IntroductionThis study aimed to assess the protective efficacy of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 as a potential alternative to antibiotics in mitigating intestinal mucosal damage in chicks infected with Salmonella pullorum.MethodsA total of 150 one-day-old SPF chicks were selected and randomly divided into five groups: control group (CK), probiotics group (EM), probiotics treatment group (PT), antibiotic treatment group (AT), Salmonella pullorum group (SI), CK, AT and SI groups were fed a basal diet, EM and PT groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1.0 × 108 CFU/g Bacillus coagulans; PT, AT and SI groups were gavaged with 1.0 × 109 CFU/0.5 mL Salmonella pullorum at 7 days of age; AT group were fed with 0.375 g/kg neomycin sulfate in the basal diet from days 7–14.ResultsSubsequently, the study evaluated alterations in growth performance, the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, cytokines associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and gut microbiota composition. The results revealed that the administration of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio of chicks (p