Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to polyethylene fiber and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium alters microbiome and metabolome of in vitro chicken cecal mesocosms

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastic fibers interact with Salmonella bacteria in the gut environment of chickens using an in vitro model. They found that co-exposure altered the microbial community composition and metabolic activity in ways that could favor pathogen survival. The findings raise concerns that microplastic contamination in poultry feed could potentially increase the risk of Salmonella infections in flocks and, ultimately, in the human food supply.

2024 Applied and Environmental Microbiology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Microplastic Exposure Changes Gut Microbiota in Chickens

Researchers exposed chickens to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and found that their growth performance decreased significantly. The gut microbiota composition was also altered, with changes in the abundance of several bacterial groups important for digestion and health. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in poultry environments could affect both animal welfare and the broader food production chain.

2023 Animals 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental microplastics exposure decreases antioxidant ability, perturbs gut microbial homeostasis and metabolism in chicken

Researchers studied the effects of microplastic exposure on chickens and found that it decreased growth performance and antioxidant capacity while causing damage to the intestine, liver, kidney, and spleen. The study also revealed significant changes in gut microbiota composition, including decreased diversity and shifts in taxonomic makeup, suggesting microplastics disrupt gut microbial homeostasis in poultry.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: a potential threat to gut microbiota and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens

Researchers investigated the effects of microplastic exposure on broiler chickens and found significant increases in liver enzyme and oxidative stress markers alongside decreased antioxidant capacity. The study also revealed substantial disruption to gut microbiota, with reduced diversity and altered microbial community structure affecting energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and other key functions.

2026 Frontiers in Microbiology
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics in typical poultry farms and the association of environment microplastics colonized-microbiota, waterfowl gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in poultry farm environments and in the intestines of farm-raised waterfowl for the first time. They found microplastics in soil, pond water, and bird guts, with the plastic surfaces hosting microbial communities that carried antibiotic resistance genes. This raises dual concerns: microplastics may both contaminate poultry meat that humans eat and help spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria through farming environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics impair chicken growth through gut microbiota-induced hepatic fatty acid metabolism dysfunction

This study showed that polyethylene microplastics, especially those containing chemical additives called phthalates, significantly slowed chicken growth by disrupting liver fat metabolism and gut bacteria. The microplastics altered the balance of intestinal microbes, which in turn affected how the liver processed fats. Since chickens are a major human food source, these findings raise questions about how microplastic contamination in poultry feed could affect both animal welfare and food quality.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut dysbiosis: Nutritional causes and risk prevention in poultry, with reference to other animals

This review examines the causes and consequences of gut dysbiosis in poultry and other animals, identifying microplastics as one of several environmental pollutants that can disrupt gastrointestinal microbial communities. Researchers describe how reduced microbial diversity leads to inflammation, compromised gut barriers, and disorders affecting multiple organ systems. The study highlights that microplastics, along with heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants, contribute to the growing challenge of maintaining healthy gut microbiomes in animal populations.

2025 South African Journal of Animal Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose-effect of polystyrene microplastics on digestive toxicity in chickens (Gallus gallus): Multi-omics reveals critical role of gut-liver axis

Researchers fed chickens different doses of polystyrene microplastics and used multi-omics analysis to study digestive system damage through the gut-liver axis. They found that microplastics disrupted gut barrier function, altered liver metabolism, and changed gut bacterial communities in a dose-dependent manner. The study provides detailed molecular evidence of how microplastics can damage the digestive health of poultry, which may have implications for food safety.

2022 Journal of Advanced Research 140 citations
Article Tier 2

The ingestion of microplastics affects the diversity of the gut microbiome and testicular development in Japanese quail

This study examined how microplastic ingestion affects gut microbiome diversity and composition in an animal model, finding that microplastic exposure alters microbial community structure in ways that may impair digestive and immune function.

