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Published on: February 15, 2019

Some observations on the caecal microflora of the chick during the first two weeks of life

G C Mead, B W Adams

    British Poultry Science
    |March 1, 1975
    PubMed

    Insights

    The chick caecal flora composition changes significantly within 14 days, with uric acid utilization declining after the third day. Anaerobic bacteria become predominant, shifting from initial Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli dominance.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Animal Science
    • Gastrointestinal Health

    Background:

    • The caecal microbiota plays a crucial role in chick health and development.
    • Understanding the dynamic changes in early-life gut flora is essential for optimizing poultry production and disease prevention.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the temporal shifts in caecal microbial composition and function in young chicks.
    • To identify key bacterial groups and their metabolic activities, particularly uric acid utilization, during the first 14 days of life.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized conventional and specialized anaerobic plating techniques to enumerate caecal bacteria.
    • Assessed the uric acid-utilizing capacity of isolated bacterial strains.
    • Tracked microbial changes in chicks from approximately 3 hours to 14 days of age.

    Main Results:

    • Caecal flora composition undergoes significant changes within the first 14 days post-hatch.
    • Uric acid utilization by caecal organisms was high (approx. 100%) up to day 3, declining sharply thereafter.
    • Early predominant uric acid utilizers included Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, with anaerobic bacteria dominating later stages.

    Conclusions:

    • The chick caecal microbiota is dynamic in early life, with a notable decrease in uric acid utilization after the first three days.
    • Anaerobic bacteria become the predominant uric acid-utilizing flora in older chicks, indicating a shift in metabolic function.
    • No bacterial isolate demonstrated an absolute requirement for uric acid, suggesting adaptability within the caecal environment.

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