Different effects of acute and chronic oxidative stress on the intestinal flora and gut-liver axis in weaned piglets.

Introduction: Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in modulating the balance of intestinal flora and the gut-liver axis, while also serving as a key determinant of the growth potential of weaned piglets. However, few studies have subdivided and compared acute and chronic oxidative stress. Methods: In this study, an intestinal model of acute oxidative stress in weaned piglets using paraquat (PQ) and a chronic oxidative stress model using D-galactosa in weaned piglets were conducted. And we further systematically compare their effects. Results: Both acute and chronic oxidative stress models impaired intestinal barrier function and liver function. Chronic stress caused by D-galactose can result in severe redox dysregulation, while acute stress caused by paraquat can lead to inflammation and liver damage. Additionally, the components involved in the CAR pathway were expressed differently. Chronic or acute oxidative stress can reduce the diversity and composition of intestinal flora. In the PQ group, the richness of Mogibacterium and Denitratisoma improved, but in the D-gal group, the richness of Catenisphaera and Syntrophococcus increased. Discussion: Not only does this research deepen our understanding of the effects of acute and chronic oxidative stress on intestinal functions, but it also characterizes characteristic changes in the gut flora, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets and opening new avenues for future research.

Uncovering the mechanism of Clostridium butyricum CBX 2021 to improve pig health based on in vivo and in vitro studies.

Introduction: As a symbiotic probiotic for the host, Clostridium butyricum (CB) has the potential to strengthen the body's immune system and improve intestinal health. However, the probiotic mechanism of CB is not completely understood. The Clostridium butyricum CBX 2021 strain isolated by our team from a health pig independently exhibits strong butyric acid production ability and stress resistance. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigated the efficacy of CBX 2021 in pigs and its mechanism of improving pig health. Methods: In this study, we systematically revealed the probiotic effect and potential mechanism of the strain by using various methods such as microbiome, metabolites and transcriptome through animal experiments in vivo and cell experiments in vitro. Results: Our in vivo study showed that CBX 2021 improved growth indicators such as daily weight gain in weaned piglets and also reduced diarrhea rates. Meanwhile, CBX 2021 significantly increased immunoglobulin levels in piglets, reduced contents of inflammatory factors and improved the intestinal barrier. Subsequently, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that CBX 2021 treatment implanted more butyric acid-producing bacteria (such as Faecalibacterium) in piglets and reduced the number of potentially pathogenic bacteria (like Rikenellaceae RC9_gut_group). With significant changes in the microbial community, CBX 2021 improved tryptophan metabolism and several alkaloids synthesis in piglets. Further in vitro experiments showed that CBX 2021 adhesion directly promoted the proliferation of a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2). Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed that bacterial adhesion increased the expression of intracellular G protein-coupled receptors, inhibited the Notch signaling pathway, and led to a decrease in intracellular pro-inflammatory molecules. Discussion: These results suggest that CBX 2021 may accelerate piglet growth by optimizing the intestinal microbiota, improving metabolic function and enhancing intestinal health.

Dietary complex probiotic supplementation changed the composition of intestinal short-chain fatty acids and improved the average daily gain of weaned piglets.

Probiotics are a group of active microorganisms that form colonies within the body and alter the composition of the flora in a specific area to provide benefits to the host. In this study, a total of 96 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weaned piglets with an initial body weight (BW) of 8.56 ± 0.53 kg were employed in a randomized complete block design for a 28-day experiment. Pigs were randomly divided into two treatment groups: the control group (CON) and the complex probiotic group (CON + 0.2% probiotics), respectively. The study found that through the 28-day experiment, the average daily gain (ADG) of the complex probiotic group was significantly higher than that of the CON (p < 0.05). However, compared with the CON, the feed conversion efficiency significantly decreased on days 0-14 (p < 0.05). The addition of dietary complex probiotic significantly increased the villus height (VH) of duodenum and ileum, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces, and decreased fecal methyl mercaptans, acetic acid, and CO2 (p < 0.05). It concluded that feeding weaned piglets 0.2% complex probiotic increased the VH of duodenum and ileum, as well as changed the content of SCFAs in feces. This ultimately led to an increase in ADG.

