strain
is attenuated and does not induce inflamma-
tion, wild pathogenic strains express viru-
lence factors, leading to inflammatory state.
This solution, by reducing and modulating
the inflammatory response, will prevent wild
pathogenic strains to multiply and colonize
the host, while keeping vaccine strain efficacy.

ABSTRACT ID-27
Evaluation of return on investment following the use of different

avian coccidiosis vaccines, based on their attenuation.
De-Castro,S.; Dardi, M.; Solé,M.;Ong,S.;Sivagiganesan,K.

HIPRA ANIMAL HEALTH
The Problem parameter was the avian coccidiosis vaccine

applied at hatchery. The statistical analysis
Avian coccidiosis is one of the most wide- was done using the R software v3.1. A p-value
spread diseases around the world, and its abil- < 0.05 was chosen as the limit for statistical
ity to survive chemical disinfectants hampers significance. A T-test or a linear regression
poultry production at all levels. Vaccination model including week as covariate were
has become an efficient tool during the last performed to compare performances between
20 years, and especially in breeders it is now vaccines.
common practice. Avian coccidiosis vaccines
mainly differ with regard to how the vaccinal Results
strains are attenuated and how this process
is carried out. Currently there are 3 types of Total female mortality rates were statistically
avian coccidiosis vaccines: non-attenuated significantly lower with the APP vaccines
vaccinal strains (NAT), attenuated by embryo (8.16% APP vs 8.69% NAT p>0.0001).
passage vaccinal strains (AEP), and attenu- Secondly, despite the fact that egg production
ated by precociousness vaccinal strains (APP). rates were higher in the APP group, no statisti-
cal difference was observed to the NAT group
How we investigated or researched the (p=0.956). Regarding mean hatchability rates,
problem significant differences were found between
the two groups (89.29% APP vs 87.8% NAT
With the clear objective of evaluating which p>0.007). Comparing these data and monetiz-
type of vaccinal strain is better for broiler ing them with the cost of the vaccines, day-old
breeders, a field comparison between a NAT chicks and feed, the difference for every 1000
vaccine and a APP vaccine was carried out, birds vaccinated within an APP coccidio-
where different performance parameters sis vaccine compared to a NAT vaccine was
were monetized in order to calculate the final 1,337.44$ in favour of the APP vaccine.
outcome of the different vaccination schemes.
The field evaluation was performed in 4 differ- Implications / Conclusions
ent broiler breeder flocks, in the West Malay-
sia region, analyzing performance parameters The outcomes of this study show that the
such as egg laying, hatchability and mortality application of the APP coccidiosis vaccine
throughout the life cycle of the birds, includ- result on a larger return on investment when
ing the rearing and laying phases, monetizing compared to the NAT vaccine. Safety and dura-
these data and evaluating the final return on tion of immunity may explain the differences
investment. Two flocks were vaccinated with in terms of performance in a long-term evalu-
an attenuated by precociousness coccidiosis ation. Other authors in the past have reported
vaccine (APP), and the other 2 flocks were the effects of coccidiosis on testes develop-
vaccinated with a non-attenuated coccidiosis ment. Nevertheless, further studies are neces-
vaccine (NAT). The 4 flocks belonged to the sary to confirm these outcomes.
same genetics line, the same hatchery, had
the same nutrition programme, were reared
in the same density, and the only independent

ABSTRACT ID-33
The potential benefit of a novel probiotic and butyrate on broilers

exposed to a Salmonella heidelberg challenge.
Elisa François2, Josilene Correa Rocha1; Ana Maria Almeida1; Marcos Barcellos Café1; Rafaela Pereira2;
Susanne Kirwan3
1
Federal University of Goiás, 74001-970, Goiânia, Brazil
2
Kemin do Brasil Ltda, Animal Nutrition and Health Division, 13279-450, Valinhos, Brazil
3
Kemin Europa NV, Herentals, Belgium.
The Problem weight, feed intake and feed conversion) as

well as Salmonella spp recovery and counts
Between the increased global demand to were evaluated. For the analysis of variances
produce poultry, the pressure for lowest and the differences between the means, the
costs, and the restriction of many antimicro- Tukey test was performed. Salmonella spp.
bials it is becoming increasing challenging count data were evaluated by the Kruskal
to produce broilers. Managing salmonella in Wallis test (significance level P<0.05).
this production context is of particular impor-
tance as salmonellosis can both have negative Results
impact on birds but also poses a zoonotic risk
to the end consumer, depending on strain and In the period from 1 to 35d of age, there were
species involved. no significant effects for zootechnical param-
eters for the challenge and for the interaction
How we investigated or researched the between feed treatments. For the unchal-
problem lenged group, Salmonella spp isolations were
not observed. For the quantification of Salmo-
The aim of this study was to evaluate the nella in the challenged group at 7 and 21 days
effects of a triple-strain probiotic (PB) of age, a significant reduction (p=0.037) of
and a coated calcium butyrate (CB) in the 57.2% in Salmonella spp. count at 21 days of
performance and bacterial count in chick- age can be observed in the group-fed diets
ens challenged with Salmonella heidel- containing PB + CB.
berg. The experiment was carried out at the
Federal University of Goiás, Brazil. 360 day Implications / Conclusions
old all- male Cobb-500 chicks were housed
and distributed in a completely randomised These results allow us to infer that there is an
2x3 factorial design (challenged or not with interaction between the treatments (PB and
Salmonella and three feed treatments – CB) for Salmonella spp and it can be concluded
control (C), basal diet; PB (C + 0.05% probi- that in this experiment, the association PB +
otic (PB)); and PB + calcium butyrate (CB) (C CB in the diets of broilers allows a reduction of
+ 0.05% PB + 0.03% CB); with six replicates Salmonella heidelberg contamination in broil-
of 10 birds per experimental unit. Fully insu- ers at 21 d.
lated, climate controlled rooms were used for
all groups. On day one the birds of the unchal-
lenged group received 1ml of distilled water
and the birds of the challenged group received
1ml of inoculum containing Salmonella heidel-
berg, at a dose of 108 CFU/ml both orally. The
feeds were formulated matching corn and
soybean meal following Brazilian commercial
practice. Zootechnical performance (average

ABSTRACT ID-34
Improvement of feed efficiency in broilers supplemented with

Bacillus pumilus AQP4275: meta-analysis on 11 trials.
F. Barbé1, A. Sacy1, A. Nozeran1, A. Leplat1, E. Chevaux1

1
The Problem full cycle. The number of animals involved in

the trials were respectively 3696 for control
Bacillus sp. strains are widely used for various group and 3631 for BP group, representing
technological applications (fermented foods, 145 and 140 floor pens, respectively. All the
probiotics, industrial enzymes, heterologous trials lasted 35 days and were performed
proteins, bioinsecticides, antibiotics) and in a non-challenging context. For each trial,
their ability to sporulate offer a remarkable bodyweight at start, bodyweight at the end of
resistance to pelletization process. Several trial (day 35) and the following parameters
strains are recognized as efficient poultry over the 35-day trial period were measured:
probiotics through complementary modes of average daily gain, feed intake, mortality and
action: competitive exclusion (favoring the feed conversion ratio. A meta-analysis was
colonization of the gut by beneficial bacte- performed through a linear mixed model with
ria), direct effect on pathogens (production the group (control/BP) as fixed effect and the
of bacteriocins and antimicrobial molecules), trial as random effect (IBM SPSS Statistics 26).
reduction of toxic compounds (reduction of
aflatoxins and ammonia), improvement of Results
digestion and absorption (production of extra-
cellular enzymes, neutralization of anti-nutri- A robust effect of BP was observed on the
tional factors, improvement of the intestinal reduction of individual daily feed intake
morphology), immunomodulation and modu- (IDFI_0_35: -2.2%, P = 0.042). There was
lation of the GIT microbiota and metabolites no significant difference between control
production (Luise et al., 2022; Mazanko et and BP groups for the bodyweight at start
al., 2022; Ogbuewu et al., 2022; Popov et al., (BW0, P = 0.952) and at the end of the trials
2021; Ramlucken et al., 2020). A new strain at day 35 (BW35, P = 0.507), nor for the ADG
of Bacillus pumilus has recently been selected of live birds (ADG_LIVE_0_35, P = 0.501) or
from marine origin as a livestock probiotic. calculated on all birds (live and dead, ADG_
11 trials have been performed on broilers in TOTAL_0_35, P = 0.444), nor for mortality rate
different countries between 2017 and 2019 on 35 days (mortality_0_35, P = 0.701). As a
to document the effect of Bacillus pumilus consequence of feed intake reduction, a posi-
AQP4275 (EffiXience, Lallemand) on zootech- tive effect of BP was observed on the economic
nical performance of broilers. FCR (FCR_E_0_35: -2.7%, P = 0.025) and on
the technical FCR (FCR_T_0_35: -2.2%, P =
How we investigated or researched the 0.017).
problem
Seven trials were run in France (the other

ones in Czech Republic, Greece and USA). 4
trials were run in 2017, 6 in 2018 and 1 in
2019. Genetics used were Ross 308 and and
Cobb 500. The tested dose of Bacillus pumilus
(BP) was 5×10^8 cfu/kg feed (= 50 g EffiX-
ience/ton of feed) supplemented during the (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-34
New interest is rising in the scientific commu-

nity for Bacillus species of marine origin,
which is an unexplored ecological niche for
a livestock probiotic having high enzymatic
activity and being a source of new antimicro-
bial compounds (Prieto et al., 2012, 2014).
The improvement of FCR in BP group was
mainly driven by the reduction of feed intake
rather than increase of animals’ growth. This
meta-analysis provides valuable information
regarding the effect of this specific Bacillus
strain on the zootechnical performance of
broilers. Further mechanisms are still under
study to better understand its in vivo mode
of action and the pathways activated by this
product to improve feed efficiency. Recently,
it has been shown that this particular Bacillus
strain is able to enhance intestinal barrier and
intestinal morphology (number of goblet cells
and increased mucus production), to module
the immune system (weight of immune
organs, immune cells) and to promote early
maturation of intestinal microbiota (Bilal et
al., 2021a, b; Belloir et al., 2019, 2020; Bonos
et al., 2021). This Bacillus strain allows also to
alleviate the severity of lesions and to reduce
mortality in necrotic enteritis-challenged
broilers (Barbé et al., 2023, 2024).

ABSTRACT ID-36
Continuing education as a key to improve intestinal health and

the overall sustainability of the Poultry sector
Vincent Guyonnet and Pierre Cadot

World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH)
The Problem private sector or from the host universities

partnering with WVEPAH and located around
As the most important component of the cost the world.
of production and the overall impact of Poul-
try production on the environment, feeds, Results
along with gut health, play an essential role in
the sustainability of the Poultry sector. Unfor- Since 2013, the program has organized its
tunately, some of the latest management and courses on 3 continents (Africa, Latin Amer-
feeding practices along with new disease ica and Europe), offering its program in either
prevention and diagnostic methods are not English, French or Spanish. A total of 20 onsite
well known by veterinarians and applied in sessions, taking place in 9 different countries
the field. and 10 modules, administered exclusively
online, have provided training opportunities
How we investigated or researched the for over 350 Poultry professionals from 59
problem different countries, allowing many of them
to acquire a level of specialization that is not
Recognizing this gap in the professional devel- currently available in their respective coun-
opment of veterinarians in many countries, tries. The exams, administered at the end
the World Organisation for Animal Health of each Module and managed online by the
(WOAH, founded as OIE) supported the estab- University of Montréal, allows all participants
lishment of the World Veterinary Education to benchmark and validate the acquisition of
in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH) in their new knowledge. With degrees delivered
2010. WVEPAH is dedicated to the training by the University of Montreal and validated by
of production animal health specialists and WOAH, these programs allowed recipients to
has developed a series of programs target- obtain a global recognition of their expertise
ing animal production professionals. For the in Poultry.
Poultry sector, the curriculum includes two
modules leading to diplomas delivered by Implications / Conclusions
the University of Montreal (Canada) and vali-
dated by WOAH. During Module 1 (Key Disci- As improved gut health translates ensures
plines in Poultry Health/Regulation Module heathier animals, better welfare and the provi-
OIE-WOAH) offered exclusively online, partic- sion of safe foods, the dissemination within
ipants are exposed to the general field of Poultry professionals of the latest knowledge
Poultry production and diseases as well as in terms of management and feeding practices
various aspects related to regulations, zoon- is key to the sustainability of the Poultry and
oses and disease control measures. Module 2, egg sector. Since the WVEPAH programs have
combining online lectures and a 5-day onsite been extremely well received by the Poultry
session, offers specializations in the key poul- sector, WVEPAH, under the mandate of the
try species raised worldwide: broilers and WOAH, is currently developing new modules
breeder birds, commercial layers, turkeys, to support professionals working in other
and waterfowls. The lectures are provided fields, such as swine, aquaculture, and labo-
by a team of global poultry experts from the ratory animals.

