Inclusion of the direct-fed microbial Clostridium butyricum in diets for weanling pigs increases growth performance and tends to increase villus height and crypt depth, but does not change intestinal microbial abundance

Probiotic Roles of Clostridium butyricum in Piglets: Considering Aspects of Intestinal Barrier Function

China, as the global leader in pork production and consumption, is faced with challenges in ensuring sustainable and wholesome growth of the pig industry while also guaranteeing meat food safety amidst the ban on antibiotics usage in animal feed. The focus of the pig industry lies in guaranteeing piglet health and enhancing overall production performance through nutrition regulation. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), a new type of probiotic, possesses characteristics such as heat resistance, acid resistance, and bile-salt tolerance, meaning it has potential as a feed additive. Previous studies have demonstrated that C. butyricum has a probiotic effect on piglets and can serve as a substitute for antibiotics. The objective of this study was to review the probiotic role of C. butyricum in the production of piglets, specifically focusing on intestinal barrier function. Through this review, we explored the probiotic effects of C. butyricum on piglets from the perspective of intestinal health. That is, C. butyricum promotes intestinal health by regulating the functions of the mechanical barrier, chemical barrier, immune barrier, and microbial barrier of piglets, thereby improving the growth of piglets. This review can provide a reference for the rational utilization and application of C. butyricum in swine production.

Low crude protein formulation with supplemental amino acids for its impacts on intestinal health and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs

BACKGROUND

Low crude protein (CP) formulations with supplemental amino acids (AA) are used to enhance intestinal health, reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and maintain growth performance of pigs. However, extensive reduction of dietary CP can compromise growth performance due to limited synthesis of non-essential AA and limited availability of bioactive compounds from protein supplements even when AA requirements are met. Moreover, implementing a low CP formulation can increase the net energy (NE) content in feeds causing excessive fat deposition. Additional supplementation of functional AA, coupled with low CP formulation could further enhance intestinal health and glucose metabolism, improving nitrogen utilization, and growth performance. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of low CP formulations with supplemental AA on the intestinal health and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

METHODS

In Exp. 1, 90 pigs (19.7 ± 1.1 kg, 45 barrows and 45 gilts) were assigned to 3 treatments: CON (18.0% CP, supplementing Lys, Met, and Thr), LCP (16.0% CP, supplementing Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, and Val), and LCPT (16.1% CP, LCP + 0.05% SID Trp). In Exp. 2, 72 pigs (34.2 ± 4.2 kg BW) were assigned to 3 treatments: CON (17.7% CP, meeting the requirements of Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp); LCP (15.0% CP, meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, and Phe); and VLCP (12.8% CP, meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, Phe, His, and Leu). In Exp. 3, 72 pigs (54.1 ± 5.9 kg BW) were assigned to 3 treatments and fed experimental diets for 3 phases (grower 2, finishing 1, and finishing 2). Treatments were CON (18.0%, 13.8%, 12.7% CP for 3 phases; meeting Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp); LCP (13.5%, 11.4%, 10.4% CP for 3 phases; meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, and Phe); and LCPG (14.1%, 12.8%, 11.1% CP for 3 phases; LCP + Glu to match SID Glu with CON). All diets had 2.6 Mcal/kg NE.

RESULTS

In Exp. 1, overall, the growth performance did not differ among treatments. The LCPT increased (P < 0.05) Claudin-1 expression in the duodenum and jejunum. The LCP and LCPT increased (P < 0.05) CAT-1, 4F2hc, and B0AT expressions in the jejunum. In Exp. 2, overall, the VLCP reduced (P < 0.05) G:F and BUN. The LCP and VLCP increased (P < 0.05) the backfat thickness (BFT). In Exp. 3, overall, growth performance and BFT did not differ among treatments. The LCPG reduced (P < 0.05) BUN, whereas increased the insulin in plasma. The LCP and LCPG reduced (P < 0.05) the abundance of Streptococcaceae, whereas the LCP reduced (P < 0.05) Erysipelotrichaceae, and the alpha diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

When implementing low CP formulation, CP can be reduced by supplementation of Lys, Thr, Met, Trp, Val, and Ile without affecting the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs when NE is adjusted to avoid increased fat deposition. Supplementation of Trp above the requirement or supplementation of Glu in low CP formulation seems to benefit intestinal health as well as improved nitrogen utilization and glucose metabolism.

Blended-protein changes body weight gain and intestinal tissue morphology in rats by regulating arachidonic acid metabolism and secondary bile acid biosynthesis induced by gut microbiota

PURPOSE

The impact of dietary nutrients on body growth performance and the composition of gut microbes and metabolites is well-established. In this study, we aimed to determine whether dietary protein can regulate the physiological indexes and changes the intestinal tissue morphology in rats, and if dietary protein was a crucial regulatory factor for the composition, function, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota.

METHOD

A total of thirty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (inbred strain, weighted 110 ± 10 g) were randomly assigned to receive diets containing animal-based protein (whey protein, WP), plant-based protein (soybean protein, SP), or a blended protein (soybean-whey proteins, S-WP) for a duration of 8 weeks. To investigate the effects of various protein supplement sources on gut microbiota and metabolites, we performed a high throughput 16S rDNA sequencing association study and fecal metabolomics profiling on the SD rats. Additionally, we performed analyses of growth indexes, serum biochemical indexes, and intestinal morphology.

