Utility of Feed Enzymes and Yeast Derivatives in Ameliorating Deleterious Effects of Coccidiosis on Intestinal Health and Function in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Coccidiosis induced necrotic lesions impair digestive capacity and barrier function in concurrence with increased risks for secondary bacterial infections. The industry has been successful in controlling coccidiosis with anticoccidials and vaccination. However, concerns over Eimeria species resistant to anticoccidials, gaps in vaccination and restriction on antibiotics is stimulating research and application of alternative and/or complimentary strategies for coccidiosis control. The aim of this paper is to appraise literature on the utility of feed enzymes and yeast derivatives in modulating coccidiosis. Feed enzymes can complement endogenous enzymes (protease, amylase, and lipase) that may become insufficient in coccidiosis afflicted birds. Coccidiosis in the upper small intestine creates conditions that enhances efficacy of phytase and there are reports indicating supplemental phytase can mitigate the negative impact of coccidiosis on bone quality. Increase in intestinal short chain fatty acids due supplemental fiber degrading enzymes has been linked with reduced survivability of Eimeria. There is evidence whole yeast (live or dead) and derivatives can modulate coccidiosis. Immunomudulation properties of the yeast derivatives have been shown to enhance cellular and humoral immunity in Eimeria challenge models which is critical for effectiveness of coccidial vaccination. Moreover, yeast nucleotides have been shown to be beneficial in stimulating healing of intestinal mucosal surface. Other novel work has shown that certain yeast cells can produce derivatives with anticoccidial compounds effective in attenuating oocysts shedding. Yeast cell surface has also been shown to be an effective oral Eimeria vaccine delivery vehicle. Overall, while further refinement research is warranted to address inconsistencies in responses and commercial application, there is evidence feed enzymes and yeast derivatives could complement strategies for maintaining intestinal function to bolster growth performance in broilers compromised with coccidiosis. However, broilers receive diets containing several feed additives with distinct mode of actions and yet there is dearth of empirical data on the expected responses.Future evaluations should consider combinations of additives to document animal responses and potential synergies.

Introduction

Global human population is estimated to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, during this period, broiler chicken production is expected to grow by 121% to satisfy animal protein demand (1). However, animal protein production sector is under pressure to produce food products in ways that are ethical, environmentally sustainable, and wholesome. For example, animal agriculture uses significant amounts of antibiotics for therapy, prevention of bacterial infection, and growth promotion. There are growing concerns around the world on indiscriminate use of antibiotics and linkage to the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens. These concerns have necessitated consumer and legislative cessation and/or restrictions on use antibiotics for growth promotion (AGP). Moreover, there is a growing consumer demand for speciality poultry products reared on organic, all vegetable diet and pasture feeding regimens. These changes in the ways of poultry production are bringing new challenges and exacerbating old ones related to bird health, animal welfare, and regulations. In the context of poultry health and nutrition, the primary concerns are increased incidences of enteric diseases such as coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis, impaired nutrient digestion, and absorption ultimately leading to poor feed conversion efficiency as well as increased mortalities and condemnation at the processing plant. All these aspects converge to vindicate the importance of effective control and prevention of enteric pathogens to guarantee food safety and security for a growing human population.

Caused by protozoan parasites of the phylum apicomplexan, genus Eimeria, coccidiosis is inexplicably linked to the advancement and modernization of poultry production and annual global impact amounts to more than $3 billion in morbidity and mortality losses (2, 3). The protozoa invades intestinal cells as part of life cycle leading to impaired digestion and absorption, barrier function and secondary bacterial infections (4–6). The parasites exhibits remarkable species-specific sites of development and foci of pathology within the intestinal tract (5, 7–9). Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella are the most frequently found species in commercial broiler chickens production systems (8). High animal densities seen in these production systems are favorable for transmission of Eimeria (8). Eimeria infection also exacerbates intestinal proliferation of pathogens such as Clostridium, perfringens, and Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis or Typhimurium (9–12). It follows that coccidiosis not only has implication on birds health but can also compromises food safety (13).

In recognition of the negative effects of coccidiosis in poultry production, the industry has long developed and adopted anticoccidials or live vaccination or combinations of these strategies for control (6, 14). However, concerns over Eimeria species resistant to anticoccidials and public concern over drug use in animal production is limiting chemotherapy options (15). Vaccination is dependent on optimal Eimeria cycling through each flock, is management intensive, and cross-protection to wild-type strains is not 100% effective (11, 16, 17). Moreover, vaccination involves provision of live Eimeria species within the first day of chick life which may increase the risk of enteric disturbances (18). There are numerous alternative feed additives to traditional coccidiosis control strategies that are claimed to attenuate, or remedy structural and functional intestinal damage occasioned by coccidiosis (19). The intent of this review is to appraise the body of published data on the role of feed enzymes and yeast derivatives in modulating coccidiosis.

