Effect of partial substitution of prickly pear seed meal (Opuntia ficus indica L.) on serum biochemical parameters and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of prickly pear seed (PPS) cake on biochemical parameter and gut microbiota in broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty 1-day-old broiler chicks were allocated into 5 groups with 3 replicates of 10 birds per group. The experimental groups received the diets substituted with 0, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% prickly pear seeds meal of OFI during a 6-week. At 45 d of age, five chickens were randomly selected from each treatment group. After 12 h of feed withdrawal, serum and cecal samples were collected use for biochemical parameters assay and PCR Amplification. The results of serum lipid parameters shown that the different PPS dietary treatments significantly (P<0.05) reduced the concentration of glucose concentration, total proteins total cholesterol, and lipidemia compared to control group of broiler chickens. It showed significantly decreased (P < 0.05) liver enzymatic activity in treated group with PPS cake compared to control group of broiler chickens. Also, ionogram showed that values of Mg, P, and Ca reduced significantly (P<0.05) after treatment of chickens with PPS cake concentra tions compared to control group. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the major groups of microorganisms in the gut of broiler chickens received PPS cake diet. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PPS cake can have a protective effect on the kidney and liver function of chickens. Also, it found that broiler chickens treated with PPS cake meal exhibited a variety of phylum and genus in gut microbiota.