Efficacy of mealworm and super mealworm larvae probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics challenged orally with Salmonella and E. coli infection in broiler chicks

This study was conducted to evaluate dry mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) (DMLP) and super mealworm (Zophobas morio) (DSMLP) larvae probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in broiler chicks. A total of 240 one-day old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments consisting of ten replications with eight birds each in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were, (i) control (basal diet), (ii) 0.4% DMLP (basal diet + 0.4% DMLP, DM basis), and (iii) 0.4% DSMLP (basal diet + 0.4% DSMLP, DM basis). On day one, 1 mL of mixed broth agar consisting of 2.4 × 10^{7} cfu Salmonella enteritidis KCTC 2021 and 3.7 × 10^{7} cfu Escherichia coli KCTC 2571 was injected orally into each chick. After one week, growth performance, immunity, mortality, internal organ weight, and cecal and fecal microbiota were investigated. Average daily gain ( ADG: ) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) (g intake/g gain per bird) decreased in response to DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Additionally, mortality decreased (P < 0.05), while IgG and IgA levels increased following DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Internal organs remained unaffected, except for a reduced bursa of Fabricius weight in DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05). Cecal E. coli and Salmonella contents were reduced in DMLP and DSMLP supplementation (P < 0.05), while fecal microbiota contents and pH of cecal and fecal digesta remained unaffected. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with DMLP and DSMLP increased ADG and IgG and IgA levels, while reducing FCR, mortality and cecal E. coli and Salmonella spp. [[[ Contents: ]]] Thus, DMLP and DSMLP can be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.