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ABSTRACT: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a probiotic for humans and is normally not found in pigs; however, it has been shown to protect the human-derived intestinal Caco-2 cells against the damage induced by an important intestinal pathogen, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (ETEC). An experiment was conducted to test whether the dietary addition of LGG improves the growth and health of weaned pigs when orally challenged by E. coli F4. Thirty-six pigs were weaned at 21 days and assigned to a standard weaning diet with or without 1010 CFU LGG (ATCC 53103) per day. The pigs, individually penned, were orally challenged with 1.5 ml of a 1010 CFU E. coli F4 suspension on day 7 and slaughtered on day 12 or 14. With the addition of LGG, the average daily gain and the average daily feed intake were reduced after the challenge with ETEC and for the entire trial (P < 0.05). The average faecal score tended to worsen from day 11 to the end of the trial and the concentration of ETEC in the faeces tended to increase (P = 0.07) with the LGG supplementation. The counts of lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria and yeasts in the colonic digesta were not affected. The pH values in ileal, colonic and caecal digesta, and the small intestine size were also unchanged. Regardless of the site of measurement (duodenum, jejunum or ileum), a trend of decreased villus height was seen with LGG (P = 0.10). Crypt depth and villus to crypt ratio were unchanged by the diet. A gradual increase of total seric IgA was seen after 1 week and after the challenge, in the control (P < 0.05), but not in the treated group. After the challenge, the LGG reduced the total IgA in the blood serum (P < 0.05), v. the control. The total IgA in the saliva and in the jejunum secretion were not affected by the diet. The F4-specific IgA activity was not affected by the diet at all the samplings. Our result shows that, the administration of LGG do not prevent or reduce the detrimental effect of the E. coli F4 infection on the growth performance and health status of weaned piglet.
animal 08/2011; 5(9):1354-60. · 1.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 3 antibiotics used for pulmonary pathologies added in the feed of weaned pigs on growth performance, commensal microbiota, and immune response. At weaning, a total of 72 pigs were randomly assigned by BW and litter to 1 of the following diets: control (typical weaning diet), control + 400 mg of tilmicosin/kg, control + 600 mg of amoxicillin/kg, and control + 300 mg of doxycycline/kg. Individually penned pigs were slaughtered after 3 wk (12 pigs/treatment) or 4 wk (6 pigs/treatment). During the fourth week, all pigs received the control diet to test the residual effect of the antimicrobial supplementation. The antibiotic supplementation increased growth and feed intake during the first week (P < 0.01) and over the first 3 wk combined (P < 0.05). Gain-to-feed ratio tended to improve during the first week (P = 0.076) by the antibiotics compared with the control. Among the antibiotic treatments, no difference was observed in ADG and feed intake, which were also unchanged by the diet in the fourth week. The fecal enterobacteria counts were increased by amoxicillin on d 14 and 21 (P < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively) and were decreased by tilmicosin (P < 0.001) compared with the control. Amoxicillin decreased lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.01) counts compared with the control. The antibiotic supplementation tended to decrease total bacteria variability in the jejunum (Shannon index, P = 0.091) compared with the control. The antibiotic treatment decreased the mean total serum IgM concentration (P = 0.016) after 3 wk and did not change the mucosal histomorphometry of the small intestine. For tilmicosin, the observed positive action on piglet performance and feed intake can originate by the decreased costs of immune activation determined by the action on intestinal microbiota. For amoxicillin and doxycycline, the observation on intestinal and fecal microbiota seems to be not sufficient to explain their growth-promoting effect.
