Probióticos na avicultura: uma revisão

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Poultry farming in Brazil is one of the fastest growing agricultural activities in recent decades, making the country the third producer and the largest exporter of chicken meat. Antibiotic supplementation has been widely used as an additive to stabilize the gut microbiota, improve production parameters and prevent avian diseases. However, due to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, viable alternatives to the use of antibiotics have been sought, including probiotics. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) / World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer benefits on the health of the host”. Probiotics benefit the animal from four different mechanisms of action, namely, the interaction of probiotics with the intestinal microbiota, due to the production of various compounds which have antimicrobial characteristics. The strengthening of the intestinal epithelial barrier, due to the interaction with mucosal immune cells, the modulation of the immune system and the inflammatory response, and the production of neurotransmitters. The objective of this review was to collect available information on the use of probiotics in poultry and their effects on performance and parameters of intestinal health. A bibliographic search of articles was carried out, using digital scientific databases, using keywords such as poultry, probiotics, food, among others. At the end of reading the abstracts, the most relevant and current articles were chosen, thus fulfilling the proposed objective. A total of 364 articles were compiled, 206 of which were selected, of which 66 dealt with the history and general aspects of probiotics, 14 on the gastrointestinal tract of chickens and 126 on the beneficial effects in poultry. Keywords: poultry, gastrointestinal tract, microbiota, probiotics