RESULTS

The rats in S-WP and WP group exhibited a significantly higher body weight and digestibility of dietary protein compared to the SP group (P < 0.05). The serum total protein content of rats in the WP and S-WP groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in SP group, and the SP group exhibited significantly lower (P < 0.05) serum blood glucose levels compared to the other two groups. The morphological data showed the rats in the S-WP group exhibited significantly longer villus height and shallower crypt depth (P < 0.05) than the SP group. The gut microbial diversity of the SP and S-WP groups exhibited a higher level than that of the WP group, and the microbiomes of the WP and S-WP groups are more similar compared to those of the SP group. The Arachidonic acid metabolism pathway is the most significant KEGG pathway when comparing the WP group and the SP group, as well as when comparing the SP group and the S-WP group.

CONCLUSION

The type of dietary proteins exerted a significant impact on the physiological indices of SD rats. Intake of S-WP diet can enhance energy provision, improve the body's digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as promote intestinal tissue morphology. In addition, dietary protein plays a crucial role in modulating fecal metabolites by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the changes in the levels of arachidonic acid metabolites and secondary bile acid metabolite induced by Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group maybe the primarily causes of intestinal morphological differences.

Fecal virus transplantation has more moderate effect than fecal microbiota transplantation on changing gut microbial structure in broiler chickens

Growing evidence of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and fecal virus transplantation (FVT) provides a possibility to regulate animal health, whereas little is known about the impact of the 2 methods. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbes on jejunal function in healthy broiler chickens, with the objective of establishing a theoretical basis for the application of FMT and FVT. Cecal feces from 28-day-old AA broilers were collected to prepare gavage juice for FMT and FVT. FMT for Group FM, FVT for group FV and PBS gavage for group CON, continuously treated for 6 days start at 5-day-old chicks. Samples were collected at d 11 and d 21. The results showed that the treatment d 2 and the overall fecal score in treatment groups were significantly lower than CON group (P < 0.05). The jejunum morphology showed that FMT increased crypt depth, decreased villus height, V/C (P < 0.05) and FVT increased villus height (P < 0.05) at d 11. At d 21, villus height and crypt depth significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group FM and group FV. The expression of Claudin1, Occludin, ZO2, and Muc2 in the FV group was significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 11-day-old. FMT increased the secretion of sIgA at 11-day-old, and this influence lasted up to 21-day-old (P < 0.05). At 11-day-old, the expression of b0+AT of basic amino acid transport carrier and chymotrypsin activity (P < 0.05) had a significant correlation. At 21 d of age, FVT significantly increased the expression of PepT1 and SGLT1 (P < 0.05). At 11-day-old, FM group showed significantly higher faith pd index (P = 0.004) and Shannon index (P = 0.037), and separated from FV and CON according to PCoA. Among differentiating bacteria, Bacteroides significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in group FM, which positively correlated with the expression of ZO2, Muc2, Occludin, and Claudin1; R_Ruminococcus, L_Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccuss significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in group CON, which significantly higher than processing groups, R_Ruminococcus and L_Ruminococcus negatively correlated with the expression of Occludin (P < 0.05), and R_Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccus negatively correlated with the expression of Claudin1 (P < 0.05). At 21-day-old, PCoA based on Bray-Curtis shows that microbes taxa of 3 groups are isolated with each other and treatment groups were significant different with CON group based on Unweighted UniFrac and weighted UniFrac. The expression of PepT1 was significantly negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with Ruminococcus, and the expression of sIgA was significantly negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with Parabacteroides. In conclusion, FMT regulated intestinal flora rapidly, while it had little effect on intestinal function and a higher potential damaging risk on jejunal. FVT regulated intestinal flora structure softer, improved tight junction expression, but the mechanism of action needs further exploration.

Effects of Dietary Lycopene on the Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Meat Quality, Intestine Histomorphology, and Cecal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of dietary lycopene on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, intestine histomorphology, and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens. We randomly divided five hundred and seventy-six one-day-old male broilers into four groups each with six replicates and 24 chickens in each replicate. The control group (CG) was fed the basal diet, and the other groups were given powder lycopene of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg lycopene (LP10, LP20, and LP30, respectively). Compared with the control group, (1) the dietary lycopene increased (p = 0.001) the average daily gain and decreased (p = 0.033) the feed conversion ratio in the experimental groups; (2) the glutathione peroxidase enzyme contents in LP20 were higher (p =< 0.001) in myocardium; (3) the crude protein contents were higher (p = 0.007) in the group treated with 30 mg/kg dietary lycopene; (4) the jejunum villous height was higher (p = 0.040) in LP20; (5) the Unclassified-f-Ruminococcaceae relative abundance was significantly higher (p = 0.043) in LP20. In this study, adding 20 mg/kg dietary lycopene to the broiler chickens' diets improved the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, intestine histomorphology, and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens.

