The impact of prebiotics and salmonellosis on apparent nutrient digestibility and Salmonella typhimurium var. Copenhagen excretion in adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Geert.Janssens@Ugent.be

The effects of lactose or fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation on the excretion of salmonellae, apparent digestibilities and excreta consistency were studied. Thirty-two male pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: 3 of 4 groups were orally infected with 10(9) Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen, after being offered a drinking water supplement of 2% FOS, 2% lactose, or no supplement, respectively, for 2 wk. Pigeons in the fourth group were not challenged with S. Typhimurium and remained unsupplemented. Initially, FOS increased water intake, resulting in more watery excreta. After infection, supplementation showed no major effects on S. Typhimurium excretion, nitrogen retention, or apparent nutrient digestibilities, although lactose--and to a lesser extent FOS--improved apparent fiber digestibility during recovery from the S. Typhimurium infection. The excreta consistency of all pigeons returned to normal when recovering from the Salmonella infection. In this trial, neither FOS nor lactose was successful in tempering the negative aspects of Salmonella infection in pigeons. Nevertheless, it should be stated that future investigations should clarify the importance of duration and level of prebiotic supplementation and infection level.