Effect of feeding edible mushrooms powder on intestinal microbiology and morphology of male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

This research performed to study the intestinal microbiology and morphology of male Japanese quails supplemented with two type of edible mushrooms including common (Agaricus bisporus) and oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) powders. A total of 420 twenty-one day old male quail chicks were randomly allocated to seven experimental treatments. Each treatment consisted of 3 replicates of 20 birds. The birds within the control group were given the basal diet for the respective growth stage. The other six groups were fed experimental diets based on the basal diets containing 0.5, 1, and 2 percent of dried either common or oyster mushroom powders. Birds were allowed to free access to have feed and water during the 84 days of experimental period. Count of coli-form bacteria in the gut and intestinal morphological characteristics were studied at the age of 84 days. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli populations were significantly increased (P<0.05) by the 2% mushrooms compared to the control. Total counts (Aerobes) and Escherichia coli were significantly decreased (P<0.05) by the 2% mushrooms compared to the control. Crypt depth and papillae height in parts of 10, 50 and 70 percent's of gut were positively influenced by the supplementation of mushroom (P<0.05). Therefore it seems that mushrooms could be increased useful microflora and prove helpful in the fight against pathogenic organisms colonizing quail chickens.