Evaluating the probiotic effects of spraying lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 in neonatal piglets.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbes play an important role in the growth and health of neonatal piglets. Probiotics can promote the healthy growth of neonatal piglets by regulating their gut microbes. The study investigated the effects of spraying Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 (L. plantarum P-8) fermentation broth on the growth performance and gut microbes of neonatal piglets. RESULTS: The animals were randomly divided into probiotics groups (109 neonatal piglets) and control groups (113 neonatal piglets). The probiotics group was sprayed with L. plantarum P-8 fermented liquid from 3 day before the expected date of the sow to the 7-day-old of piglets, while the control group was sprayed with equal dose of PBS. Average daily gain (ADG), immune and antioxidant status and metagenome sequencing were used to assess the changes in growth performance and gut microbiota of neonatal piglets. The results showed that L. plantarum P-8 treatment significantly improved the average daily gain (P < 0.05) of neonatal piglets. L. plantarum P-8 increased the activities of CAT and SOD but reduced the levels of IL-2 and IL-6, effectively regulating the antioxidant capacity and immunity in neonatal piglets. L. plantarum P-8 adjusted the overall structure of gut microflora improving gut homeostasis to a certain extent, and significantly increased the relative abundance of gut beneficial bacteria such as L. mucosae and L. plantarum. CONCLUSION: Spraying L. plantarum P-8 can be a feasible and effective probiotic intervention not only improving the growth of neonatal piglets, regulating the antioxidant capacity and immunity of neonatal piglets, but also improving the gut homeostasis to a certain extent.

Protective evaluation of the commercialized porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccines in piglets challenged by NADC34-like strain.

In China, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has undergone several variations over the decades and contributed to the diversity of the clinical epidemic PRRSV strains. This has complicated the prevention and control of PRRS. In particular, the efficacy of the currently available commercial vaccines against the highly pathogenic NADC34-like strains is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the protection efficacy of three commercial PRRS modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines derived from classical PRRS VR2332 MLV and R98 MLV against challenge with a heterologous NADC34-like PRRSV strain, JS2021NADC34, which has high pathogenicity in pigs. PRRSV- and antibody-free piglets were immunized with the PRRS VR2332 MLV vaccine or either of two R98 MLV vaccines (from different manufacturers) and were challenged with the JS2021NADC34 strain 28 days after immunization. Rectal temperature, clinical symptoms, viremia and viral shedding from the nose, gross lesions in the thymus and lungs, microscopic lesions and viral distribution in the lungs, as well as the humoral immune response and mortality rates were recorded over a 14-day post-challenge period. The results showed that PRRS VR2332 MLV had better efficacy against the JS2021NADC34 challenge than PRRS R98 MLV, with vaccinated piglets in the former group showing transient and mild symptoms, mild pathological lesions in the lungs, mild thymic atrophy, and low viral levels in sera and nasal swabs, as well as better growth performance and a 100% survival rate. In contrast, two PRRS R98 MLVs exhibited limited efficacy against the JS2021NADC34 challenge, with the piglets in two R98 groups showing obvious clinical symptoms and pathological changes in the lungs and thymus; moreover, there were two deaths caused by PRRS in two R98 groups, respectively. Despite this, the mortality rate was lower than that of the unvaccinated piglets that were challenged with JS2021NADC34. The cumulative results demonstrate that PRRS VR2332 MLV was partly effective against the highly pathogenic PRRSV NADC34-like strain based on the observations over the 14-day post-challenge period. Thus, it might be a viable option among the commercially available vaccines for control of NADC34-like virus infections in swine herds.

Supplementing Monosodium Glutamate in Sow Diets Enhances Reproductive Performance in Lactating Sows and Improves the Growth of Suckling Piglets.

In most current farm operations, lactating sows need to overcome reproductive and environmental stresses that have resulted in poor sow production performance and piglet growth. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of in-feed supplementation of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in sows during late gestation lactation in regard to litter performance. The study subjects were 12 multi-parity sows (Landrace × Large White), farrowing sows with an average parity of four (three with three parities, seven with four parities, and two with five parities). They were randomly divided into the following two diet groups: the basal diet as a control (CON) group based on corn and soybean meal; and the basal diet + 2% MSG group. The experimental time ranged from 109 days before delivery to 21 days after delivery. There were six sows in each group, and each sow served as the experimental unit. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in body weight (BW), back fat (BF) thickness and estrus interval between sows supplemented with 2% MSG in their diets before and after farrowing and during weaning (p > 0.05). However, MSG-treated sows tended to increase BW loss at farrowing more than the CON group (p = 0.093) but lost less weight during lactation than the CON group (p = 0.019). There were no significant differences in the body condition scores (BCSs) and BF loss of the two groups of sows before and after farrowing and at weaning (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the weight of newborn piglets between the two groups of sows (p > 0.05). The weaning weight (p = 0.020) and average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.045) of suckling piglets were higher in the MSG treated group compared to the CON group. The daily milk production of sows in the MSG treatment group was higher compared to the CON group (p = 0.045). The protein concentration of milk at week 3 (p = 0.060) and fat concentration of milk at week 5 (p = 0.095) of the MSG-supplemented sows tended to increase more than the CON group. In summary, the dietary inclusion of MSG supplementation had a beneficial effect on the late gestating sows and their piglet's growth and milk production. Our research has shown that the addition of 2% MSG in late gestation and lactation diet would be beneficial for both sow and piglet production.

