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Li R, Ding X, Lei M, Li P, Giannenas I, Wang J, Zhu W. The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88. ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2025; 20:131-144. [PMID: 39967693 PMCID: PMC11834115 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2025]
Abstract
It has been found that thymol (Thy) and rosmarinic acid (Ros-A) improve the growth performance of piglets and relieve intestinal inflammation in animals. The effects of Thy and Ros-A separately or in combination (Thy × Ros-A) on the intestinal function and health of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88) were investigated. A total of 30 piglets aged 21 d were assigned to 5 groups (n = 6). The control (Con) and K88 groups piglets received a basal diet, while the Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg Thy, 500 mg/kg Ros-A, and 250 mg/kg Thy + 250 mg/kg Ros-A, respectively. On the 19th and 20th day, piglets in the K88, Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were orally administered 10 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing approximately 1 × 109 CFU/mL of E. coli K88, while the Con group received an equal volume of PBS. The results showed that the Thy × Ros-A treatment reduced the damage to ileal villi induced by the E. coli K88 challenge, leading to longer villi in the ileum (P < 0.05). Thy and Ros-A modulated the composition of the ileal microbiota. Compared to the K88 group, the Thy × Ros-A group had a higher abundance of Lactobacillus and Romboutsia, while Escherichia-Shigella and Desulforvibrio were lower (P < 0.05). Additionally, the Thy × Ros-A group showed elevated levels of gene and protein expressions for zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 compared to the K88 group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, combining Thy and Ros-A reduced ileal damage and relieved the inflammation in weaned piglets challenged with E. coli K88 by regulating intestinal microflora and improving barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runlin Li
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xuedong Ding
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Mingkang Lei
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Panpan Li
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ilias Giannenas
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Jing Wang
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Weiyun Zhu
- National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Nhara RB, Marume U, Nantapo CWT. Potential of Organic Acids, Essential Oils and Their Blends in Pig Diets as Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:762. [PMID: 38473146 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the years, the use of management and feeding strategies to enhance pig productivity while minimizing the use of antibiotic growth promoters has grown. Antibiotic growth promoters have been widely used as feed additives to reduce diet-related stress and improve pig performance. However, increasing concern about the consequences of long-term and increased use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal production has led to a paradigm shift towards the use of natural organic alternatives such as plant essential oils and organic acids in pig nutrition to enhance growth. Antibiotic growth promoters endanger human health by allowing multidrug-resistant genes to be transferred horizontally from non-pathogenic to pathogenic bacteria, as well as directly between animals and humans. Scientific research shows that alternative growth promoters such as essential oils and organic acids appear to improve pigs' ability to prevent pathogenic bacteria from colonizing the intestinal system, stabilizing the gut microflora and promoting eubiosis, as well as improving immunity and antioxidant stability. The purpose of this review was to provide an in-depth review of organic acids and essential oils as growth promoters in pig production, as well as their effects on productivity and meat quality. Organic acids and essential oils in pig diets are a safe way to improve pig performance and welfare while producing antibiotic-free pork.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumbidzai Blessing Nhara
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
- Department of Livestock, Wildlife and Fisheries, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo P.O. Box 1235, Zimbabwe
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Upenyu Marume
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Carlos Wyson Tawanda Nantapo
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, P Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
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Wang X, Deng T, Zhou X, Chu L, Zeng X, Zhang S, Guan W, Chen F. A Mixture of Formic Acid, Benzoic Acid, and Essential Oils Enhanced Growth Performance via Modulating Nutrient Uptake, Mitochondrion Metabolism, and Immunomodulation in Weaned Piglets. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:246. [PMID: 38397844 PMCID: PMC10886008 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13020246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a complex comprising formic acid, benzoic acid, and essential oils (AO3) on the growth performance of weaned piglets and explore the underlying mechanism. Dietary AO3 supplementation significantly enhanced the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), while decreasing the feed conversion rate (FCR) and diarrhea rate (p < 0.05). Additionally, AO3 addition altered the fecal microflora composition with increased abundance of f_Prevotellaceae. LPS challenges were further conducted to investigate the detailed mechanism underlying the benefits of AO3 supplementation. The piglets fed with AO3 exhibited a significant increase in villus height and decrease in crypt depth within the jejunum, along with upregulation of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 (p < 0.05) compared with those piglets subjected to LPS. Furthermore, AO3 supplementation significantly ameliorated redox disturbances (T-AOC, SOD, and GSH) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12) in both the serum and jejunum of piglets induced by LPS, accompanied by suppressed activation of the MAPK signaling pathway (ERK, JNK, P38) and NF-κB. The LPS challenge downregulated the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway, mRNA levels of electron transport chain complexes, and key enzymes involved in ATP synthesis, which were significantly restored by the AO3 supplementation. Additionally, AO3 supplementation restored the reduced transport of amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids induced by LPS back to the levels observed in the control group. In conclusion, dietary AO3 supplementation positively affected growth performance and gut microbiota composition, also enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, nutrient uptake, and energy metabolism, as well as alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation under LPS stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Feed Industry Centre, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Tanyi Deng
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xuemei Zhou
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Licui Chu
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiangfang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Feed Industry Centre, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (X.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Shihai Zhang
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wutai Guan
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Fang Chen
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Pig Breeding Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (T.D.); (X.Z.); (L.C.); (S.Z.); (W.G.)
- Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture in Lingnan, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Cui C, Wei Y, Wang Y, Ma W, Zheng X, Wang J, Ma Z, Wu C, Chu L, Zhang S, Guan W, Chen F. Dietary supplementation of benzoic acid and essential oils combination enhances intestinal resilience against LPS stimulation in weaned piglets. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:4. [PMID: 38238856 PMCID: PMC10797991 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00958-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The benefits of combining benzoic acid and essential oils (BAO) to mitigate intestinal impairment during the weaning process have been well established, while the detailed underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Previous research has primarily focused on the reparative effects of BAO on intestinal injury, while neglecting its potential in enhancing intestinal stress resistance. METHODS In this study, we investigated the pre-protective effect of BAO against LPS-induced stress using a modified experimental procedure. Piglets were pre-supplemented with BAO for 14 d, followed by a challenge with LPS or saline to collect blood and intestinal samples. RESULTS Our findings demonstrated that BAO supplementation led to significant improvements in piglets' final weight, average daily gain, and feed intake/body gain ratio. Additionally, BAO supplementation positively influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota, increasing beneficial Actinobacteriota and Alloprevotella while reducing harmful Desulfobacterota, Prevotella and Oscillospira. Furthermore, BAO supplementation effectively mitigated oxidative disturbances and inflammatory responses induced by acute LPS challenge. This was evidenced by elevated levels of T-AOC, SOD, and GSH, as well as decreased levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the plasma. Moreover, piglets subjected to LPS challenge and pre-supplemented with BAO exhibited significant improvements in intestinal morphological structure and enhanced integrity, as indicated by restored expression levels of Occludin and Claudin-1 compared to the non-supplemented counterparts. Further analysis revealed that BAO supplementation enhanced the jejunal antioxidative capacity by increasing GSH-Px levels and decreasing MDA levels under the LPS challenge and stimulated the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Additionally, the reduction of TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways activation and proinflammatory factor were also observed in the jejunal of those piglets fed with BAO. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study demonstrates that pre-supplementation of BAO enhances the anti-stress capacity of weaned piglets by improving intestinal microbiota composition, reinforcing the intestinal barrier, and enhancing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities. These effects are closely associated with the activation of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yulong Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yibo Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Wen Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ziwei Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Caichi Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Licui Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shihai Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Wutai Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Fang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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5
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Luise D, Correa F, Negrini C, Virdis S, Mazzoni M, Dalcanale S, Trevisi P. Blend of natural and natural identical essential oil compounds as a strategy to improve the gut health of weaning pigs. Animal 2023; 17:101031. [PMID: 38035660 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Weaning is one of the most critical phases in pig's life, often leading to postweaning diarrhoea (PWD). Zinc oxide (ZnO), at pharmacological doses, has been largely used to prevent PWD; however, due to antimicrobial co-resistant and environmental pollution issues, the EU banned its use in June 2022. Natural or natural identical components of essential oils and their mixture with organic acids are possible alternatives studied for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two blends of natural or natural identical components of essential oils and organic acids compared to ZnO on health, performance, and gut health of weaned pigs. At weaning (d0), 96 piglets (7 058 ± 895 g) were assigned to one of four treatments balanced for BW and litter: CO (control treatment), ZnO (2 400 mg/kg ZnO from d0 to d14); Blend1 (cinnamaldehyde, ajowan and clove essential oils, 1 500 mg/kg feed); Blend2 (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and short- and medium-chain fatty acids, 2 000 mg/kg feed). Pigs were weighed weekly until d35. Faeces were collected at d13 and d35 for microbiota (v3-v4 regions of the 16 s rRNA gene) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) count analysis. At d14 and d35, eight pigs/treatment were slaughtered; pH was recorded on intestinal contents and jejunal samples were collected for morphological and gene expression analysis. From d7-d14, the Blend2 had a lower average daily gain (ADG) than CO and ZnO (P < 0.05). ZnO and Blend1 never differed in ADG and feed intake. At d14, ZnO had a lower caecum pH than all other treatments. The CO treatment had a higher abundance of haemolytic E. coli than Blend1 (P = 0.01). At d13, the ZnO treatment had a lower alpha diversity (P < 0.01) and a different microbial