1. Elevated levels of butyric acid in the jejunum of an animal model of broiler chickens: from early onset of Clostridium perfringens infection to clinical disease of necrotic enteritis
- Author
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Hemlata Gautam, Noor Ahmad Shaik, Babajan Banaganapalli, Shelly Popowich, Iresha Subhasinghe, Lisanework E. Ayalew, Rupasri Mandal, David S. Wishart, Suresh Tikoo, and Susantha Gomis
- Subjects
Broiler chickens ,Butyric acid ,Gut health ,Metabolic pathways ,Necrotic enteritis ,Toxin genes ,Animal culture ,SF1-1100 ,Veterinary medicine ,SF600-1100 - Abstract
Abstract Background Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of broiler chickens caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP). The pathogenesis, or disease process, of NE is still not clear. This study aimed to identify the alterations of metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with subclinical or clinical NE in CP infected birds and to investigate the possible variations in the metabolic profile of birds infected with different isolates of CP. Methodology Using a well-established NE model, the protein content of feed was changed abruptly before exposing birds to CP isolates with different toxin genes combinations (cpa, cpb2, netB, tpeL; cpa, cpb2, netB; or cpa, cpb2). Metabolomics analysis of jejunal contents was performed by a targeted, fully quantitative LC-MS/MS based assay. Results This study detected statistically significant differential expression of 34 metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, and biogenic amines, including elevation of butyric acid at onset of NE in broiler chickens. Subsequent analysis of broilers infected with CP isolates with different toxin gene combinations confirmed an elevation of butyric acid consistently among 21 differentially expressed metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, and biogenic amines, underscoring its potential role during the development of NE. Furthermore, protein-metabolite network analysis revealed significant alterations in butyric acid and arginine-proline metabolisms. Conclusion This study indicates a significant metabolic difference between CP-infected and non-infected broiler chickens. Among all the metabolites, butyric acid increased significantly in CP-infected birds compared to non-infected healthy broilers. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between butyric acid (coefficient: 1.23, P
- Published
- 2024
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