Early Parenteral Administration of Ceftiofur has Gender-Specific Short- and Long-Term Effects on the Fecal Microbiota and Growth in Pigs from the Suckling to Growing Phase

Fewer culturable Lactobacillaceae species identified in faecal samples of pigs performing manipulative behaviour

Manipulative behaviour that consists of touching or close contact with ears or tails of pen mates is common in pigs and can become damaging. Manipulative behaviour was analysed from video recordings of 45-day-old pigs, and 15 manipulator-control pairs (n = 30) were formed. Controls neither received nor performed manipulative behaviour. Rectal faecal samples of manipulators and controls were compared. 16S PCR was used to identify Lactobacillaceae species and 16S amplicon sequencing to determine faecal microbiota composition. Seven culturable Lactobacillaceae species were identified in control pigs and four in manipulator pigs. Manipulators (p = 0.02) and females (p = 0.005) expressed higher Lactobacillus amylovorus, and a significant interaction was seen (sex * status: p = 0.005) with this sex difference being more marked in controls. Females (p = 0.08) and manipulator pigs (p = 0.07) tended to express higher total Lactobacillaceae. A tendency for an interaction was seen in Limosilactobacillus reuteri (sex * status: p = 0.09). Results suggest a link between observed low diversity in Lactobacillaceae and the development of manipulative behaviour.

Antibiotic perturbations to the gut microbiome

Antibiotic-mediated perturbation of the gut microbiome is associated with numerous infectious and autoimmune diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Yet, as the gut microbiome is a complex ecological network of microorganisms, the effects of antibiotics can be highly variable. With the advent of multi-omic approaches for systems-level profiling of microbial communities, we are beginning to identify microbiome-intrinsic and microbiome-extrinsic factors that affect microbiome dynamics during antibiotic exposure and subsequent recovery. In this Review, we discuss factors that influence restructuring of the gut microbiome on antibiotic exposure. We present an overview of the currently complex picture of treatment-induced changes to the microbial community and highlight essential considerations for future investigations of antibiotic-specific outcomes. Finally, we provide a synopsis of available strategies to minimize antibiotic-induced damage or to restore the pretreatment architectures of the gut microbial community.

Temporal Microbial Dynamics in Feces Discriminate by Nutrition, Fecal Color, Consistency and Sample Type in Suckling and Newly Weaned Piglets

Feces enable frequent samplings for the same animal, which is valuable in studies investigating the development of the gut microbiome in piglets. Creep feed should prepare the piglet's gut for the postweaning period and shape the microbiome accordingly. Little is known about the variation that is caused by differences in fecal color and consistency and different sample types (feces versus swab samples). Therefore, this study evaluated the age-related alterations in the microbiome composition (16S rRNA gene) in feces of suckling and newly weaned piglets in the context of nutrition and fecal consistency, color and sample type from day 2 to 34 of life. Feces from 40 healthy piglets (2 each from 20 litters) were collected on days 2, 6, 13, 20, 27, 30 and 34. Weaning occurred on day 28. Half of the litters only drank sow milk during the suckling phase, whereas the other half had access to creep feed from day 10. Creep feeding during the suckling phase influenced the age-related total bacterial and archaeal abundances but had less of an influence on the relative bacterial composition. Results further showed different taxonomic compositions in feces of different consistency, color and sample type, emphasizing the need to consider these characteristics in comprehensive microbiome studies.

Cefquinome shows a higher impact on the pig gut microbiome and resistome compared to ceftiofur

Cephalosporins are licensed for treatment of severe bacterial infections in different species. However, the effect of these antimicrobials on the fecal microbiome and potential spread of resistance-associated genes causes great concern. This highlights the need to understand the impact of cephalosporins on the porcine fecal microbiome and resistome. A combination of long-read 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was applied to investigate the effect of conventional treatment with either ceftiofur (3 mg.kg^-1 intramuscular, 3 consecutive days) or cefquinome (2 mg.kg^-1 intramuscular, 5 consecutive days) on the porcine microbiome and resistome. Fecal samples were collected from 17 pigs (6 ceftiofur treated, 6 cefquinome treated, 5 control pigs) at four different timepoints. Treatment with ceftiofur resulted in an increase in Proteobacteria members on microbiome level, while on resistome level selection in TetQ containing Bacteroides, CfxA6 containing Prevotella and bla_TEM-1 containing Escherichia coli was observed. Cefquinome treatment resulted in a decline in overall species richness (α-diversity) and increase in Proteobacteria members. On genus level, administration of cefquinome significantly affected more genera than ceftiofur (18 vs 8). On resistome level, cefquinome resulted in a significant increase of six antimicrobial resistance genes, with no clear correlation with certain genera. For both antimicrobials, the resistome levels returned back to the control levels 21 days post-treatment. Overall, our study provides novel insights on the effect of specific cephalosporins on the porcine gut microbiome and resistome after conventional intramuscular treatment. These results might contribute to better tailoring of the most ideal treatment strategy for some bacterial infections.

Supplemental Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 Affects Intestinal Bacterial Composition of Finishing Pigs

Animal gastrointestinal tracts are populated by highly diverse and complex microbiotas. The gut microbiota influences the bioavailability of dietary components and is closely associated with physiological processes in the host. Clostridium butyricum reportedly improves growth performance and affects the gut microbiota and immune functions in post-weaning piglets. However, the effects of C. butyricum on finishing pigs remain unclear. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of C. butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588) on the gut microbiota of finishing pigs. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using fecal samples and ileal, cecal, and colonic contents collected after slaughtering. The α-diversity of the small intestinal microbiota was lower than that of the large intestinal microbiota, whereas β-diversity showed different patterns depending on sample collection sites. The administration of CBM588 did not significantly affect the α- or β-diversity of the microbiotas of fecal and intestinal content samples regardless of the collection site. However, a linear discriminant ana-lysis Effect Size revealed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae at the family level, Bifidobacterium at the order level, and Lactobacillus ruminis and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum at the species level were higher in the fecal samples and cecal and colonic contents of the treatment group than in those of the control group. Therefore, the administration of CBM588 to finishing pigs affected the composition of the gut microbiota and increased the abundance of bacteria that are beneficial to the host. These results provide important insights into the effects of probiotic administration on relatively stable gut microbial ecosystems.

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).

A Longitudinal Investigation of the Effects of Age, Dietary Fiber Type and Level and Injectable Antimicrobials on the Fecal Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance of Finisher Pigs

Age and diet are among the factors that influence the community composition of the fecal microbiome. Additionally, antimicrobial use can alter the composition of bacterial communities. An 86-d study with finisher pigs aimed to evaluate age-related dynamics (d 98-177 of age), effects of types and levels of dietary fiber, and injectable antimicrobials on the fecal microbiome and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was conducted. A total of 287 pigs, housed in 36 pens, with 7 to 8 pigs per pen, fed a corn grain and soybean meal-based basal diet, formulated to contain 8.7% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1. basal diet with no supplement, 2. basal diet supplemented with 20% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) formulated to contain 13.6% NDF, or 3. basal diet supplemented with 14.5% sugar beet pulp (SBP) formulated to contain 13.6% NDF. Five finisher pigs from each treatment group were selected randomly, and fecal samples were collected on d 98, 110, 144, and 177 of age. In addition, fecal samples were collected from pigs that were injected intramuscularly ceftiofur hydrochloride or penicillin G on d 1 and 3 along with pen-mate untreated controls on d 1. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon-based microbiome analysis and culture methods to quantify the abundance of total and AMR coliforms and enterococci populations. The alpha diversity, such as species richness, increased with age, and the overall bacterial composition changed with age (P =0.001) and diet (P = 0.001). Diet-associated shifts in the specific bacterial taxa were observed. The richness, diversity, and evenness of bacterial taxa did not differ between pigs that were injected with ceftiofur versus their untreated pen mates or by dietary treatments, but differed in pigs that received penicillin G injection. Both antimicrobial treatments contributed to changes in the overall fecal bacterial composition at the genus level. Collectively, the data demonstrate that both age and the diet (control vs. DDGS-, control vs. SBP- or DDGS- vs. SBP-based diets) were associated with overall bacterial community composition and the impact of age on variations in fecal microbiome composition was greater than the diet. Antibiotic treatment had minimal effect on bacterial diversity and relative abundance of taxa. Further, diets and antimicrobial treatment had minimal impact on the overall counts of AMR coliforms and enterococci populations in feces.

