Infection Heterogeneity and Microbiota Differences in Chicks Infected by <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the infection heterogeneity and cecal microbiota in chicks infected by S. enteritidis. Forty-eight 8-d-old female Arbor Acres chicks were challenged with S. enteritidis and euthanized 24 h later. The eight chicks with the highest Salmonella tissue loads were assigned to group S (S. enteritidis-susceptible), and the eight chicks with the lowest Salmonella tissue loads were assigned to group R (S. enteritidis-resistant). Chicks in group S showed a higher liver index (p p occludin, MUC2, and IL10 was higher, whereas that of iNOS and IL6 was lower (p S. enteritidis-susceptible chicks showed higher abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Helicobacter) in their cecal, while Desulfovibrio_piger was enriched in the cecal of S. enteritidis-resistant chicks. In summary, chicks showed heterogeneous responses to S. enteritidis infection. Enhanced intestinal barrier function and cecal microbiota structure, especially a higher abundance of Desulfovibrio_piger, may help chicks resist S. enteritidis invasion.

Keywords

• <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>
• heterogeneity
• cecal microbiome
• intestinal barrier
• <i>Desulfovibrio_piger</i>