Dietary Qi-Weng-Huangbo powder enhances growth performance, diarrhoea and immune function of weaned piglets by modulating gut health and microbial profiles

Introduction

The evolution of nutritional strategies to improve the gut health and microbiota profiles of early-weaned piglets is essential to reduce diarrhoea caused by weaning stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Qi-Weng-Huangbo powder, a traditional herbal medicine consisting of a mixture of Pulsatilla chinensis, Chinese Schneid and Astragalus extracts (PCE), on the growth performance, diarrhoea rate, immune function and intestinal health of weaned piglets.

Methods

162 piglets were randomly assigned to the CON group (no PCE added), the PCEL group (300 mg/kg PCE) and the PCEH group (500 mg/kg PCE) at the end of the third week post farrowing. There were 9 replicates of each group with 6 pigs per replicate. The experiment lasted for 28 days and sampling was performed on the final day.

Results

The results showed that the PCE diet increased the average daily gain (ADG) and final body weight (BW) compared to the CON group. Both supplemented doses of PCE reduced the faecal scores of piglets, and the diarrhoea rate in the PCEL group was significantly lower than that in the CON group. The application of PCE diets promoted the development of the spleen in piglets and up-regulated serum immunoglobulin concentrations to enhance immune function, which was also reflected in the down-regulated gene expression of the colonic TLR/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Supplementation with PCE improved intestinal morphology, and all doses of PCE significantly increased villus height (VH) in the ileum, whereas colonic crypt depth (CD) was significantly lower in the PCEH group than in the CON group. The PCEH diet significantly increased the levels of valeric and isovaleric acid in the colon content. Dietary PCEH also improved the colonic microbial community profile, reflected by a significant increase in Shannon's index compared with CON group. The abundance of Veillonellaceae and Rhodospirillales was significantly increased in the PCEH group at the family level.

Discussion

In conclusion, dietary PCE reduced diarrhoea rates, improved growth performance and enhanced immune function in weaned piglets. These improvements were potentially supported by altered ileum and colonic morphology, elevated colonic VFA levels, and modulation of colonic microbial profiles.

Cysteine Attenuates the Impact of Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative Damage on Growth Performance and Intestinal Function in Piglets

Bisphenol A (BPA), a kind of environmental toxin, widely impacts daily life. Cysteine (Cys) is a nutritionally important amino acid for piglets. However, it remains unclear whether Cys can alleviate BPA-induced oxidative damage in piglets. The aim of the present study was to explore the protective effects of Cys in BPA-challenged piglets. A total of twenty-four piglets were divided into four groups that were further subdivided based on the type of exposure (with or without 0.1% BPA) in a basal or Cys diet for a 28 d feeding trial. The results showed that BPA exposure decreased the piglets' average daily weight gain by 14.9%, and decreased dry matter, crude protein and ether extract digestibility by 3.3%, 4.5% and 2.3%, respectively; these decreases were attenuated by Cys supplementation. Additionally, Cys supplementation restored BPA-induced decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, in the serum and jejunum (p < 0.05). Moreover, BPA decreased the jejunal mRNA expression of antioxidant genes, which were restored by Cys supplementation (p < 0.05). Cys also restored BPA and increased serum D-lactate levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, and BPA decreased jejunal disaccharidase activity (p < 0.05). Further investigations in this study showed that the protective effects of Cys were associated with restoring intestinal barrier integrity by improving the jejunal morphology and enhancing the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (p < 0.05). Collectively, the results herein demonstrated that Cys supplementation attenuated the impact of BPA-induced oxidative damage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal function.

Effects of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Challenge on Jejunal Morphology and Microbial Community Profiles in Weaned Crossbred Piglets

Pathogenic enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of bacterial diarrhea in weaning piglets, which are vulnerable to changes in environment and feed. This study aimed to determine the effects of the ETEC challenge on piglet growth performance, diarrhea rate, jejunal microbial profile, jejunal morphology and goblet cell distribution. A total of 13 piglets from one litter were selected on postnatal day 21 and assigned to treatments with or without ETEC challenge at 1 × 108 CFUs, as ETEC group or control group, respectively. On postnatal day 28, samples were collected, followed by the detection of serum biochemical indexes and inflammatory indicators, HE staining, PAS staining and 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results showed that the growth performance decreased, while the diarrhea rate increased for the ETEC group. The jejunum is the main segment of the injured intestine during the ETEC challenge. Compared with the control, the ETEC group displayed fewer goblet cells in the jejunum, where goblet cells are more distributed at the crypt and less distributed at the villus. In addition, ETEC piglets possessed higher abundances of the genus Desulfovibrio, genus Oxalobacter and genus Peptococus and lower abundances of the genus Prevotella 2, genus Flavonifractor and genus Blautra. In terms of alpha diversity, Chao 1 and observed features indexes were both increased for the ETEC group. Our study provides insights into jejunal histopathological impairment and microbial variation in response to ETEC infection for weaned piglets and is a valuable reference for researchers engaged in animal health research to select stress models.

