Prevention of post weaning diarrhoea by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived product based on whole yeast

Effect of dietary tall oil fatty acids and hydrolysed yeast in SNP2-positive and SNP2-negative piglets challenged with F4 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Reduction of post-weaning diarrhoea caused by ETEC is a principal objective in pig farming in terms of welfare benefits. This study determined the effects of genetic susceptibility and dietary strategies targeting inflammation and fimbriae adherence on F4-ETEC shedding and diarrhoea in weaned piglets in an experimental challenge model. A DNA marker test targeting single nucleotide polymorphism 2 (SNP2) identified piglets as heterozygous (SNP2+, susceptible) or homozygous (SNP2-, resistant) to developing F4ac-ETEC diarrhoea. A total of 50 piglets, 25 SNP2+ and 25 SNP2-, were weaned at 30 days of age and equally distributed to different treatments (n = 10): Positive control (PC): piglets fed with a negative control diet and provided with colistin via drinking water; Negative control (NC): piglets fed with a negative control diet; Tall oil fatty acids (TOFA): piglets fed with a negative control diet + 1.0 g TOFA/kg feed; Yeast hydrolysate (YH): piglets fed with a negative control diet + 1.5 g YH/kg feed derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae; and Combination (COM): piglets fed with a negative control diet + 1.0 g TOFA and 1.5 g YH/kg feed. On day 10 post-weaning, all piglets were infected with F4-ETEC by oral administration. Piglets fed with PC, TOFA, YH or COM had a lower faecal shedding of F4-ETEC than NC piglets (P < 0.001), which was also shorter in duration for PC and TOFA piglets than for NC piglets (P < 0.001). Piglets in PC, TOFA, YH and COM had a shorter diarrhoea duration versus NC when classified as SNP2+ (P = 0.02). Furthermore, PC, TOFA and YH piglets grew more than NC and COM piglets in the initial post-inoculation period (P < 0.001). In addition, the level of faecal F4-ETEC shedding and the percentage of pigs that developed F4-ETEC diarrhoea (72 vs. 32%, P < 0.01) following infection were higher, and the duration of F4-ETEC diarrhoea longer (2.6 vs. 0.6 days, P < 0.001), in SNP2+ piglets than in SNP2- piglets, and led to reduced growth performance (P = 0.03). In conclusion, piglets fed with TOFA, YH or their combination, irrespective of their SNP2 status, are more resilient to F4-ETEC infection. Moreover, SNP2+ piglets show a higher level of F4-ETEC shedding and diarrhoea prevalence than SNP2- piglets, confirming an association between SNP2 and F4ac-ETEC susceptibility.

In-feed nutritional additive probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii RC009 can substitute for prophylactic antibiotics and improve the production and health of weaning pigs

Background and Aims

Non-therapeutic antibiotic use is associated with the current decrease in antibiotic therapeutic efficiency and the emergence of a wide range of resistant strains, which constitutes a public health risk. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii RC009 as a nutritional feed additive to substitute the prophylactic use of antibiotics and improve the productive performance and health of post-weaning piglets.

Materials and Methods

Four regular nutritional phases were prepared. Post-weaning pigs (21-70 days old) received one of two dietary treatments: T1-basal diet (BD-control group) with in-feed antibiotics as a prophylactic medication (one pulse of Tiamulin in P3 and one pulse of Amoxicillin in P4); and T2-BD without in-feed antibiotics but with Saccharomyces boulardii RC009 (1 × 1012 colony forming unit/T feed). The feed conversion ratio (FCR), total weight gain (TWG-kg), and daily weight gain (DWG-kg) were determined. A post-weaning growth index (GI) was calculated and animals (160 days old) from each treatment were analyzed at the abattoir after sacrifice for carcass weight and respiratory tract lesions.

Results

Pigs consuming probiotics had higher TWG and DWG than the control group. The group of animals with low body weight obtained the same results. Saccharomyces boulardii administration decreased diarrhea, and FCR reduction was related to a GI improvement. A significant increase in carcass weight and muscle thickness reduction was observed in animals received the probiotic post-weaning.

