María Jesús Zurita González

Prof. María Jesús Zurita González

FUNDACION INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 February 2021 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MRMiguel Rabelo-Ruiz
Miguel Rabelo-Ruiz
JRJuan José Ariza Romero
Juan José Ariza Romero
MGMaría Jesús Zurita González
María Jesús Zurita González
MMManuel Martínez-Bueno
Manuel Martínez-Bueno
ABAlberto Baños
Alberto Baños
JPJuan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
Juan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on the hosts. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.