Supplemental Clostridium butyricum modulates lipid metabolism by reshaping the gut microbiota composition and bile acid profile in IUGR suckling piglets

BACKGROUND

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can cause lipid disorders in infants and have long-term adverse effects on their growth and development. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), a kind of emerging probiotics, has been reported to effectively attenuate lipid metabolism dysfunctions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of C. butyricum supplementation on hepatic lipid disorders in IUGR suckling piglets.

METHODS

Sixteen IUGR and eight normal birth weight (NBW) neonatal male piglets were used in this study. From d 3 to d 24, in addition to drinking milk, the eight NBW piglets (NBW-CON group, n = 8) and eight IUGR piglets (IUGR-CON group, n = 8) were given 10 mL sterile saline once a day, while the remaining IUGR piglets (IUGR-CB group, n = 8) were orally administered C. butyricum at a dose of 2 × 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU)/kg body weight (suspended in 10 mL sterile saline) at the same frequency.

RESULTS

The IUGR-CON piglets exhibited restricted growth, impaired hepatic morphology, disordered lipid metabolism, increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens and altered ileum and liver bile acid (BA) profiles. However, C. butyricum supplementation reshaped the gut microbiota of the IUGR-CB piglets, characterized by a decreased abundance of opportunistic pathogens in the ileum, including Streptococcus and Enterococcus. The decrease in these bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-producing microbes increased the content of conjugated BAs, which could be transported to the liver and function as signaling molecules to activate liver X receptor α (LXRα) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). This activation effectively accelerated the synthesis and oxidation of fatty acids and down-regulated the total cholesterol level by decreasing the synthesis and promoting the efflux of cholesterol. As a result, the growth performance and morphological structure of the liver improved in the IUGR piglets.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that C. butyricum supplementation in IUGR suckling piglets could decrease the abundance of BSH-producing microbes (Streptococcus and Enterococcus). This decrease altered the ileum and liver BA profiles and consequently activated the expression of hepatic LXRα and FXR. The activation of these two signaling molecules could effectively normalize the lipid metabolism and improve the growth performance of IUGR suckling piglets.

Tributyrin and anise mixture supplementation improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility, jejunal villus height, and fecal microbiota in weaned pigs

Introduction

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of tributyrin and anise mixture (TA) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal noxious gas emission, fecal score, jejunal villus height, hematology parameters, and fecal microbiota of weaned pigs.

Methods

A total of 150 21-day-old crossbred weaned pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] were used in a randomized complete block design experiment. All pigs were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the initial body weight (6.19 ± 0.29 kg). Each group had 10 replicate pens with 5 pigs (three barrows and two gilts) per pen. The experimental period was 42 days and consisted of 3 phases (phase 1, days 1-7; phase 2, days 8-21; phase 3, days 22-42). Dietary treatments were based on a corn-soybean meal-basal diet and supplemented with 0.000, 0.075, or 0.150% TA.

Results and discussion

We found that dietary supplementation of graded levels of TA linearly improved body weight, body weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed efficiency (P < 0.05). TA supplementation also had positive effects on apparent dry matter, crude protein, and energy digestibility (P < 0.05) and jejunal villus height (P < 0.05). The emission of ammonia from feces decreased linearly with the dose of TA increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, TA supplementation was capable to regulate the fecal microbiota diversity, manifesting in a linearly increased Chao1 index and observed species and a linearly decreased Pielou's index (P < 0.05). The abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus, Clostridium butyricum were increased, while the abundance of Prevotella copri was decreased, by treatment (P < 0.05). Therefore, we speculated that TA supplementation would improve growth performance and reduce fecal ammonia emission through improving nutrient digestibility, which was attributed to the increase of jejunal villus height and the regulation of fecal microbiota.

Dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum and its ferment substance improves the egg quality and ovarian function in laying hens from 50 to 58 weeks of age

The current study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) and fermented calcium (Ca) butyrate produced by C. butyricum on the performance and egg quality of post-peak laying. A total of 384 50-week-old hens were fed a basal diet, the basal diet with 300 mg/kg of fermented Ca butyrate or 1 × 109  CFU/kg C. butyricum for 8 weeks. Hens received a C. butyricum exhibited higher yolk properties, albumen height, and Haugh unit. A diet with fermented Ca butyrate or C. butyricum increased the egg mass and the pre-grade yellow follicle number. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data showed that these observations were associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and intestinal immune status. Accordingly, when compared with the basal diet group, Ca butyrate and C. butyricum addition decreased serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increased the concentration of immunoglobulin A, along with improved intestinal barrier. In addition, dietary C. butyricum inclusion induced a higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae at the family level. In summary, dietary fermented Ca butyrate or C. butyricum supplementation improved egg quality and ovarian function, which might be related to the enhanced intestinal barrier and immunity in post-peak laying hens.