Feed Enzymes

The proposal of application of exogenous enzymes in poultry nutrition was initially suggested almost 100 years ago (20), however, the prohibitive cost did not allow their application in animal nutrition until many decades later (21). Xylanases and β-glucanases were pioneer commercial feed enzymes to deal with problematic viscous feedstuffs such as barley and wheat (22–25). Early experimentations showed that supplementation of these enzymes in diets rich in viscous feedstuffs improved digestibility, growth performance and reduced feed costs (21–23). These studies helped scientists to understand the modes of action and stimulated further research and development efforts to innovate novel activities targeting specific substrates and stabilized to withstand the rigors of feed processing and gastrointestinal conditions (26). Indeed, the utility of feed enzymes in non-ruminant nutrition is widely accepted (21–23, 25, 27). Feed enzymes are largely applied in monogastric feeding programs on the premise that animals are not able to digest 100% of dietary components. For example, broilers excrete 25–30% of ingested dry matter in the manure (28). This is because of anti-nutritional factors (ANF) such as phytic acid or indigestible fractions by the conditions and the array of digestive enzymes in the GIT (29, 30). Most commercial feed enzymes are developed and applied to target such ANF (25). Moreover, application in young birds is driven by the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is not well-developed because of (1) an immature immune system, (2) limited endogenous enzyme secretory capacity, and (3) unstable gut microbiota (31–33). Thus, the original uptake of feed enzyme technology in poultry nutrition was to degrade ANF in feedstuffs and to complement endogenous enzymes in gut of compromised animals particularly the newly hatched chicks.

Evolving Role of Feed Enzymes in Poultry Nutrition

Pressure on feed costs is and will remain a decisive factor for profitable and sustainable poultry production, and feed enzymes have an established role in reducing feed costs by increasing the flexibility of feed ingredient choices. Moreover, the need to reduce nutrients excretion in animal protein value chain elevates the utility of feed enzyme in poultry operations. However, emerging issues such as the restriction on the use of AGP have stimulated new directions and perspectives for application of feed enzymes. Emerging evidence revolve around evaluation of feed enzymes as part of an integrated program of gut health management (24). The peculiarity is that intestinal microbiota nourishes on luminal nutrients (dietary and/or endogenous) (34). Due to differences in substrate preference and growth requirements, the composition and structure of the digesta largely influences GIT microbiome (24). It follows that, microbiome profile and metabolic function is partly reflective of feed composition (34). It is therefore plausible that manipulating diet digestibility will influence GIT microbiome (24). Furthermore, fiber degrading enzymes could release hydrolysis products “prebiotic” that can modulate intestinal microbiota (24, 35–37).

Whole Yeast and Derivatives

Yeasts are unicellular, 5–10 μm in size, eukaryotic microorganisms belonging to fungi kingdom (38). Yeasts are important in many complex ecosystems and are involved in symbiotic, mutualistic, parasitic, and competitive interactions with other microorganisms. Since first observation by A. van Leeuwenhoek in 1680 and discovery of their function in fermentation by Louis Pasteur in 1850s, humans have exploited yeast for food and beverage production among many other applications for eons (39). Interestingly, although, there are more than 1,000 known species of yeast, very few are commercially exploited (40). The majority of yeast species are neither harmful nor beneficial, and few are known to be pathogenic to humans and/or animals (40). The genus Saccharomyces has ~20 species that are of significant industrial importance e.g., ethanol, bread, single cell protein, and vitamin production (40). The annual global production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been estimated to exceeds production of all other industrial microorganisms (41). Candida utilis (formerly classified as Torulopsis utilis) and commercially known as “Torula Yeast” is unique as it utilizes pentose sugars, making it very useful in processing wood pulp to paper. Another important yeast is Kluyveromyces marxianus or the “whey yeast” for dairy processing. Although commercial exploitation of yeast is largely on traditional fermentation processes, advancement in molecular biology has opened tremendous opportunities for developing yeast strains for diverse applications. For example, Komagataella (Pichia) pastoris, S. cerevisiae, Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha, for the heterologous production of proteins (40–42).

