Organic Acids Treatment Attenuates Cecal Microbiota Dysbiosis During Salmonella Minnesota Challenge in Broilers

In this study, we evaluated the effects of a commercial blend of organic acids (formic acid and propionic acid) added to drinking water on the microbiota of broilers experimentally challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Minnesota. A total of 108 broilers were randomly assigned to three groups, each with 36 birds: the Treatment group (treated with organic acids + challenge), a Positive Control group (challenge only), and a Negative Control group (no challenge). At seven days of age, broilers in the Treatment group received the organic acid blend through their drinking water (0.2 mL/L/drinking water). At nine days of age, broilers from the challenged groups were inoculated via feed with S. Minnesota (Treatment group—mean: 1.45 × 104 CFU/g; Positive Control group—mean: 3.47 × 104 CFU/g). Swab samples were collected for Salmonella enumeration and cecal content for bacterial community profiling using 16S-rDNA gene sequencing. Our results demonstrated that supplementation with organic acids positively modulated the cecal microbiota of broilers under S. Minnesota challenge. Broilers receiving the organic acid blend showed improvements in microbial community composition, including an increased abundance of bacterial genera associated with butyrate production, which are recognized for their beneficial effects on intestinal health. Overall, our findings suggest that the blend of organic acids may serve as a nutritional strategy for supporting intestinal health and microbiota stability in broilers challenged with S. Minnesota.