In the pigeon industry, treating and preventing diarrhea is vital because it is a serious health problem for pigeons. This study investigated the incidence of diarrhea in 3 pigeon farms in Shanghai, and analyzed the microflora through 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. Four strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from pigeon diarrhea feces were administered via gavage to healthy pigeons, with each pigeon receiving 2 × 10⁸ CFU. Pigeons that developed diarrhea after E. coli challenge were treated with 3 g of Lactobacillus salivarius SNK-6 (L. salivarius SNK-6) health sand (1.6 × 10⁷ CFU/g). Then, a mass feeding experiment expanded to 688 pairs of pigeons with 3 replicates, each receiving 3 g of health sand containing L. salivarius SNK-6 (1.6 × 10⁷ CFU/g) every 2 wk, and fecal status monitored and recorded. The study found that the relative abundance of the Lactobacillus genus and L. salivarius in feces from pigeons with diarrhea was significantly lower than in normal pigeon feces (P < 0.05). In contrast, E. coli showed a higher abundance and diversity in feces from pigeons with diarrhea than in normal feces (P < 0.05). Three out of the 4 isolated E. coli strains caused pigeon diarrhea, resulting in a significant reduction in microbial diversity in fecal samples (P < 0.05). Both the small group attack experiment and the mass-fed additive experiment in pigeon farms demonstrated that feeding L. salivarius SNK-6 effectively cured and prevented diarrhea. Pigeons fed with L. salivarius SNK-6 exhibited no diarrhea, while the control group had a 10% diarrhea rate. In summary, a deficiency of Lactobacillus or a high abundance of E. coli in the intestine could easily cause pigeon diarrhea. Feeding L. salivarius SNK-6 could treat pigeon diarrhea, and continuous supplementation could maintain stable preventive effects.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular and microbial mechanisms underlying feather coverage in laying hens, with implications for understanding epithelial homeostasis and potential translational applications in tissue regeneration. By integrating multi-omics approaches, we sought to identify key genetic and microbial determinants of feather morphology and their synergistic effects on host physiology.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 400 laying hens classified into high (H) and low (L) feather coverage groups using a standardized 4-point scoring system. Transcriptomic profiling of cecal tissue was performed via RNA sequencing, while gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Differential gene expression and pathway enrichment were assessed using DESeq2 and clusterProfiler. Microbial community structure was evaluated through LEfSe analysis, and interplay between host transcripts and microbiota was examined via coinertia analysis.Results: Key findings revealed distinct microbial signatures in the L group, characterized by elevated Bacteroidetes (P < 0.01) and reduced Firmicutes (P < 0.01) abundance compared with the H group. Transcriptomic analysis identified dysregulation of pathways involved in epithelial remodeling (Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β) and structural integrity (BMP and keratin family genes). Integration of multi-omics data demonstrated significant correlations between microbial composition and host gene expression (P < 0.05), highlighting the synergistic regulation of feather morphogenesis via microbial-metabolite crosstalk.Conclusions: This study elucidates the intricate interplay between host genetics and gut microbiota in regulating feather coverage, providing insights into epithelial biology and potential therapeutic targets for tissue homeostasis disorders. The findings underscore the importance of microbiome modulation in optimizing physiological traits relevant to avian health and agricultural productivity.