This study was conducted to compare the infection heterogeneity and cecal microbiota in chicks infected by S. enteritidis. Forty-eight 8-d-old female Arbor Acres chicks were challenged with S. enteritidis and euthanized 24 h later. The eight chicks with the highest Salmonella tissue loads were assigned to group S (S. enteritidis-susceptible), and the eight chicks with the lowest Salmonella tissue loads were assigned to group R (S. enteritidis-resistant). Chicks in group S showed a higher liver index (p < 0.05), obvious liver lesions, and an decreasing trend for the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.10), compared with those in group R. Gene expression of occludin, MUC2, and IL10 was higher, whereas that of iNOS and IL6 was lower (p < 0.05), in chicks of group R relative to those in group S. Separation of the cecal microbial community structure has been found between the two groups. The S. enteritidis-susceptible chicks showed higher abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Helicobacter) in their cecal, while Desulfovibrio_piger was enriched in the cecal of S. enteritidis-resistant chicks. In summary, chicks showed heterogeneous responses to S. enteritidis infection. Enhanced intestinal barrier function and cecal microbiota structure, especially a higher abundance of Desulfovibrio_piger, may help chicks resist S. enteritidis invasion.
Keywords: Desulfovibrio_piger; Salmonella enteritidis; cecal microbiome; heterogeneity; intestinal barrier.