There are many yeast associated feed ingredients and feed additives that are produced, marketed, and applied in animal agriculture around the world (43). Major feed ingredients such as distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS), brewers yeast, whey yeast, and bakery co-products are derived from yeast fermentation processes (44, 45). Yeasts are used as rich sources of protein, minerals, vitamins (particularly B vitamins), and other nutrients for humans and animals. Production of single cell protein from yeast has been suggested to have tremendous advantages relative to plant, animal, and other microbial sources of protein because of their rapid growth rate on a wide variety of substrates, including industrial and agricultural waste (46). Moreover, the relatively large cell size and flocculation abilities of yeasts makes them easier to harvest than bacteria in fermentation media (46). Other speciality yeast products include yeast selenium and Phaffia rhodozyma yeast that improves flesh color in salmon and trout (43). Nutritional yeasts and products are used in feed industry as sources of amino acids and micronutrients (43). However, the utility of yeast products in animal agriculture has evolved to exploit their functional attributes. Of particular interest are the functional components of cell contents such as peptides, enzymes, nucleotides and cell wall constituents such as β-glucans, glycoproteins, mannans, and chitin (47, 48). Subsequent sections will briefly describe the functional attributes of yeast and derivatives that have been shown to influence health and immune status in poultry.

Live Whole Yeast

Many yeast species are recognized safe by many regulatory authorities such as Qualified Presumption of Safety status assigned by the European Food Safety Authority, the Association of American Feed Control Officials and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, in general, most commercial probiotic feed additives for poultry are of bacterial preparations e.g., (49–53). The few non-bacterial (yeast or fungal) probiotics includes Aspergillus oryzae (54, 55), Candida pintolopesii (54), Candida saitoana, Saccharomyces bourlardii (56), and S. cerevisiae (57). Arguably, yeast-based probiotics are indispensable in ruminant nutrition for their effectiveness in modulating rumen microbiome (58, 59). Active dry yeast is one of the most common viable yeast used as a probiotic in livestock production. Yeast probiotics that are used in animal agriculture as feed additive products typically contain carrier materials such as limestone, rice hulls and/or distillers solubles. These products typically contain 5 × 10⁹ colony forming units per gram representing 20–25% of the CFU's of pure, active dry yeast (43). Commercial yeast-based probiotics are primarily manufactured in dry form and concerns have been raised over their stability in feed manufacturing processes (55, 60–62). For example, feed supplemented with active yeast cells was subjected to pelleting (82°C) or extrusion (72°C for 31s) (61). Pelleting did not affect total yeast counts but viable yeast numbers were reduced 10-fold. However, extrusion reduced both total and viable yeast counts. Majority of poultry diets are subjected to rigorous feed processing including particle size reduction and hydrothermal processing to improve feed efficiency and hygiene (26). Suggesting that survival of unprotected yeast cells would be expected to be low in poultry feed subjected to hydrothermal processing.

Yeast Derivatives

Yeast derivatives are collectively referred to as yeast cultures and are largely composed of a combination of yeast biomass and fermentation products produced in conditioned fermentation processes. Traces of viable residual yeast cells may also be present. Their production entails inoculation of specific culture media with live yeast cells and subsequent fermentation under specific conditions, upon which the entire fermented media is subsequently dried. The harvested mass is often formulated into feed additive or subjected to downstream processing to produce speciality products. Production of speciality products is seen as a key differentiator of many yeasts based functional feed additives available to the poultry industry. As heterotrophic organisms, energy and carbon metabolism are intimately interconnected giving yeast cells ability to produce wide variety of derivatives depending on the composition of the fermentation media and the fermentation conditions (63). It follows that yeast culture production can be manipulated to produce unique feed additives that contain single or combination of derivatives beneficial to animal nutrition and health.

Enzymes

Enzymes were first discovered by French chemist Anselme Payen in 1833 (64). Decades later, Louis Pasteur concluded that fermentation was correlated with the life and organization of the yeast cells but not with the cell death (65). It can then be argued that yeasts were the pioneer organisms for enzymes production, however, the feed market is dominated by bacteria and filamentous fungi derived enzymes (21, 24, 25, 37). This is mainly because non-yeast microbial expression system are advantageous in terms of certain product and process developments (66). However, with advancement in biotechnology some yeasts for example, K. (Pichia) pastoris, S. cerevisiae, O. (Hansenula) polymorpha, and certain other yeast species have been developed for industrial production of enzymes and proteins (66–68). These refined yeast proteins are however, applied in the production of specialized chemicals such as pharmaceutical intermediates (69).

