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Effects of Spirulina platensis and Amphora coffeaeformis as dietary supplements on blood biochemical parameters, intestinal microbial population, and productive performance in broiler chickens

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Abstract

Spirulina platensis (Sp) or Amphora coffeaeformis (Am) are good candidates as an in-feed antibiotic substitute for broilers. This work was performed to investigate the effects of Sp and Am on the growth performance, intestinal microbial population, physiological responses, and blood biochemical constituents in broiler chickens. Fifty-one-day old Cobb broilers (with initial body weights 50–55 g) were allocated to five groups. Each treatment group had five replicate pens with two birds each. The experiments lasted for 35 days. The 1st group had basal diet (control group). The 2nd and 3rd groups received basal diet, along with 5- or 10-g/kg Sp as a feed ingredient, respectively. While the 4th and 5th groups received basal diet, along with 5- or 10-g/kg Am as a feed ingredient, respectively. Data analysis revealed significantly higher body weight gains (P ≤ 0.05) with higher Sp or Am levels and, in turn, linear improvements (P ≤ 0.05) in feed conversion values. In addition, intestinal Lactobacillus sp. was increased, and Escherichia coli populations were decreased by both dietary Sp levels or Am levels. Furthermore, the liver (% body weight) was significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) and the heart (% body weight) was significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) with higher Sp or Am levels in comparison with untreated control. In conclusion, dietary inclusion with 10 g/kg of Sp and Am could improve the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and intestinal microbial population in broiler chickens.

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Abbreviations

Sp :

Spirulina platensis

Am :

Amphora coffeaeformis

LDL:

low-density lipoprotein

HDL:

high-density lipoprotein

AST:

aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

FCR:

feed conversion ratio

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research, College of Science Research Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    Eman A. Alwaleed & Hani Saber

  2. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt

    Mostafa El-Sheekh

  3. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

  4. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt

    Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

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  1. Eman A. Alwaleed
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  2. Mostafa El-Sheekh
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Correspondence to Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim.

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This work was approved by South Valley University animal care and use committee (Approval No. 12-214). The use and care of experimental animals, used in this study, comply with the Egyptian animal welfare laws and policies.

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Alwaleed, E.A., El-Sheekh, M., Abdel-Daim, M.M. et al. Effects of Spirulina platensis and Amphora coffeaeformis as dietary supplements on blood biochemical parameters, intestinal microbial population, and productive performance in broiler chickens. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 1801–1811 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10597-3

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