Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese

IntroductionThe expansion of large-scale goose farming under semi-arid conditions has exacerbated bathing pool pollution, adversely affecting goose growth performance and intestinal health. Given the crucial role of gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and considering the reported b...

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Main Authors: Chenyu Zhu, Yongquan Luo, Kunjie Xu, Yong Li, Yuanhao Han, Zhiyuan Liu, Xiujin Li, Danning Xu, Yunbo Tian, Yunmao Huang, Zhongping Wu, Xumeng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537724/full
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author Chenyu Zhu
Yongquan Luo
Kunjie Xu
Yong Li
Yuanhao Han
Zhiyuan Liu
Xiujin Li
Danning Xu
Yunbo Tian
Yunmao Huang
Zhongping Wu
Xumeng Zhang
author_facet Chenyu Zhu
Yongquan Luo
Kunjie Xu
Yong Li
Yuanhao Han
Zhiyuan Liu
Xiujin Li
Danning Xu
Yunbo Tian
Yunmao Huang
Zhongping Wu
Xumeng Zhang
author_sort Chenyu Zhu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe expansion of large-scale goose farming under semi-arid conditions has exacerbated bathing pool pollution, adversely affecting goose growth performance and intestinal health. Given the crucial role of gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and considering the reported beneficial effects of bacteriophages and Bacillus subtilis on gut health, this study investigated their combined application in goose production.MethodsTo investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis and phage supplementation on goose intestinal health, a 90-day trial was conducted with 288 Magang goslings randomly allocated to four treatment groups: control (A), B. subtilis (1 × 105 CFU/kg; B), bacteriophage (5 × 107 PFU/kg; C), and combined supplementation (D).ResultsThe supplementation significantly enhanced body weight (p < 0.05) and feed efficiency without affecting feed intake. Notably, the combined treatment demonstrated synergistic effects in reducing serum and aquatic endotoxin levels while suppressing pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) in water systems. Intestinal morphology improvements included increased villus height and optimized villusto-crypt ratios, accompanied by up-regulated expression of tight junction genes (Zo-1 and Ocln). Cecal microbiota analysis revealed enhanced alpha diversity and a shift toward Bacteroides-dominant communities, with concurrent suppression of Proteobacteria. Immune modulation exhibited a biphasic response, characterized by early anti-inflammatory (Tnf-α) and late-phase antioxidant (Ho-1) activities. Microbialenvironmental correlation analysis identified Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota as growth-promoting but barrier-compromising taxa, while Bacteroidota was associated with improved gut integrity.ConclusionThis research has shown that adding B. subtilis and bacteriophages to feed significantly enhances the intestinal barrier function of geese. The findings demonstrate that combined supplementation of B. subtilis and bacteriophages during the brooding and rearing stages optimizes growth performance through gut-microbiota-immune interactions, providing an effective antibiotic-free strategy for sustainable poultry production.
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spelling doaj-art-e3af0476bde441ad8755aa4efd15ac932025-08-20T01:51:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-04-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15377241537724Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geeseChenyu ZhuYongquan LuoKunjie XuYong LiYuanhao HanZhiyuan LiuXiujin LiDanning XuYunbo TianYunmao HuangZhongping WuXumeng ZhangIntroductionThe expansion of large-scale goose farming under semi-arid conditions has exacerbated bathing pool pollution, adversely affecting goose growth performance and intestinal health. Given the crucial role of gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and considering the reported beneficial effects of bacteriophages and Bacillus subtilis on gut health, this study investigated their combined application in goose production.MethodsTo investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis and phage supplementation on goose intestinal health, a 90-day trial was conducted with 288 Magang goslings randomly allocated to four treatment groups: control (A), B. subtilis (1 × 105 CFU/kg; B), bacteriophage (5 × 107 PFU/kg; C), and combined supplementation (D).ResultsThe supplementation significantly enhanced body weight (p < 0.05) and feed efficiency without affecting feed intake. Notably, the combined treatment demonstrated synergistic effects in reducing serum and aquatic endotoxin levels while suppressing pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) in water systems. Intestinal morphology improvements included increased villus height and optimized villusto-crypt ratios, accompanied by up-regulated expression of tight junction genes (Zo-1 and Ocln). Cecal microbiota analysis revealed enhanced alpha diversity and a shift toward Bacteroides-dominant communities, with concurrent suppression of Proteobacteria. Immune modulation exhibited a biphasic response, characterized by early anti-inflammatory (Tnf-α) and late-phase antioxidant (Ho-1) activities. Microbialenvironmental correlation analysis identified Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota as growth-promoting but barrier-compromising taxa, while Bacteroidota was associated with improved gut integrity.ConclusionThis research has shown that adding B. subtilis and bacteriophages to feed significantly enhances the intestinal barrier function of geese. The findings demonstrate that combined supplementation of B. subtilis and bacteriophages during the brooding and rearing stages optimizes growth performance through gut-microbiota-immune interactions, providing an effective antibiotic-free strategy for sustainable poultry production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537724/fullgooseBacillus subtilisbacteriophagesgrowth performancegut health
spellingShingle Chenyu Zhu
Yongquan Luo
Kunjie Xu
Yong Li
Yuanhao Han
Zhiyuan Liu
Xiujin Li
Danning Xu
Yunbo Tian
Yunmao Huang
Zhongping Wu
Xumeng Zhang
Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
Frontiers in Nutrition
goose
Bacillus subtilis
bacteriophages
growth performance
gut health
title Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
title_full Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
title_fullStr Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
title_full_unstemmed Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
title_short Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance, intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0–90 d MaGang geese
title_sort effects of dietary supplementation with bacillus subtilis and bacteriophage on growth performance intestinal morphology and microbiota structure in 0 90 d magang geese
topic goose
Bacillus subtilis
bacteriophages
growth performance
gut health
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537724/full
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