Probiotics are live bacteria or yeasts that are intended to provide health benefits when consumed. They work by increasing beneficial bacteria in the gut which helps crowd out harmful bacteria, improves nutrient absorption, and prevents infection. Probiotics are recommended for day-old chicks to help establish good gut bacteria and after antibiotic use to repopulate the gut. An ideal probiotic is non-pathogenic, survives processing and storage, adheres to the gut, and provides health benefits through various mechanisms like producing antimicrobials and modulating the immune system. Common probiotic strains include various Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species.

1. Probiotics
Basic Introduction

2. Probiotics
What is Going on in the Gut?

3. What is Going on in the Gut?
› Animal gastrointestinal tracts are populated by hundreds of different species of
bacteria in mind-boggling numbers
› There are billions and billions of bacteria in any animals gut.
› Each of these types of bacteria competes for food and living space until all the
available food and living space in the gut are used up.

4. Cont. …
› The type and numbers of each bacteria:
– Varies from individual to individual
– Changes over time as the animal is exposed to new types of bacteria

5. Cont. …
› When it comes to numbers, most of the bacteria in an animals gut are not harmful.
› Seemingly healthy animals will have a some harmful bacteria such as E-coli, or
Salmonella in their guts but in small quantities can't cause any harmful effect.
› The population of these harmful bacteria are held in check by the good bacteria that
out-compete them for resources and keep their numbers so low where they can't
cause infection.

6. Probiotics
What are Probiotics?

7. What are Probiotics?
› Probiotics are foods or dietary supplements that contain live bacteria with or without
yeast.

8. Probiotics
Functions of Probiotics

9. Functions of Probiotics
› Probiotics increase the population of the ‘good’ bacteria (micro flora), which are
needed in the intestinal tract in order to process food properly.
› They are given to animals (and people too) in order to add to, or replace, the
bacteria that normally exists in the animals gastrointestinal tract.

10. Cont. …
› The use of probiotics as a daily supplement has become a popular routine in the
commercial poultry industry, particularly following antibiotic treatment.
› One commonly known probiotic is called Lactobacillus Acidophilus, and is naturally
occurring in some food such as yogurt.
› But direct application through a liquid or powdered form mixed into drinking water is
the most effective route.

11. Probiotics
Mechanism of Action of Probiotics

12. Mechanism of Action of Probiotics
› There are several postulated mechanisms by which probiotics exert their effect on
susceptibility to pathogens.
› However, for most probiotics known to be effective, the actual mechanism of action is
unknown.
› It is likely for most probiotics that combinations of factors are responsible for activity.

13. Competition for Receptors
› Probiotic bacteria compete with pathogens for:
1. Receptors on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells.
2. Binding sites, on mucus, extracellular matrix, food particles or other sites in the
gastrointestinal tract.
› Competition for receptors may be part of the basis for early expression of probiotic
effect, within 4 hours of administration, observed in some experiments.

14. Competition for Nutrients
› The stable intestinal microflora is a complex system in which essentially all available
nutrients are utilized.
› Effective competition for available nutrients is hypothesized to be a mechanism of
probiotic activity.
› However, direct proof of this mechanism of action in vivo is lacking.

15. Production of Antimicrobial Substances
› Probiotic microorganisms have been shown to produce a variety of potentially
antimicrobial substances such as:
1. Low molecular weight (LMW) substances such as;
1. Organic Acids
2. Alcohols, Hydrogen Peroxide
3. Ammonia
4. Methylhydantoin
5. Lipoteichoic Acid
6. Siderophores
7. Diacetyl
2. Bacteriocins which is thought to contribute to antimicrobial activity of some
probiotics.

16. Immune Enhancement
› Probiotics can have stimulatory effects on both antigen specific and non-specific
immune functions.
› Probiotic administration leads to:
1. Increasing macrophage numbers
2. Increasing phagocytic activity
3. Increasing production of cytokines, such as interferon-gamma and tumor
necrosis factor, which are involved in modulation of both specific and non-
specific immune responses.
4. Enhancing specific local and systemic IgA responses.

17. Probiotics
When to Use Probiotics?

18. When to Use Probiotics?
Healthy Adult Chicken
› Healthy adult chicken has a gut composed primarily of good bacteria.
› If you give that chicken a probiotic that contains new strains of good bacteria, you
might alter the population balance between various good bacteria strains in its gut.
› This does not necessarily improve the chickens health.
› Basically, you would be just swapping in a new good bacteria for an old good
bacteria or increasing the level of one kind of good bacteria relative to other good
bacteria in the chickens gut.
› Therefore, it does not give much benefit in providing probiotics to healthy adult
chickens.

19. Cont. …
Day-old chicks
› Day-old chicks need time to build up strong populations of good bacteria.
› They are more susceptible to having harmful bacteria out-compete good bacteria if
they are exposed to a potent source of harmful bacteria such as contaminated food
or water dishes.
› It is recommended to provide probiotic to chicks for the first week of life.

20. Cont. …
Following Antibiotic Treatment
› When birds are treated with antibiotics, all bacteria are killed off, beneficial and
harmful.
› Treating with probiotics immediately after the use of antibiotics, help to repopulate
the gut with the good bacteria.

21. Cont. …
Everyday Treatment
› Probiotics, on daily basis, may;
1. Help birds ward off most illnesses they could become exposed to in that
environment.
2. Stimulate laying hens to drink more water.
3. Stimulate appetite.
4. Increasing good gut bacteria which compete against the bad bacteria, change
the pH environment, allow nutrient absorption, and prevent infection.

22. Probiotics
Selection of Probiotics

23. Selection of Probiotics
Genera proposed for use as probiotics in food animals
› Bacteria
– Lactobacillus
– Bifidobacterium
– Enterococcus
– Bacillus
– Escherichia
– Proteus
– Streptococcus
› Fungi
– Saccharomyces
– Aspergillus

24. Probiotics
Characteristics of an Ideal Probiotic

25. Characteristics of an Ideal Probiotic
1. Non-pathogenic
2. Remain functional through processing and storage
3. Resist gastric acid and bile
4. Adhere to gut epithelium and/or mucus
5. Persist in the gastrointestinal tract, for at least short periods
6. Produce antimicrobial substances
7. Modulate immune responses
8. Alter microbial activities

26. Probiotics
Sources of Probiotics

27. Sources of Probiotics
› Most probiotics contain a relatively
small variety of good bacteria
including the following strains:
1. Lactobacillus acidophilus
2. Lactobacillus casei
3. Lactobacillus bulgaricus
4. Lactobacillus plantarum
5. Streptococcus thermophilus
6. Enterococcus faecium
7. Bifidobacterium
› Extra FCR ingredients;
1. Bacillus satilis
2. Enterococcus tactis
3. Lactobacillus vulgaris
4. Lactobacillus fermentum
5. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

28. Probiotics
Take Home Messages

29. Take Home Messages
1. Probiotics can enhance immunity
2. Probiotics can create a non immune defensive barrier in the GIT
3. Multi-specie probiotics are more efficient than single-strain ones (they can colonize
the whole GIT)
4. Specie-specific probiotics can colonize better the GIT and stay longer in the GIT
after stopping the administration
5. Multi-specie, specie-specific probiotics can give a benefit in terms of BCO lameness
reduction Acute-phase inflammation modulation, N.E. reduction

30. Probiotics
Live and Dead Bacteria

31. Live and Dead Bacteria
Live bacteria Dead bacteria
Competitive exclusion Ok Ok
Production of antimicrobial substances Ok
Change in intestinal environment Ok
Modulation of immune system Ok Ok
Anti-inflammatory effect Ok Ok

32. Contact us on;
ossama.motawae@eurekaeg.com
+201023985680