Recovery of the Structure and Function of the Pig Manure Bacterial Community after Enrofloxacin Exposure

A stable intestinal bacterial community balance is beneficial for animal health. Enrofloxacin is widely used in animal husbandry as a therapeutic drug, but it can cause intestinal environmental imbalance.

Intestinal Exposure to Ceftiofur and Cefquinome after Intramuscular Treatment and the Impact of Ceftiofur on the Pig Fecal Microbiome and Resistome

Optimization of antimicrobial treatment during a bacterial infection in livestock requires in-depth knowledge of the impact of antimicrobial therapy on the pathogen and commensal microbiota. Once administered antimicrobials and/or their metabolites are excreted either by the kidneys through urine and/or by the intestinal tract through feces, causing antimicrobial pressure and possibly the emergence of resistance in the gastro-intestinal tract. So far, the excretion of ceftiofur and cefquinome in the intestinal tract of pigs has not been described. The objective of this study was to investigate the excretion of ceftiofur and cefquinome in the different segments of the gut and feces after intramuscular administration. Therefore, 16 pigs were treated either with ceftiofur (n = 8) or cefquinome (n = 8), and feces were collected during the entire treatment period. The presence of ceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofuracetamide or cefquinome were quantified via liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry. At the end of the treatment, pigs were euthanized, and samples from the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum were analyzed. In feces, no active antimicrobial residues could be measured, except for one ceftiofur-treated pig. In the gut segments, the concentration of both antimicrobials increased from duodenum toward the ileum, with a maximum in the ileum (187.8 ± 101.7 ng·g−1 ceftiofur-related residues, 57.8 ± 37.5 ng·g−1 cefquinome) and sharply decreased in the cecum (below the limit of quantification for ceftiofur-related residues, 6.4 ± 4.2 ng·g−1 cefquinome). Additionally, long-read Nanopore sequencing and targeted quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed in an attempt to clarify the discrepancy in fecal excretion of ceftiofur-related residues between pigs. In general, there was an increase in Prevotella, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium and a decrease in Escherichia and Clostridium after ceftiofur administration (q-value < 0.05). The sequencing and qPCR could not provide an explanation for the unexpected excretion of ceftiofur-related residues in one pig out of eight. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the gut excretion of parenteral administered ceftiofur and cefquinome.

Review: Can early-life establishment of the piglet intestinal microbiota influence production outcomes?

The gastrointestinal tract microbiota is involved in the development and function of many body processes. Studies demonstrate that early-life microbial colonisation is the most important time for shaping intestinal and immune development, with perturbations to the microbiota during this time having long-lasting negative implications for the host. Piglets face many early-life events that shape the acquisition and development of their intestinal microbiota. The pork industry has a unique advantage in that the producer has a degree of control over what piglets are exposed to, providing conditions that allow for optimum piglet growth and development. An influx of publications within this area has occurred in recent times and with this, interest surrounding its application in pork production has increased. However, it can be difficult to distinguish which research is of most relevance to industry in terms of delivering repeatable and reliable production outcomes. In this review, we describe the literature surrounding research within pigs, predominantly during the preweaning period that has either provided solutions to industry problems or is generating information targeted at addressing relevant industry issues, with the focus being on studies demonstrating causation where possible. This review will provide a basis for the development of new studies targeted at understanding how to better support initial intestinal microbiota colonisation in order to improve piglet health and survival.

The Role of Dietary and Microbial Fatty Acids in the Control of Inflammation in Neonatal Piglets

Simple Summary

The maturation of the gut is a specific and very dynamic process in new-born piglets. Consequently, piglet’s gut is very susceptible to disturbances, especially in stressful periods of life, such as weaning, when the gut lining often becomes inflamed and leaky. Dietary fatty acids (FA) do not only serve as source of energy and essential FA, but they are important precursors for bioactive lipid mediators, which modulate inflammatory signalling in the body. The current review summarizes results on dietary sources of FA for piglets, the signalling cascades, bioactivities, the necessity to consider the autoxidation potential of polyunsaturated FA and the area of microbially produced long-chain FA. That said, porcine milk is high in fat, whereby the milk FA composition partly depends on the dietary FA composition of the sow. Therefore, manipulation of the sow diet is an efficient tool to increase the piglet’s intake of specific FA, e.g., n-3 polyunsaturated FA which show anti-inflammatory activity and may support intestinal integrity and functioning in the growing animal.

