Polystyrene Nanoplastics Exposure Alters Gut Microbiota and Correlates with Egg Quality Parameters in Chickens.

ABSTRACT: NPs have become a concerning global environmental problem. Dietary exposure to NPs can cause microbial dysbiosis. However, the risks of NPs to animals, particularly poultry species such as chickens, remain poorly understood. In this study, chickens were continuously exposed to 100 nm NPs via dietary inclusion from 18 weeks of age for 120 days to evaluate the effects of NPs on intestinal health. We found that NPs accumulated in chicken intestinal tissues, leading to adverse alterations in the intestinal mucosal structure, such as villus atrophy and goblet cell depletion, and significantly altering intestinal length. The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant gut microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by a loss of diversity and shifts in key bacterial groups. Functional predictions of the mic

SUBMITTER: Hu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12606741 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature