Effects of Different Dietary Levels of Probiotic on Morphological and Microbiological Indices of Intestine in Japanese Quails

Effect of probiotic Bioplas 2B was tested on morphologic and cecal microbial populations in quails. Experimental treatments included control; 30 mg/kg antibiotic; 0.1% probiotic; 0.05% probiotic. 320 one-day quail with four experimental treatments in four replications were used in a completely randomized design. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in quails fed with 0.05% probiotic and the worst FCR was obtained in quails of the control group which had a significant difference compared with other treatments (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in duodenal villi length (P<0.05). The highest values of crypt depth and thickness in fed birds were 0.1% probiotics, which, in contrast to 0.05% probiotic treatment, were significantly different from other treatments (P <0.05). The lowest depth and thickness of the crypt was also observed in the antibiotic treatment. The results of jejunal morphology showed that the use of probiotic treatment improved the vili length, villi thickness, crypt depth and crypt thickness compared to the control and antibiotic treatments (P<0.05). The probiotic treatment also improved the length of the villi and thickness compared to the control treatment. The probiotic treatment also improved the crypt depth and the thickness of the ileum fraction compared to the antibiotic treatment (P<0.05). In addition, the results of cecal microbial population showed that 0.1% probiotic treatment and control treatment increased Lactobacillus population and E. coli and total bacteria compared to other treatments. The results of the present study showed that probiotic supplementation significantly improved the morphology and microbial conditions of intestine in quails and can be a good alternative to antibiotics.