Research Article
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Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters

Year 2026, Issue: Advanced Online Publication, 16.01.2026
https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of two lysozyme doses (10 and 50 FIP U/mL) on rumen fermentation and microbial populations using the artificial rumen system Rusitec with an 80:20 concentrate-to-forage diet. The ruminal pH, the total number of protozoa, total and individual volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, and methane (CH4) release were not significantly affected by the tested quantities of lysozyme. However, the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration was significantly increased by supplementation with Lysozyme-50 (P < 0.05). The dry matter digestibility (DMD) was significantly higher in Lysozyme-50 than in Lysozyme-10 (P < 0.05). The total bacterial count decreased linearly in response to the addition of Lysozyme-50 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the presence of Lysozyme-50, the abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens decreased in both linear and quadratic manners (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased in a linear manner (P < 0.05). A linear decline tendency in the cell numbers of Ruminococcus albus (P = 0.092) and Megasphaera elsdenii (P = 0.085) was observed with Lysozyme-50 treatment. These findings suggest that while core fermentation parameters such as VFA production and digestibility remained stable, the elevated ammonia nitrogen concentration may reflect reduced nitrogen utilization efficiency, particularly at high doses. Additionally, since lysozyme has limited selectivity for certain rumen bacteria within the Rusitec system, lysozyme may influence rumen microbes differently from conventional antibiotics, warranting further in vitro and in vivo studies across diverse diets and dose ranges.

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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Saad Ahmed Adam Musa 0000-0002-5767-583X

Ahu Demirtaş 0000-0003-2942-6243

Hakan Öztürk 0000-0003-2913-2069

Submission Date June 23, 2025
Acceptance Date November 26, 2025
Early Pub Date January 16, 2026
Publication Date January 16, 2026
Published in Issue Year 2026 Issue: Advanced Online Publication

Cite

APA Musa, S. A. A., Demirtaş, A., & Öztürk, H. (2026). Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi(Advanced Online Publication). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307
AMA Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. January 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307
Chicago Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam, Ahu Demirtaş, and Hakan Öztürk. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication (January 2026). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
EndNote Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H (January 1, 2026) Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi Advanced Online Publication
IEEE S. A. A. Musa, A. Demirtaş, and H. Öztürk, “Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters”, Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, no. Advanced Online Publication, January2026, doi: 10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
ISNAD Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam et al. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi Advanced Online Publication (January2026). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
JAMA Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
MLA Musa, Saad Ahmed Adam et al. “Impact of Lysozyme on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population in Rusitec Fermenters”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, 2026, doi:10.33988/auvfd.1725307.
Vancouver Musa SAA, Demirtaş A, Öztürk H. Impact of lysozyme on ruminal fermentation and microbial population in Rusitec fermenters. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026(Advanced Online Publication).

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3. Bishop CD (1995): Antiviral activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betche) Cheel (tea tree) against tobacco mosaic virus. J Essential Oil Res, 7, 641- 644.
4. Hui YH (1996): Oleoresins and essential oils. 145-153. In: Hui YH (Ed.). Bailey’s industrial oil and fat products. Wiley-Interscience Publication. New York, USA.
5. Lamont LA, Bulmer BJ, Sisson DD, et al (2002): Doppler echocardiographic effects of medetomidine on dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 221, 1276-1281.
6. Sandstedt K, Ursing J, Walder M (1983): Thermotolerant Campylobacter with no or weak catalase activity isolated from dogs. Curr Microbiol, 8, 209-213.
7. Sandstedt K, Ursing J (1991): Description of the Campylobacter upsaliensis previously known as CNW group. Syst Appl Microbiol, 14, 39-45.

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Ethical Responsibilities of Referees
The process of evaluating the Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi is carried out with the principle of double-sided blind refereeing. Reviewers cannot communicate directly with the authors, and the reviews and comments are shared through the journal management system. In this process, the review forms and the referee comments on the full texts are sent to the author (s) through the editor. In this context, the reviewers who evaluate the study for the Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi are expected to have the following ethical responsibilities:

- The referee should only accept to evaluate work related to his area of expertise.
- The referee should evaluate the assessment in neutrality and confidentiality.
- If the referee thinks he/she is facing a conflict of interest during the evaluation process, he/she should refuse to review the study and inform the journal editor.
- The referee should make the assessment objectively only in relation to the content of the study. Nationality, gender, religious beliefs, political beliefs and commercial concerns should not affect the assessment.
- The assessment should be constructive and kindly.
- The referee should perform the evaluation on time.

If you encounter an unethical situation or content in the Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, please report it to Vfdergi@veterinary.ankara.edu.tr


References
1. ALLEA - All European Academies (2017): European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, Revised Edition. Available at
https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/hi/h2020-ethics_code-of-conduct_en.pdf
2. McNutt, MK, Bradford, M, Drazen, JM, et al (2018): Transparency in authors’ contributions and responsibilities to promote integrity in scientific publication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115, 2557-2560.
3. YÖK - Yükseköğretim Kurulu (2018): Yükseköğretim Kurumları Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiği Yönergesi. Available at https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Kurumsal/mevzuat/bilimsel-arastirma-ve-etik-yonetmeligi.aspx


JOURNAL POLICY

- There are no submission fees, publication fees or page charges for publication in Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi.
- The journal employs double blind reviewing. For publication of articles, two positive reports are required. It is anticipated that the publication review process of the studies submitted to Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi be completed in 6 months. However, the period during which editors or reviewers ask the author(s) to do editing and the author(s) complete the editing is not included in this time frame.
- No correction can be made in a published article.

There are no submission fees, publication fees or page charges for publication in ‘Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg’.

BAŞ EDİTÖR

Animal Welfare, Animal Science, Genetics and Biostatistics

Editör Kurulu

Radiology and Organ Imaging, Veterinary Surgery
Veterinary Food Hygiene and Technology
Veterinary History of Veterinary and Deontology
Host-Parasite Interactions, Parasitology, Veterinary Parasitology
Reproduction and Artificial Insemination
Veterinary Parasitology
Animal Health Economics and Management
Molecular Genetics, Animal Reproduction and Breeding, Animal Science, Genetics and Biostatistics
Animal Behaviour, Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, Veterinary Sciences (Other)
Veterinary Internal Medicine
Veterinary Histology and Embryology
Ecotoxicology, Aquatic Toxicology , Pesticides and Toxicology, Veterinary Pharmacology
Animal Nutrition
Veterinary Sciences
Animal Behaviour, Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Virology
Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynecology
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Epidemiology
Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
Bacteriology, Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Basic Pharmacology, Environmental Biotechnology Diagnostics (Incl. Biosensors), Climate Change-Impact and Adaptation, Environmental Biogeochemistry, Internationalization in Higher Education, One Health, Food Microbiology, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Fish Pests and Diseases, Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Pathology
Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynecology
Animal Science, Genetics and Biostatistics
Cell Metabolism, Cancer Biology, Veterinary Biochemistry
Animal Welfare, Animal Science, Genetics and Biostatistics
Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Pathology
Veterinary Epidemiology, Veterinary Immunology, Veterinary Mycology, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Diagnosis and Diagnostics