ABSTRACT ID-37
The potential of resin acids to maintain intestinal homeostasis by

mitigating inflammation-induced epithelial integrity in broiler.
Shah Hasan, Usama Aftab, Gilson Gomes, Tiago Santos

AB Vista, AB Vista, 3 Woodstock Court, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN United Kingdom
The Problem jejunal and ileal tissue. The tissue samples

were immersed in RNAlater solution (Sigma)
In modern high-performing poultry produc- and subsequently analysed for the expression
tion, intestinal health issues are common- of MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 using TaqMan™
place. Challenges such as excess undigested Gene Expression Assays (Thermo Scientific).
nutrients, heat stress, fungal and microbial The gene expression was normalized against
toxins, and dysbiosis provoke an inflamma- the housekeeping genes Tata-box binding
tory response and compromise the integrity protein and RNA Polymerase II subunit B.
of tight junctions between epithelial cells,
leading to gut leakage and reduced perfor- Results
mance. Recent studies indicate that dietary
inclusion of resin acid-based products (RAC), The gelatinase activity and collagen type I
can enhance broiler performance. Resin acids and IV activities in the ileal protein lysates of
have long been recognized for their wound broiler chickens were significantly lower in
healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicro- the RAC-fed group compared to the control
bial properties in traditional and veterinary diet group (p < 0.05). Regarding gene expres-
medicine. However, the precise mode of action sion, the MMP-2 expression in the RAC-fed
of resin acids remains largely unknown. This group was 64.2% of that observed in control
study aimed to investigate the effects of RAC birds in the jejunum. However, the expression
on collagenolytic activities in broiler intesti- of MMP-7 and MMP-9 showed no significant
nal tissue and the gene expression of matrix difference between the two treatments. In the
metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are ileum, the expression of MMP-7 and MMP-9
involved in collagen breakdown and crucial was 25.1% and 53.1% of that in the control
for maintaining intestinal mucosal structure. group, respectively, while no significant effect
on MMP-2 expression was observed. Generally,
How we investigated or researched the MMP-2 exhibited the highest expression in the
problem jejunum, whereas the expression of MMP-7
and MMP-9 was notably elevated in the ileum.
The effect of RAC on broiler chickens in two
experiments is summarized here. In the first Implications / Conclusions
trial, groups of ten broiler hatchlings (Ross
308) were fed a commercial-type diet with The results suggest that ileal collagenolytic
or without RAC at 200 g/ton for 21 days. All activity and MMP gene expression in both the
birds were then euthanized, and ileal tissue jejunum and ileum were suppressed by RAC
was collected. Gelatinase activity, collagen in broilers with normal health status. This
type I, and collagen type IV activities were implies that natural resin acids may contrib-
measured from ileal protein lysates using the ute to maintaining the integrity of intestinal
EnzChek® Gelatinase/Collagenase Assay Kit tissue and promoting intestinal homeostasis
(Thermo Fisher). In the second trial, birds in broilers.
were fed either 0 (Control) or 265 g/ton of
RAC in a commercial-type diet. One chick per
pen was sacrificed on day 14 and sampled for

ABSTRACT ID-40
Probiotic ‘Excential ProDi-G’ as a control solution to broilers’ gut

health
L. Vande Maele1, M. Brink1, J. Serrano1, V. Vandendriessche1

1
Orffa Additives BV, the Netherlands
The Problem trials, the body weight, feed intake and feed
conversion ratio were evaluated and treat-
To control gut health of broilers, multiple feed ments were compared using ANOVA, with
additive solutions exist, including probiot- significance level at 0.05.
ics as one of the promising categories. Each
bacterial strain has different properties and Results
therefor it is important to verify the probi-
otic activity of selected strains (or specific Table 1 (on the next page)
mixtures of strains), under different condi-
tions, to conclude on the in vivo effectiveness Performance parameters of the broilers varied
of a product. Excential ProDi-G (Orffa Addi- between trials. Body weights are presented in
tives BV, the Netherlands) is a proprietary the table. For feed conversion ratio an average
probiotic product consisting of a blend of improvement of -2.3% was observed.
viable spores of Bacillus subtilis LMG S-32515
and Weizmannia coagulans (synonym Bacil- Implications / Conclusions
lus coagulans) LMG S-32514. Multiple in
vitro trials had already confirmed the probi- Under different experimental conditions,
otic potential of the individual strains, e.g. by Excential ProDi-G has improved performance
the production of enzymes and L-lactic acid. in broilers, proving its probiotic effective-
To verify the probiotic effect of the specific ness. The size of the effect is dependent on
strain combination in broilers, a total of 6 in the conditions and on the included dosage.
vivo trials were carried out under different Taking into account the results of all trails, the
conditions. average improvement of body weight was 5%
and the recommended inclusion level for posi-
How we investigated or researched the tive effects in broilers is 5x108 CFU/kg.
problem
Six broiler trials were carried out at 4 research

institutes in different countries: Belgium
(ILVO, 3x), Philippines (UPLB) and USA (OSU
and Virginia Tech). To evaluate the effec-
tiveness of the probiotic product, inclusion
levels varied from 3x108 colony forming units
(CFU)/kg, to 1x109 CFU/kg feed. The respec-
tive trials varied with regards to diet compo-
sition, broiler genetics (Ross 308, Cobb 500,
Ross 708), housing (cages or floor pens), and
environmental temperatures (including heat
stress). For the trials carried out in the US, at
OSU and Virginia Tech, broilers were chal-
lenged with Salmonella Typhimurium and
Eimeria spp. pathogens, respectively. For all (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-40
Table 1
Location Inclusion Age broilers Body weight Body % Body weight

ProDi-G (CFU/ (Days) Control weight improvement
kg) (Grams) ProDi-G (P-value)
(Grams)
Belgium (ILVO, 1) 3x10 8 35 1966 1987 1.1% (P>0.05)
Belgium (ILVO, 2) 3x10 8 36 2431 2423 -0.4% (P>0.05)
Belgium (ILVO, 2) 1x10 9 36 2431 2547 4.8% (P<0.001)
Belgium (ILVO, 3) 5x10 8 35 2326 2509 7.9% (P<0.001)
Philippines (UPLB) 3x10 8
33 1769 1813 2.5% (P>0.05)
US (OSU) 3x10 8 15 288 330 14.6% (P<0.05)
US (OSU) 3x10 8 28 869 922 6.1% (P>0.05)
US (Virginia Tech) 1x10 9
29 1450 1539 6.1% (P<0.05)
US (Virginia Tech) 1x10 9 42 2912 3046 4.6% (P>0.05)

ABSTRACT ID-51
Effect of a synergistic blend of organic acids on gut morphology

and growth performance of broilers
Chai Bin Lim1,2, In Ho Kim 1,2, Lane Pineda3, Giseli Heim3, Chavalit Piriyabenjawat3, Jose Manuel De La
Fuente Garcia3
1
Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Korea
2
Smart Animal-Bio Institute (SABI), Cheonan, 31116, Korea
3
Selko, Nutreco, The Netherlands
The Problem d1-35. On d14 and d35, pH was measured in

the crop, proventriculus, and duodenum. On
Antibiotics have traditionally been used d14, a section of the duodenum, jejunum, and
to maintain animal health and productiv- ileum were examined for gut morphology
ity. However, the development of antibiot- (villus height [VH] and crypt depth [CD]).
ic-resistant microorganisms has accelerated
the demand for alternatives. Organic acids Results
(OA) have been regarded as a replacement
for antibiotics because of their antibacterial Over the entire supplementation period, no
properties and their potential impact on intes- significant difference was observed between
tinal health and animal performance. OA can AGP and SPH on all growth parameters meas-
compensate for gastric acidification, improve ured (P>0.05). Compared to NC, the supple-
nutrient utilization, and inhibit pathogenic mentation of SPH significantly improved the
bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). FCR (-17 pts, 1.607 vs 1.772) and tended to
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a increase the final BW (+80 g, 1.64 vs 1.56 kg)
water acidifier based on a synergistic blend and ADG (+2.3, 45.5 vs 43.2 g/d) of broilers.
of free and buffered short-chain fatty acids The pH in the different segments of the GIT
(SPH) (Selko-AlpHa, Selko, The Netherlands) was significantly lower in broilers given SPH
compared with the effect of antibiotics (Baci- compared to AGP and NC (P<0.05). In the
tracin methylene disalicylate, BMD) on growth duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, the VH was
performance, GIT pH, gut morphology, and higher, whereas the VH: CD ratio in the duode-
economics of broilers. num was lower in broilers supplemented with
SPH compared to AGP (P<0.05). The return
How we investigated or researched the over feed cost per broiler was higher in birds
problem given SPH (€ 2.16) compared to NC (€ 2.00)
and AGP (€ 1.95).
Ross 308 mixed-sex broiler chicks (n=969)
with an initial average body weight (BW) of Implications / Conclusions
48.26 ± 0.40 g were allocated into three treat-
ment groups with 17 replicates of 19 birds/ The addition of a synergistic blend of free
pen. The test treatments included (1) a basal and buffered short-chain fatty acids in water
diet (NC), (2) an NC plus 50 g/T BMD (AGP), (SPH) is a cost-effective replacement for
and (3) an NC plus 1 L SPH/1000 L water AGP that can enhance gut functionality and
(SPH). AGP-free diets based on corn-soya were support the growth performance of broilers.
fed in two phases: starter mash from day 0-14 SPH is equally effective as AGP in improv-
and grower mash from day 15-35. Growth ing growth but better in improving the gut
performance [BW, average daily feed intake morphology of broilers.
(ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), average
daily water intake (ADWI), feed conversion
ratio (FCR), mortality rate] was recorded from

ABSTRACT ID-65
Bacteriophages: A novel approach to control Salmonella and the

overall safety of the Poultry value chain
Wattana Peyluntha1, Vincent Guyonnet2, Mingkwan, Yingkajorn2 and Kitiya Vongkamjan1,2