Nucleotides

The total nucleic acids concentration in whole yeast ranges from 3 to 12% dry cell weight (70, 71). Yeast are also rich in endogenous nucleases and proteases that can degrade nucleic acids, DNA, and RNA into nucleotides through autolysis (71, 72). By controlling pH, temperature, and duration as well as use of additives such as salt and exogenous enzymes, the yeast cell autolysis can be an optimized and standardized for consistent product quality (73). These modifications are increasingly being used to produce yeast nucleotide products for various industrial application. For example, under normal autolysis conditions, the RNA is mainly degraded to three primary nucleotides, however, under controlled enzymatic hydrolysis, 5 prime nucleotides of guanine, adenine, cytosine and uracil are produced (73, 74).

Cell Wall (YCW) Components

The YCW represents about 15 to 20% of yeast dry weight and are rich in β-glucans and mannans as well as traces of chitin. Structurally, YCW is made up of inner layer of insoluble β-glucans and mannans, middle layer of soluble β-glucans, and the external layer of glycoprotein (75). However, it should be noted these layers are not discrete but rather form complex structures that are recalcitrant to breakdown (75). β-1,3 glucans with β-1,6 branch linkages are the primary polysaccharide component in YCW and have been shown to display immune-modulating effects (76). In this context, there is increasing interest in refined extraction of β-glucans through mechanical (e.g., bead milling, sonication, high-pressure homogenization) and non-mechanical (e.g., thermolysis, osmotic shock, chemical, and enzymatic) methods (75, 77, 78). Mannans consist of α-1,6 bonds with side chains of mannose in α-1,2 bonds (79).

Utility of Feed Enzymes and Yeast Derivatives in Mitigating Negative Effects of Coccidiosis

Experimental Challenge Models

Production losses, increased mortality, reduced animal welfare and increased risk of contamination of poultry products due to enteric diseases is of great concern to the poultry industry (9, 10, 12, 13). There are many research investigations that used enteric pathogen challenge models to examine effectiveness of a feed additive or dietary strategy (80, 81). Such an in vivo model allows evaluation of a given feed additive in the context of an infectious pathogenic agent being part of the gastrointestinal ecosystem. However, in terms of identifying the most influential predisposing factors, a reliable and reproducible infection model is critical. Coccidia infection with live sporulated oocysts via oral gavage (crop) or litter contamination is commonly used in experimental coccidiosis models and is reasonably reliable in general (82). However, there are variation in experimental approaches related to dosing, species specification, timing and composition (wild-type or attenuated) for vaccination overdose and co-infection with Clostridium perfringen among others (82, 83). For nutrition research, it is imperative to have a coccidiosis model that is not only reproducible but target sections of the gut that have significant ramifications on nutrient digestion and absorption.

Our laboratory has developed a model to examine effects of coccidiosis on digestion and absorptive capacities and subsequent effects on GIT ecology. The rationale is to use this infection model to test dietary strategies during acute phase and recovery phases (84–88). The general approach is to challenge sub-samples of birds in a pen with high dose (100,000 E. acervullina and 60,000 E. maxima sporulated oocysts) to generate macroscopic lesions and the rest of birds with a low dose (25,000 E. acervulina and 5,000 E. maxima sporulated oocysts) in order to examine the consequences of altered nutrient digestion and absorption. Briefly, Eimeria parasites are propagated and purified according to Shirley (89) and dose is based on titration trials at Dr. John Barta's parasitology laboratory (University of Guelph). As shown in Figure 1, we have been able to reproduce consistent lesion scores in alignment with the biology of the challenge organisms, indicating high reproducibility of the challenge model. Eimeria destruction of intestinal lining results in poor growth performance, loose excreta and death in extreme cases (5, 14). The failure of parasitized animals to grow is partially due to loss of appetite and nutrient malabsorption (84, 86, 92–94). Structural and functional damages to the small intestine are indicated by the histomorphology, digestive enzymes, nutrients transporters, and nutrient retention in our model (84, 86, 87). Moreover, E. acervulina and E. maxima infection down regulates expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters (84, 87, 93–95). Subsequent sections will evaluate literature where coccidiosis challenge was used to evaluate impact feed enzymes and yeast derivatives in modulating the expression of coccidiosis.

Figure 1.

Intestinal lesion scores in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria. All birds were challenged with 100,000 E. acervullina and 60,000 E. maxima sporulated oocysts on day 10 of age with exception of Kim et al. (84) in which case birds were challenged on day 5. Birds were necropsied 5 days post-challenge to assess lesion scores as described by Price et al. (90) using a scale of 0 (none) to 4 [high; Johnson and Reid (91)].