Abstract

Excessive inflammation and a reduced gut mucosal barrier are major causes for gut dysfunction in piglets. The fatty acid (FA) composition of the membrane lipids is crucial for mediating inflammatory signalling and is largely determined by their dietary intake. Porcine colostrum and milk are the major sources of fat in neonatal piglets. Both are rich in fat, demonstrating the dependence of the young metabolism from fat and providing the young organism with the optimum profile of lipids for growth and development. The manipulation of sow’s dietary polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) intake has been shown to be an efficient strategy to increase the transfer of specific FAs to the piglet for incorporation in enteric tissues and cell membranes. n-3 PUFAs, especially seems to be beneficial for the immune response and gut epithelial barrier function, supporting the piglet’s enteric defences in situations of increased stress such as weaning. Little is known about microbial lipid mediators and their role in gut barrier function and inhibition of inflammation in neonatal piglets. The present review summarizes the current knowledge of lipid nutrition in new-born piglets, comparing the FA ingestion from milk and plant-based lipid sources and touching the areas of host lipid signalling, inflammatory signalling and microbially derived FAs.

Beyond Antimicrobial Use: A Framework for Prioritizing Antimicrobial Resistance Interventions

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to animal and human health. Antimicrobial use has been identified as a major driver of AMR, and reductions in use are a focal point of interventions to reduce resistance. Accordingly, stakeholders in human health and livestock production have implemented antimicrobial stewardship programs aimed at reducing use. Thus far, these efforts have yielded variable impacts on AMR. Furthermore, scientific advances are prompting an expansion and more nuanced appreciation of the many nonantibiotic factors that drive AMR, as well as how these factors vary across systems, geographies, and contexts. Given these trends, we propose a framework to prioritize AMR interventions. We use this framework to evaluate the impact of interventions that focus on antimicrobial use. We conclude by suggesting that priorities be expanded to include greater consideration of host-microbial interactions that dictate AMR, as well as anthropogenic and environmental systems that promote dissemination of AMR.

Postnatal development of gut microbial activity and their importance for jejunal motility in piglets

Despite their anti-inflammatory properties, role in barrier function, absorption and microbial balance in the gut, knowledge on maturational and dietary effects on intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in neonatal piglets is scarce. Moreover, little information exists whether SCFA and lactic acid (LA) modulates gut motility at this age. The present study aimed (1) to investigate the maturational changes in the SCFA profile with and without creep feeding of piglets in the first 3 wk of life; and (2) to examine the effects of SCFA and LA on muscle contractibility in jejunal tissue from neonatal piglets ex vivo. SCFA concentrations were measured in fecal samples of 52 piglets from 10 litters collected on days 2, 6, 13, and 20 of life using gas chromatography. Half of the litters were fed a commercial creep feed from day 10 of life. The organ bath system was used to test the effect of SCFA (acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, isovalerate, and caproate) as well as of LA and the combination of LA and SCFA on muscle contractibility in piglet's jejunum. Average daily gain of piglets was similar between groups before and after introduction of creep feed. SCFA were detectable in feces in relevant concentrations from day 2 of life and increased on day 6 in males by 3.0-fold and on day 13 in females by 1.6-fold but decreased again on day 20 in both sexes compared with day 2 (P < 0.05). Creep feeding reduced fecal SCFA by 0.6-fold on day 13 without largely modifying molar proportions, whereas it increased fecal SCFA by 0.8-fold on day 20 of life compared with the sow-reared only piglets (P < 0.05). Applying SCFA ex vivo increased the muscle contraction of the jejunum by 30% (P < 0.05). Likewise, addition of LA and the combination of LA and SCFA increased the jejunal muscle contractibility by 34.9% and 32.2%, respectively, compared with the muscle tension preaddition (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present results for fecal SCFA in first days of life suggest high bacterial activity on milk components and emphasize the importance of SCFA for intestinal development and function. After a lag phase, creep feeding promotes fermentation in the distal colon, which may be beneficial for the gut homeostasis. Results further demonstrate the stimulating effect of SCFA and LA for jejunal motility, suggesting a role for mixing of digesta (segmentation) and digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as passage in the jejunum of neonatal piglets.