Journal of Animal Science 07/2011; 89(12):4043-53. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Ingested nitrate is absorbed in the small intestine, recirculated into the saliva and reduced to nitrite by oral bacteria. In pigs receiving a moderate dietary addition of nitrate, the recirculation into the saliva is modest, so we aimed to assess the effect of higher nitrate doses to find out how the animal reacts to this new situation and to evaluate if a higher nitrate level could enhance the nitrate reduction process, improving the nitrite production Trial 1. Six piglets received 100 g of a commercial diet with 2.45% KNO(3) . In relation to baseline values, nitrate in blood serum and saliva increased 15 times, and declined after 6 h vs. 2 h. Salivary nitrite increased seven times after the addition and declined after 6 h vs. 2 h. Trial 2. Six piglets were fed a diet with or without 1.22% KNO(3) for 2 weeks. Salivary nitrate and nitrite increased with the addition of KNO3: nitrate increased from d0 to the end of the trial, nitrite increased 15 times after 1 week, but decreased after 2 weeks to 4.5-fold the control. After 2 weeks, nitrate reduced Shan diversity index of salivary microbiota. The present results indicate that the long exposure to high quantities of nitrates impairs the oral reduction of nitrate to nitrite and engenders a reduction of the mouth's microbiota diversity.
J Anim Physiol a Anim Nutr 04/2011; 95(2):206-13. · 0.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We tested the effect of Trp addition to a standard weaning diet and oral challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC) on growth and health of piglets susceptible or nonsusceptible to the intestinal adhesion of ETEC. Sixty-four pigs weaned at 21 d of age were divided into 3 groups based on their ancestry and BW: a control group of 8 pigs fed a basal diet (B), the first challenged group of 28 pigs fed B diet (BCh), and the second challenged group of 28 pigs fed a diet with Trp (TrpCh). The Trp diet was produced by the addition of 1 g of l-Trp/kg to the basal diet. On d 5, pigs were orally challenged with 1.5 mL suspension containing 10(10) cfu ETEC/mL or placebo, and killed on d 9 or 23. Based on in vitro villus adhesion assay, the pigs (except the B group) were classified as susceptible (s(+)) or nonsusceptible (s(-)) to the intestinal ETEC adhesion. Thus, after the challenge, treatments were B, BChs(-), BChs(+), TrpChs(-), and TrpChs(+). Pigs susceptible to ETEC were 50.0% in the BChs(+) group (3 pigs lost included) and 46.4% in the TrpChs (+) group (1 pig lost included). During the first 4 d after challenge, the challenge reduced ADG (P < 0.05), and this reduction was greater in susceptible pigs (P < 0.05) than nonsusceptible ones. Tryptophan increased ADG and feed intake in susceptible pigs (P < 0.05) from challenge to d 4, but not thereafter. Tryptophan supplementation did not improve the fecal consistency and did not reduce the number of pigs positive for ETEC in feces on d 4 after the challenge. The K88-specific immunoglobulin A activity in blood serum tended to be greater in challenged pigs (P = 0.102) and was not affected by the addition of Trp. Villous height was affected by the addition of Trp and challenge in different ways, depending on the site of small intestine. The need to consider the phenotype for the adhesion of the ETEC in studies with different supply of Trp was clearly evident. When compared with practical weaning standard diets, Trp supplementation allowed susceptible pigs to partially compensate for the effects of ETEC challenge by increasing feed intake and maintaining an adequate BW growth. This is of practical importance for the formulation of diets for pigs selected for lean growth because of the presence of an association between this trait and the susceptibility to the intestinal adhesion of ETEC.
Journal of Animal Science 10/2008; 87(1):148-56. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated whether spray-dried plasma (SDP) improved growth and health of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). Forty-eight pigs weaned at 21 d (BW = 4.88 +/- 0.43 kg) received one of four diets containing 6% SDP or fish proteins (as-fed basis) either nonmedicated (SDP-NM and FP-NM diets) or medicated with 0 or 250 mg/kg of colistine + 500 mg/kg of amoxycycline (SDP-M and FP-M diets), for 15 d. On d 4, pigs were orally challenged with ETEC. On d 15, eight pigs per dietary group were killed, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of K88 fimbriae-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)-A, and jejunum was removed for villi preparation, histological analysis, and cytokine expression. The presence or absence of K88 receptors (K88+ and K88- pigs respectively) was determined by villous adhesion assay. Effects of protein source on ADG (P = 0.04) and ADFI (P < 0.01), as well of medication on ADFI (P < 0.02), of all pigs were observed. In sacrified pigs, there was an effect of protein source on ADG (P = 0.03) and ADFI (P < 0.001), as well an interaction between medication and presence of K88 receptor (P = 0.02) for feed:gain ratio. Plasma K88 specific IgA were low in all K88 pigs and higher in K88+ pigs fed FP-NM compared with all the other groups (P < 0.05), except SDP-M. An interaction was found among protein source, medication, and presence of K88 receptors (P = 0.04). Saliva IgA concentrations were high in all pigs fed FP-NM and low in all other pigs. Jejunum of pigs fed FP-NM showed some ulcerations, edema, and mild inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI). In pigs fed FP-M, edema was reduced. Conversely, only a mild ICI was observed in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M. Crypt depth was increased in K88+ pigs fed SDP-NM and an interaction between protein source and presence of K88 receptors was observed (P < 0.05). Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 were lower in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M than in those fed FP-NM and FP-M, either K88- or K88+ (P < 0.01). In pigs fed FP diets, expression of IL-8 tended to increase (P = 0.08) in K88+ compared with K88- subjects. Expression of interferon-gamma increased in K88 and K88+ pigs fed FP-M as compared with other pigs (P < 0.01). These results indicate that feeding with SDP improved growth performance and protected against E. coli-induced inflammatory status, and suggest that use of SDP-NM can be considered a valid antibiotic alternative.
Journal of Animal Science 06/2004; 82(6):1764-72. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of seven isoenergetic dietary treatments: (1) no sunflower oil, 35 mg/kg Cu, without α-tocopheryl-acetate added; (2) to (7) 6% high oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO), 35 or 175 mg/kg Cu crossed with a 0, 100 or 200 mg/kg α-tocopherol addition, were tested on quality characteristics of dry cured Parma hams from a total 84 Large White gilts. No statistically significant effect was detected on parameters of early evaluation of seasoning loss of hams. The seasoning loss and intramuscular fat content of seasoned hams averaged 28.1 and 3.3%, respectively, with no effect of the diet composition. The CIE L*a*b* colour values taken on the surface of the lean from Parma ham were not affected by dietary oil inclusion, nor by copper levels and by α-tocopherol addition in the feed mixture, except for the 'a' value that increased in HOSO groups (P<0.01) and in groups with α-tocopherol addition (P<0.01). The TBARS values in lean were reduced by the inclusion of HOSO (P<0.05) and α-tocopherol supplementation (P<0.10). Compared to the no oil group, the Parma hams in the HOSO groups showed a higher oleic acid content in the covering fat, but not different in neutral and polar fractions from semimenbranosus muscle. The oil inclusion reduced the saturated fatty acid content in subcutaneous fat and neutral lipids fraction from muscle to 30-34% No effect of α-tocopherol and copper levels were observed on fatty acids profiles. From the subjects fed the HOSO diet softer Parma hams were produced than those fed the control diet (χ(2)<0.05), while α-tocopherol and Cu levels did not influence the sensorial evaluation of hams. The inclusion of an oleic acid rich source in heavy pig diet brought about an improved nutritional value, but also the possible need of a prolonged ageing time to achieve an ideal firmness of Parma ham. Dietary α-tocopherol supplementation improved the red colour slightly and the lipid stability in Parma ham, while the supplementation of Cu in the diet had no influence on the tested parameters.
Meat Science 02/2000; 54(2):119-26. · 2.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Not nocuous bacteria are important for the maturation and the modulating activity of the gut immune system. However, the humoral immune response against commensal and probiotic bacteria is less documented, particularly in farmhouse animals. Blood serum and saliva were collected in two trials where probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LbR), well-defined human isolate (Trial A), and a novel and abundant porcine commensal, Lactobacillus sobrius strain 001T (LbS) (Trial B), were supplemented to weaning pigs. Anti-LbR IgA were present in serum of pigs before treatment with LbR, but also after 1 or 2 weeks in control pigs, notwithstanding the absence of DNA from LbR in colon. Pigs fed or not LbS for 1 or 2 weeks had LbS-specific IgA, in saliva and in serum. Colon contents of control subjects were positive for DNA from LbS. We hypothesized that part of this IgA strain-specific activity is partially related to immune cross-reactivity between different Lactobacillus-species. With the procedure of Shu et al. [Shu, Q., Bird, S.H., Gill, H.S., Rowe, J.B., 1999. Immunological cross-reactivity between the vaccine and other isolates of Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus. FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 26, 153¿158], after ELISA test on blood serum or saliva pre-incubated with LbR or LbS, each strain blocked a relevant part of IgA specific for the other. So bacteria with different affinity for the pig present reciprocal crossed immune activity. When probiotics are supplied to weaning pigs, the possible action of already present multi-effective IgA should be considered. The mechanism of IgA induction by certain probiotics needs to be addressed in further studies.
Livestock Science 108 (2007) 1-3.
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ABSTRACT: The effects of seven isoenergetic dietary treatments: (1) no sunflower oil, 35 mg/kg Cu, without α-tocopheryl-acetate added; (2) to (7) 6% high oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO), 35 or 175 mg/kg Cu crossed with a 0, 100 or 200 mg/kg α-tocopherol addition, were tested on quality characteristics of dry cured Parma hams from a total 84 Large White gilts. No statistically significant effect was detected on parameters of early evaluation of seasoning loss of hams. The seasoning loss and intramuscular fat content of seasoned hams averaged 28.1 and 3.3%, respectively, with no effect of the diet composition. The CIE L*a*b* colour values taken on the surface of the lean from Parma ham were not affected by dietary oil inclusion, nor by copper levels and by α-tocopherol addition in the feed mixture, except for the ‘a’ value that increased in HOSO groups (P<0.01) and in groups with α-tocopherol addition (P<0.01). The TBARS values in lean were reduced by the inclusion of HOSO (P<0.05) and α-tocopherol supplementation (P<0.10). Compared to the no oil group, the Parma hams in the HOSO groups showed a higher oleic acid content in the covering fat, but not different in neutral and polar fractions from semimenbranosus muscle. The oil inclusion reduced the saturated fatty acid content in subcutaneous fat and neutral lipids fraction from muscle to 30–34% No effect of α-tocopherol and copper levels were observed on fatty acids profiles. From the subjects fed the HOSO diet softer Parma hams were produced than those fed the control diet (χ2<0.05), while α-tocopherol and Cu levels did not influence the sensorial evaluation of hams. The inclusion of an oleic acid rich source in heavy pig diet brought about an improved nutritional value, but also the possible need of a prolonged ageing time to achieve an ideal firmness of Parma ham. Dietary α-tocopherol supplementation improved the red colour slightly and the lipid stability in Parma ham, while the supplementation of Cu in the diet had no influence on the tested parameters.
Meat Science.
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ABSTRACT: The microbial community in the guts of mammals is often seen as an important potential target in therapeutic and preventive interventions. The aim of the present study was to determine whether enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 infection in young animals might be counteracted by a probiotic treatment with Lactobacillus sobrius DSM 16698. The experiment was conducted in three randomized consecutive replications, each consisting of 16 piglets, and including a control group and an L. sobrius fed group, both experimentally challenged with ETEC. During the entire trial, the animals' health status, body weight, and microbial parameters were monitored periodically. Probiotic supplementation containing L. sobrius significantly reduced the levels of ETEC in the ileum when fed directly to piglets after weaning. In contrast, the number of days when the piglets had an increased faecal water content was significantly higher in the probiotic group. Nevertheless, an improved daily weight gain was also observed in the animals that received probiotic L. sobrius relative to the control fed group. The data indicate that L. sobrius may be effective in the reduction of the E. coli F4 colonization and may improve the weight gain of infected piglets
FEMS Microbiology Ecology 66 (2008) 3.
