%0 Journal Article
%T Intestinal Morphometry, Enzymatic and Microbial Activity in Laying Hens Fed Different Levels of a Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal and Toxic Elements Content of the Insect Meal and Diets
%A Andrea Ariano
%A Basilio Randazzo
%A Francesca Tulli
%A Fulvia Bovera
%A Georges Hassoun
%A Giuseppe Moniello
%A Ike Olivotto
%A Lorella Severino
%A Maria Messina
%A Nadia Musco
%A Nicola Francesco Addeo
%A Valentina Panettieri
%J Archive of "Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI".
%D 2019
%R 10.3390/ani9030086
%X Recently, several studies have focused on the use of insect larvae meal as an alternative to soybean meal in poultry diets. In this regard, it is crucial to understand all the possible aspects related to the chemical-nutritional characteristics, the effects on the animals¡¯ health and welfare, and the safety of different insect meals. This study aimed to evaluate volatile fatty acids production in the caeca, the intestinal morphometry, and the brush border enzymatic activity of hens fed different levels of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae meal for 24 weeks. The research also aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the concentration of toxic elements in insect meals. Overall, the insect meal inclusion affected the small intestine morphometry, the enzymatic activity, and the caecal microbial activity. The soybean meal group showed the highest intestinal functionality, while a compensatory mechanism, probably mediated by the chitin, led to a positive increase of volatile fatty acids and butyrate in the 50% protein replacement diet with potential positive effects on gut healthiness. The levels of toxic elements in the diets and insect meal were lower than the maximum levels of heavy metals set by the EU Commission for the feed
%K Hermetia illucens larvae meal
%K volatile fatty acids
%K intestinal villi height and villi/crypt ratio
%K brush border enzymes
%K intestinal alkaline phosphatase
%K trace elements
%K laying hens
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466373/