1
Department of Biotechnology, Kasetsart University Bangkok, Thailand
2
UniFAHS, Bangkok, Thailand
The Problem the first commercial trial, Salmonella was

not detected in either cloacal swab, boot
Poor gut health, in addition to affecting the cover swabs, or bedding material after 16
growth and welfare of broilers, is a known days of phage administration. In the second
cause of foodborne illnesses in consumers commercial trial, similar results were
of Poultry products as well as a source of observed for cloacal swabs although some
concerns for health authorities with the rise environmental swabs (day 36-40 days)
of antimicrobial resistant bacteria detected in were positive for Salmonella, highlight-
the field. The use of bacteriophages, viruses ing the importance of a holistic approach
killing specific bacteria, offers an innovative towards the control of Salmonella in broil-
One Health approach to improve gut health ers. The addition of bacteriophage cocktails
and food safety. to Salmonella enteritidis-spiked poultry
meat samples reduced the bacterial count
How we investigated or researched the by 5 Log in 1 to 5 days during storage at 4ºC.
problem A dipping method also proved effective in
reducing the bacterial load of poultry meat
Following laboratory studies to identify the products.
right combination (cocktail) of bacterio-
phages and their safety of use, two commer- Implications / Conclusions
cial studies were conducted in Thailand with
some large integrated broiler companies. The Bacteriophages, as a novel approach to control
performance of broilers as well as the pres- Salmonella and other pathogens in Poultry
ence of Salmonella in both their intestinal tract production, have demonstrated their efficacy
and their house environment were evaluated. in the field. As a natural solution to improve
The effectiveness of bacteriophage cocktails gut health in birds without the use of antimi-
to control Salmonella in Poultry meat prod- crobials, there are ideal candidates to improve
ucts was also evaluated as a means to reduce the health and welfare of birds, to ensure the
foodborne illnesses. provision of safe poultry products to consum-
ers and to assist the Poultry sector along
Results its sustainability journey. Bacteriophages
greatly contribute to the One Health approach
Laboratory studies confirmed the safety required by the Poultry sector for the benefit
of use of bacteriophages (selection of lytic of Animals, People and Planet.
phages) as well as their resistance in water
solutions at high temperature, pH ranging
from 2 to 12, or in the presence of 0.5 to
15% (w/v) NaCl, chlorine at 0.5% (v/v),
or chlorine neutralizer for 14 days. In an
in-vivo challenge study, phage treatment
programs controlled Salmonella starting
on day 20, as demonstrated by the absence
of detection in cloacal swabs of broilers. In

ABSTRACT ID-68
Efficacy of Specific Probiotic in Enhancing Gut Health in a Deep

Litter Layer Farm
Vannie Wan1, Apichaya Taechavasonyoo1, Rafael Hermes1, Yu Wei Tsai2, Ming Chu Cheng2
1
2
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
The Problem samples from the oviduct were prominent

in the control group at weeks 2, 5, and 10,
Escherichia coli often causes salpingitis and/or whereas only the week 0 sample in the probi-
peritonitis, leading to an increased in mortal- otic group was E. coli-positive. Drug resistance
ity in layer farms. Current limited solutions was observed in E. coli, Gallibacterium anatis,
and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Salmonella in the farm, but Salmonella
underscore the urgency for more effective from the probiotic group at week 10 displayed
control measures. no increased antibiotic resistance. Although
the probiotic group initially exhibited higher
How we investigated or researched the Clostridium perfringens counts, these dimin-
problem ished after 2 and 5 weeks, resurging at the
10th week, two weeks after probiotic cessa-
The trial aimed to assess the efficacy of tion.
a novel probiotic mixture (Bacillus spp.
ATCC PTA-6737, ATCC PTA-127114, ATCC Implications /Conclusions
PTA-127113, ENTEROSURETM 3x108 CFU/
kg of feed) in mitigating bacterial infections, Conclusively, the study underscores the
particularly E. coli, in a commercial farm following implications: (1) Probiotic supple-
facing laying rate challenges with high mortal- mentation effectively controls mortality; (2)
ity and unresponsiveness to benzoic acid. The The probiotic hinder E. coli proliferation in
experiment started with laying hens at 52 the reproductive tract, aiding in colibacillo-
weeks of age, and the birds were housed in sis control; (3) Probiotic use controls E. coli,
two groups (closed houses) of 32,000 birds mitigates drug resistance development, and
each group in a deep litter system. alleviates persistent Salmonella infections;
(4) The probiotic could regulate Clostridium
The investigation involved swabs from perfringens populations, mitigating the risk
oviducts and spleens of weak birds before of necrotic enteritis due to elevated bacterial
probiotic application at 2, 5, and 10 weeks content.
afterward. The presence of E. coli and other
potential pathogenic bacteria was checked.
Antibiotic sensitivity tests were conducted
on isolated strains, and cecal contents were
examined for Clostridium perfringens popula-
tions. The objective was to evaluate the impact
of probiotic on bacteria control in a high-risk
layer farm.
Results
Results revealed a lower mortality rate in

the probiotics group (0.4%) compared to
the control group (0.55%). E. coli-positive

ABSTRACT ID-69
Benefits of a Probiotic Weizmannia and Bacillus Combination on

Broiler Gut Histomorphology, Digestibility, and Performance
Melanie Frisch1, Lydia Zeibich1, Alexandra Schlagheck1, Umar Farooq2

1
Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- u. Produktionsges. mbH, Lohne, Germany
2
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
The Problem weekly. Statistical analysis employed ANOVA

if data were suitable or non-parametric tests
Antibiotic growth promotors (AGPs) are still (Kruskal Wallis) using IBM SPSS software.
a widely used tool to control gut health and Mean values were assessed for significance
growth performance in broiler chicken. The using post hoc Tukey test with significance
rise of antimicrobial resistance drives the set at p ≤ 0.05.
need for sustainable alternatives to secure
similar or even improved performance levels. Results
Amongst a multitude of different feed addi-
tives, probiotics have demonstrated great All treatment groups showed significant
effects on gut health due to beneficial micro- differences in VH, CD and VH/CD ratio in the
biota modulation, thus also benefiting perfor- duodenum, jejunum and ileum as compared
mance. In the following trial, the effects of a to CON. PRO showed longest VH in the duode-
probiotic feed additive on growth perfor- num and strongest increase in VH/CD ratio in
mance and gut health were compared to two the jejunum. Digestibility was increased in all
commercially available feed antibiotics. treatment groups compared to CON, with PRO
showing the highest overall protein digesti-
How we investigated or researched the bility. In overall performance, PRO had signif-
problem icantly highest final body weight (FBW) as
well as highest FI and European Performance
In this floor pen trial, a total of 480 1-day-old Factor and lowest FCR. These improvements
broilers (ROSS 308) were randomly assigned were statistically significant in comparison to
to four treatment groups (n=6, 20 chicks per CON and virginiamycin treatment and numer-
pen, sex as hatched). The control group (CON) ically in comparison to enramycin treatment.
did not receive any supplementation. Group
AGP1 was supplemented with 2000 ppm enra- Implications / Conclusions
mycin, group AGP2 was supplemented with
2000 ppm virginiamycin, and group PRO was In this trial, PRO demonstrated better effects
supplemented with a commercially availa- on growth performance of broiler chicken
ble probiotic feed supplement containing a than AGP1 or AGP2. The shown effects on
combination of Bacillus licheniformis DSM intestinal morphology can be assumed to
33806 and Weizmannia coagulans DSM 32016 increase the intestinal surface area, thus
at a dosage of 2.0 x 109 CFU/kg feed. Animals ameliorating digestion and absorption as
were fed ad libitum with starter (day 1-14), manifested in the improved digestibility and
grower (day 15-25) and finisher (day 26-35) growth performance. It can be concluded that
diets. Histomorphological analysis of intes- the tested probiotic, based on a combination
tinal villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) of B. licheniformis DSM 33806 and W. coagu-
was performed on day 35. Apparent digest- lans DSM 32016, can successfully be used in
ibility of dry matter, crude protein and fiber AGP replacement strategies to substitute the
was determined for each feeding phase. Body use of enramycin or virginiamycin in broiler
weight (BW), feed intake (FI), mortality and flocks.
feed conversion ratio (FCR) were documented

ABSTRACT ID-71
Mechanisms of antioxidant action of two phytogenic feed

additives compared to vitamin E in broiler chickens
Fernando Sevillano1, Alexis Joel Maldonado1, Marta Blanch2, Jose J. Pastor2, David Menoyo1
1
Departamento de Producción Agraria, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ETSI Agronómica, Alimentaria y de
Biosistemas, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
2
Lucta S.A., Innovation Division, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
The Problem glutathione-s transferase μ-2 (GSTM2),

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
Vitamin E (vit E) is commonly added in broiler (Nrf2), NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX), heat shock
feeds as antioxidant. Supplemented vit E is protein 70 (HSP70), ATPase 2B1 (ATP2B1),
of synthetic origin and might significantly and α-tocopherol transfer protein (TTPA).
increase feed costs. Phytogenic additives with
antioxidant properties might be an interesting Results
natural alternative as substitutes for supple-
mented vit E. But to be able to determine There were no significant differences on gene
whether they can replace or act synergisti- expression in the jejunum mucosa between
cally with vit E, it is necessary to study their PC and NC, except for TTPA, which was signif-
mechanisms of antioxidant action. icantly downregulated (P < 0.01) in the
PC. In the same direction as PC, SPICY and
How we investigated or researched the SPIOE groups tended to downregulate TTPA
problem compared to the NC (P = 0.06). Birds fed the
OE group displayed a significant downregula-
This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms tion of HSP70 compared to NC (P = 0.01) and
of antioxidant action of two phytogenic feed SPICY (P = 0.02). In parallel, GSTA4 was down-
additives compared to vit E. To this end regulated in the OE (P < 0.01) and SPIOE (P =
640 Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly 0.03) groups compared to NC, and a trend was
distributed in 5 treatments (8 pens/tr and detected in the SPICY group (P = 0.09). Also,
16 birds/pen), a basal diet with no additives expression of GSTA4 tended to be downregu-
and no added Vit E in the premix as negative lated in OE group compared to PC (P = 0.08).
control (NC) and four experimental diets Furthermore, expression of GPx tended to be
obtained by adding different products on downregulated in the OE (P = 0.07) and SPIOE
top of the basal diet: 100 ppm of Vit E (posi- groups (P = 0.09) compared to PC. In liver, only
tive control, PC), 1250 ppm of olive pomace a trend in the OE treatment to downregulate
extract (OE), 250 ppm of pepper, black pepper HSP70 compared to NC was found (P = 0.08).
and ginger extract (SPICY), or a combination
of both (SPIOE). The basal diet contained Implications / Conclusions
corn and soybean meal as main raw materi-
als providing 10 ppm of Vit E. The experimen- The results observed on TTPA expression in
tal diets were fed ad libitum from 1 to 35 days the jejunum suggest possible interactions
of age. On day 35, 1 bird per pen was eutha- of SPICY and SPIOE on vit E metabolism.
nized and liver and jejunum mucosa samples Furthermore, the downregulation of GSTA4
were taken to measure the relative expres- and HSP70 by OE fed birds point to a lower
sion of 10 genes related to antioxidant func- need to activate both oxidative stress related
tion and oxidative stress (using 2-ΔΔCT with genes. This suggests an antioxidant effect of
NC as reference): catalase (CAT), superox- OE independent of the activity of vit E.
ide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase
(GPx), glutathione-s transferase α-4 (GSTA4),

ABSTRACT ID-72
Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis DSMZ 28710 to support broilers

under a necrotic enteritis challenge
Wouter Van der Veken & Veerle Hautekiet1

1
The Problem Results
Necrotic enteritis (NE), one of the possible Challenged control animals performed signif-
outcomes of dysbiosis, remains present in icantly below the non-challenged control in
modern broiler production to this day. The terms of body weight and FCR, validating
cost to the broiler industry has been esti- the trial model (709 vs. 946 gram and 2.087
mated to reach up to US$ 6 billion per year. vs. 1.601; P<0.05). Within the challenged
At the same time, tools that were histori- groups, animals supplemented with probi-
cally used to mitigate the challenge have otic B. licheniformis scored significantly better
been restricted. This has led to the devel- compared to the non-supplemented animals
opment of alternative feed additives, such for the same technical parameters (875 vs.
as probiotics. Within that category, Bacillus 709 gram and 1.699 vs. 2.087; P<0.05). A simi-
licheniformis stands out in regard to miti- lar outcome was recorded in the cumulative
gating dysbiosis. To put a particular potent mortality: non-supplemented but challenged
candidate to the test, B-Act ® (Bacillus animals recorded up to 16.7% mortality,
licheniformis DSMZ 28710, Huvepharma® whilst the probiotic group scored significantly
NV) was supplemented to broilers under a lower with 2.1%. Statistically speaking, there
NE challenge. were no significant differences in mortality
between the non-challenged control group
How we investigated or researched the and the probiotic group (0% vs. 2.1%).
problem
A total of 144 male Cobb broilers were
divided at random over three treatments, Although necrotic enteritis and dysbiosis are
consisting out of a non-challenged control, still prevalent on-farm, novel developments
a challenged control and a challenged in feed additives are now available to counter
probiotic group. The latter received 500 the negative effects of these challenges. From
g B-Act ®/ton of feed, equal to 1.6x10 12 the possible options, the unique DSMZ 28710
CFU B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710 per ton strain of probiotic Bacillus licheniformis offers
of feed. Each treatment had 6 replicates, a good tool to do so.
containing 8 birds each. Animals were
reared under commercial conditions, for
28 days. Animals in the challenged groups
received an oral coccidiosis challenge on
d13 (Eimeria maxima, approximately 5000
oocysts) followed by an oral inoculation of
108 CFU Clostridium perfringens (CP) thrice
on d18, d19 and d20. All birds and feed
were weighed at the beginning and on d28,
to allow FCR to be calculated. Mortality was
evaluated as well.

ABSTRACT ID-73
Combining flavophospholipol and probiotic Bacillus licheniformis

DSMZ 28710 in broilers
Wouter Van der Veken & Veerle Hautekiet1

1
The Problem cance at P < 0.05, with individual means being

compared using Tukey’s test.
Flavophospholipol has a long history as a
feed additive in broilers, aimed at support- Results
ing technical performance by managing the
microflora. However, its compatibility with At the end of the trial, animals receiving
other feed additives such as probiotics has not flavophospholipol performed significantly
received much attention. To test the impact better than the control for all tested param-
and viability of such a combination, broilers eters. Within the flavophospholipol groups,
were supplemented with Flavomycin® (flavo- animals receiving probiotic B. licheniformis
phospholipol; Huvepharma® NV), either with noted even further improved results. This is
or without probiotic Bacillus licheniformis clear proof that the combination of probiotic
DSMZ 28710 (FlavoCombi®, Huvepharma® B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710 with flavophos-
NV). pholipol is not only possible, but also bene-
ficial. The improved technical performance
How we investigated or researched the and nutrient digestibility might be explained
problem by changes in both the microbiota as well as
the small intestinal morphology. Regardless of
A total of 216 one-day-old Arbor Acres broil- time point or intestinal location, villus heights
ers (male) were randomly assigned to three of supplemented animals were significantly
groups and reared for 42 days. Each group higher whilst crypt depths reduced signifi-
was assigned 12 pens, with 6 birds per pen. cantly. Consequently, improved height-to-
The control received a standard basal diet, depth-ratios were noted for supplemented
whilst the two other groups were supple- animals, with again the flavophospholipol
mented with 5 ppm flavophospholipol (FLV + probiotic group noting the best scores. As
group). One of these also received 1.6 x 1012 this ratio is a general indicator for gut health
CFU B. licheniformis/ton of feed (FLC group). from an intestinal morphology perspective,
Animals were reared under commercial condi- the effect noted here should be interpreted as
tions, whilst feed and water were available ad a positive one. Finally, E. coli numbers in the
libitum. caecum of supplemented animals were also
significantly lower compared to the control
Technical performance parameters such as (4.98 vs. 5.57 logCFU/g digesta on d42 for FLC
average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed group, P<0.01).
intake (ADFI) and feed conversion (FCR) were
tracked. On d19 and 40, nutrient digestibility Implications / Conclusions
was evaluated in terms of dry matter, crude
protein, calcium and phosphorus. On d21 and Flavophospholipol is a beneficial feed addi-
42, samples of the duodenum, jejunum and tive to support efficient broiler production.
ileum were evaluated for villus heights and The combination with probiotic B. licheni-
crypt depths. At the same time points, caecal formis DSMZ 28710 in the same feed is not
populations of E. coli were assessed as well. only possible, but also beneficial.
All data was analysed with statistical signifi-

ABSTRACT ID-76
Comparison of different intestinal health programmes
Ben Dehaeck1, Wim Schelstraete1, Wouter Van Der Veken1, Maja Marien1 And Monita Vereecken1
1
The Problem ter weight and programme as fixed effects and

farm as a random effect. The average differ-
To control coccidiosis and optimise intesti- ence in bodyweight was compared at a slaugh-
nal health, different products and strategies ter age of 32.5 days (the average slaughter
are applied. This report provides a compar- age in the data set). The average difference in
ison between two different intestinal health days until slaughter and FCR were compared a
programmes, evaluated in terms of FCR slaughter weight of 1850 g (average slaughter
and slaughter weight. The first programme weight in the data set).
contains nicarbazin/monensin (Monimax® at
500g/T until +/- 30 days) to control coccidio- Results
sis, in combination with Bacillus licheniformis
DSMZ 28710 (B-Act®) and flavophospholipol Flocks on programme 1 reached their target
(Flavomycin®) to optimise the microbiome weight (1850 g) 1.8 days earlier (p-value <
(programme 1). The second programme 0.001) compared to flocks on programme 2.
contains nicarbazin/semduramicin (500 g/T This difference in time to reach body weight
until +/- 30 days) in combination with func- directly translates into a better FCR. When
tional flavors, organic acids and zinc bacitra- broilers become older, the percentage of
cin (Albac®; programme 2). energy needed for maintenance becomes
more important. As such, a better FCR can be
How we investigated or researched the expected when the target weights are reached
problem earlier. When FCR results were adjusted to
the average bodyweight of 1850 g, the differ-
The data used for the current evaluation orig- ence between both programmes was 5 points
inates from Aviapp®, the software platform of (p-value < 0.001) in favor of programme 1.
Huvepharma®. For programme 1, data from
204 flocks were available for analysis whilst Implications / Conclusions
programme 2 was applied in 218 flocks. Both
programmes were implemented in the same This study demonstrates that there were
months (July, August and September) of 2 significant differences between the two eval-
consecutive years and in the same geographi- uated intestinal health programmes, in days
cal area: programme 1 was given in 2022, and to market and adjusted FCR. The programme
programme 2 was applied in 2023. The main based on nicarbazin/monensin (Monimax®)
performance parameters evaluated were body and B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710 (B-Act®), in
weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR) combination with flavophospholipol (Flavo-
and slaughter age (days). For bodyweight, a mycin®), clearly excelled for both parameters.
linear mixed model was used. In this model,
the age of slaughter and programmes were
treated as fixed effects and the farms as a
random effect. The FCR was analysed with
a linear mixed model, with slaughter weight
and programmes as fixed effects and farm as
a random effect. The age at which a slaughter
weight of 1850 grams was reached, was eval-
uated using a linear mixed model with slaugh-

ABSTRACT ID-81
Blend of organic acids, medium chain fatty acids and phenolic

compound improves gut health under Salmonella challenge
conditions
S. van Kuijk1, Z. Aslam1, L. Pineda1, Y. van der Horst1, R. Franco2, A. Corujo2, A.I. Garcia Ruiz2
1
Selko, Trouw Nutrition, Stationsstraat 77, 3811 MH Amersfoort, The Netherlands
2
Trouw Nutrition R&D, Poultry Research Centre, Ctra CM. 4004 km 10.5, Casarrubios del Monte 45950, Toledo, Spain
The Problem ured on day 0, 11, 28 and 39. Morphological

dysbacteriosis gut health scoring including
Gut health is often overlooked regarding ballooning, inflammation, translucency, flac-
Salmonella, which is seen as food safety cid content and undigested particles (in the
problem. A compromised gut health, such hind gut) as well as gizzard scoring, was done
as damaged tight junctions or imbalanced on day 13 and 19 (5 birds/treatment).
microbial community, may give Salmonella
the opportunity to invade the gut. Once Results
invaded, Salmonella may influence gut
health via inflammatory responses through Body weight was significantly higher in the
cytokines or dysbacteriosis triggered by over- additive group compared to the control
growth. Targeting gut health enhancement group on day 11 and 28 (difference of 11.8
may reduce the effects of Salmonella on the g, P=0.0408 and 54.9 g, P=0.0157, respec-
broiler chicken. In this study, the effect on tively), while at day 39 there was no difference
gut health of a feed additive blend based on anymore. Average daily gain was significantly
organic acids, medium chain fatty acid and a improved between 11 and 28 days (2.1 g/
phenolic compound was investigated under bird/day difference, P=0.0234). During the
Salmonella challenge conditions. same period the average daily feed intake
was also significantly higher in the additive
How we investigated or researched the group compared to the control group (3.5
problem g/bird/day difference, P=0.0007). Between
day 5 and 11, the feed conversion ratio
396 male day-old broiler chickens (ROSS 308) tended to be improved in the additive group
were housed in groups of 22 birds/pen. Pens compared to the control group (0.021 differ-
were randomly assigned to one of 2 treat- ence, P=0.0638). Median dysbacterosis score
ments, with 9 pens/treatment. Two dietary in the control group was significantly higher
treatments were applied: 1) control group than the additive group at day 13 (P=0.0238),
fed a commercial diet without feed additives, while there was no difference at day 19. Cecal
2) additive treatment group fed the control Salmonella was tended to be lower in the addi-
diet with 2.5 kg/t of a feed additive blend tive group compared to the control group on
on top based on organic acid, medium chain day 19 (2.8 vs 3.5 log CFU/g, P=0.063).
fatty acid and a phenolic compound (Presan
FY, Tilburg, The Netherlands) until 28 days. Implications / Conclusions
Birds were fed a three-phase diet, with phase
1 being from day 0-11, phase 2 from day 11-28 Feeding a feed additive blend based on organic
and phase 3 from day 28-39. On day 5 and 6 acids, medium chain fatty acid and phenolic
the same 5 birds/pen were orally inoculated compound based feed additive blend resulted
with 109 CFU/ml Salmonella infantis. Cecal in an improved growth performance and gut
Salmonella was counted in 4 birds/pen on day health during a Salmonella infantis challenge.
13, 19 and 40. Growth performance was meas-

ABSTRACT ID-87
Beyond laying percentage, producing better hatching eggs from

healthier hens?
Paulina Buskowska1, Eric N’guetta1, Valentine Van Hamme1, Susanne Kirwan1

