Intestinal Barrier Function in Poultry Systems
Summary
The intestinal barrier in poultry comprises a multilayered defence system that regulates nutrient absorption, prevents pathogen entry and maintains overall health. Its mechanical component consists of a continuous epithelial monolayer arranged into villi and crypts, sealed by intercellular tight junctions that control paracellular permeability. A chemical barrier of mucus, antimicrobial peptides and digestive enzymes protects the epithelium, while an immune barrier of resident immune cells and secreted immunoglobulins combats invading organisms. Finally, the biological barrier formed by a diverse microbiota promotes competitive exclusion of pathogens, modulates immune maturation and contributes to metabolic homeostasis. Integrity of this barrier is critical for efficient feed conversion, growth performance and disease resistance in modern intensive poultry systems. Disruption may arise from enteric pathogens, dietary antinutritional factors, environmental stressors or mycotoxin exposure, leading to increased permeability or “leaky gut,” dysbiosis and systemic inflammation. Advances in nutritional strategies, including the use of prebiotics, probiotics, plant-derived bioactives and mycotoxin binders, aim to reinforce barrier function. Moreover, non-invasive biomarkers such as fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran leakage and faecal calprotectin are under evaluation for real-time monitoring of gut health. Understanding the complex interplay between diet, microbiota and immune responses underpins the development of sustainable interventions to safeguard poultry welfare and productivity while reducing reliance on antimicrobials.
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Intestinal Barrier Function in Poultry Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in intestinal barrier function in poultry systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Intestinal barrier: A multilayered defence composed of epithelial cells, mucus, immune components and microbiota that regulates absorption and prevents pathogen invasion.
Tight junctions: Protein complexes between epithelial cells that seal intercellular spaces and control paracellular permeability.
Goblet cells: Specialized epithelial cells that secrete mucins to form the protective mucus layer over the gut lining.
Mucin: High-molecular-weight glycoproteins forming the mucus gel that traps pathogens and facilitates nutrient diffusion.
Dysbiosis: An imbalance in the gut microbial community associated with reduced barrier function and increased disease risk.
Permeability: The property of the gut barrier that determines the passage of substances; increased permeability is indicative of barrier compromise.
References
- Lead exposure disrupted ileal barrier of developmental Japanese quails(Coturnix japonica): Histopathological damages, microbiota dysbiosis and immune disorder. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (2023).
- Assessment of the Impact of Humic Acids on Intestinal Microbiota, Gut Integrity, Ileum Morphometry, and Cellular Immunity of Turkey Poults Fed an Aflatoxin B1-Contaminated Diet. Toxins (2024).
- Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of a Formulation Containing Ascorbic Acid and Eudragit FS 30D Microparticles for the Controlled Release of a Curcumin–Boric Acid Solid Dispersion in Turkey Poults Infected with Salmonella enteritidis: A Therapeutic Model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Biomarkers for monitoring intestinal health in poultry: present status and future perspectives. Veterinary Research (2018).
- Optimizing Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Dextran Measurement As a Biomarker in a 24-h Feed Restriction Model to Induce Gut Permeability in Broiler Chickens. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2017).
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