Evaluating the Ileal and Cecal Microbiota Composition of a 1940 Heritage Genetic Line and a 2016 Commercial Line of white Leghorns Fed Representative Diets from 1940 to 2016

Abstract

This study identified and evaluated differences between microbiome compositions of the ileum and ceca of 1940 and 2016 white leghorn genetic strains fed representative contemporary diets from those times. Ileal and cecal samples were collected at 69 weeks of age. Alpha and beta diversity metrics were generated, and the Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes (ANCOM) was utilized to determine significantly different taxa. Ileum and ceca alpha diversity were significantly different (p = 0.001; Q = 0.001); however, no differences between genetic lineage were observed (p > 0.05; Q > 0.05). Beta diversity between the ileum and ceca and the genetic lines was significantly different (p = 0.001; Q = 0.001). The ANCOM of the ileum showed significant differences between Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota phyla (p ˂ 0.05) and significant differences between Pseudomonas, Rhizobiaceae, Leuconostoc, and Aeriscardovia genera (p ˂ 0.05). For ceca ANCOM, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Euryarchaeota phyla were significantly different (p ˂ 0.05), with Firmicutes having the highest relative abundance across all groups, and there were significant differences in genera Pseudomonas, Leuconostoc, Alloprevotella, and Aeri scardovia, with Alloprevotella having the highest relative abundance. The results suggest that genetic makeup in conjunction with the nutritional composition influences the cecal and ileal microbiota of corresponding hens.