Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the effect of prebiotics (Technos), probiotics (GalliPro) and their combination on broilers intestinal histomorphology and bacterial cell counts. 240, one day old chicks were randomly assigned into 6 treatments with eight replicates. Chicks of treatment 1 (control group) were fed unsupplemented diet. The chicks of treatment 2 were fed the control starter and finisher diets and were subjected to Clostridium perfringens infection. The chicks of treatments 3 and 4 were treated as those of treatment 2, but supplemented with antibiotic and probiotics, respectively. Chicks of treatment 5 were treated as those of treatment 2 and given a prebiotic (TechnoMos). Chicks of treatment 6 were treated as those of treatment 2, but given a probiotic (GalliPro) along with prebiotic (TechnoMos). The results showed that the birds that were infected by Clostridium perfringens and were given antibiotic, probiotic, prebiotic or symbiotic had no lesions or hemorrhages. It can, therefore, be concluded that these supplements were helpful in reversing the negative effects of the bacterial challenge. Gram negative Bacilli were found to be the same among all groups (P>0.05), which is an indication that the antibiotic, probiotic, prebiotic or symbiotic tested in this trial had no influence on Gram negative bacteria. The positive modulation in intestinal morphology and microbiology as observed in this study supported the concept that gut condition and function can be improved by dietary supplementation other than AGPs.