1
The Problem including week 38. There was no difference

in feed intake per bird between treatments,
Winter is always a challenging time to manage there was no difference in body weight of the
breeder flock health in Northern Europe as birds between treatments. The control house
ventilation and heating cost stand in direct had slightly better production with one egg
competition. Even under excellent conditions more per bird house (82 vs 81). There was
particularly younger birds can easily fall ill a clear numerical benefit due to the higher
and require veterinary attention. The present number of class A eggs in the probiotic treat-
field study wanted to investigate if the bene- ment (784 340) versus control (781 500);
fits of a water addition of a probiotic (Bacillus inversely 472 fewer cracked and 323 fewer
sp. PB6) observed in other poultry studies, on unsaleable/broken eggs could be observed
both health and performance, could also be in the probiotic group versus control, corre-
observed in Ross 308 broiler breeders from spondingly. Hatching eggs per hen housed
start of laying in a commercial farm setting were 74.59 for the probiotic group and 74.46
in the UK. for control. This experiment was conducted
as a field study; therefore effect of treatment
How we investigated or researched the is compounded with housing and statistical
problem analysis is inappropriate.
The study was conducted on a commercial Implications / Conclusions

farm raising a breeder flock of 23 600 birds
placed, starting end of August 2023. To The birds performed according to breed
assure optimal uptake of the probiotic, even standards in terms of growth, egg produc-
in birds that might have subclinical illness, tion and survival. As there appeared to be
the probiotic was fed via the water lines. This no specific challenge no clear health bene-
follows the approach that slightly ill birds fit of the probiotic could be observed. In
might decrease feed intake, but will typically absolute terms laying percentage was equal
continue to drink. As the farm had two identi- between treatments. However, there was a
cal houses with birds of equal age and origin clear improvement of egg-shells due to probi-
house one was chosen as treatment, house otic treatment (more A grade; fewer cracked,
two acted as control. Historically, in previous unsaleable/broken eggs in the probiotic
cycles both houses showed similar perfor- group). This led to a higher number of hatch-
mance. The probiotic (2 x109 CFU/g) was ing eggs from the probiotic group versus
included at 50 grams per 1000 liters of water control. This appears to match previous stud-
from placement at approximately 18 weeks ies from layers (Abdelqader et al. 2013) and
of age to 38 weeks. Data was collected weekly. broiler breeders (Zaghari et al. 2021) observ-
ing similar effects in unchallenged birds. A
Results return over investment has not been calcu-
lated as the production cycle is still running
The two houses showed a higher mortality for in January 2024.
control (389/163) vs. probiotic (358/135)
both for females and males respectively up to

ABSTRACT ID-89
Smart blend of monoglycerides to target gut health and immunity
Julie Feyaerts, Salah A. El-Safty 2, 3, Mosaad Hashim3, M.A.M. Abdelaziz2, 3, Waleed A. Ibrahim4, Karim M.
Selim4, Yasmine H. Ahmed5 , and AbdelRahman Y. Abdelhady2
1
Proviron Industries nv, G. Gilliotstraat 60, 2620 Hemiksem, Belgium
2
Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Hadayek Shoubra 11241, Cairo, Egypt
3
Applied Feed Research House (AFRH), Orabi Community, Qalyobia, Egypt
4
Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Center. Dokki, Giza, Egypt
5
Department of Cytology and Histology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo. University, Egypt
The Problem Results
The overall well-being and performance of The results exhibited a dose-dependent

broiler chickens is profoundly impacted by improvement in both body weight and feed
the status of their gut health, influencing conversion ratio (FCR). At day 35, the end
processes such as nutrient absorption, the body weight was significantly increased 4.5%
integrity of the intestinal barrier, immune and 7.2% (p<0.05) for L1 and L2, respec-
response and efficiency, as well as the inflam- tively. The monoglyceride blend demon-
matory status. In gut health management, strated a positive impact on villi height and
natural solutions based on monoglycerides the villi height to crypt depth ratio in both
have gained attention. This study aims to the duodenum and ileum. Additionally to gut
investigate the potential synergistic effects of morphology as a gut health indicator, there
a combination of monobutyrin and monolau- was a positive impact observed in footpad
rin on various indicators of gut health and lesion scores. Vaccination efficacy displayed
immunity. an upward numerical increase, birds receiving
the monoglyceride blend showed increased
How we investigated or researched the antibody titers against Newcastle disease
problem (factor > x2). There were no significant differ-
ences in bacterial counts (E. coli, Lactobacilli,
A comprehensive study was conducted to Clostridia) and carcass parameters.
explore the impact of a monoglyceride blend
on the performance, intestinal mucosal Implications / Conclusions
morphology, footpad lesion score, efficacy of
Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination, micro- The positive impact on gut morphology in
biome composition, and carcass character- duodenum and ileum observed in this study
istics of broiler chickens. The experimental aligns with the proposed mode of action,
design involved providing a dual mixture of suggesting a targeted effect along the entire
monobutyrin and monolaurin to the birds small intestinal tract. The significant perfor-
through their feed at two different inclu- mance results and positive trends in gut
sion levels. A total of 375 one-day-old chicks health and immunity, are consistent with the
were assigned to three treatments, with five fragmented literature available. Underlining
replicates per treatment. The control diet the potential benefits of the optimized mono-
was compared to diets L1 and L2, which glyceride blend (Optigut) in improving overall
were supplemented with an optimized poultry health.
monoglyceride blend (Optigut) at inclusion
levels of 500-250-250 g/t and 500-350-350
g/t of feed in starter, grower, and finisher
feeds, respectively.

ABSTRACT ID-98
Mixed glycerol esters of valeric and butyric acid mitigate

performance losses in broiler birds subjected to a subclinical
Necrotic Enteritis challenge
A. Tacconi1, G.N. Comin2, M.L. dos Reis Maia2, G. Vermohlen2, N. Rohloff Junior2, J.M. Ros Felip1, M.A. Dionizio3,
R.H. Rauber4, R.V. Nunes2
1
Perstorp Waspik B.V., Waspik, NL
2
Department of Animal Science, Western Paraná State University, Marechal Candido Rondon, PR, BR
3
Perstorp Química do Brasil Ltda, São Paolo, SP, BR
4
Vetinova Strategic Animal Health, Curitiba, PR, BR
The Problem Results
Subclinical Necrotic Enteritis (SNE) poses a The SNE challenge negatively affected perfor-
significant threat to global poultry production, mance in the NC group in the first 21 days,
impacting health and productivity. Although while the PC and both treatment groups
obvious clinical signs might not be present, (GA1 and GA2) significantly improved FCR
it negatively impacts growth rates, worsens compared to NC (p = 0.0335). No significant
feed conversion ratios, and increases mortal- results were reported for weight gain and
ity in broiler chickens impacting the animals feed intake (1-21 days). During days 1-35,
well-being. Economic analyses suggest PC showed significantly higher weight (p
substantial losses in the United States, rang- = 0.0194) gain and lower FCR (p = 0.0002)
ing from $0.03 to $0.05 per bird (Skinner et than NC. GA1 and GA2 did not significantly
al., 2010). However, costs may vary globally differ from NC or PC but showed numerically
due to regional factors, management practices, improved FCR and weight gain compared
and industry changes over time. to NC. Overall, 42-day period, no significant
differences were found among groups, with
How we investigated or researched the GA2 showing the numerically highest weight
problem gain followed by PC, GA1 and NC. The numer-
ically best FCR was reported for PC followed
In the study, 864 one-day-old male broiler by GA2, GA1 and NC.
chicks (Ross 308 AP, Aviagen) were divided
into four groups: negative control (NC), posi- Implications / Conclusions
tive control (PC) with antibiotics and coccidi-
ostat, and GA1 and GA2 with Gastrivix™ Avi (a The challenge model significantly affected
product containing glycerol esters of butyric animal performance, notably in the initial
and valeric acid) at two different inclusion 35 days, with the positive control (AGP and
levels. Birds were housed in 48 boxes. Each coccidiostats) effectively countering these
group had 12 replicates with 18 birds each. effects. The product tested in this trial exhib-
Subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE) was ited comparable results to the positive control
induced by administering C. perfringens for performance. Specifically, when adminis-
cultures and water from fermented reused tered across all feeding phases, it successfully
litter as well as chlorinated water that were mitigated the losses incurred by the challenge.
provided intermittently. Birds had ad libitum These findings underscore the potential effi-
access to feed formulated based on Aviagen's cacy of the product as a viable alternative to
recommendations. Performance was meas- traditional interventions associated with mild
ured at 21, 35, and 42 days, and data were Costridium spp. challenges.
statistically analyzed using SAS.

ABSTRACT ID-109
Elife®, a bioactive antioxidant reducing oxidative stress, improves

layer performance
Dr Ir Pim Langhout, Dr Sandra Cruz and Ir Steven Beckers

Impextraco NV, Heist op den Berg, Belgium
The Problem tested via a method based on animal IPEC-J2

intestinal cells and a microplate reader-fluo-
Commercial poultry are often exposed to rescence analysis. In this in vitro study, ROS
challenges such as heat stress, high stocking was measured through fluorescence color-
density, pathogens and suboptimal feed ingre- ing after induction of oxidative stress. Elife®
dient quality. Those factors induce an increase supplementation created a significant reduc-
in highly unstable free radicals such as Reac- tion in ROS production inside the cells. These
tive Oxygen Species (ROS). In the absence of a data showed that Elife® can lower oxidative
sufficient endogenous antioxidant response, stress to an important extent and preserve
an excess of ROS oxidants will create a redox gut cell integrity.
imbalance which is called cellular oxidative
stress. This metabolic status will allow for Results
oxidative damage to key cellular compounds
and thus impair the functioning of the bird’s In total 192 Hisex Brown® laying hens were
cells and (organ) tissues. Heat stress in used in a trial to study the effect of Elife®
particular is known to drastically increase the dietary supplementation on laying perfor-
production of ROS at the gut epithelial level. mance. The experiment lasted from 55 till 71
This brings significant damage to entero- weeks of production. The hens were randomly
cytes and jeopardizes for instance nutrient divided over 3 treatments with 8 replicate
absorption capacity and tight junction integ- cages of 8 birds each. Elife® was tested at 3
rity. Especially hens are highly sensitive to dose levels: 0 (control), 500 or 1000 g/MT.
developing oxidative stress when exposed The diet was corn-soy based and fed as a mash
to climatic challenges. This not only leads to feed. The addition of 500 or 1000 g/MT to the
a lower laying performance, but also to an diet improved egg production by 4.2 and 4.8%
impaired egg quality or fertility. resp. Also, average egg weight and egg mass
production were increased at either dose
Solution: Polyphenols reduce in vivo level. FCR was improved by 4.8 and 6.0% resp.
oxidation ROS level in the eggs’ yolk was significantly
reduced by 16.9 and 31.6%, resp. Vitamin E
Reducing oxidative stress is important to content in the eggs’ yolk was substantially
lower the impact of challenges like heat stress increased by 53% at the dose of 1000 g/MT
and avoid risks for impaired gut integrity, (500 g/MT was not measured). Finally, also
consequently improving animal performance. eggshell breaking strength was significantly
Various plants contain polyphenols that have improved by 13.7% for the highest dose. This
been widely studied as potent antioxidants might suggest an enhanced absorption of
to improve the redox status in both animals dietary calcium due to a higher gut epithe-
and humans. Elife®, a natural blend of differ- lial integrity. Overall, these data indicate that
ent polyphenolic fractions, was developed to redox status in the Elife® treated hens was
alleviate oxidative stress in animals, thereby improved.
improving gut integrity, organ function and
thus overall performance. The efficacy of
Elife® in reducing intracellular oxidation was (Continued on the next page)

ABSTRACT ID-109
Data of this layer trial show that Elife®, a blend

of natural extracts rich in various polyphe-
nols, increases performance and egg quality.
This was due to an improved hen’s (gut) redox
status, as indicated by a reduced ROS oxidant-
and increased Vitamin E antioxidant level
in egg yolk. Therefore, supplementing layer
diets with an adequate polyphenolic antiox-
idant is an effective tool to protect the bird
against oxidative stress and related inflam-
matory processes, thus preserving gut health
and functioning.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Keynote presentations & Abstracts

Contents
KEYNOTEp.39 ABSTRACT ID-3 p.163

Insights in emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens in Effects of dietary inclusion of palm kernel cake 5% and 10%
poultry, with focus on Salmonella, and bacterial chondrone- on performance, carcass traits, cooking loss and cost effi-
crosis and osteomyelitis, caused by Enterococcus cecorum ciency in broiler chickens
Filip Van Immerseel J.J. Choong, Y.H. Siaw, K.Y. Mark Chan, I. Zulkifli
KEYNOTEp.41 ABSTRACT ID-4 p.141

