Garlic derivative PTS-O modulates intestinal microbiota composition and improves digestibility in growing broiler chickens

The effects of dietary supplementation with two levels (45 and 90 mg/kg diet, diets PTS-O-45 and PTS-O-90, respectively) of the garlic (Allium sativum)-derived product PTS-O (propyl propane thiosulfonate) on the intestinal microbiota composition and digestibility of nutrients were studied in growing broiler chickens. Lower (P<0.05) lactobacilli log10 16S rRNA gene copy numbers with respect to controls were determined in the crop contents of birds fed on both PTS-O supplemented diets. In the ileal contents, PTS-O-45 feeding resulted in lower (P<0.05) Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale and Clostridium leptum log10 number of copies. Feeding the PTS-O-90 diet resulted in higher (P<0.05) bacteroides and total bacteria in the ileal contents. Lower (P<0.05) bacteroides log10 number of copies were determined in the caecal contents of birds fed on PTS-O-90, while C. coccoides/E. rectale number of copies of chickens fed on PTS-O-45 was also lower (P<0.05) than controls. Energy, fat, ADF and NDF fecal digestibilities were greater (P<0.05) than controls in chickens fed on diets containing PTS-O. N and NSP fecal digestibilities were greater (P<0.05) than controls in chickens fed diets containing PTS-O-90. No significant effect was found in the enzymatic activities (sucrase, maltase, isomaltase, aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase) of ileal mucosal samples between controls and PTS-O fed birds. This investigation confirmed previous data, and showed that PTS-O modulated intestinal microbiota composition and improved nutrients digestibility in growing broilers.