Phytogenic feed additives alleviate pathogenic Escherichia coli-induced intestinal damage through improving barrier integrity and inhibiting inflammation in weaned pigs

Background:This study was conducted to investigate the effects of each phytogenic feed additive(PFA;PFA1,bitter citrus extract;PFA2,a microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol;PFA3,a mixture of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol;PFA4,a premixture of grape seed,grape marc extract,green tea,and hops;PFA5,fenugreek seed powder)on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,intestinal morphology,and immune response in weaned pigs infected with Escherichia coli(E.coli).Results:A total of 634-week-old weaned pigs were placed in individual metabolic cages and assigned to seven treatment groups.The seven treatments were as follows:1)NC;basal diet without E.coli challenge,2)PC;basal diet with E.coli challenge,3)T1;PC+0.04%PFA1,4)T2;PC+0.01%PFA2,5)T3;PC+0.10%PFA3,6)T4;PC+0.04%PFA4,7)T5;PC+0.10%PFA5.The experiments lasted in 21 d,including 7 d before and 14 d after the first E.coli challenge.In the E.coli challenge treatments,all pigs were orally inoculated by dividing a total of 10 mL of E.coli F18 for 3 consecutive days.The PFA-added groups significantly increased(P<0.05)average daily gain and feed efficiency and decreased(P<0.05)the fecal score at d 0 to 14 post-inoculation(PI).Tumor necrosis factorαwas significantly lower(P<0.05)in the PFA-added groups except for T1 in d 14 PI compared to the PC treatment.The T3 had a higher(P<0.05)immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A concentration compared to the PC treatment at d 7 PI.Also,T3 showed significantly higher(P<0.05)villus height:crypt depth and claudin 1 expression in ileal mucosa,and significantly downregulated(P<0.05)the expression of calprotectin compared to the PC treatment.Conclusions:Supplementation of PFA in weaned pigs challenged with E.coli alleviated the negative effects of E.coli and improved growth performance.Among them,the mixed additive of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol showed the most effective results,improving immune response,intestinal morphology,and expression of tight junctions.

Dietary inclusion of multispecies probiotics to reduce the severity of post-weaning diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli F18+ in pigs

This study was aimed to determine the efficacy of multispecies probiotics in reducing the severity of post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)F18+on newly weaned pigs.Thirty-two pigs(16 barrows and 16 gilts,BW=6.99±0.33 kg)at 21 d of age were individually allotted in a randomized complete block design with 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments.Pigs were selected from sows not infected previously and not vaccinated against ETEC.Pigs were fed experimental diets for 25 d based on 10 d phase 1 and 15 d phase 2.The factors were ETEC challenge(oral inoculation of saline solution or E.coli F18+at 2×109 CFU)and probiotics(none or multispecies probiotics 0.15%and 0.10%for phase 1 and 2,respectively).Body weight and feed intake were measured on d 5,9,13,19,and 25.Fecal scores were measured daily.Blood samples were taken on d 19 and 24.On d 25,all pigs were euthanized to obtain samples of digesta,intestinal tissues,and spleen.The tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα),malondialdehyde(MDA),peptide YY(PYY),and neuropeptide Y(NPY)were measured in serum and intestinal tissue.Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS.The fecal score of pigs was increased(P<0.05)by ETEC challenge at the post-challenge period.The ETEC challenge decreased(P<0.05)jejunal villus height and crypt depth,tended to increase(P=0.056)jejunal TNFα,increased(P<0.05)ileal crypt depth,and decreased(P<0.05)serum NPY.The probiotics decreased(P<0.05)serum TNFα,tended to reduce(P=0.064)jejunal MDA,tended to increase(P=0.092)serum PYY,and increased(P<0.05)jejunal villus height,and especially villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in challenged pigs.Growth performance of pigs were not affected by ETEC challenge,whereas the probiotics increased(P<0.05)ADG and ADFI and tended to increase(P-0.069)G:F ratio.In conclusion,ETEC F18+challenge caused diarrhea,intestinal inflammation and morphological damages without affecting the growth performance.The multispecies probiotics enhanced growth performance by reducing intestinal inflammation,oxidative stress,morphological damages.

黏附素F18菌毛研究进展

综述F18菌毛的一般特性、表达和提取、相关血清型和毒力因子、亚单位及基因调控等。