Effect of Aspergillus japonicas culture filtrate on performance, carcase yield, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota and blood constituents of quail

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the beneficial role of organic acids and other beneficial compounds produced by Aspergillus japonicas and their effects on performance, carcase yield, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota and blood constituents of quail. 240 quails (7 days old) were allotted to 5 groups consisting of 48 quail chicks (4 replicates of 12 chicks). The first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups were fed basal diet with 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 mL A. japonicas culture filtrate/kg diet, respectively. The addition of A. japonicas culture filtrate up to 3 mL/kg feed increased body weight at 3 and 5 weeks-old and body weight gain from 1–3, 3–5 and 1–5 weeks, the best level was 3 mL/kg feed. Quails fed A. japonicas filtrate diets recorded the best feed conversion ratio in comparison with the control. Dietary addition of A. japonicas filtrate tended to decline triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL and increased HDL values in the plasma. Use of A. japonicas filtrate in diets up to 2 mL/kg improved the immune indices. The levels of SOD and TAC, GSH and CAT as well as digestive enzymes were improved due to A. japonicas filtrate supplementation compared to control. Plasma levels of MDA were decreased (p = .0001) in the quails fed Aspergillus filtrate (1 or 2 mL/kg). Quails fed rations enriched with filtrate exhibited lower colonisation of Escherichia coli, coliform and Salmonella. In conclusion, supplemental A. japonicas culture filtrate could improve the performance, digestive enzymes, immunity, antioxidant indices and mitigate intestinal pathogens.

Highlights

• Use of Aspergillus filtrate improved in quail diets performance and digestive enzymes.

• Use of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved immunity and antioxidant indices.

• Dietary addition of Aspergillus filtrate mitigated intestinal pathogens.

Keywords:

• Aspergillus japonicas filtrate
• blood
• growth
• intestinal pathogens
• quail

Animal welfare statement

The authors confirm that they have followed EU standards for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

Ethical Approval

This experiment was designed at Poultry Department and conducted at Poultry Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt. All procedures were carried out according to the EACC (Local Experimental Animal Care Committee).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).