Study on the effects of betaplus probiotic on the duodenal histology in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica)

Use of probiotics instead of antibiotics is one of the new methods to maintain herd health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dietary betaplus probiotic on duodenal histomorphometry in Japanese quail. In this study 288 Japanese quail were subjected in a randomized block design within 6 groups. 6 groups included a control group receiving normal diet, groups receiving three levels of betaplus probiotic (0.5, 1and1.5 g/kg diet), group receiving betaplus at the dose rate of 1g/kg diet with protein deficiency and finally, group receiving diet with protein deficiency and without probiotic. After 5 weeks, quails were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. After fixation and preparation of histological sections, villi length and thickness, crypts depth and width, epithelial and muscular thickness and the number of goblet cells were evaluated. The results showed the significant increase in parameters including villi length, crypt depth, and thickness of the epithelium in groups received beta-plus probiotic(P