Evolution of Pig Fecal Microbiota Composition and Diversity in Response to Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infection and Colistin Treatment in Weaned Piglets

The intestinal microbiota plays several important roles in pig health and growth. The aim of the current study was to characterize the changes in the fecal microbiota diversity and composition of weaned piglets following an oral challenge with an ETEC: F4 strain and/or a treatment with colistin sulfate (CS). Twenty-eight piglets were used in this experiment and were divided into four groups: challenged untreated, challenged treated, unchallenged treated, and unchallenged untreated. Rectal swab samples were collected at five sampling times throughout the study. Total genomic DNA was used to assess the fecal microbiota diversity and composition using the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The relative abundance, the composition, and the community structure of piglet fecal microbiota was highly affected by the ETEC: F4 challenge throughout the experiment, while the oral treatment with CS, a narrow spectrum antibiotic, resulted in a significant decrease of E. coli/Shigella populations during the treatment period only. This study was the first to identify some gut microbiota subgroups (e.g., Streptococcus, Lachnospiraceae) that are associated with healthy piglets as compared to ETEC: F4 challenged animals. These key findings might contribute to the development of alternative strategies to reduce the use of antimicrobials in the control of post-weaning diarrhea in pigs.

Faecal concentrations of ceftiofur metabolites in finisher pigs administered intramuscularly with ceftiofur

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fibre level and source on faecal ceftiofur metabolites concentrations after intramuscular administration of therapeutic ceftiofur hydrochloride in finisher pigs. Pens of finisher pigs (n = 36), with an equal number of barrows and gilts, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatment groups: basal diet composed of corn grain and soy bean meal with no supplement and formulated to contain 8.7% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), supplemented with 20% distillers dried grains with solubles (a byproduct of the ethanol production from corn grain) formulated to contain 13.6% NDF, primarily insoluble fibre or supplemented with 14.5% sugar beet pulp formulated to contain 13.6% NDF. Faecal samples were collected 6–8 hr after ceftiofur injection from treated and untreated pen‐mate pigs on days 1 and 3 of the 3‐day treatment regimen. Faecal concentrations of ceftiofur metabolites, including the major metabolite, desfuroylceftiofur, were analysed by reverse‐phase high pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Overall, the faecal concentrations of ceftiofur metabolites did not differ significantly between the dietary treatments. The mean concentrations of metabolites tended to be lower (p = .1) on day 3 compared to day 1 of the 3‐day treatment regimen. Faecal concentrations of metabolites were not affected by the gender of the finisher pigs. The concentrations of ceftiofur metabolites in the faeces are likely reflective of the microbial activity in the hindgut. Our data suggest that the fibre level and source used in the study did not affect the faecal concentrations of ceftiofur metabolites.

Maternal antibiotic treatment affects offspring gastric sensing for umami taste and ghrelin regulation in the pig

Background

Scarce is knowledge on the process regulating the development of acid secretion, orexigenic signaling, and chemosensing in the stomach of young pigs. Changes of early microbial encounters by suckling pigs can interact with the gut maturation, by the induction of different molecular signaling. Our goal was to assess if the age of offspring and the maternal environment, influenced by sow antibiotic treatment peripartum, could affect gastric morphology and the expression of genes involved in the control of hydrochloric secretion, feed intake, taste, and inflammation in offspring stomach.