2024 Ecological Genetics and Genomics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on trophic parameters, abundance and metabolic activities of seawater and fish gut bacteria in mesocosm conditions

Mesocosm experiments showed that microplastics altered bacterial community structure and metabolic activity in both seawater and fish guts, suggesting that plastic pollution can disrupt microbial ecosystems in the marine environment. The findings raise concerns about how microplastic-driven microbiome changes could affect fish health and broader ecosystem functioning.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Lifetime exposure to known and emerging groundwater contaminants significantly alters poultry microbiome and metabolome

Broiler chickens were exposed to a mixture of nitrate, atrazine, imidacloprid, and microplastics at low and high doses reflecting Wisconsin groundwater contamination, and gut microbiome and metabolome were assessed. The chemical mixture significantly altered microbiome composition and metabolite profiles, with microplastics contributing to dysbiosis alongside conventional agricultural contaminants.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Poultry Feed and Edible Chicken Tissues: An Emerging Environmental Concer

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in commercial poultry feed and edible chicken tissues from farms near Rajshahi City, Bangladesh, finding microplastics in all samples tested. Feed samples contained an average of 18.7 microplastic particles per gram, while chicken meat averaged 0.95 particles per gram, with fibers being the dominant shape. The study raises concerns about the transfer of microplastics from feed to edible poultry tissues as a pathway for human dietary exposure.

2026 Journal of Chemistry and Environment
Article Tier 2

The impact of polyethylene microplastics exposure on the, growth performance, reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of quails

Researchers fed quails different levels of polyethylene microplastics and found that exposure harmed their growth, reproduction, and gut health. The microplastics reduced antioxidant defenses and disrupted the balance of beneficial bacteria in the birds' intestines. Since poultry is a major food source for people, microplastic contamination in farm animals raises concerns about indirect human exposure through the food chain.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-induced gut microbiota and serum metabolic disruption in Sprague-Dawley rats

Researchers exposed rats to a mixture of common microplastic types at concentrations reflecting real-world human exposure and found significant disruptions to gut bacteria and blood metabolites. The microplastic mixture altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut microbes and changed metabolic pathways related to amino acids and lipids. The study suggests that everyday microplastic exposure from food and water may affect mammalian gut health and metabolism.

2023 Environmental Pollution 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Review: interactions between microplastics and the gastrointestinal microbiome

This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics interact with the gut microbiome in humans, mice, chickens, and aquatic animals. Evidence suggests that gut bacteria can break microplastics into smaller pieces, which may make them more likely to cross the intestinal wall and enter the body. The disruption of the gut microbiome by microplastics is particularly concerning because balanced gut bacteria are essential for immune function, digestion, and overall health.

2024 Italian Journal of Animal Science 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of selected dosages of plastic microparticles on the porcine fecal microbiome

Researchers fed pigs different doses of PET microplastics for 28 days and analyzed changes in their gut bacteria. Higher doses of microplastics increased certain bacterial groups that produce short-chain fatty acids, which are important for gut health and immune function. Since pig digestive systems are similar to humans, these results suggest microplastic exposure could alter our gut microbiome in ways that affect digestion and overall health.

2025 Scientific Reports 11 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo exposure of mixed microplastic particles in mice and its impacts on the murine gut microbiome and metabolome

Researchers exposed mice to a mixture of common microplastic types to investigate effects on the gut microbiome and metabolome. The study found that ingested microplastic particles altered gut microbial composition and disrupted metabolic pathways, suggesting that realistic mixed-microplastic exposure may have broader biological effects than single-polymer studies indicate.

2025 Toxicological Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of frying on microplastics load in fish and implications on health

Researchers investigated the effects of polyethylene microplastics on gut microbiota composition in mice fed a high-fat diet, finding that microplastic exposure altered microbial diversity and increased gut permeability. Co-exposure with a high-fat diet amplified metabolic disruption.

2022 Food Frontiers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Single exposure of food-derived polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics profoundly affects gut microbiome in an in vitro colon model

Using a lab model of the human colon, researchers found that a single exposure to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics, at levels matching a typical meal, significantly disrupted the gut microbiome. Harmful bacteria overgrew while beneficial bacteria declined, and the balance of bacterial metabolism shifted in unhealthy ways. This suggests that even routine dietary microplastic intake could alter gut health in humans.

2024 Environment International 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Harmful impacts of microplastic pollution on poultry and biodegradation techniques using microorganisms for consumer health protection: A review

This review examines how microplastic pollution affects poultry health and food safety, finding that microplastics have been detected in chicken meat from supermarkets and open markets. Evidence indicates that microplastics can damage vital organs in poultry, reduce egg production, and accumulate in edible tissues. The authors also review biodegradation techniques using microorganisms as a potential strategy for reducing microplastic contamination in the food supply.

2024 Poultry Science 5 citations