26 May Preserving Gut Integrity and Reducing Enteritis Risk in Broilers Under Heat Stress
By Dr. Alain RIGGI, DVM, Global poultry manager & Lin WANG, Global poultry program manager
Broiler production faces significant challenges when it comes to maintaining gut health and productivity, especially under heat stress conditions. One of the primary concerns is the increased risk of Clostridium perfringens proliferation and the development of necrotic enteritis, an important disease that can have severe consequences on broiler performance and producers’ profitability.
Heat stress: opening the door to Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an opportunistic pathogen that multiplies in the intestinal tract of broilers, particularly when there are excesses of nutrients and the gut barrier is compromised. Under heat stress conditions, broilers can have a cascade of physiological reactions such as the decrease of feed intake, poor nutrients’ absorption, furthermore in the broilers’ gut there can be disruption of the intestinal barrier function. All these changes can create favorable conditions allowing C. perfringens to proliferate and produce its potent toxins. The over-population of C. perfringens and its toxins can damage the intestinal epithelial cells, leading to necrosis and inflammation. This disruption of the intestinal barrier facilitates the bacteria and their toxins to penetrate deeper into the intestinal wall, further exacerbating the damage on broilers’ health and productivity.
Yeast postbiotic : proven consistent effects in preserving gut health
Numerous studies have shown that Safmannan®, a premium quality yeast postbiotic, has positive impact on the preservation of the broiler’s gut barrier and the reduction of Clostridium perfringens load in the intestinal tract, under various challenging conditions including heat stress challenge.
The intestinal environment represents a critical interface between nutrition and health. When this environment is compromised due to heat stress, it creates a pathway for pathogens to proliferate, leading to inflammation and reduced nutrient absorption. Maintaining physiological balance at the gut level is therefore essential for efficient feed conversion and growth in commercial poultry operations.
Cheng et al. observed that Safmannan® has the ability to help heat stressed-birds preserving their gut barrier and function, by increasing Mucin 2 secretion – main component of mucus, and gut tight junction proteins such as claudin-5. The same effects have been observed by Bungo et al. Birds in Safmannan® group, challenged by heat stress, exhibiting significant higher levels of Mucin 2 and claudin-5, compared to the ones in both non-challenged group and heat stress-challenged group (Fig. 1 and 2).
This indicates that Safmannan® helps preserve the birds’ gut barrier integrity and proper function under heat stress conditions.
Yeast postbiotic : proven consistent effects in reducing Clostridium perfringens load
Various environmental and management factors can disrupt homeostasis in poultry, with heat stress being particularly problematic in many regions. When birds experience heat stress, they activate physiological mechanisms to dissipate heat, which often comes at the expense of productive functions. The resulting imbalance can lead to reduced feed intake, impaired gut function, and increased susceptibility to pathogens like C. perfringens.
Modern poultry production requires a deep understanding of these biological mechanisms to implement effective interventions. By supporting natural homeostatic processes, producers can minimize the negative impacts of stress factors and maintain optimal performance.
Santovito et al. have studied the effectiveness of Safmannan® in adsorbing Clostridium perfringens. The researchers used an equilibrium isotherm approach to measure the capability of Safmannan® to adsorb C. perfringens. The study found that Safmannan®, can effectively absorb C. perfringens in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with high affinity and capacity. The researchers also observed that the adsorption of C. perfringens by Safmannan® resulted in a reduction in the viability of the pathogen. This suggests that the antimicrobial activity of Safmannan® against C. perfringens can be attributed to an adsorption mechanism, where the yeast postbiotic components bind to the bacterial cells and interfere with their metabolic functions.
Furthermore, Alqhatani et al. demonstrated that adding Safmannan® to broilers’ diet can significantly decrease Clostridium perfringens load in the gut of broilers reared under natural heat stress conditions, compared to the challenged, non-supplemented birds (Fig. 3).
Yeast postbiotic : proven consistent effects in improving poultry performance
In addition to its positive effects on gut barrier preservation and Clostridium perfringens reduction, Safmannan® has also been shown to help mitigate the detrimental effects of heat stress on broiler productivity. Multiple trials conducted in different regions around the world have demonstrated Safmannan® capacity to improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) and survival rates in broilers under severe heat stress conditions (Fig.4).
These improvements align with the fundamental principle that maintaining homeostasis leads to improved feed efficiency and better growth rates. When birds can allocate energy to productive functions rather than combating stress and pathogens, the economic benefits become evident through enhanced performance metrics.
By preserving gut integrity and reducing the risk of Clostridium perfringens-induced enteritis, Safmannan® enables broilers to better withstand the challenges of heat stress and maintain optimal performance. This makes Safmannan® a valuable tool in the battle against the negative impacts of heat stress in broiler production.
Implementation of management practices that support homeostatic balance is increasingly recognized as essential in modern poultry production. Nutritional strategies, including the use of specialized dietary solutions like Safmannan®, represent an effective approach to helping birds maintain physiological equilibrium even under challenging conditions.
Environmental controls that minimize stress are equally important, as they work synergistically with nutritional interventions to support optimal functioning. The economic benefits of supporting natural homeostatic processes translate directly to improved profitability, making these approaches highly relevant to commercial producers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Safmannan® has been shown to be an effective solution in preserving the gut barrier and reducing the risk of Clostridium perfringens-induced enteritis in broilers under heat stress conditions. By adsorbing the pathogen and reducing its viability, Safmannan® helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and enables broilers to better withstand the challenges of heat stress. The incorporation of Safmannan® into broiler heat stress management can enhance the resilience of the flock, optimize production efficiency, and ultimately, improve the profitability of broiler operations.
References:
- Cheng, Y. et al. (2019). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and immune response of broilers under heat stress. Poultry Science, 100(1), 100805.
- Bungo et al., (2021), Evaluating the effect of Safmannan® supplementation on broiler chicks subjected to high ambient temperature, WPC 2021
- Santovito, E. et al. (2019). Equilibrium Isotherm Approach to Measure the Capability of Yeast Cell Wall to Adsorb Clostridium perfringens. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 16(9), 1-8.
- Alqhatani, H. et al. (2024). Dietary supplementation of prebiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall promotes
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We daily support our partners, from global industry players to family farmers, in their transition towards sustainable good practices. With them, we develop tailor-made solutions for preventive care allowing a limited and responsible use of antibiotics by mastering microbiota and immunity. Our shared ambition is to raise healthy animals while sparing planet resources and energy. Our rich collection of proprietary probiotic strains allows us to develop evidence-based solutions taking into account animal species’ diversity ranging from pets, livestock, poultry, fish to insects to overcome the increasing complexity of food production.
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