beta diversity (P < 0.001) compared to the other treatments. At d13, the ZnO treatment was characterised by a higher abundance of Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group (Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) score = 4.5, P = 0.011), Parabacteroides (LDA score = 4.5, P adj. = 0.005), the CO was characterised by Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 (LDA score = 4.3, P adj. = 0.005), Oscillospiraceae NK4A214_group (LDA score = 4.2, P adj. = 0.02), the Blend2 was characterised by Megasphaera (LDA score = 4.1, P adj. = 0.045), and Ruminococcus (LDA score = 3.9, P adj. = 0.015) and the Blend1 was characterised by Christensenellaceae_R-7_group (LDA score = 4.6, P adj. < 0.001) and Treponema (LDA score = 4.5, P adj. < 0.001). In conclusion, Blend1 allowed to maintain the gut health of postweaning piglets through modulation of the gut microbiome, the reduction of haemolytic E. coli while Blend2 did not help piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Luise
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - F Correa
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - C Negrini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - S Virdis
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - M Mazzoni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - S Dalcanale
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - P Trevisi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
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Szabó C, Kachungwa Lugata J, Ortega ADSV. Gut Health and Influencing Factors in Pigs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081350. [PMID: 37106913 PMCID: PMC10135089 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a complex, dynamic, and critical part of the body, which plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of ingested nutrients and excreting waste products of digestion. In addition, GIT also plays a vital role in preventing the entry of harmful substances and potential pathogens into the bloodstream. The gastrointestinal tract hosts a significant number of microbes, which throughout their metabolites, directly interact with the hosts. In modern intensive animal farming, many factors can disrupt GIT functions. As dietary nutrients and biologically active substances play important roles in maintaining homeostasis and eubiosis in the GIT, this review aims to summarize the current status of our knowledge on the most important areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Szabó
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - James Kachungwa Lugata
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Arth David Sol Valmoria Ortega
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Sun J, Chen W, Yuan Z. Characterization of Intestinal Microbiota in Lambs with Different Susceptibility to Escherichia coli F17. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9120670. [PMID: 36548832 PMCID: PMC9782581 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9120670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea is one of the most commonly reported diseases in young farm animals. Escherichia coli (E. coli) F17 is one of the major pathogenic bacteria responsible for diarrhea. However, the pathogenicity of diarrhea in lambs involving E. coli F17 strains and how E. coli F17 infection modifies lambs' intestinal microbiota are largely unknown. To evaluate diarrhea in newborn lambs with an infection of E. coli F17, 50 lambs were selected for challenge experiments and divided into four groups, namely, a high-dose challenge group, low-dose challenge group, positive control group, and negative control group. The E. coli F17 challenge experiments caused diarrhea and increased mortality in the experimental lamb population, with a higher prevalence (90%), mortality (35%), and rapid onset time (4-12 h) being observed in the high-dose challenge group than the results observed in the low-dose challenge group (75%, 10%, 6-24 h, respectively). After the challenge experiment, healthy lambs in the high-dose challenge group and severely diarrheic lamb in the low-dose challenge group were identified as lambs sensitive/resistant to E. coli F17 (E. coli F17 -resistant/-sensitive candidate, AN/SE) according to the histopathological detection. Results of intestinal contents bacteria plate counting revealed that the number of bacteria in the intestinal contents of SE lambs was 102~3-fold greater than that of the AN lambs, especially in the jejunum. Then, 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted to profile the intestinal microbiota using the jejunal contents, and the results showed that SE lambs had higher Lactococcus and a lower Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and intestinal microbiota diversity in the jejunum than AN lambs. Notably, high abundance of Megasphaera elsdenii was revealed in AN lambs, which indicated that Megasphaera elsdenii may serve as a potential probiotic for E. coli F17 infection. Our study provides an alternative challenge model for the identification of E. coli F17-sensitive/-resistant lambs and contributes to the basic understandings of intestinal microbiota in lambs with different susceptibilities to E. coli F17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Weihao Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zehu Yuan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence:
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8
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Wang L, Bergstrom J, Hahn J, Young M, Zijlstra R. Acid-binding capacity of feed in swine nutrition. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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9
