Identifying Novel Biomarkers of Broiler Performance and Gut Health

Schuitemaker, Bushra (2024) Identifying Novel Biomarkers of Broiler Performance and Gut Health. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Identifying biomarkers of intestinal health in commercial poultry, particularly broilers, holds immense promise for enhancing poultry welfare and productivity. This study leverages insights from the microbiome, mycobiome, metabolome, and immune system to attempt to identify novel biomarkers for broiler gut health and performance.

Commercial broilers of different ages, sexes, and genotypes were examined, employing genomic DNA extraction from faeces and other gastrointestinal contents, shotgun metagenomic analyses, ITS1 rRNA barcoding, untargeted 1H-NMR of poultry faeces and serum and immunological analyses. Biological efficiency parameters, including body weight, growth, and feed conversion ratio, were recorded. Small intestine morphological development was assessed.

Results highlight optimised methods for identifying microbiome and serum-sourced biomarkers. A screening protocol for phytase activity in chick intestinal microbiome fed a phytase-free diet was developed. Faeces and serum proved to be reproducible sample types, showing remarkable consistency in the faecal microbiome composition of broilers across different genotypes and collection dates. Arabinitol and trimethylamine metabolism emerged as potential metabolome markers in both faeces and serum. Differences in Lactobacilli population composition, Alistipes presence, and Akkermansia muciniphila abundance in faeces were associated with improved performance. The discovery of the yeast Diutina, particularly in the context of phosphorus utilisation by the mycobiome, was linked to performance. Positive trends between microbiome and mycobiome diversity in chicks suggest the mycobiome could play a role in gut microbiome maturation and stability. Core members of the broiler faecal mycobiome across life stages were identified including species of Alternaria, Nakazawaea and Leucosporidium. Activation of natural antibodies during the broiler life cycle was observed. The microbiome community structure and metabolome were established. Comparisons were drawn between genotypes, performance, and growth stage.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	24 Apr 2025 13:09
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 13:09
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99082
DOI:

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