Fig. 5

Effects of Macleaya cordata extract on the cecal microbiota of broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis. The abundances of Clostridium perfringens and lactic acid bacteria (A) in the cecum were determined by the culture count method. The alpha diversity of the cecal microbiota of broiler chickens was analyzed by the Shannon index, Simpson index and Pielou_e (B). The beta diversity of the cecum microbiota of broiler chickens was analyzed by NMDS (C) and PCA (D). Top 10 microbes in the cecum of broiler chickens on d 30 at the phylum level (E) and genus level (F). Differential microbes in the cecum of broiler chickens according to T test (G–I). Differential microbes in the cecum of broiler chickens according to LEfSe analysis (LDA score is greater than 4) (J). NC: negative control group; MCE: 350 mg/kg MCE without NE group; PC: positive control group; NEMCE: 350 mg/kg MCE with NE group