Methods

84 pigs from sows fed a diet with amoxicillin (on –d10 to +d21 from farrowing, ANT) or without (CON) were sacrificed at d14, d21, d28 (weaning) or d42. Samples of oxyntic (OXY), pyloric (PY) and cardiac mucosae close to OXY were collected and parietal and enteroendocrine cells (EECs) were counted. Relative gene expression of a set of 11 key genes (ATP4A, SSTR2, GAST, GHRL, MBOAT4, PCSK1, GNAT1, TAS1R1, TAS1R3, IL8 and TNF) was assessed by qRT-PCR. In addition, 40 offspring obtained from the same ANT and CON sows were offered a normal or a fat-enriched diet for 4 weeks between 140 and 169 d of age, and then OXY and PY were sampled.

Results

The number of parietal and EECs increased with age (P < 0.001). ATP4A increased with age (within suckling, P = 0.043, post-weaning vs. suckling, P < 0.001), SSTR2 increased only after weaning (P < 0.001). In OXY, GHRL increased during suckling (P = 0.012), and post-weaning as a trend (P = 0.088). MBOAT4 tended to increase during suckling (P = 0.062). TAS1R1 increased from suckling to post-weaning period (P =0.001) and was lower in ANT offspring (P = 0.013). GNAT1 in PY was higher in ANT offspring (P = 0.041). Antibiotic treatment of sows peripartum increased expression of GHRL and MBOAT4 in OXY of growing-finishing offspring aged 5 months.

Conclusions

Data show that sensing for umami taste and ghrelin regulation can be affected by maternal environment, but the development of acid secretion, orexigenic signaling and taste perception in the stomach are mostly developmentally controlled.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-021-00557-3.

Opportunities of prebiotics for the intestinal health of monogastric animals

The goal of prebiotic applications from different sources is to improve the gut ecosystem where the host and microbiota can benefit from prebiotics. It has already been recognized that prebiotics have potential roles in the gut ecosystem because gut microbiota ferment complex dietary macronutrients and carry out a broad range of functions in the host body, such as the production of nutrients and vitamins, protection against pathogens, and maintenance of immune system balance. The gut ecosystem is very crucial and can be affected by numerous factors consisting of dietary constituents and commensal bacteria. This review focuses on recent scientific evidence, confirming a beneficial effect of prebiotics on animal health, particularly in terms of protection against pathogenic bacteria and increasing the number of beneficial bacteria that may improve epithelial cell barrier functions. It has also been reviewed that modification of the gut ecosystem through the utilization of prebiotics significantly affects the intestinal health of animals. However, the identification and characterization of novel potential prebiotics remain a topical issue and elucidation of the metagenomics relationship between gut microbiota alteration and prebiotic substances is necessary for future prebiotic studies.

A Single Faecal Microbiota Transplantation Altered the Microbiota of Weaned Pigs

Weaning is a stressful time for piglets, often leading to weight loss and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A leading cause for these post-weaning problems is enteric dysbiosis and methods to improve piglet health at this crucial developmental stage are needed. This study aimed to determine whether an enteric dysbiosis caused by weaning could be corrected via a faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy piglets from a previous wean. Two or four focal piglets per litter were assigned to one of two treatments; FMT two days post weaning (n = 21; FMT) or a control which received saline two days post weaning (n = 21; CON). FMT consisted of homogenised donor faeces administered orally at 3 mL/kg. Weaning occurred at 18 days of age and weights and faecal samples were collected on days 18, 20, 24 and 35. 16S rRNA amplicon analysis was used to assess the faecal microbiota of piglets. FMT increased Shannon’s diversity post weaning (p < 0.001) and reduced the scratch score observed at 24 days of age (p < 0.001). The bacterial populations significantly differed in composition at each taxonomic level. In FMT pigs, significant increases in potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli were observed. However, increases in beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus mucosae and genera Fibrobacteres and Bacteroidetes were also observed in FMT treated animals. To our knowledge, this is the first study to observe a significant effect on piglet faecal microbiota following a single FMT administered post weaning. Therefore, FMT post weaning can potentially alleviate enteric dysbiosis.

