Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics and their Combinations on Growth Performance and Intestinal Microbiota of Broilers Infected with Mixed Salmonellae

In the present study, a total of 273 commercial Cobb chicks were subjectively divided into seven groups to evaluate the effects of a probiotic mixture, prebiotic (Isomaltooligosaccharide), and their combination additions on growth performance, intestinal microbiome, caecal colonisation of Salmonella of broilers challenged with S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium. The groups included G01: basal diet (negative control), G02; basal diet and challenged with Salmonella on 3rd day of life (positive control), G03: received probiotic mixture in drinking water and then challenged with Salmonella, G04: received prebiotic in feed and then orally challenged with Salmonella, G05: received probiotic mix and prebiotic (synbiotic) and then challenged with Salmonella, G06: received probiotic mix in drinking water, and G07: received prebiotic in the feed. The obtained data exhibited that probiotic mixture, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplements noteworthy, upgraded growth performance, reduced total Salmonella counts, and augmented the total numbers of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus in the caeca of challenged birds compared with those of challenge untreated group. Compared to the probiotic mix and prebiotic single supplements, the synbiotic effects were notable. Also, probiotic mixture and prebiotic supplements significantly enhanced growth performance and adjusted the caecum microbial composition of uninfected birds compared with those of the uninfected untreated group. In conclusion, probiotic mixture, prebiotic, and in particular, synbiotic supplements could enhance growth performance and increase Lactobacillus and Enterococcus population counts in caeca of broilers experimentally challenged with S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium.