Detection of methane and quantification of methanogenic archaea in faeces from young broiler chickens using real-time PCR

To detect the presence of methanogens in the faeces of broiler chicks during the first 2 weeks of age. Chicken faecal samples from 120 broiler chicks were incubated for methane gas formation and methanogenic archaea were analysed using real-time PCR. The copy number of the order Methanobacteriales 16S rDNA gene in chicken faeces when the broilers were 3-12 days of age, litter and house flies collected in the bird house ranged from 4.19 to 5.51 log(10) g(-1) wet weight. The number of positive methane culture tubes increased from 25% to 100% as the birds aged. Methanogens were successfully detected in faecal samples from 3- to 12-day-old broilers, as well as litter and house flies using real-time PCR. The copy number of methanogenic 16S rDNA gene in these samples was also similar to the number observed in litter and house flies. The same methanogens consistently appeared in chicken faeces a few days after birth. Detection of the methanogenic bacteria in litter and house flies implicated them as potential environmental sources for methanogen colonization in broiler chicks.