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Canibe N, Højberg O, Kongsted H, Vodolazska D, Lauridsen C, Nielsen TS, Schönherz AA. Review on Preventive Measures to Reduce Post-Weaning Diarrhoea in Piglets. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2585. [PMID: 36230326 PMCID: PMC9558551 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In many countries, medical levels of zinc (typically as zinc oxide) are added to piglet diets in the first two weeks post-weaning to prevent the development of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). However, high levels of zinc constitute an environmental polluting agent, and may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria. Consequently, the EU banned administering medical levels of zinc in pig diets as of June 2022. However, this may result in an increased use of antibiotic therapeutics to combat PWD and thereby an increased risk of further AMR development. The search for alternative measures against PWD with a minimum use of antibiotics and in the absence of medical levels of zinc has therefore been intensified over recent years, and feed-related measures, including feed ingredients, feed additives, and feeding strategies, are being intensively investigated. Furthermore, management strategies have been developed and are undoubtedly relevant; however, these will not be addressed in this review. Here, feed measures (and vaccines) are addressed, these being probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, proteobiotics, plants and plant extracts (in particular essential oils and tannins), macroalgae (particularly macroalgae-derived polysaccharides), dietary fibre, antimicrobial peptides, specific amino acids, dietary fatty acids, milk replacers, milk components, creep feed, vaccines, bacteriophages, and single-domain antibodies (nanobodies). The list covers measures with a rather long history and others that require significant development before their eventual use can be extended. To assess the potential of feed-related measures in combating PWD, the literature reviewed here has focused on studies reporting parameters of PWD (i.e., faeces score and/or faeces dry matter content during the first two weeks post-weaning). Although the impact on PWD (or related parameters) of the investigated measures may often be inconsistent, many studies do report positive effects. However, several studies have shown that control pigs do not suffer from diarrhoea, making it difficult to evaluate the biological and practical relevance of these improvements. From the reviewed literature, it is not possible to rank the efficacy of the various measures, and the efficacy most probably depends on a range of factors related to animal genetics and health status, additive doses used, composition of the feed, etc. We conclude that a combination of various measures is probably most recommendable in most situations. However, in this respect, it should be considered that combining strategies may lead to additive (e.g., synbiotics), synergistic (e.g., plant materials), or antagonistic (e.g., algae compounds) effects, requiring detailed knowledge on the modes of action in order to design effective strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Canibe
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Chang Y, Mei J, Yang T, Zhang Z, Liu G, Zhao H, Chen X, Tian G, Cai J, Wu B, Wu F, Jia G. Effect of Dietary Zinc Methionine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immune Function and Intestinal Health of Cherry Valley Ducks Challenged With Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:849067. [PMID: 35602082 PMCID: PMC9115567 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.849067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of supplemental zinc methionine (Zn-Met) on growth performance, immune function, and intestinal health of meat ducks challenged with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). A total of 480 1-day-old Cherry Valley male ducks were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 10 replicates, each replicate containing 10 ducks. A 4 × 2 factor design was used with four dietary zinc levels (0, 30, 60, 120 mg Zn/kg in the form Zn-Met was added to the corn-soybean basal diet) and challenged with or without APEC at 8-days-old ducks. The trial lasted for 14 days. The results showed that a dietary Zn-Met supplementation significantly increased body weight (BW) of 14 days and BW gain, and decreased mortality during 7-14-days-old ducks (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary 30, 60, 120 mg/kg Zn-Met supplementation noticeably increased the thymus index at 2 days post-infection (2 DPI) and 8 DPI (p < 0.05), and 120 mg/kg Zn-Met enhanced the serum IgA at 2 DPI and IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 at 8 DPI (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary 120 mg/kg Zn-Met supplementation dramatically increased villus height and villus height/crypt depth (V/C) of jejunum at 2 DPI and 8 DPI (p < 0.05). The TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA expression were downregulated after supplemented with 120 mg/kg Zn-Met in jejunum at 8 DPI (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary 120 mg/kg Zn-Met supplementation stimulated ZO-3, OCLN mRNA expression at 2 DPI and ZO-2 mRNA expression in jejunum at 8 DPI (p < 0.05), and improved the MUC2 concentration in jejunum at 2 DPI and 8 DPI (p < 0.05). At the same time, the cecal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus counts were increased (p < 0.05), and Escherichia coli counts were decreased (p < 0.05) after supplemented with Zn-Met. In conclusion, inclusion of 120 mg/kg Zn-Met minimizes the adverse effects of APEC challenge on meat ducks by improving growth performance and enhancing immune function and intestinal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Chang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jia Mei