Chicken microbial composition and functionalities, in rela- Dietary inulin and xylanase can enhance caecal butyric acid
tion to gut health production in broilers
Dana Stanley, Yadav Bajagai, Martina Kluenemann, Nadia Yacoubi V. Pirgozliev, S.C. Mansbridge, I.M. Whiting, E.A. Johnson, F. Drijfhout, D.
Yovchev, S.P. Rose
KEYNOTEp.42
ABSTRACT ID-05 p.171
Virulence factors of Clostridium perfringens that induce
necrotic enteritis: more than toxins Novel Approaches for Managing Intestinal Health in Poultry
Robert J. Moore as the key role to control and prevent diseases in poultry.
Aman NTISERURWA
KEYNOTEp.43
ABSTRACT ID-06 p.74
Experimental models to study gut health in poultry with a
focus on nutrition Antibiotic resistance pattern and virulence genes content of
Reza Barekatain, apec from septicemic broilers in kaski district, nepal
B. Sharma and R. Bhattarai
KEYNOTEp.45
ABSTRACT ID-07 p.75
Phage therapy to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens
A/Prof. Jeremy J. Barr Effects of "Montserrat" on production performance and intes-
tinal health of broilers against heat stress
Teresa M. Agulles and Ruby Yu
KEYNOTEp.46
Smart Poultry Management: An Outlook to the Future
Shayan Sharif
Improvement of gut health and performance in poultry with
a solution of fatty acid esters
KEYNOTEp.47 Clarisse Techer and Julie Castier
Precision feeding: What is it, and what are the advantages?
Martin J. Zuidhof , Mark Fedorak ABSTRACT ID-09 p.65
The microbiota promotes recruitment and pro-inflammatory
KEYNOTEp.48 response of cecal macrophages during E. tenella infection
Maturation and function of the avian mucosal immune Florian Tomal,, Alix Sausset, Yves Le Vern, Laura Sedano, Sonia
system Lacroix-Lamandé, Fabrice Laurent, Clarisse Techer, Anne Silvestre,
Françoise I. Bussière
Prof. Dr. Prof. Bernd Kaspers

KEYNOTEp.50
Efficacy of the Quillaja based dietary supplementation on
Enhancing Chicken Immunity: Unleashing the Power of Gene
performance and health on poultry Coccidiosis challenged.
Editing
Victoria Tapia, Rosa Navarro, Hans Konsens, Sebastian Decap
Theresa von Heyl, Romina Klinger, Dorothea Aumann, Christian Zenner,
Mohanned Alhussien, Antonina Schlickenrieder, Kamila Lengyel,
Hanna-Kaisa Vikkula, Teresa Mittermair, Hicham Sid, Benjamin Schusser, ABSTRACT ID-11 p.203
Dietary supplementation with Citrus extract increases
ABSTRACT ID-01 p.73 endogenous butyric acid concentration in the gut.
Mentha piperita (peppermint) affects the microbial commu- Sekhou CISSE,, Julia Laurain, Paul Engler,, Truong Ngo, Mohamed El Amine
nity and intestinal morphology in quail chicks BENARBIA ,
Vahideh Sabbaghi, Mahmoud Ghazaghi, Mehran Mehri
ABSTRACT ID-02 p.91 Improving Productivity and Resilience to Enteric Stress of
Efficacy study of an inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine Laying Hens in Demanding Commercial Environments via
against a Salmonella Gallinarum challenge in commercial Precision Glycan Supplementation
layers F. Petranyi,, Y. Bajagai, D. Stanley
De Castro, S., Dardi, M.,Baratelli, M., Penha Filho, R.C.
ABSTRACT ID-13 p.142 ABSTRACT ID-23 p.135
Broiler performance associates with the fecal biomarker PathKinex™, a DNA-based microbial surveillance platform
ovotransferrin: a field study can provide insights on bacterial interactions leading to coin-
Katrien Rysman, Venessa Eeckhaut, Richard Ducatelle, and Filip Van fections in broiler chickens
Immerseel Leyva-Jimenez, H, Galbraith, EA, Delago, F, Doden, HL, Soto, C, Dirks, B

Comparative study of superworm and mealworm on growth Live Salmonella vaccine compatibility with competitive exclu-
performance, carcass trait and histomorpholohy of japa- sion solution.
nese quail F. Barbé, A. Sacy, A. Nozeran, V. Pain
Rafi Ullah,Zeshan Ahmad,Sarzamin khan and Asad Sultan
ABSTRACT ID-25 p.76

Effect of dietary supplementation with probiotic Saccharo-
Management of combined toxicity of aflatoxins, DON and myces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 on fecal microbiota
ochratoxin A on the intestinal health of commercial layers in laying hens.
Lv-Hui Sun, Swamy, H.V.L.N., and Guanlin Wang A. Rodiles, F. Barbé, A. Nozeran, A. Sacy, M. Castex

A saponin-aluminosilicate blend can serve as a complemen- Gut health markers in the ceca of broiler chickens as a means
tary strategy for coccidial risk management in broilers to explain the response to Eimeria challenge
M. Brink, J. Serrano, B. Maertens Virginie Blanvillain, Matthew Jones, and Charles Hofacre

Decoding Betaine: Exploring Intestinal Barrier Interaction Evaluation of return on investment following the use of differ-
in Broiler Chicken ent avian coccidiosis vaccines, based on their attenuation.
Ana Gavrău, Michael Hess, Wageha Awad De-Castro,S.; Dardi, M.; Solé,M.;Ong,S.;Sivagiganesan,K.

Effect of Multienzymes on Hen Production, Egg Quality, Assessment of Glycerides' Antibacterial Activity in a Poultry
Gut Morphology, and Relative Digestive Organ Weights in Gut Model
96-Week Late-Phase Hens Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Amine Mellouk, Tim Goossens, Olga Lemâle, Jessika
Royd Joseph Mosaso, DVM, Jay Ronel Conejos, PhD, Mary Jasmin Ang, PhD, Consuegra
Jacoba Bromfield, PhD, Darwin Horyanto and May Kathleen Manimtim,
DVM, EMBA
ABSTRACT ID-29 p.78

Definition of new gut health biomarkers: Let the microbes
speak.
Dietary sodium diformate affects the faecal Coliform-count
Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Amine Mellouk, Estelle Devillard, Jessika Consuegra
of poultry in the tropics – A performance analysis
Christian Lückstädt, Rodolfo Adriano and Kevin Teh

Effect of Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 secreted metabolites on
poultry resilience.
Effects of Quillaja and Yucca combination product at different
Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Amine Mellouk, Tim Goossens, Olga Lemâle, Jessika
inclusion levels and duration of use in broilers subjected to Consuegra
intestinal challenge model.
Vasil Stanev, James McNaughton, Tim Buisker, Sarawut Tanasatian, Luis
Gomez, Sandra Bonaspetti ABSTRACT ID-31 p.143
The importance of monitoring Day Old Chicks for Salmonella
spp. with rapid on-site PCR test, a case study in Taiwan
Fu Choong Keat, Wei-Fen Tsai, Ping-Han Chung, and Simon Chung
Effect of Quillaja and Yucca Saponins and Polyphenol Combi-
nation on Broiler Performance, Intestinal Health and Poten-
tial to Reduce the Use of Antibiotics. ABSTRACT ID-32 p.144
Charles Siregar, Chee Seng Huan, Vincentia Maria, Astiari Tia Legawa, Setia Using on-site PCR for epidemiological investigation of Salmo-
Hadi, Vasil Stanev, Sarawut Tanasatian. nella spp. in Taiwanese broiler farm
Fu Choong Keat, Wei-Fen Tsai, Ping-Han Chung, and Simon Chung
The Integration of Smart Technologies in Indonesian Poul- ABSTRACT ID-33 p.216
try Farming
The potential benefit of a novel probiotic and butyrate on
Setiawan Guntarto, PT. Sinergi Ketahanan Pangan broilers exposed to a Salmonella heidelberg challenge.
Elisa François, Josilene Correa Rocha; Ana Maria Almeida; Marcos Barcellos
Café; Rafaela Pereira; Susanne Kirwan
Improvement of feed efficiency in broilers supplemented Microbiota and transcriptomics related factors driving body
with Bacillus pumilus AQP4275: meta-analysis on 11 trials. weight divergence in broiler chickens hatched on farm or in
F. Barbé, A. Sacy, A. Nozeran, A. Leplat, E. Chevaux a hatchery
Muhammad Zeeshan Akram, Ester Arévalo Sureda, Luke Comer, Nadia
Everaert
Garlic and cinnamon feed additive improves layers’ perfor-
ABSTRACT ID-45 p.66
mance during a roundworm natural challenge
Montagnon, A., Brink, M., Serrano, J., Vandendriessche, V. Effect of a Probiotic Weizmannia- and Bacillus-Combination
on the Gut Microbiome and Growth Performance of Poultry
L. Zeibich, B. Podmaniczky, A. Schlagheck, M. Suhr, and S. C. Hornburg
Continuing education as a key to improve intestinal health
and the overall sustainability of the Poultry sector
Vincent Guyonnet and Pierre Cadot Bacillus subtilis PB6-Unique tool to manage gut health in
broilers
Venket M Shelke, Partha Das, R Chanthirasekaran, Chandrasekar S
The potential of resin acids to maintain intestinal homeosta-
ABSTRACT ID-47 p.80
sis by mitigating inflammation-induced epithelial integrity
in broiler. Beyond Nutrition: Effect of novel bacterial xylanase on gut
Shah Hasan, Usama Aftab, Gilson Gomes, Tiago Santos microbial community and health
Ajay Awati, Ajay Bhoyar, Sabiha Kadari, P. Kowsigaraj and Twan van Gerwe

Could an acid butyric improve the small intestinal histomor-
phometry and persistency in laying hens? COALMINERS: A Novel Approach to studying chronic
Rafaela Pereira, Thaiza Braga, Susanne Kirwan ‘low-grade’ inflammation in production chickens
Alireza Khadem , and Christos Gougoulias V
ABSTRACT ID-39 p.79

Effect Of Protected Benzoic Acid in Compare with Butyric
Acid and Probiotic On Broiler Performance, Gut Microbiota Effect of water application of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT
and Liver Histology 5940 in effervescent tablet form on Broiler Performance
Koushik De, Romero-Sanchez H, Yan F and Sudipto Haldar under Commercial Conditions
April Santos, Nadia Yacoubi, Girish Channarayapatna

Probiotic ‘Excential ProDi-G’ as a control solution to broil-
ers’ gut health Dietary Zn amino acid complex and vitamin E levels effects
L. Vande Maele, M. Brink, J. Serrano, V. Vandendriessche in young broilers and during heat stress challenge in the
finisher phase
A. De Grande, R. Ducatelle, E. Delezie, F. Van Immerseel, S. Leleu, L. Linares, C.
ABSTRACT ID-41 p.101 Torres
Comparison of live attenuated and live-non attenuated
vaccines on the safety of the administration of an overdose ABSTRACT ID-51 p.223
using the model of the European Monograph in SPF chickens
Effect of a synergistic blend of organic acids on gut morphol-
Marc Pagès, Andreu Albó, Joan Molist, Martina Dardi, Massimiliano
Baratelli ogy and growth performance of broilers
Chai Bin Lim,, In Ho Kim ,, Lane Pineda, Giseli Heim, Chavalit Piriyabenjawat,
Jose Manuel De La Fuente Garcia
Safety and immunogenicity of the associated administration ABSTRACT ID-52 p.115
of EVANOVO®, GUMBOHATCH® and a commercial rHVT-ND
vaccine in commercial broilers Antimicrobial Properties and Gut Colonisation of Bacillus
Roser Morató, Natàlia Dewe, Joan Molist, X. Rebordosa, E. Sebastià, Marc
Pagès Darwin Horyanto, , Yadav S. Bajagai, Juhani von Hellens, Xiaojing Chen,
Charlie Tran, Yunjian Feng and Dragana Stanley

ABSTRACT ID-54 p.57
Field experience of laying hen pullets vaccinated against
coccidiosis Effects of multi-strain and mono-strain probiotics on intes-
tinal health, intestinal morphometrics, performance, and
Kristy Naldo, Daniel Tolentino, Shyong Wey Ong, Marina Solé, Joan Molist
processing characteristics of broilers exposed to intestinal
challenge: importance of inclusion level and strain synergies.
Vasil Stanev, Kevin Bolek, James McNaughton, Sarawut Tanasatian, Luis
Gomez, Sandra Bonaspetti
Positive effects of four strain Bacillus spp.-based probiotic on Bacteriophages: A novel approach to control Salmonella and
intestinal microflora and performance under field conditions. the overall safety of the Poultry value chain
Vasil Stanev, Kevin Bolek, Sarawut Tanasatian, Luis Gomez, Sandra Wattana Peyluntha, Vincent Guyonnet, Mingkwan, Yingkajorn and Kitiya
Bonaspetti Vongkamjan,

Olive pomace extract exerts anticoccidial effect by reducing The in vitro efficacy of a multi-action complex: Antimicrobial
the intracellular growth of Eimeria tenella activity in the gastrointestinal tract
Marta Blanch, Javier Regidor-Cerrillo, Sara Arias-Maroto, Jose J. Pastor Riahi, I., Della Badia, A., Codina, R., Meca, G.

