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

Abstract

The widespread presence of polystyrene microplastics in the environment, and their significant accumulation, has led to their recognition as a major global ecological problem. There has been a lot of research on how microplastics affect the physiology of aquatic species, but less research on the mechanism of the impact on livestock and poultry microplastics. This paper primarily investigates the negative consequences of microplastic exposure on the health of quail and explores the underlying mechanisms. The study revealed that exposure to polystyrene microplastics notably decreased the body weight, growth rate, and muscle quality of quail. Histopathological analysis indicated significant damage in the liver, lungs, and testicles of quail exposed to microplastics. Furthermore, microplastics reduced the antioxidant capacity of quail and upregulated the expression of inflammatory factors, suggesting the induction of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Alterations in the composition and abundance of gut microbes were also observed in quail exposed to polystyrene microplastics; and found an increased abundance of potentially pro-inflammatory bacteria. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that microplastics have adverse effects on quail health by impacting growth performance, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and gut microflora balance.