Administration of Saccharomyces boulardii mafic-1701 improves feed conversion ratio,promotes antioxidant capacity,alleviates intestinal inflammation and modulates gut microbiota in weaned piglets

Background:Probiotics are used as a means to improve animal health and intestinal development.Saccharomyces boulardii is a well-known probiotic;however,few studies have examined the effects of S.boulardii on weaned piglet performance.Therefore,this 28-day study compared the effects of S.boulardii mafic-1701 and aureomycin in diets for weaned piglets on growth performance,antioxidant parameters,inflammation and intestinal microbiota.One hundred and eight piglets,weaned at 28 d of age(8.5±1.1 kg),were randomly divided into the three dietary treatment groups with six pens and six piglets per pen(half male and half female).The dietary treatment groups were as follows:1)basal diet(CON);2)basal diet supplemented with 75 mg/kg aureomycin(ANT);3)basal diet supplemented with 1×108 CFU/kg S.boulardii mafic-1701(SB).Results:Compared to CON group,SB group had higher feed efficiency(P<0.05)in the last 14 d and lower diarrhea rate(P<0.05)over the entire 28 d.Total superoxide dismutase in serum was markedly increased in SB group(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with CON group,SB group decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6(P<0.01)and Tumor necrosis factor-α(P<0.05)in jejunum.Supplementation of S.boulardii mafic-1701 increased the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG_009 and Turicibacter(P<0.05),whereas the abundance of unclassified_Clostridiaceae_4 was decreased(P<0.05).Furthermore,S.boulardii mafic-1701 administration increased cecal concentration of microbial metabolites,isobutyrate and valerate(P<0.05).Conclusions:The improvement in feed conversion ratio,reduction in diarrhea rate in weaned piglets provided diets supplemented with S.boulardii mafic-1701 may be associated with enhanced antioxidant activity,antiinflammatory responses and improved intestinal microbial ecology.