Utility of Feed Enzymes in Modulating Coccidiosis in Broilers

Coccidiosis effectively reduces nutrients digestion and absorption linked to anorexia in concurrence with morphological and functional intestinal damage (Figure 2) (84, 86, 87). Increased mucogenesis and enterocyte turnover (84), as well as post-absorptive metabolic changes and immune system activation, likely influence nutrient needs of broilers (9). For example, Eimeria infection increased proliferation of jejunal mucosal cells by 40% in concomitant with increased crypt depth indicating the birds prioritized gut development following intestinal insult (84). An increase in cell proliferation was also observed in the crypt base of Eimeria challenged chickens (96). In general, maintenance energy requirement increases in proportion to metabolic body size as the bird mature. However, it has been shown that coccidiosis markedly increased maintenance energy requirement. For example, Leung et al. (86), observed a 16% decrease in energy allocated to body weight gain (measured in caloric efficiency) in a 35-day old bird challenged with E. acervulina and E. Maxima at day 10 of age. The energy needed for immunity development was 5% in healthy birds compared to 28% for coccidiosis challenged birds and this cost became disproportionately elevated as the birds became heavier aged (97).

Figure 2.

Framework for targets amenable by yeast derivatives and feed enzymes in mitigating negative effects of coccidiosis.

With diminution of digestive capacity and elevated inefficiency in energy utilization in coccidiosis afflicted birds; it is plausible that supplemental exogenous feed enzymes could be beneficial. However, few studies investigated the impact of supplementation of feed enzymes to complement endogenous enzymes (e.g., amylase, protease, lipase) in coccidiosis challenged birds. Dietary supplementation with a protease reduced negative impact of a coccidiosis infection (E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella) on body weight gain in broilers but had no effects on lesions and oocyst shedding (98). In contrast, Parker et al. (99) showed that an enzyme blend (amylase, protease, and xylanase) fed to coccidiosis vaccinated broiler chicks had no effect on ileal nutrient digestibility or growth performance but reduced lesion scores. E. acervulina and E. maxima associated intestinal damage have been linked with adverse effects on bone health mainly because they infect duodenum and upper jejunum, the major sites of minerals absorption (85, 100, 101). In this context, the role of supplemental phytase on mineral utilization has also been investigated in coccidia infection model (102, 103). The peculiarity is that the pH of duodenum of healthy birds is 6.0 or greater but is reduced to <5 in birds infected with coccidiosis (104). Lower duodenal pH is thought to enhance efficacy of phytase linked to optima pH range (2.5 and 5.5) for effective degradation of phytate (105). Indeed, phytase increased growth performance and tibia ash concentration in the presence or absence of E. acervulina (102). Coccidiosis reduced growth performance and absorption of calcium and phosphorous resulting in reduced bone strength, however, phytase supplementation did not mitigate negative effects of coccidiosis on phosphorous utilization (106). Supplementation of phytase, protease, and xylanase singly or in combination did not mitigate reduction in growth performance in broiler chickens exposed to a mixed coccidia vaccine (107).

It is important to consider relationship between Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens in evaluation of the role of feed enzymes in coccidiosis control. Eimeria infection increases endogenous losses of plasma proteins and mucin that nourishes C. perfringens (9). The large flow of nitrogenous materials in the ceca promotes production of toxic metabolites for example, thiols, amines, ammonia, and indoles (108), but most importantly high ceca digesta pH promotes proliferation of pathogens such as C. perfringens (9, 12). Feed enzymes can modulate GIT ecology reducing undigested nutrients and production of oligosaccharides with potential prebiotic effects (Figure 2) (24). For example, enzyme blend (amylase, protease, and xylanase) supplementation supported gut ecology that reduced intestinal lesion scores particularly in the ceca linked to altered microbial profiles in coccidia-vaccinated broilers (99). The authors interpreted that, although the enzyme blend did not influence ileal digestibility of nutrients it altered the characteristics of digesta such that ceca microbiota communities were altered. Phytase supplementation had no effects on oocyst shedding in naïve and coccidia vaccinated broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge but it reduced lesion scores (106). The effect of supplemental enzymes on lesion scores in coccidiosis afflicted broilers has been attributed to production of volatile fatty acids (34). An elegant study by Ruff et al. demonstrated that coccidiosis lowered luminal small intestine pH but increased ceca pH (109). It is therefore relevant that supplemental feed enzymes have been shown to increase ceca concentration of volatile fatty acids such as acetic and butyric acids with concomitant reduction of ceca digesta pH (29). Acetic acid was shown to be commensurate to anticoccidial drug (Amprolium) in suppressing coccidiosis associated negative effects on growth performance (110). Collectively, these studies suggested that supplemental enzymes somewhat affect survivability or extent of intestinal damage.

