Ganoderma Lucidum Extract Regulates Gut Morphology and Microbial Community in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) on the gut morphology and cecal microbial community of broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 144 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four treatments: non-challenged broilers fed a basal diet; LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet; LPS challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 1 mL/L of GLE in the drinking water; and LPS challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 1.33 mL/L of GLE in the drinking water. Results showed that supplementationwith1.33 mL/L of GLE alleviated intestinal inflammatory gene expression in LPS-challenged broilers (p <= 0.05). Supplementation of GLE (1 and 1.33 mL/L) increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum of LPS-challenged broilers (p <= 0.001). Weighted principal coordinate analysis, heat map of species abundance, and microbial function pathway revealed distinct separation between the groups treated with LPS only and LPS in combination with GLE supplementation (1 and 1.33 mL/L). The abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium was increased in the cecal digesta of LPS-challenged broilers receiving GLE(1 and 1.33 mL/L) compared with the LPS challenge-only group (p <= 0.001). The growth performance parameter of broilers was positively associated with the abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium in the cecal digesta. In conclusion, GLE supplementation could modulate gut morphology and cecal microbiota composition of broilers under inflammatory challenge.