Protective Effect of Clostridium butyricum on Escherichia coli-Induced Endometritis in Mice via Ameliorating Endometrial Barrier and Inhibiting Inflammatory Response

Endometritis is a common reproductive disease occurs both in human and animals. Clostridium butyricum is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that can ferment various carbohydrates into butyric acid. In this study, we investigated the effects of C. butyricum on Escherichia coli-induced endometritis and clarified the underlying mechanism. We first verified the protective effect of C. butyricum in vivo by establishing a mouse model of E. coli-induced endometritis. It was determined that C. butyricum pretreatment significantly reversed E. coli-induced uterine histopathological changes. Meanwhile, C. butyricum pretreatment significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). We found that C. butyricum could inhibit TLR4-mediated phosphorylation of NF-κB and the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Furthermore, C. butyricum significantly increased the expression of the tight junction proteins (TJPs) ZO-1, claudin-3, and occludin. Additionally, treatment with C. butyricum culture supernatant dramatically suppressed the degree of inflammation in the uterus, and inactivated C. butyricum did not exert a protective effect. We subsequently investigated butyrate levels in both the uterus and blood and observed a marked augment in the C. butyricum treatment group. Collectively, our data suggest that C. butyricum maintains epithelial barrier function and suppresses inflammatory response during E. coli-induced endometritis and that the protective effect of C. butyricum may be related to the production of butyrate. IMPORTANCE Endometritis is a common reproductive disease both in human and animals. It impairs female fertility by disrupting endometrial function. Antibiotics are widely used to treat endometritis in clinical practice, but the misuse of antibiotics often leads to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic agents to treat bacterial endometritis and overcome bacterial resistance. In this study, we found that C. butyricum could protect from E. coli-induced endometritis.

Effect of feeding raw potato starch on the composition dynamics of the piglet intestinal microbiome

OBJECTIVE

Raw potato starch (RPS) is resistant to digestion, escapes absorption, and is metabolized by intestinal microflora in the large intestine and acts as their energy source. In this study, we compared the effect of different concentrations of RPS on the intestinal bacterial community of weaned piglets.

METHODS

Male weaned piglets (25-days-old, 7.03±0.49 kg) were either fed a corn/soybean-based control diet (CON, n = 6) or two treatment diets supplemented with 5% RPS (RPS5, n = 4) or 10% RPS (RPS10, n = 4) for 20 days and their fecal samples were collected. The day 0 and 20 samples were analyzed using a 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology, followed by total genomic DNA extraction, library construction, and high-throughput sequencing. After statistical analysis, five phyla and 45 genera accounting for over 0.5% of the reads in any of the three groups were further analyzed. Furthermore, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the day 20 fecal samples were analyzed using gas chromatography.

RESULTS

Significant changes were not observed in the bacterial composition at the phylum level even after 20 d post feeding (dpf); however, the abundance of Intestinimonas and Barnesiella decreased in both RPS treatment groups compared to the CON group. Consumption of 5% RPS increased the abundance of Roseburia (p<0.05) and decreased the abundance of Clostridium (p<0.01) and Mediterraneibacter (p< 0.05). In contrast, consumption of 10% RPS increased the abundance of Olsenella (p<0.05) and decreased the abundance of Campylobacter (p<0.05), Kineothrix (p<0.05), Paraprevotella (p<0.05), and Vallitalea (p<0.05). Additionally, acetate (p<0.01), butyrate (p<0.05), valerate (p = 0.01), and total SCFAs (p = 0.01) were upregulated in the RPS5 treatment group.

CONCLUSION

Feeding 5% RPS altered bacterial community composition and promoted gut health in weaned piglets. Thus, resistant starch as a feed additive may prevent diarrhea in piglets during weaning.

Maternal amoxicillin affects piglets colon microbiota: microbial ecology and metabolomics in a gut model

Abstract

The first weeks of life represent a crucial stage for microbial colonization of the piglets’ gastrointestinal tract. Newborns’ microbiota is unstable and easily subject to changes under stimuli or insults. Nonetheless, the administration of antibiotics to the sow is still considered as common practice in intensive farming for pathological conditions in the postpartum. Therefore, transfer of antibiotic residues through milk may occurs, affecting the piglets’ colon microbiota. In this study, we aimed to extend the knowledge on antibiotic transfer through milk, employing an in vitro dedicated piglet colon model (MICODE—Multi Unit In vitro Colon Model). The authors’ focus was set on the shifts of the piglets’ microbiota composition microbiomics (16S r-DNA MiSeq and qPCR—quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and on the production of microbial metabolites (SPME GC/MS—solid phase micro-extraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) in response to milk with different concentrations of amoxicillin. The results showed an effective influence of amoxicillin in piglets’ microbiota and metabolites production; however, without altering the overall biodiversity. The scenario is that of a limitation of pathogens and opportunistic taxa, e.g., Staphylococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, but also a limitation of commensal dominant Lactobacillaceae, a reduction in commensal Ruminococcaceae and a depletion in beneficial Bifidobactericeae. Lastly, an incremental growth of resistant species, such as Enterococcaceae or Clostridiaceae, was observed. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first evaluating the impact of antibiotic residues towards the piglets’ colon microbiota in an in vitro model, opening the way to include such approach in a pipeline of experiments where a reduced number of animals for testing is employed.

Key points

• Piglet colon model to study antibiotic transfer through milk.

• MICODE resulted a robust and versatile in vitro gut model.

• Towards the “3Rs” Principles to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals used for scientific purposes (Directive 2010/63/UE).

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-12223-3.

The effects of Clostridium butyricum on Ira rabbit growth performance, cecal microbiota and plasma metabolome

Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) can provide many benefits for animals’ growth performance and gut health. In this study, we investigated the effects of C. butyricum on the growth performance, cecal microbiota, and plasma metabolome in Ira rabbits. A total of 216 Ira rabbits at 32 days of age were randomly assigned to four treatments supplemented with basal diets containing 0 (CG), 200 (LC), 400 (MC), and 600 mg/kg (HC) C. butyricum for 35 days, respectively. In comparison with the CG group, C. butyricum supplementation significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) at 53 and 67 days of age (P < 0.05) and digestibilities of crude protein (CP) and crude fiber (CF) at 67 days of age (P < 0.05). The cellulase activity in the HC group was higher respectively by 50.14 and 90.13% at 53 and 67 days of age, than those in the CG groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, at 67 days of age, the diet supplemented with C. butyricum significantly increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the concentrations of different metabolites, such as amino acids and purine, were significantly altered by C. butyricum (P < 0.05). In addition, 10 different genera were highly correlated with 52 different metabolites at 53-day-old and 6 different genera were highly correlated with 18 different metabolites at 67-day-old Ira rabbits. These findings indicated that the C. butyricum supplementation could significantly improve the growth performance by modifying the cecal microbiota structure and plasma metabolome of weaned Ira rabbits.

Bioactive compounds, antibiotics and heavy metals: effects on the intestinal structure and microbiome of monogastric animals – a non-systematic review

The intestinal structure and gut microbiota are essential for the animals‘ health. Chemical components taken with food provide the right environment for a specific microbiome which, together with its metabolites and the products of digestion, create an environment, which in turn is affects the population size of specific bacteria. Disturbances in the composition of the gut microbiota can be a reason for the malformation of guts, which has a decisive impact on the animal‘ health. This review aimed to analyse scientific literature, published over the past 20 years, concerning the effect of nutritional factors on gut health, determined by the intestinal structure and microbiota of monogastric animals. Several topics have been investigated: bioactive compounds (probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and herbal active substances), antibiotics and heavy metals (essentaial minerals and toxic heavy metals).

Comparative Study on Jejunal Immunity and Microbial Composition of Growing-Period Tibetan Pigs and Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) Pigs

The gut microbiota plays vital roles in metabolizing nutrient, maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier but also in modulating immunity. Host genetics and the pig breed are implicated in shaping gut microbiota. Tibetan pig is a unique native Chinese breed and has evolved to manifest a strong disease resistance. However, the immunity and microbiota of growing Tibetan (TP) pigs were still rarely understood. The jejunal immunity phenotype and microbial composition of TP and Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) (DLY) pigs were explored through immunohistochemistry and 16S rRNA sequencing. Higher scores of clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4+) and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) were observed in TP pigs than those of DLY pigs (p &lt; 0.05), as were Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and zonular occludens 1 (ZO-1) (p &lt; 0.01). Similar levels of bacterial richness and diversity were found in the jejunal microbiota of the TP and DLY pigs. However, the TP pigs showed a significantly different microbiome compared to DLY pigs at the genus level (ANOSIM; p &lt; 0.05). Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Phenylobacterium, and Sandaracinobacter were enriched in DLY pigs (p &lt; 0.05), while the Lactobacillus and Solibacillus had higher abundances in TP pigs than DLY pigs (p &lt; 0.05). Tibetan pigs have “healthier” intestinal microbial communities than DLY pigs. Close relationships were found between jejunal immune performance and the differential bacteria, Lactobacillus can enhance porcine jejunal immunity, while Stenotrophomonas will have a negative impact on porcine gut immunity.

Effects of Microbial Fermented Feed on Serum Biochemical Profile, Carcass Traits, Meat Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Profile, and Gut Microbiome Composition of Finishing Pigs

Microbial fermented feed is an important part of feed industry, while little research has focused on the solid-state fermentation of complete feed. Herein, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of fermented complete feed (FCF) on the growth performance, biochemical profile, carcass traits, meat proximate composition, meat amino acid and fatty acid profile, and gut microbiome composition of finishing pigs, thereby providing references for the application of FCF in animal production. Twenty Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs with an average body weight (BW) of 48.74 ± 1.49 kg were divided randomly into control group (pigs received a basal diet, CN, n = 10) and FCF group (pigs fed with FCF, n = 10). The experiment lasted for 60 days. FCF improved the growth performance, which was indicated by a significantly increased final BW, average daily gain and average daily feed intake, and a significantly decreased feed-to-gain ratio. FCF improved biochemical profile, which was indicated by a higher alkaline phosphatase, glucose, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity content. Pigs that received FCF had better carcass traits and meat quality than did pigs that received basal diet, which was indicated by a higher carcass length, crude protein content, lysine content, Glu content, C18:ln9c, C18:2n6c, C20:4n6, and unsaturated fatty acid content and a lower average back-fat thickness, C18:0, and saturated fatty acids. FCF significantly reduced the relative abundances of presumably pathogenic bacteria of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia–Shigella and enhanced the relative abundances of likely beneficial bacteria of phylum Firmicutes and genus Clostridium. In summary, FCF had a certain effect on the improvement of growth performance, serum biochemical profile, carcass traits, meat proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profile, and gut microbiome composition of finishing pigs.