Effect of a bacterial probiotic on Campylobacter spp. cecal The in vitro efficacy of a multi-action complex: Antioxidant
carriage activity in human colorectal carcinoma cells (Caco-2)
Elen Rondel, Maëliss Brunon, Jérôme Le Douce, Eric Pagot (DVM), Alain Riahi, I., Della Badia, A., Codina, R., Meca, G.
Riggi (DVM)

ABSTRACT ID-58 p.97
Efficacy of Specific Probiotic in Enhancing Gut Health in a
Evaluation of the effects of a bacterial probiotic in experimen- Deep Litter Layer Farm
tally induced necrotic enteritis Vannie Wan, Apichaya Taechavasonyoo, Rafael Hermes, Yu Wei Tsai, Ming
Elen Rondel, Maëliss Brunon, Jérôme Le Douce, Eric Pagot (DVM), Alain Chu Cheng
Riggi (DVM)

ABSTRACT ID-59 p.68
Benefits of a Probiotic Weizmannia and Bacillus Combination
The impact of a yeast probiotic on gut microbiota in broilers on Broiler Gut Histomorphology, Digestibility, and Perfor-
M.T. Terra-Long, E. Jiral, G.S. Archer, C. Padgett, R. Raspoet, L. Rhayat, J. mance
Loughmiller Melanie Frisch, Lydia Zeibich, Alexandra Schlagheck, Umar Farooq

Influencing intestinal microbiota of chickens with the offer Evaluation of non-invasive methods for analysing the func-
of fermented cereals to increase resilience against Entero- tionality of the microbiome in broiler chickens.
coccus cecorum
Virginie Blanvillain, Xavière Rousseau, Tara York, Michelle Stewart, Sanni
Julia Hankel, Jana Schreier, Amr Abd El-Wahab,, Till Strowig,, Christian Jappinen and Gilson Gomes
Visscher, Arne Jung

ABSTRACT ID-61 p.82
Mechanisms of antioxidant action of two phytogenic feed
Effect of a synergistic blend of organic acids and high copper additives compared to vitamin E in broiler chickens
usage on performance and egg quality during the early phase
Fernando Sevillano, Alexis Joel Maldonado, Marta Blanch, Jose J. Pastor,
of laying David Menoyo
R. Villanueva, J. San Andres, S. Valdez, L. Pineda, M. Rezvani, C.
Piriyabenjawat, R. Payawal, J.M. De La Fuente Garcia

Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis DSMZ 28710 to support broil-
ers under a necrotic enteritis challenge
Effects of Nano-silicate platelets (NSP) on the respiratory
tract health of broiler chickens under ammonia exposure
Maraddin and National Chung Hsing University

Combining flavophospholipol and probiotic Bacillus licheni-
formis DSMZ 28710 in broilers
Evaluation of the effect of different methods of application of
a coccidiosis vaccine on performance and oocyst excretion in
commercial white layers.
M. De-Soler, M. Pagès, M. Baratelli, J. Molist, S. De-Castro, M. Dardi, G. ABSTRACT ID-74 p.69
Bouwhuis Supplementing probiotic Clostridium butyricum to improve
technical performance, caecal SCFAs and microbiota
ABSTRACT ID-64 p.185 Wouter Van der Veken & Veerle Hautekiet
Supplementation of a sulfated polysaccharide extracted
from marine algae positively influences performance and ABSTRACT ID-75 p.176
gut integrity of broilers during a necrotic enteritis challenge
Supplementing broilers with 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 of
Maria Garcia Suarez, Candice E.C. Blue, Maria Rodriguez and Rami A. fermentative origin in the first two weeks of life reduces the
Dalloul
risk of skeletal issues
Wouter Van der Veken, Veerle Hautekiet & Wim Schelstraete
ABSTRACT ID-76 p.230 Hans Lee, Justin Tan, Raquel Rodriguez Sanchez, Natasja Smeets, Susanne
Kirwan, Jin Soo Kim, Jun Young Mun
Comparison of different intestinal health programmes
Ben Dehaeck, Wim Schelstraete, Wouter Van Der Veken, Maja Marien And
Monita Vereecken ABSTRACT ID-87 p.232
Beyond laying percentage, producing better hatching eggs
ABSTRACT ID-77 p.197 from healthier hens?
Comparison of the efficacy of different coccidiosis control Paulina Buskowska, Eric N’guetta, Valentine Van Hamme, Susanne Kirwan
programmes
Ben Dehaeck, Wim Schelstraete, Maja Marien And Monita Vereecken ABSTRACT ID-88 p.61
Gut microbiota and gene expression in male and female
ABSTRACT ID-78 p.116 broilers
Experimental necrotic enteritis model in turkeys using differ- Ester Arévalo Sureda, Matthias Corion, Natasja Smeets, Jeroen Maertens,
Nadia Everaert
ent Clostridium perfringens strains
Monita Vereecken, Maja Marien, Koen De Gussem, Brecht Maertens ,
Maarten De Gussem and Luca Bano ABSTRACT ID-89 p.233
Smart blend of monoglycerides to target gut health and
ABSTRACT ID-79 p.93 immunity
Butyric glycerides protect chicken enterocytes from patho- Julie Feyaerts, Salah A. El-Safty , , Mosaad Hashim, M.A.M. Abdelaziz, ,
Waleed A. Ibrahim, Karim M. Selim, Yasmine H. Ahmed , and AbdelRahman Y.
gen colonization with two different modes of action. Abdelhady
Amine Mellouk, Nuria Vieco-Saiz, Virginie Michel, Olga Lemâle, Tim
Goossens, Jessika Consuegra
ABSTRACT ID-90 p.85
ABSTRACT ID-80 p.198 Effects of rye inclusion in diets for broiler chickens on caecal
microbiota
Evaluating a phytogenic-saponin blend in coccidiosis
Amr Abd El-Wahab,, Till Strowig,, Christian Visscher, Julia Hankel
management programs
S. M. Ramirez, G. R. Murugesan, and B. Lumpkins
ABSTRACT ID-81 p.231 Investigation of the effect of antimicrobial and prebiotic

substances on broiler intestinal fermentation: A novel ex
Blend of organic acids, medium chain fatty acids and phenolic vivo simulation approach
compound improves gut health under Salmonella challenge
Teemu Rinttilä
conditions
S. van Kuijk, Z. Aslam, L. Pineda, Y. van der Horst, R. Franco, A. Corujo, A.I.
Garcia Ruiz ABSTRACT ID-92 p.122
Necrotic Enteritis model with regular and slow-growing
ABSTRACT ID-82 p.83 broiler breeds – a pilot study
Effect of BacterActive on the productive performance of broil- Ellen van Eerden
ers and the presence of Salmonella spp.
Hascoët, A.S. ABSTRACT ID-93 p.105
The supplementation of lauric acid glycerides in chicken
ABSTRACT ID-83 p.156 diet improves the humoral and cellular immune response to
infectious bronchitis virus
Evaluation of the protective capacity of an innovative anti-my-
cotoxins agent against the detrimental effects of aflatoxin b1 Amine Mellouk, Virginie Michel, Olga Lemâle, Tim Goossens, Jessika
Consuegra
and fumonisins in broiler chickens
riahi, I., Della Badia, A., Sturza, D. , Giacomini, L., Mallman A. C..
ABSTRACT ID-84 p.177 Growth performance and intestinal health improvements in

broiler chickens receiving a bacterial xylanase and undergo-
Impact of ENTEROSURETM Dietary Inclusion on Broiler Chick- ing an intestinal challenge
ens with Alternative Feed Ingredients
Christelle Boudry, Mariana Lemos de Moraes, Marcia de Souza Vieira,
Han Lee, Apichaya Taechavasonyoo, Grant Chuan Hao Tan, Rafael Hermes, Heitor Vieira Rios, Yuri Katagiri Dalmoro, Ludovic Lahaye, Thais Bastos
Jun Young Mun, Jin Soo Kim Stefanello, Danielle Marie Estacio, Catarina Stefanello

The potential for improving egg quality and tibia character- Reversing antibiotic sensitivity. Development of a challenge
istics via microbiome changes in laying hens model against β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli
Hans Lee, Justin Tan, Raquel Rodriguez Sanchez, Natasja Smeets, Susanne Rosa Franco-Rosselló, Ana I. García-Ruiz and Alfredo Corujo-Fernández
Kirwan, Jung Min Heo, Elijah Ogola Oketch

Probiotics for young layers: can microbiome modulation
benefit performance and egg quality?
Effect of attenuated coccidiosis vaccine combined or not with Supporting measures to improve biosecurity compliance in
a competitive exclusion product on the gut microbiota of poultry farms: the NetPoulSafe project
broiler chickens. Giuditta Tilli, Hilde Van Meirhaeghe, Alessandra Piccirillo, Annick Spaans,
Achard C, Sacy A, Leplat A, Nozeran A, Barbé F, Chevaux E, Pain V, Castex M Arthi Amalraj, Artur Zbikowski, Rozenn Souillard, Laszlo Kovács, Maria
Kovács-Weber, Aitor Devesa, Sandra Sevilla-Navarro [on behalf of the
NetPoulSafe consortium], Justine Grillet
Mixed glycerol esters of valeric and butyric acid mitigate ABSTRACT ID-109 p.235
performance losses in broiler birds subjected to a subclinical
Elife®, a bioactive antioxidant reducing oxidative stress,
Necrotic Enteritis challenge
improves layer performance
A. Tacconi, G.N. Comin, M.L. dos Reis Maia, G. Vermohlen, N. Rohloff Junior,
J.M. Ros Felip, M.A. Dionizio, R.H. Rauber, R.V. Nunes Dr Ir Pim Langhout, Dr Sandra Cruz and Ir Steven Beckers
BioFreeze − A cutting-edge solution for intestinal sample