Utility of Yeast Probiotics in Modulating Coccidiosis in Broilers

There are limited studies on yeast probiotic (e.g., S. boulardii) supplementation in broilers (111, 112). The common approach is a blend of yeast probiotics with bacterial cultures on the premise that beneficial effects of probiotics are genus, species and strain specific and use of multi-strain and multi-species might be more effective than mono-strain probiotics (54, 55). Indeed, some investigations have shown that co-supplementing yeast and bacterial probiotics enhanced their survival and growth (113, 114). Moreover, aggregation of lactobacillus with yeasts enhanced tolerance in gastric or intestinal juices (115). For example, a supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, S. cerevisiae, and A. oryzae improved live body weight gain linked to enhanced nutrients utilization and intestinal microbial modulation (55). A combination of yeast and (L. acidophilus and Streptococcus faecium) enhanced growth performance in broilers through increased digestion and absorption of nutrients (116). Lactobacillus fermentum and S. cerevisiae was shown to modulate intestinal immune system without negative effects on growth performance in broilers (57). In contrast, a blend (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus, Enterococcus faecium, A. oryzae, and Candida pintolepesii) did not ameliorate negative effects of delayed feed access in newly hatched chicks on growth performance and gastrointestinal physiology (54). A challenge of evaluating studies of probiotic blends is that experimental design does not always incorporate single strains to characterize responses of each strain vs. combination.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii is one of the most researched non-bacterial probiotics with proven benefits in various human gastrointestinal disease models (117). This yeast was originally isolated from litchi fruit in Indochina by Henri Boulard in 1920 and has been used for treatment of intestinal diseases in children and adults since the 1950's (117, 118). Several mechanisms have been suggested as to the broad health-promoting effects of consuming yeast probiotics in humans and span from local general trophic effects to action on both innate and/or adaptive immunity (117, 119, 120). Clinical trials included mitigation of antibiotic-associated diarrhea; Clostridium difficile diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases (117, 121). Folignè et al. (117) tested six yeast strains for anti-inflammatory potential and demonstrated that yeast-mediated protection seems to take place predominantly at the level of the intestinal mucosa. The authors indicated that prophylactic reinforcement and therapeutic restoration of barrier function by changing the luminal environment stimulated the mucosal barrier. This work extended previous observations that showed yeast probiotics enhanced epithelial integrity and reduced bacterial translocation in various sepsis models (122, 123). The mode of action of yeasts in controlling enteric diseases have not been elucidated but have been associated with release of antimicrobial peptides, acidification of surrounding environment, alteration of inflammatory and immune responses or destruction of toxic factors (63).

Although the use of probiotic yeast to control enteric diseases in humans has been studied extensively, little attention has been given to enteric diseases of farm animals. In one study, broiler chicks were fed 1 or 100 g S. boulardii/kg feed and challenged with S. typhimurium (124). The authors observed 70% colonization in the ceca of control bird vs. 20 or 5% colonization in birds fed 1 or 100 g, respectively. One innovative study investigated the anticoccidial activity of a compound (s) isolated from Meyerozyma guilliermondii yeast culture (125). The compounds were shown to have anticoccidial activity against E. tenella oocysts under in vitro simulation linked to reduced oocysts viability. In other investigations, S. cerevisiae was investigated as oral Eimeria vaccine delivery vehicle commensurate to previous successful delivery of oral viral vaccines (126, 127). In this context, a microneme protein (EtMic2) of E. tenella that is intimately involved in host-cell invasion (128) was expressed on the surface of live S. cerevisiae cells (129). The whole yeast cells without or with EtMic2 on their surfaces was used as a live oral vaccine against E. tenella challenge in pullets. Significantly lower oocyst shedding, and lesion scores were observed in birds receiving EtMic2 yeast relative to the control or the birds receiving yeast without EtMic2 protein (129). The EtMic2 group also showed higher weight gains. In general, the utility of coccidiosis vaccination in the industry mainly relies on development of cellular immunity for protection against later Eimeria exposure (130). However, immunodominant surface antigens identified in E. acervulina and E. maxima have been shown to elicit measurable antibody responses particularly production of IgA in addition to stimulating cell-mediated immunity (131). Therefore, there is potential for antibodies (raised by live immunization or against purified stage-specific Eimeria antigens) to inhibit parasite development (128, 129, 132). Field applications of anticoccidial compounds secreted by yeasts and/or utility of yeast to deliver vaccines need to be investigated for commercial application as complement for anticoccidial drugs and/or as adjuvant for cocci vaccines.