The posthatch prophylactic use of ceftiofur affects the cecal microbiota similar to the dietary sanguinarine supplementation in broilers

The prophylactic administration of ceftiofur to newly hatched chicks is a common practice in some hatcheries worldwide to mitigate early gastrointestinal infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae. In spite of the crucial role of the gut microbiome for the broiler's health, there is still limited information on how the microbial composition is affected by such procedure. We investigated the effects of posthatch prophylactic application of ceftiofur on the cecal microbiota of 14-day-old broilers fed regular or sanguinarine-supplemented diets. DNA samples were extracted from cecal contents, amplified for the V3-V4 regions of the microbial 16S rRNA gene, and sequenced in a high-throughput sequencing platform (Illumina MiSeq). After downstream bioinformatics and statistical analyses, our results demonstrated that both ceftiofur and sanguinarine treatments similarly increased the proportions of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the genera Bacteroides and Megamonas, whereas reduced the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae in the ceca of the birds. Such changes are probably associated with increased carbohydrate fermentation processes favoring the production of short-chain fatty acids. This was also corroborated by the functional prediction findings, which suggest an increase in some metabolic pathways associated with digestibility in broilers receiving ceftiofur. Considering that antimicrobial stewardship in animal production systems is strongly needed to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance, our findings show that supplementation with a phytogenic feed additive can lead to a similar microbial composition in the ceca of commercial broiler chickens, suggesting that the use of alternative products could lead to functional modifications without increasing pressure for antimicrobial resistance.

Faecal Microbiota Analysis of Piglets During Lactation

Antimicrobial use in animals and the potential development of antimicrobial resistance is a global concern. So, non-antimicrobial techniques for animal disease control are needed. This study aimed to determine whether neonatal ceftiofur (CF) treatment affects piglet faecal microbiomes and whether faecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) can correct it. Two focal piglets per sow were assigned to treatments as follows: cffresh (n = 6) received CF (3 mg/kg intramuscular) at 7 d and fresh FMT at 13 d; cffrozen (n = 7) received CF at 7 d and frozen FMT at 13 d; CF (n = 8) received CF at 7 d and no FMT; and no CF (n = 5) received no CF or FMT. DNA was extracted from faecal samples collected on days 7, 13, and 18 for 16S rRNA amplicon analysis. All faecal blends used for the FMT consisted of pooled donor pig faeces at 1:2 ratio with saline, delivered orally at 3 mL/kg. Alpha and beta diversity metrics increased with age (p < 0.05). However, no effect of antibiotic or FMT treatment was evident in 13 and 18 d old piglets (p > 0.05). Although no effect of treatment was observed, information regarding microbial membership during lactation was gained.

Variations in porcine colostrum oligosaccharide composition between breeds and in association with sow maternal performance

Background

Oligosaccharides (OS) are indigestible carbohydrates naturally found in milk. The composition of porcine colostrum OS may influence the growth and the health of the neonate and consuming optimal concentrations of OS may reduce piglet susceptibility to illness. In this manner, targeted supplementation of animal feed with OS is being explored as a health management tool in the livestock industry. The variation in OS composition between different breeds of pig and its association with the litter performance is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the colostrum OS composition from sows of different breed and parity and correlate this data with sow maternal traits.

Methods

Eighty-three colostrum samples from parities 1 to 8 were gathered from 3 different breeds of sow: 44 Large White sows, 27 Landrace sows and 12 Duroc sows. Samples were taken between the birth of the first and the last piglet from sows that were not pharmacologically induced to farrow. OS were purified from the samples and analysed by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry (21 OS compositions detected). The farrowing season and the maternal data were recorded for each sow, including the number of live piglets and the litter body weight at birth, at day (d) 3 and at weaning.

Results

Five OS compositions, including isomers of the bifidogenic Sialyllactose, Lacto-N-Tetraose and Lacto-N-Hexaose series, were detected in all the samples. Twelve other OS were identified in at least 50% of samples, and their abundances were affected by breed (P < 0.05; 6 of 12), marginally affected by season (P < 0.10; 3 of 12) and never by parity number. The abundances of each OS component were standardized by Z-score scaling (μ = 0 and SD = 1), transformed by principal component analysis, and four similarity clusters were generated. Cluster membership was associated with litter weight gain within 3 days (P = 0.063) and at weaning (P < 0.05), but not with piglet mortality within 3 days.

Conclusions

OS composition of colostrum may partially explain the variability in maternal performance within and between different breeds of sow. The obtained OS data can provide useful information for the development of novel prebiotic food supplements for suckling and weaning pigs.