Conclusion

Saccharomyces boulardii RC009, a probiotic additive, was found to improve the production parameters of pigs post-weaning and enhance their health status, indicating that it may be a promising alternative to prophylactic antibiotics.

EMA and EFSA Joint Scientific Opinion on measures to reduce the need to use antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry in the European Union, and the resulting impacts on food safety (RONAFA)

EFSA and EMA have jointly reviewed measures taken in the EU to reduce the need for and use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals, and the resultant impacts on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Reduction strategies have been implemented successfully in some Member States. Such strategies include national reduction targets, benchmarking of antimicrobial use, controls on prescribing and restrictions on use of specific critically important antimicrobials, together with improvements to animal husbandry and disease prevention and control measures. Due to the multiplicity of factors contributing to AMR, the impact of any single measure is difficult to quantify, although there is evidence of an association between reduction in antimicrobial use and reduced AMR. To minimise antimicrobial use, a multifaceted integrated approach should be implemented, adapted to local circumstances. Recommended options (non-prioritised) include: development of national strategies; harmonised systems for monitoring antimicrobial use and AMR development; establishing national targets for antimicrobial use reduction; use of on-farm health plans; increasing the responsibility of veterinarians for antimicrobial prescribing; training, education and raising public awareness; increasing the availability of rapid and reliable diagnostics; improving husbandry and management procedures for disease prevention and control; rethinking livestock production systems to reduce inherent disease risk. A limited number of studies provide robust evidence of alternatives to antimicrobials that positively influence health parameters. Possible alternatives include probiotics and prebiotics, competitive exclusion, bacteriophages, immunomodulators, organic acids and teat sealants. Development of a legislative framework that permits the use of specific products as alternatives should be considered. Further research to evaluate the potential of alternative farming systems on reducing AMR is also recommended. Animals suffering from bacterial infections should only be treated with antimicrobials based on veterinary diagnosis and prescription. Options should be reviewed to phase out most preventive use of antimicrobials and to reduce and refine metaphylaxis by applying recognised alternative measures.

Effect of bovine colostrum feeding in comparison with milk replacer and natural feeding on the immune responses and colonisation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the intestinal tissue of piglets

The present study investigated the effect of feeding bovine colostrum (BC) to piglets in comparison with feeding a milk replacer (MR) and conventional rearing by the sow on the intestinal immune system and number of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) colonising the intestinal tissue. Piglets (23-d-old) were allocated to one of the following four groups: (1) killed at the beginning of the experiment (Base); (2) separated from the sow and fed BC (BC-fed); (3) separated from the sow and fed a MR (MR-fed); (4) kept with the sow (Sow-Milk). Blood was sampled on days 1 and 8, and faecal samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5 and 8. On day 8, piglets were killed and gastrointestinal digesta and intestinal segments were collected. The frequency of diarrhoea was found to be higher (P≤ 0·019) in MR-fed piglets than in BC-fed and Sow-Milk piglets. Piglets from the MR-fed group had the lowest lactic acid bacteria:haemolytic E. coli ratio (P_treat= 0·064) in the faeces. The number of E. coli colonising the intestinal tissue was higher (P< 0·001) in piglets from the MR-fed group than in those from the BC-fed and Sow-Milk groups. Piglets from the Sow-Milk group had a higher (P= 0·020) mucosal IgG concentration than those from the MR-fed group, but did not exhibit any difference when compared with piglets from the Base and BC-fed groups. Piglets from the BC-fed group exhibited a reduced (P≤ 0·037) expression level of Toll-like receptor-4 in the intestinal mucosa when compared with those from the MR-fed and Sow-Milk groups. The expression level of IL-2 was higher (P≤ 0·051) in piglets from the MR-fed group than in those from the other treatment groups. In conclusion, feeding BC rather than MR to the piglets reduced the colonisation of intestine by ETEC and modulated the intestinal immune system, whereas no differences were observed in piglets fed BC and conventionally reared by the sows.