Utility of Nucleotide Rich Yeast Extracts in Modulating Coccidiosis in Broilers

As basic units of the DNA and RNA, nucleotides are present in all living cells (133, 134). With adequate supply of energy and amino acids, nucleotides can be synthesized de novo. However, they may become conditionally essential during illness, periods of limited feed intake or rapid growth (133, 134). These conditions are commensurate to gastrointestinal damage occasioned by Eimeria infection (9). Evaluations of nucleotide rich yeast extracts on growth, feed efficiency and intestinal development and health has been reported in broiler chickens (86, 87, 135, 136). However, there are limited studies assessing the effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on development of immune organs in broilers challenged with Eimeria. Human infants fed nucleotides were shown to have increased production of IgA (137) linked to the requirement of lymphocytes for exogenous nucleotides (138). Moreover, dietary nucleotides supplementation in infants have been shown to affect other immune functions such as the activation of NK cells and macrophages, the production of splenic cytokines, and the number of antibody secreting cells (138). Leung et al. (87) evaluated the effect of supplementation of nucleotide rich yeast nucleotide supplement on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, expression of select intestinal genes and microbial activity during the acute phase of Eimeria challenge (7 d post-challenge). Supplemental nucleotides improved jejunal histomorphology and expression of the nutrient transporter cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1). Interestingly, the impact of nucleotides and Eimeria were independent on microbiota community but interactive on microbial activity. Instructively, there was a trend for decreasing alpha diversity with nucleotide supplementation commensurate to that seen with provision of antimicrobials (139). These changes on alpha diversity and in microbiota populations may have long-term impacts or may be further amplified with time. Effects could also cascade down into production of volatile fatty acids and change the cecal pH and subsequently factors such as histomorphology and immune system development. In further studies, Leung et al. (86) fed broiler chickens nucleotides rich yeast extract and challenged them with Eimeria on d 10 post-hatch. The concentration of plasma and mucosal IgA and immune organ weights (bursa, spleen, and thymus) were determined at d 5 and 25 post-challenge. There were no effects on d 5 post-challenge measurements, however, birds fed yeast nucleotides showed heavier bursa on d 25 post-challenge. It seems that nucleotides supplementation can attenuate some of the negative effects of Eimeria, however, further investigations are warranted to determine the optimal supplementation period and concentration and the effect of individual nucleotides.

Utility of Yeast Cell Wall (YCW) Components in Modulating Coccidiosis in Broilers

Yeast cell wall components (β-glucans and mannans) have been linked to modulation of immune system (140, 141), binding to toxins, and to pathogenic cells (142), and interactions with gut constituents (143, 144). Hooge (145), reported a meta-analyses of S. cerevisiae var. boulardii cell wall components supplemented diets vs. negative control (antibiotic free, 29 experiments) or antibiotic supplemented positive control (antimicrobial growth promoter, 21 experiments) diets. The meta-analyses revealed small magnitude (<2% improvement vs. negative control) but significant impact of YCW on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio but no difference between positive control (145). However, birds fed YCW showed 21.4 and 18.1% lower mortality compared with negative and positive control, respectively. Yeast cell wall products can serve as microbe-associated molecular patterns and modulate the expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRS) (136, 146). Indeed, supplemental YCW showed commensurate growth performance and livability responses to zinc bacitracin and Salinomycin in a Eimeria and C. perfringens co-infection model (147). Chicken macrophages are involved the adaptive immune responses through interaction with Eimeria in the intestinal mucosa (148). Immunodominant surface antigens identified in E. acervulina and E. maxima have been shown to elicit measurable antibody responses with IgA being the most important isotype (131). Thus, although E. acervulina and E. maxima challenge reduced jejunal mucosa IgA by 33% at 5 days post-challenge, the concentration was increased by 16% at 25 days post-challenge (86). A further study indicated that E. acervulina and E. maxima challenge increased jejunal IgA by 64% at 5 days post-challenge (149). Although specific mechanisms of action intestinal IgA on coccidial infections are still subject of investigations, it has been speculated that IgA reduces development of sporozoites or merozoites and prevent host cell invasion (150, 151). The relevance is that YCW components are known to be immunomodulators and it has been demonstrated that that dietary supplementation increases local mucosal IgA secretions as well as cellular and humoral immune responses (Figure 2) (152).