Overexpression of pEGF improved the gut protective function of Clostridium butyricum partly through STAT3 signal pathway

Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) is a probiotic that could promote animal growth and protect gut health. So far, current studies mainly keep up with the basic biological functions of C. butyricum, missing the effective strategy to further improve its protective efficiency. A recent report about C. butyricum alleviating intestinal injury through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inspired us to bridge this gap by porcine epidermal growth factor (EGF) overexpression. Lacking a secretory overexpression system, we constructed the recombinant strains overexpressing pEGF in C. butyricum for the first time and obtained 4 recombinant strains for highly efficient secretion of pEGF (BC/pPD1, BC/pSPP, BC/pGHF, and BC/pDBD). Compared to the wild-type strain, we confirmed that the expression level ranges of the intestinal development-related genes (Claudin-1, GLUT-2, SUC, GLP2R, and EGFR) and anti-inflammation-related gene (IL-10) in IPECs were upregulated under recombinant strain stimulation, and the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium was significantly inhibited as well. Furthermore, a particular inhibitor (stattic) was used to block STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, resulting in the downregulation on antibacterial effect of recombinant strains. This study demonstrated that the secretory overexpression of pEGF in C. butyricum could upregulate the expression level of EGFR, consequently improving the intestinal protective functions of C. butyricum partly following STAT3 signal activation in IPECs and making it a positive loop. These findings on the overexpression strains pointed out a new direction for further development and utilization of C. butyricum. KEY POINTS: • By 12 signal peptide screening in silico, 4 pEGF overexpression strains of C. butyricum/pMTL82151-pEGF for highly efficient secretion of pEGF were generated for the first time. • The secretory overexpression of pEGF promoted the intestinal development, antimicrobial action, and anti-inflammatory function of C. butyricum. • The overexpressed pEGF upregulated the expression level of EGFR and further magnified the gut protective function of recombinant strains which in turn partly depended on STAT3 signal pathway in IPECs.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Protected Sodium Butyrate on Gut Microbiota in Growing-Finishing Pigs

Simple Summary

The addition of protected sodium butyrate to the diet of fattening pigs during the whole fattening period (≈90 days) at a dose of 3 kg per ton of feed, did not modify the overall richness of microbiota composition of the pigs at slaughter, but may have caused some significant changes in specific taxa that could be associated with better gut health parameters. In any case, these results should be taken with caution, as the role of a given taxon on the pig’s gut health is influenced by numerous variables such as age, diet, environment, treatments, other taxa present, infections, or even the physiological status of the animal.

Abstract

The study assessed changes in the gut microbiota of pigs after dietary supplementation with protected sodium butyrate (PSB) during the growing-fattening period (≈90 days). One gram of colon content from 18 pigs (9 from the treatment group -TG- and 9 from the control group -CG-) was collected. Bacterial DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA high-throughput amplicon sequencing used to assess microbiota changes between groups. The groups shared 75.4% of the 4697 operational taxonomic units identified. No differences in alpha diversity were found, but significant differences for some specific taxa were detected between groups. The low-represented phylum Deinococcus-Thermus, which is associated with the production of carotenoids with antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, was increased in the TG (p = 0.032). Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Peptococcaceae, and Terrisporobacter were increased in the TG. Members of these families have the ability to ferment complex dietary polysaccharides and produce larger amounts of short chain fatty acids. Regarding species, only Clostridium butyricum was increased in the TG (p = 0.048). Clostridium butyricum is well-known as probiotic in humans, but it has also been associated with overall positive gut effects (increased villus height, improved body weight, reduction of diarrhea, etc.) in weanling pigs. Although the use of PSB did not modify the overall richness of microbiota composition of these slaughter pigs, it may have increased specific taxa associated with better gut health parameters.

Probiotics Improve Eating Disorders in Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi) Induced by a Pellet Feed Diet via Stimulating Immunity and Regulating Gut Microbiota

Eating disorders are directly or indirectly influenced by gut microbiota and innate immunity. Probiotics have been shown to regulate gut microbiota and stimulate immunity in a variety of species. In this study, three kinds of probiotics, namely, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Clostridium butyricum, were selected for the experiment. The results showed that the addition of three probiotics at a concentration of 10⁸ colony forming unit/mL to the culture water significantly increased the ratio of the pellet feed recipients and survival rate of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) under pellet-feed feeding. In addition, the three kinds of probiotics reversed the decrease in serum lysozyme and immunoglobulin M content, the decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes glutathione and catalase and the decrease in the expression of the appetite-stimulating regulator agouti gene-related protein of mandarin fish caused by pellet-feed feeding. In terms of intestinal health, the three probiotics reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas in the gut microbiota and increased the height of intestinal villi and the thickness of foregut basement membrane of mandarin fish under pellet-feed feeding. In general, the addition of the three probiotics can significantly improve eating disorders of mandarin fish caused by pellet feeding.

