<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The present study investigated the effect of <italic>Hermetia illucens</italic> larvae (BSFL) fat, derived using supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction and added to broiler chickens’ diets as a partial (50%) or total replacement for commonly used soybean oil, on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbial population, its activity, and selected physiological and immune traits. A total of 576 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments with 16 replicates each. The following treatments were applied: SO – 100% soybean oil, BSFL50 – a mixture of BSFL and soybean oils in a 50:50 ratio, and BSFL100 – 100% BSFL fat. Digesta samples from the crop, jejunum and caeca were collected for further analyses, i.e., pH measurements, fluorescent <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations. Additionally, the selected plasma biochemical parameters and immunological traits were assessed. In general, the implementation of BSFL fat in broilers’ diets resulted in increased proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacterial populations in the crop, such as Enterobacteriaceae, <italic>Bacteroides–Prevotella</italic> cluster, and <italic>Clostridium perfringens</italic>. Furthermore, BSFL100 enhanced microbial activity via total SCFA production and lowered the pH in this segment. However, no detrimental effects were observed in terms of other GIT segments, i.e., the jejunal and cecal microecosystems. The strongest impact on reduction of select components of the microbial population in the cecum was observed with the BSFL50 treatment for potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, <italic>Bacteroides–Prevotella</italic> cluster, while commensal populations were also limited, i.e., <italic>Bacillus</italic> spp., <italic>C. leptum</italic> subgroup, and <italic>C. coccoides–Eubacterium rectale</italic> cluster. Additionally, BSFL100 reduced the cholesterol concentration in the blood, while both experimental treatments decreased the ALT level. In conclusion, due to the insufficient release of lauric acid from the BSFL fat in the crop, an adverse shift in the microbiota can be noted. However, a positive suppressive effect on the select components of the cecal microbiota, as well as improvement of liver health suggests implying the BSFL fat in broiler nutrition.</p></abstract>

The present study investigated the effect of Hermetia illucens larvae (BSFL) fat, derived using supercritical CO2 extraction and added to broiler chickens’ diets as a partial (50%) or total replacement for commonly used soybean oil, on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbial population, its activity, and selected physiological and immune traits. A total of 576 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments with 16 replicates each. The following treatments were applied: SO – 100% soybean oil, BSFL50 – a mixture of BSFL and soybean oils in a 50:50 ratio, and BSFL100 – 100% BSFL fat. Digesta samples from the crop, jejunum and caeca were collected for further analyses, i.e., pH measurements, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations. Additionally, the selected plasma biochemical parameters and immunological traits were assessed. In general, the implementation of BSFL fat in broilers’ diets resulted in increased proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacterial populations in the crop, such as Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides–Prevotella cluster, and Clostridium perfringens. Furthermore, BSFL100 enhanced microbial activity via total SCFA production and lowered the pH in this segment. However, no detrimental effects were observed in terms of other GIT segments, i.e., the jejunal and cecal microecosystems. The strongest impact on reduction of select components of the microbial population in the cecum was observed with the BSFL50 treatment for potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides–Prevotella cluster, while commensal populations were also limited, i.e., Bacillus spp., C. leptum subgroup, and C. coccoides–Eubacterium rectale cluster. Additionally, BSFL100 reduced the cholesterol concentration in the blood, while both experimental treatments decreased the ALT level. In conclusion, due to the insufficient release of lauric acid from the BSFL fat in the crop, an adverse shift in the microbiota can be noted. However, a positive suppressive effect on the select components of the cecal microbiota, as well as improvement of liver health suggests implying the BSFL fat in broiler nutrition.

<italic>Hermetia illucens</italic> fat affects the gastrointestinal tract selected microbial populations, their activity, and the immune status of broiler chickens

Department of Zoology, Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, and Biostructure

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

 fat affects the gastrointestinal tract selected microbial populations, their activity, and the immune status of broiler chickens

The present study investigated the effect of Hermetia illucens larvae (BSFL) fat, derived using supercritical CO2 extraction and added to broiler chickens’...

Hermetia illucens fat affects the gastrointestinal tract selected microbial populations, their activity, and the immune status of broiler chickens

Published Online: May 12, 2022

Page range: 663 - 675

Received: May 04, 2021

Accepted: Aug 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0071

Keywords
black soldier fly, alternative dietary energy fat, microbiota, microbial activity, immune status

© 2022 Bartosz Kierończyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Hermetia illucens fat affects the gastrointestinal tract selected microbial populations, their activity, and the immune status of broiler chickens

Published Online: May 12, 2022

Page range: 663 - 675

Received: May 04, 2021

Accepted: Aug 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0071

Keywordsblack soldier fly, alternative dietary energy fat, microbiota, microbial activity, immune status

© 2022 Bartosz Kierończyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
black soldier fly, alternative dietary energy fat, microbiota, microbial activity, immune status