It is plausible YCW components can modulate cellular and humoral mediated immune responses against coccidial infections (130). Dietary YCW (1 or 10 g/kg) reduced severity of infection and oocyst shedding from a single E. tenella or mixture of E. acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella challenge in broiler chickens (153, 154). Dietary supplementation with 5 g/kg of autolyzed S. cerevisiae derivatives stimulated intestinal mucosal IgA secretion, humoral, and cell-mediated immune responses, and reduced oocysts shedding in broilers subjected to coccidia vaccination (152). However, YCW (0.5 g/kg) fed singly or in combination with tannin (0.5 g/kg) did not reduced severity of infection with a mixture of E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella in broilers. Broilers fed a supplement (1–2 g/kg) containing whole dead yeast exhibited decrease in oocysts shedding as well as increased macrophage nitric oxide production and inflammatory cytokine production (155). A refined mixture of YCW and β-glucans and a crude yeast extract were tested in broilers subjected to 10 times Coccivac B vaccine (156). Although both products had no impact on growth performance relative to the control, birds fed refined mixture had lower expression of IL-6 in the ileal mucosa and those fed crude yeast showed improved serum immunoglobulin G (156). These contradictory results are possibly linked to the differences in YCW inclusion in the feed and doses of Eimeria spp. inoculation.

Investigations in developmental programming has added to our understanding of the maternal offspring interface and continues to raise important questions regarding nutritional management of breeding animals (157, 158). In avian species, immuno-competence development is initiated during the embryogenesis (159). Protective role of maternal antibodies is critical because of precocial nature of avian species (33). The breeder antibodies are deposited in the egg and continue to function in early life of chicks (33). The role of maternal immunity on coccidial infections in chicks has been investigated (160, 161). For example, infection of breeder hens with Eimeria maxima induced production of parasite-specific antibodies which were transferred to chicks (160). These antibodies were highly protective, mediating up to a 97% reduction in oocyst shedding in challenged hatchlings. We recently showed that feeding broiler breeders yeast product rich in enzyme hydrolyzed cell wall components increased deposition of IgA in the hatching egg yolks (149). The data further indicated that feeding hydrolyzed yeast cell wall to broiler breeders and to the chicks improved jejunal histomorphology independent of Eimeria challenge (149).

Further Refinement and Future Directions

The global poultry production has tripled to an annual production of 90 million tons of chicken meat and 1.1 trillion eggs (http://www.fao.org/faostat/) in the last two decades. Further expansion is expected in response to burgeoning human population. The sector is also under pressure to produce food products in ways that are ethical, environmentally sustainable, and wholesome. For example, indiscriminate use of antibiotics is a topical global issue with increasing emphasis on alternative strategies for effective prevention and control of enteric pathogens. Herein is an overview of coccidiosis, its implications on intestinal health and function and targets amenable to modulation by feed enzymes and yeast derivatives (Figure 2). To a large extent the poultry industry has widely accepted the use of feed enzymes to improve feed digestion. It is plausible that supplemental exogenous feed enzymes could counteract diminution of digestive capacity in coccidiosis afflicted birds. Feed enzymes could modulate ceca ecology by reducing the flow of undigested nutrients and promoting acidic fermentation. Effectively creating conditions that reduce survivability of Eimeria and C. perfringens proliferation. Yeast and yeast derivatives have been associated with alteration of inflammatory and immune responses. There is tremendous opportunity for developing new generation of yeast derivatives with optimized features in terms of interaction with Eimeria and modulation of the host immune system. The protective role of maternal antibodies is of interest because the antibodies deposited in the egg and the levels transferred to the offspring are directly related to the circulating levels of these immunoglobulin in the dam. More research is needed to refine the relationship between composition and function of yeast derivatives with a view of selecting new generation of yeast fractions with optimized characteristics for application in broiler breeders. Like many feed additives evaluations, inconsistencies of responses are often a major concern. Utility of experimental disease challenge model can help to mimicry field conditions; however, correct dosing of active ingredient is critical. Although suppliers and regulatory agencies have advanced use of feed enzymes to the extent dosage and recovery in the feed can be determined, there is paucity on analytics for quantifying yeast derivatives in-feed which is critical for accurate dosing. Accurate dosing is essential for achieving desired benefits and preventing excessive feeding of biologically active components. Moreover, feed additives research rarely considers commercial broiler feed contains a range of additives. Perhaps, future feed additives investigations should consider co-supplementation of to document responses and potential synergies.

Author Contributions

HL and RA were graduate students of EK and were involved in execution of coccidiosis challenge studies and some literature search. RP provided technical knowhow on feed enzymes and yeast derivatives and reviewed integration of concepts. JB is an expert parasitologist on Eimeria challenge model. All authors reviewed the manuscript. EK searched literature and wrote significant portion of the review and had overall conceptual and editorial responsibility.

Conflict of Interest

RP is an employee of Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.