Investigation of chicken intestinal bacterial communities by 16S rRNA targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization

The aim of the investigation was to quantify selected dominant bacterial groups in the chicken intestinal tract. Conventional production was used as model and the effect of the supplement with Salinomycin was evaluated. Hybridization conditions were optimized for published probes with respect to a panel of reference bacteria.

In chicken intestinal samples bacteria were quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization with 16S rRNA oligonucleotides directed towards bacteria related to Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Enterococcus-Streptococcus-Lactococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Clostridium and the domain Bacteria in lumen of ileum and cecum as well as on the intestinal wall including mucus of four individuals.

Salinomycin in feed reduced counts of the Lactobacillus-, Enterobacteriaceae- and Clostridium-like bacteria in lumen of ileum compared to the conventional control. Increased or decreased bacterial counts were registered by Salinomycin in the ceca compared to the control. Relatively higher counts of Bacteroides- and Clostridium-like bacteria were found on the intestinal wall including mucus compared to lumen.

The increase in numbers of some bacterial groups as well as the expected reduction by Salinomycin and the observed difference in the relative distribution of bacteria between lumen and intestinal wall are new observations that will need further investigation.