Moringa oleifera (MO) is a versatile non-traditional feed supplement rich in bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of MO leaf (MOL) polysaccharide (MOLP) intake as a natural product on broiler chicken production and antioxidant indices. A polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 182.989 kDa was isolated from MOL in a previous study. Broiler chickens were allocated at random into four groups receiving varying doses of MOLP (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg feed) for three weeks. Feed intake (FI), average daily feed ingestion (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and body weight gain (BWG) were monitored. Serological markers, including total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), albumin-to-globulin ratio (ALB/GLO), creatinine (CREA), as well as the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed. Results from days 21 to 28 demonstrated that the high dose of MOLP significantly enhanced BWG, ADFI, liver and bursa indices compared to the control group. Additionally, TP and GLO, T-SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and MDA levels were elevated (p < 0.05). In conclusion, MOLP supplementation, particularly at 0.4 g/kg feed, positively impacted broiler chicken growth performance and antioxidant indices, suggesting its potential as a valuable feed additive.

Diarrhea in kids is a significant health and economic concern for small-scale ruminant farms. This study aims to investigate the properties of Lactobacillus amylovorus as a treatment for kids with diarrhea and its effect on the composition of the gut microbiota. A total of 20 neonatal goats (approximately 2 months old) were divided into three groups: healthy control (HC, n = 4), diarrhea (D, n = 8), and diarrhea treated with probiotic (DT, n = 8). We tracked gut microbial profiles, fecal consistency, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and clinical symptoms. Probiotic-treated kids recovered fully from diarrhea within two weeks, while their untreated counterparts showed signs of clinical deterioration and gradual emaciation. Kids with diarrhea had lower microbial richness, according to alpha diversity analysis, and this was only partially restored after probiotic treatment. The kids with diarrhea had the lowest Shannon, ACE, Simpson, Dominance, Pielou-e, and Chao1 indices compared to the HC group, while the administration of Lactobacillus amylovorus significantly (p < 0.05) restored their normal enrichment in the DT group compared to the D group. The healthy group had a higher abundance of Verrucomicrobiota, while Firmicutes and Bacteroidota predominated in all groups. Bacteroides and Akkermansia predominated in the healthy and treated groups. At the genus level, analysis showed elevated levels of Escherichia-Shigella and UCG-005 in kids with diarrhea. In addition, the concentration of each SCFA in the D group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in the HC group. This study provides novel evidence that Lactobacillus amylovorus administration not only alleviates diarrhea but also uniquely restores the production of key SCFAs—including butyrate, acetate, and propionate—in neonatal goats, a finding not previously reported in this species. The concurrent recovery of microbial diversity and SCFA profiles highlights the dual mechanistic potential of Lactobacillus amylovorus as a gut microbiota modulator and metabolic therapeutic in young ruminants. These results lend credence to its potential as a probiotic treatment for small ruminant enteric diseases.

Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are now understood to be significantly influenced by the intricate interactions between the microbiome and host physiology. This review investigates the function of epigenetic dysregulation in microbiome–host interaction and its consequences for health and disease. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA-associated regulation, are key mechanisms that control gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Microbial metabolites and community composition alterations can cause disruptions in these epigenetic processes, resulting in dysregulated immune responses and the initiation of chronic inflammatory conditions. In particular, the diversity of gut microbiota alters host epigenetic patterns, affecting T cell differentiation, inflammatory modulation, and tissue homeostasis. Aberrant epigenetic modifications contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by promoting inflammation and autoimmunity. Similarly, gut microbiota dysbiosis has been implicated in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Identifying the reciprocal interaction between epigenetic alterations and microbiome dynamics provides unique insights into therapeutic options targeted at restoring microbial homeostasis to prevent disease progress. Consequently, understanding the intricacies of epigenetic dysregulation in microbiome–host interactions represents a significant sector in biomedical research and highlights the promise for precision medicine approaches in treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The potential for microbiome-based therapies to affect host epigenetic landscapes requires additional research, paving the way for innovative therapeutic paradigms targeted at improving host resilience and restoring immunological balance. The purpose of this review is to synthesize current knowledge on how epigenetic dysregulation and microbiome–host interactions drive inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and to highlight emerging therapeutic opportunities.

Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE), including polysaccharides, polyphenols, amino acids and other extracts, are increasingly being used as feed additives in ruminant nutrition due to their high profiles of bioactive compounds. This comprehensive narrative review aims to review current research on their use in ruminant production regarding their productive performance, immune status, rumen microbiota and fermentation. Dietary supplementation with MOLE enhances growth rates and feed conversion efficiency, as well as immune status, milk yield and rumen microbiology, in ruminants by improving nutrient digestibility and metabolic efficiency. Additionally, MOLE exerts significant immunomodulatory effects, and studies indicate that immunoglobulins, antioxidants, cytokines, and enzymes reduce oxidative stress markers and incidence of subclinical diseases in dairy animals. Furthermore, supplementation with MOLE often increases milk fat and protein content while reducing somatic cell counts (SCCs) in milk. MOLE enhance the function of the rumen fermentation profile by increasing volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, especially propionate, and also regulating the stability of rumen pH. Additionally, it also selectively promotes microbial community diversity, enhances the population of cellulolytic bacteria and has a suppression function in protozoa and methanogens. Moreover, MOLE also contributes to improving fiber degradation and reducing the emissions of methane. In conclusion, MOLE is considered as a viable natural strategy to promote productivity, immune function, health, and environmental sustainability while decreasing methane production in ruminant production.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic mycotoxin which can be carried over into animal products and cause deterioration of livestock productivity when fed to livestock and wildlife. This review proposes a biomarker-guided framework for improving the early assessment of AFB1 exposure and toxicological responses in animal models. Oral exposure leads to the absorption of AFB1, which is bioactivated in the liver to the reactive AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide that causes DNA and protein adduct formation, inflammation, mitochondrial apoptosis, and other effects. Cytochrome P450 activation and glutathione-dependent detoxification are in balance in determining susceptibility species, and this balance is different for poultry, pigs, ruminants, and rodents. In addition to traditional liver enzymes and histopathology, we highlight mechanistically informative biomarkers such as metabolites of aflatoxin, DNA and albumin adduct, lipid peroxidation products, antioxidant indices, cytokines, apoptotic markers, as well as signals involved in the Nrf2/NFκB pathway. AFB1 also damages the integrity of the intestinal barrier, the maintenance of the intestinal gut microbiota, reproductive function, growth performance, and development, thus creating a gut–liver-systemic toxic cascade. Finally, an assessment of stage-targeted interventions such as aluminosilicate binders, adsorbents derived from yeast, probiotics and nano-enabled interventions is conducted as viable tools for the reduction in exposure and injury. This review offers targeted mitigation strategies for early diagnosis of aflatoxicosis in animal production systems based on a biomarker approach.

Environmental stresses negatively affect feed intake in chickens, leading to reduced growth rates and significant economic losses. This review examined the molecular mechanisms of stress-induced loss of appetite, focusing on the hypothalamic regulation of appetite-associated neuropeptides, the role of the HPA axis, elevated CORT levels, and stress-induced inflammatory cytokines that inhibit appetite-stimulating signals. Current mitigation strategies, such as cooling systems, nutritional supplements, early-life programs and genetic selection using QTL mapping, have been shown to provide varying levels of effectiveness. Limited understanding of how multiple stressors act in concert at the cellular level in natural environments is a major limitation. Furthermore, the majority of studies focus on acute stress, while low-grade chronic stress models are underrepresented despite their commercial importance. A significant shortcoming is the absence of validated non-invasive biomarkers to predict stress-induced feed reductions before production losses begin. This review examines the molecular neuroendocrine mechanisms of stress-induced anorexia and the available mitigation strategies, highlighting the disconnect between mechanistic understanding and current interventions, and emphasizing the need for mechanism-based proactive measures to sustainably improve feed intake and productivity in stressed chickens. Therefore, future research should focus on integrated multi-stress frameworks and the evaluation of the lasting epigenetic effects of early-life interventions in chickens.