® Hetasca: Serologic test for detection of roundworm infections
preservation in poultry and its practical applications.
Tommi Timoharju Maarten De Gussem, Tiago Prucha
Influence of neonatal avian pathogenic E. coli exposure on Hetasca: Serologic test for detection of roundworm infections
acute phase protein response to Clostridium perfringens in poultry and its practical applications.
inoculation Maarten De Gussem, Tiago Prucha
K.M. Chasser, A.F. Duff, K. McGovern, B.D. Graham, L.R. Bielke
ABSTRACT ID-102 p.106 Using blood pH and CO2 in broilers under high altitude,
Enhancing Broiler Performance and Sustainability: The humidity and temperature to optimise performance
Synergistic Effects of Glycine and Arginine Supplementation A.Fernández-Gutiérrez, L.N. Salgado-Gutiérrez, G. Quintana-Ospina, Carlos E.
Vier, M. De Gussem
Hashim M.M., S.A. El-Safty,, M.A.M. Abdelaziz,, A.M. Abuelnaga, M.H. Rashed,
Sohila M. El-Gameel, M. Abdelkareem, and AbdelRahman Y. Abdelhady
ABSTRACT ID-103 p.167 Validation of a Camera System for Assessing Mobility in
Impact of early feeding and time of hatch on duodenal Broiler Chickens
morphology and nutrient metabolism during the first week Patricia Soster de Carvalho,, Giuditta Tilli, Wout Verbeure, Pieter-Jan Dhaese,
of life in conventional and slow growing broilers Adriaan Verhelle, Jennifer Hautekeur, Annelike Dedeurwaerder, Gunther
Antonissen, Maarten De Gussem,
Niamh Cleiren, Rutger Smets, Evelyne Delezie, Marta Lourenço, Geert
Janssens,
Luc Duchateau, Gunther Antonissen ABSTRACT ID-115 p.159
Evaluation of the e. Acervulina and e. Maxima scoring system
ABSTRACT ID-104 p.98 in anticoccidial sensitivity tests (ast’s)
Salmonella serotype prediction with Nanopore sequencing Brecht Maertens (B.M.), Maarten De Gussem (M.D.G)
as a Point-of-Care characterization tool
Samoy C., Lambrecht E., Heyndrickx M., Wagner P, Antonissen G. ABSTRACT ID-116 p.149
Prevalence of Eimeria species in broilers flocks in Vietnam
ABSTRACT ID-105 p.138 based on Oocysts shedding monitoring under different anti-
Proteomic Insights into the Gut Health of Broilers: Blood- coccidial programs
based Biomarkers to Bridge Inflammatory Models Duong-Do-Thi-Thuy, Trinh-Phan-Huu-Huong, David Marks, Maarten De
Gussem
Svitlana Tretiak,, T. Maia,,, F. Impens,,, T. Rijsselaere, F. Van Immerseel, G.
Antonissen
ABSTRACT ID-106 p.94 Novel molecular tools for coccidiosis research, practical
Clostridium perfringens chitinases, key enzymes during early application
stages of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens Gryp T., Maertens B., Verstraeten M., Vercaemer J., Meesseman V., Doner S.,
De Gussem M
Evelien Dierick, Chana Callens, Yehudi Bloch,, Savvas N. Savvides,, Sarah
Hark, Stefan Pelzer, Richard Ducatelle, Filip Van Immerseel, Evy Goossens
ABSTRACT ID-107 p.188 In vivo differences in virulence of Clostridium perfringens
Essential oil and probiotic combination: A gut health power- strains in an experimental necrotic enteritis model
house tackling subclinical dysbiosis Gryp T. , Verhelle A. , Labeeuw, E. , De Gussem M.
Amir E. Ghane, Fajrin Sidiq, Kirsty Gibbs, Sasha A.S. van der Klein
Reo-sequencing and genotyping are not telling the full story,
actual 2023 outbreaks from Benelux under the spotlight.
Poulpharm BV, Belgium

The influence of lauric acid and essential oils on the course
of a necrotic enteritis infection in broilers applying a subclin-
ical disease model
K Jerez-Bogota,, M. Jensen, O. Højberg, N. Canibe, R. Engberg
Are You Ready for
Powered by Bacillus coagulans
Better Feed?
New
The Dual Power

for Optimal
ToxinHealth.
Management � Gut Health
Immune Stimulation � Young Animal Nutrition
Contact us:Antibiotic Reduction � Feed Efficiency
info@biochem.net
biochem.net
Shaping
livestock
solutions
As a fast-growing pharmaceutical and nutritional company, it is our mission to bring a

broad selection of the highest quality products and services to our customers worldwide.
We do that by manufacturing our products ourselves, all the way from strain to shelf,
giving us full flexibility to adjust and adapt our products to meet market requirements.
Constant improvement is one of our driving characteristics. We never stop researching,
improving, and innovating with livestock always at the centre of our world.
Check out our range of coccidiostats, enzymes, feed additives, hygiene products, vaccines,
veterinary products and services on www.huvepharma.com
Danisco Animal Nutrition & Health
Enviva® P ROVAL EN P LU S
A P R AC TI CAL SO LU TI ON
TO A R E AL P R O BLE M
Sure, you can get creative in protecting your birds. But why would you? Good litter conditions lead
to improved bird health and performance. This natural, in-feed, multi-strain DFM for poultry litter
management has a dual mode of action which:
• Improves litter quality and in-house environment
• Digests poultry manure and inhibits pathogenic bacteria
• Maintains lower levels of ammonia
• Reduces incidence of footpad lesions and pododermatitis
info.animalnutrition@iff.com | animalnutrition.iff.com
© 2024 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.
INNOVATION,
The Adisseo Way
LEARN MORE >>>

Life science
to improve
animal care
By mastering microbiota and immunity,
Phileo’s probiotics and active postbiotics are
designed to optimise feed efficiency,
maximise growth performance, enhance
animal natural defences and mitigate
the effect of multifactorial stress.
Act with nature for animal care.
Wellbeing
Isn’t One Thing.
It’s Everything.
It’s a simple fact: healthy animals mean healthier
business. But there’s nothing simple about ensuring the
wellbeing of animals. There are many factors that can
impact their overall health — from diet, to environment,
to biology and more.
We Work with Customers

to Bring it All Together
Our team of the industry’s top scientists and
technical experts work with customers to apply the
right solutions for their specific operations — helping
them connect all the dots to achieve breakthrough
gains in performance.
zinpro.com
An integrated approach focusing
on Feed, Farm and Health
Selko provide specialty feed additives to optimise
animal performance and customer value.
Antibiotic
Reduction
Salmonella
Control
VISIT US
AT BOOTH
Learn more
Selko ICPIH press 170x120_06.indd 1 21/02/2024 19:58

POSTGRADUATE
POULTRY
HEALTH SCIENCES
More information:
www.poultryhealthsciences.com
poultry@ugent.be
Postgraduate Poultry Health Sciences is organized by supported by

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
8TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POULTRY INTESTINAL HEALTH
PROFITABILITY
BEYOND THE STANDARDS
THROUGH THE POWER OF BETTER
NUTRITION, WE IMPROVE THE LIFE
OF ANIMALS AND PEOPLE GLOBALLY
View the product

data sheet here:
Strong in:
- Gut health
- Mycotoxin management
- Feed preservation
Proven solutions for supporting

animal performance in:
- Broilers
- Layers / Breeders
- Turkeys
- Ducks / Geese
Avda. La llana, 123 - 08191 Rubí (Barcelona) Spain - (+34) 93 212 63 82

rubinum@groupandersen.com - www.rubinum.es
www.sanluc.be
Standardised Gut Health Panels
Easy sampling & smooth logistics
Useful insights for your R&D

GMO
FREE 20 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE
GASTROINTESTINAL
Natural Betaine ... RESEARCH
is a multifunctional nutrient improving: FIND OUT MORE

• Gut health
• Performance
• Efficiency
Suitable for all livestock.
AGRANA.COM/ACTIBEET
_INS_85x120_EN_LO.indd 1 20.02.24 18:42
THE MOST COMPLETE MYCOTOXINS

RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
Mycotoxins A unique combination Protection against

binder of minerals, phytogenics the collateral effects
and organic of mycotoxins
components
Control against Protection against Advanced pet

mycotoxins mycotoxins protection
to maximize and phycotoxins in binder
performance aquatic species
in aquatic species
www.bionte.com
bionte@bionte.com
Part of
Your expert
in gut health Eimex Active
Coccidiosis control in
poultry farming
Natural growth
promoter
Salmonella spp., E. coli,
Clostridium spp. control
Natural coccidia
treatment and
control
BacterActive
Unique bioflavonoids
Our products, your trusted

path to a healthy livestock.
Made in Spain | www.mpaveterinary.com
Perstorp
Animal Nutrition
Devoted to your success in
gut health and preservation
Passionate Partner
For Animal Science
Our solutions:
Gut health - Gastrivix™ Avi, ProPhorce™ SR
Functional acids - ProPhorce™ AC 299
Water solutions - ProPhorce™ FS
www.perstorp.com/animalnutrition www.poulpharm.com
Bronze

Book Ihsig 24 Web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Book Ihsig 24 Web

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Book Ihsig 24 Web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dear attendants of the 8th International Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health,

Enjoy the conference!

Dates: April 17 - April 19, 2024

1 Keynote speakers, Oral & Pitch presentations

Organizing committee Scientific committee

Maarten De Gussem, DVM (Belgium) Maarten De Gussem, DVM  (Belgium)

Prof. Rob Moore (Australia)

Dr. Miriam Alberto-Tempra (The Philippines)

Dr. Venessa Eeckhout  (Belgium)

Insular Life Drive,

Information & Contact

Wednesday 17th April, 2024

REGISTRATION 8:00 8:45

TOPICS SPEAKER TIME

Filip Van Immerseel

Emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens in

COFFEE BREAK 10:00 10:45

Session I: INTESTINAL MICROBIOME IN POULTRY

CHAIRMAN: Filip Van Immerseel

Microbiota and transcriptomics related factors driving

Effects of multi-strain and mono-strain probiotics on

LUNCH 12:15 13:30

Session II: PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Efficacy study of an inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis

Butyric glycerides protect chicken enterocytes from

Clostridium perfringens chitinases, key enzymes during Evelien Dierick (Ghent

Influencing intestinal microbiota of chickens with the Julia Hankel (University of

COFFEE BREAK 15:15 16:00

Session III: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH

CHAIRMAN: Maarten De Gussem

Experimental models to study gut health in poultry Reza Barekatain (University of

Experimental necrotic enteritis model in turkeys using Monita Vereecken

Investigation of the effect of antimicrobial and prebiotic

Antimicrobial Properties and Gut Colonisation of Bacillus

Thursday 18th April, 2024

TOPICS SPEAKER TIME

Phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant Jeremy Barr

COFFEE BREAK 10:15 11:00

Session IV: GUT HEALTH MARKERS & DIAGNOSTICS

CHAIRMAN: Rob Moore

PathKinex , a DNA-based microbial surveillance platform

Gut health markers in the ceca of broiler chickens as a

LUNCH 12:30 13:45

POSTER SESSION Various authors 13:45 14:45

Session V: INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

CHAIRMAN: Sharif Shayan

Evaluation of the protective capacity of an innovative

Evaluation of the E. acervulina and E. maxima scoring Brecht Maertens

Dietary Zn amino acid complex and vitamin E levels

Friday 19th April, 2024

TOPICS SPEAKER TIME

Session VI:CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH

CHAIRMAN: Dana Stanley

Growth performance and intestinal health improvements

Improvement of gut health and performance in poultry

Decoding Betaine: Exploring Intestinal Barrier Interaction

COFFEE BREAK 10:00 10:45

Session VI:CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH

CHAIRMAN: Bernd Kaspers

Genetically modified chickens as a tool to dissect the Benjamin Schusser (Technical

Enjoy the conference!

Maarten De Gussem, DVM (Belgium) Maarten De Gussem, DVM (Belgium)

Prof. Rob Moore (Australia)

Dr. Miriam Alberto-Tempra (The Philippines)

Dr. Venessa Eeckhout (Belgium)