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Meishan Vocational Technical College, Meishan, China
| | - Guangmang Liu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hua Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Tian
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingyi Cai
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bing Wu
- Chelota Group, Guanghan, China
| | - Fali Wu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Jia
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Ma J, Long S, Wang J, Gao J, Piao X. Microencapsulated essential oils combined with organic acids improves immune antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier function as well as modulates the hindgut microbial community in piglets. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:16. [PMID: 35144681 PMCID: PMC8832826 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00670-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a combination of microencapsulated essential oils and organic acids (MOA) on growth performance, immuno-antioxidant status, intestinal barrier function and microbial structure of the hindgut in piglets. A total of 120 piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; weighted 7.66 ± 1.79 kg, weaned at d 28) were randomly selected and allocated to 3 treatments with 4 replicates per group and 10 piglets per replicate according to the initial body weight and gender. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1) basal diet (Ctrl); 2) Ctrl + chlortetracycline (75 mg/kg) (AGP); 3) Ctrl+ MOA (1500 mg/kg). The experiment period was lasted for 21 d. RESULTS Compared to the Ctrl group, dietary supplemented MOA alleviated (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rate from d 12 to 21, enhanced (P < 0.05) the concentration of serum interlukin-10 and glutathione peroxidase in piglets on d 11 after weaning and serum superoxide dismutase in 21-day piglets. The MOA group also improved (P < 0.05) the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and gross energy (GE), up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression level of occludin, claudin-1 and mucin-2 in ileum and increased (P < 0.05) the contents of propionic and butyric acids in the cecum of piglets. The MOA group modulated the cecal and colonic microbial community structure and increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Faecalibacterium and Muribaculaceae in cecum and Streptococcus and Weissella in colon. Additionally, AGP group decreased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility of DM, OM and GE as well as down-regulated (P < 0.05) relative gene expression level of claudin-1 in duodenum and jejunum, ZO-1 and mucin-1 in jejunum of piglets. CONCLUSION In summary, dietary supplemented MOA alleviated diarrhea and improved nutrient apparent digestibility in piglets via enhancing immuno-antioxidant properties, increasing digestive enzyme activity, up-regulating the expression of intestinal barrier-related genes, and modifying the microbial community structure of the cecum and colon. Therefore, dietary supplementation with MOA as an alternative to antibiotics was feasible to improve intestinal health of piglets in practical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shenfei Long
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiangshu Piao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Zhai H, Ji C, Walsh MC, Bergstrom J, Potot S, Wang H. The Addition of Nature Identical Flavorings Accelerated the Virucidal Effect of Pure Benzoic Acid against African Swine Fever Viral Contamination of Complete Feed. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1124. [PMID: 33919982 PMCID: PMC8071002 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever virus is one of the most highly contagious and lethal viruses for the global swine industry. Strengthening biosecurity is the only effective measure for preventing the spread of this viral disease. The virus can be transmitted through contaminated feedstuffs and, therefore, research has been conducted to explore corresponding mitigating measures. The purpose of the current study was to test a combination of pure benzoic acid and a blend of nature identical flavorings for their ability to reduce African swine fever viral survival in feed. This virus was inoculated to feed with or without the supplementation of the test compounds, and the viral presence and load were measured by a hemadsorption test and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The main finding was that the combination of pure benzoic acid and nature identical flavorings could expedite the reduction in both viral load and survival in a swine feed. Therefore, this solution could be adopted as a preventive measure for mitigating the risk of contaminated feed by African swine fever virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengxiao Zhai
- DSM (China) Animal Nutrition Research Center, Bazhou 065799, China
| | - Chihai Ji
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Maria Carol Walsh
- DSM Nutritional Products, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland; (M.C.W.); (S.P.)
| | - Jon Bergstrom
- DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA;
| | - Sebastien Potot
- DSM Nutritional Products, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland; (M.C.W.); (S.P.)
| | - Heng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
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