{"id":85576,"date":"2025-05-02T18:48:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T11:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medion.co.id\/?p=85576"},"modified":"2025-07-16T13:35:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T06:35:43","slug":"mengenal-dysbacteriosis-pada-unggas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medion.co.id\/en\/info-medion\/understanding-dysbacteriosis-in-poultry\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Dysbacteriosis in Poultry"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most common challenges in poultry farming is maintaining flock health. Poultry diseases pose a serious threat that can cause significant economic losses for farmers. These diseases can affect various organ systems in chickens, with the digestive system being a preferred target for many pathogens. Digestive disorders in poultry can have both short- and long-term negative impacts, often leading to poor growth performance and reproductive disturbances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The avian digestive system is a complex network that plays a vital role in sustaining bird health and productivity. Each organ performs distinct functions, and disruption of even a single component can compromise the performance of the entire tract. The intestine (intestinum<\/em>) is particularly important. It is divided into several segments (Figure 1); nutrient absorption occurs primarily in the jejunum<\/em> and ileum<\/em>, while microbial fermentation of residual feed takes place in the ceca<\/em>. In healthy birds, the intestinal microbiota remains in balance. Under certain conditions, however, an imbalance of intestinal bacteria\u2014known as dysbacteriosis<\/em> or dysbiosis<\/em> can develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chicken\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Chicken Digestive Organs and Their Functions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Definition and Etiology of Dysbacteriosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Microbes in the digestive tract or gastrointestinal<\/em> system of poultry consist of more than 900 bacterial species and their metabolites. These microbes serve as indicators of poultry health and are influenced by nutrition, medication, and other factors. Dysbacteriosis<\/em> is a condition characterized by a reduction in microbial diversity, marked by the loss of beneficial microbes and the increase of opportunistic microbes (which can become pathogenic under favorable environmental conditions). Dysbacteriosis<\/em> is classified into three types: the loss of beneficial bacteria, the overall loss of bacterial diversity, and the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. Dysbacteriosis<\/em> in poultry negatively affects growth, performance, health, flock uniformity, and overall animal welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dysbacteriosis<\/em> can be caused by various factors, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) Feed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An unbalanced feed ration can directly or indirectly cause intestinal dysbacteriosis<\/em>. For example, a diet containing a high crude protein-to-metabolizable energy ratio may lead to the accumulation of undigested protein in the ceca, resulting in the overgrowth of proteolytic (protein-degrading) microbes that produce hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. A diet with an imbalanced protein content also negatively affects gut microbes, as excessive protein levels can lead to the formation of toxic metabolites and gas products that suppress the poultry\u2019s immune system.\n\nFiber and fat in feed also influence intestinal microbial balance by increasing the population of butyrate-producing bacteria (Blautia<\/em>, E. rectale<\/em>, Roseburia<\/em>, F. prausnitzii<\/em>, and Faecalibacterium spp.<\/em>), as well as Lactobacilli<\/em> and Bifidobacteria<\/em>. The effect of dietary fat on intestinal microbiota diversity is indirect\u2014higher fat levels stimulate the production of bile salts (bile acids<\/em>), promoting the growth of bile-tolerant bacterial species such as Alistipes<\/em>, Bacteroides<\/em>, and Bilophila<\/em>.\n\nMeanwhile, a high-carbohydrate diet increases the population of bacteria involved in fermentation processes, including Clostridium cluster XVIII<\/em>, Lachnospiraceae (Clostridium colostridioforme)<\/em>, Ruminococcaceae (F. prausnitzii)<\/em>, and Prevotella<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) Improper Use of Antibiotics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An important issue regarding antibiotic use is the duration of administration. Long-term use leads to a decrease in microbial diversity within the gastrointestinal tract. The combined use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as neomycin, ampicillin, and others) for 7\u201314 days increases antibiotic-resistant bacterial species, causes gastrointestinal dysbacteriosis<\/em>, slows intestinal development, disrupts intestinal barrier function, and weakens the immune system.\n\nAdministering antibiotic cocktails or combinations for two weeks also significantly reduces the population of beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes<\/em>, Lactobacillus<\/em>, and Bacillus<\/em>, while increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes<\/em>, Proteobacteria<\/em>, Cyanobacteria<\/em>, and Enterococcus<\/em> in the gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) Mycotoxins<\/em> or Fungal Toxins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi such as Aspergillus<\/em>, Fusarium<\/em>, and Penicillium<\/em>. These toxins negatively affect the composition of intestinal microbes. The primary harmful effects of mycotoxins on the intestinal health of chickens include disruption of microbial homeostasis, alteration of microbial composition in the ceca, increased microbial diversity and richness, as well as intestinal damage and inflammation. Most mycotoxins target the epithelial cells of the intestine, and gut microbes play a crucial role in their detoxification. Each type of mycotoxin can affect intestinal microbiota differently (Table 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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d) Disease Agents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n