Screening of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Inhibitory Activity against ETEC K88 as Feed Additive and the Effects on Sows and Piglets

Simple Summary

Numerous reports have suggested that lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are important probiotics, can protect animals against pathogen-induced injury and inflammation, regulate gut microflora, enhance digestive tract function, improve animal growth performance, and decrease the incidence of diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic (ETEC) that expresses K88. This research selected Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri P7, L. amylovorus P8, and L. johnsonii P15 with good inhibition against ETEC K88 and excellent probiotic properties screened from 295 LAB strains isolated from fecal samples from 55 healthy weaned piglets for a study on feeding of sows in late pregnancy and weaned piglets. Feed supplementation with these three strains improved reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets, decreased the incidence of diarrhea in piglets, and increased the antioxidant capacity of serum in both sows and piglets. Therefore, L. reuteri P7, L. amylovorus P8, and L. johnsonii P15 might be considered as potential antibiotic alternatives for further study.

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which expresses K88 is the principal microorganism responsible for bacterial diarrhea in pig husbandry, and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has caused many problems; therefore, antibiotics need to be replaced in order to prevent diarrhea caused by ETEC K88. The objective of this study was to screen excellent lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that inhibit ETEC K88 and explore their effects as probiotic supplementation on reproduction, growth performance, diarrheal incidence, and antioxidant capacity of serum in sows and weaned piglets. Three LAB strains, P7, P8, and P15, screened from 295 LAB strains and assigned to Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri, L. amylovorus, and L. johnsonii with high inhibitory activity against ETEC K88 were selected for a study on feeding of sows and weaned piglets. These strains were chosen for their good physiological and biochemical characteristics, excellent exopolysaccharide (EPS) production capacity, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation ability, survival in gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, lack of hemolytic activity, and broad-spectrum activity against a wide range of microorganisms. The results indicate that LAB strains P7, P8, and P15 had significant effects on improving the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of weaned piglets, increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and immune indexes in both.

Gut health: The results of microbial and mucosal immune interactions in pigs

There are a large number of microorganisms in the porcine intestinal tract. These microorganisms and their metabolites contribute to intestinal mucosal immunity, which is of great importance to the health of the host. The host immune system can regulate the distribution and composition of intestinal microorganisms and regulate the homeostasis of intestinal flora by secreting a variety of immune effector factors, such as mucin, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), regenerating islet-derived III (RegIII)γ, and defensin. Conversely, intestinal microorganisms can also promote the differentiation of immune cells including regulatory T cells (T_reg) and Th17 cells through their specific components or metabolites. Studies have shown that imbalances in the intestinal flora can lead to bacterial translocation and compromised intestinal barrier function, affecting the health of the body. This review focuses on the composition of the pig intestinal flora and the characteristics of intestinal mucosal immunity, discusses the interaction mechanism between the flora and intestinal mucosal immunity, as well as the regulation through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), dietary nutritional composition, probiotics and prebiotics of pig intestinal microecology. Finally, this review provides insights into the relationship between intestinal microorganisms and the mucosal immune system.

Effects of Clostridium butyricum on growth performance, metabonomics and intestinal microbial differences of weaned piglets

Background

Weaning stress of piglets causes a huge economic loss to the pig industry. Balance and stability of the intestinal microenvironment is an effective way to reduce the occurance of stress during the weaning process. Clostridium butyricum, as a new microecological preparation, is resistant to high temperature, acid, bile salts and some antibiotics. The aim of present study is to investigate the effects of C. butyricum on the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in weaned piglets.

Results

There was no statistical significance in the growth performance and the incidence of diarrhoea among the weaned piglets treated with C. butyricum during 0–21 days experimental period. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) and Chao index of the CB group were found to be significantly increased compared with the NC group (P < 0.05). Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Tenericutes were the predominant bacterial phyla in the weaned piglets. A marked increase in the relative abundance of Megasphaera, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, along with a decreased relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 was observed in the CB group, when compared with the NC group (P < 0.05). With the addition of C. butyricum, a total of twenty-two significantly altered metabolites were obtained in the feces of piglets. The integrated pathway analysis by MetaboAnalyst indicated that arginine and proline metabolism; valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis; and phenylalanine metabolism were the main three altered pathways, based on the topology. Furthermore, Spearman’s analysis revealed some altered gut microbiota genus such as Oscillospira, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Megasphaera, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Prevotella_2, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 were associated with the alterations in the fecal metabolites (P < 0.05), indicating that C. butyricum presented a potential protective impact through gut microbiota. The intestinal metabolites changed by C. butyricum mainly involved the variation of citrulline, dicarboxylic acids, branched-chain amino acid and tryptophan metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

Overall, this study strengthens the idea that the dietary C. butyricum treatment can significantly alter the intestinal microbiota and metabolite profiles of the weaned piglets, and C. butyricum can offer potential benefits for the gut health.