Study of the therapeutic efficacy of DOKSI AVZ 500 in bacterial respiratory diseases in young pigs.

Background: Young farm animals are susceptible to opportunistic infections which may cause economic losses due to mortality and poor weight gain. The development of antimicrobial resistance and the desire to improve therapy efficacy and safety are the reasons to seek for new antibacterial drugs ensuring rapid recovery with minimum adverse events. Aim: To estimate the efficacy of DOKSI AVZ 500 in respiratory pathologies in young pigs. Methods: The study was conducted in 65-70-day-old Yorkshire piglets with signs of bacterial respiratory pathologies. The animals were treated with the test drug for 3 or 5 days. The reference group received TETRAMAX 500 which is similar to the test drug in terms of chemical structure, mechanism of action, and activity spectrum. The animal's status was assessed using clinical examination, clinical blood count, and bacteriological tests. Results: Both test and reference drugs were well tolerated and ensured the animal recovery within about 4 days. The recovery was accompanied by normalization of hematological parameters and flora composition. The bacterium associated with the disease development, Streptococcus suis, was virtually completely eliminated in all groups. No adverse events were noted. After the treatment, all the animals readily gained weight and live market quality. Conclusion: DOKSI AVZ 500 was a highly efficient therapy for respiratory pathologies caused by the resident opportunistic flora in piglets. It has also shown noninferiority vs. TETRAMAX 500 in terms of all the health-related parameters and thus can be recommended for introduction in veterinary practice in pig farms.

Performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed highly or low fermentable coarse or finely ground fibre-rich feedstuffs.

Dietary fibre is mainly classified according to its chemical characteristics but structure and particle size of fibre-rich feedstuff can also be decisive for digestion and performance. So far, only few studies investigated this in pigs. This experiment aimed to compare coarse and finely ground dried hemp plants and apple pomace regarding performance and ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. Coarse or finely ground apple pomace or dried hemp plants were added to the diet of 56 nine weeks old growing pigs (DanBred x Duroc), housed in flat decks with each 2 animals. The growing pigs received the experimental diets for three weeks while performance was recorded. Eight pigs per group were sacrificed and digesta and organ tissue sampled. The stomach health was evaluated by visually scoring of the mucosa integrity. Apparent ileal (AID) and total tract digestibility (ATTD) were calculated using titanium dioxide as marker. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). The highest feed intake (fibre particle size, p = 0.018) and bodyweight gain (fibre particle size, p = 0.018; fibre source x particle size interaction, p = 0.040), was observed in animals fed finely ground apple pomace, while the feed conversion ratio was 8-12% lower in pigs fed finely ground fibre sources (p = 0.012). No differences in stomach mucosa integrity were detected between the groups. The relative pancreas (p = 0.045), stomach (p < 0.001), and jejunum (p = 0.010) weights were higher in animals fed diets containing apple pomace. In contrast, the relative liver, caecum and colon weights were not affected by fibre source or particle size. The AID of protein and amino acids was not affected, while ATTD was increased by fibre source (hemp vs. apple pomace) reducing faecal nitrogen excretion. The AID of calcium was increased when diets contained apple pomace (p < 0.001), while zinc AID and ATTD were enhanced when diets contained dried hemp (p = 0.016; p = 0.016, respectively). Our results suggest that the structure as well as the chemical characteristics should be considered in a future fibre evaluation system in pigs.

LPS-related muscle loss is associated with the alteration of Bacteroidetes abundance, systemic inflammation, and mitochondrial morphology in a weaned piglet model.

We previously demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection-induced immune stress could impair muscle growth in weaned piglets, but the precise mechanisms behind this remain elusive. Here, we found that chronic immune stress induced by LPS resulted in a significant reduction of 36.86% in the total muscle mass of piglets at 5 d post-treatment compared with the control group. At 1 d, prior to muscle mass loss, multiple alterations were noted in response to LPS treatment. These included a reduction in the abundance of Bacteroidetes, an increase in serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, compromised mitochondrial morphology, and an upregulation in the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), a critical protein involved in mitochondrial fission. We highlight a strong negative correlation between Bacteroidetes abundance and the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, corroborated by in vivo intervention strategies in the musculature of both pig and mouse models. Mechanistically, the effects of Bacteroidetes on inflammation and muscle mass loss may involve the signaling pathway of the tauro-ß-muricholic acid-fibroblast growth factor 15. Furthermore, the induction of overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, achieved without LPS treatment through oral administration of recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6), led to increased levels of circulating cytokines, subsequently causing a decrease in muscle mass. Notably, pre-treatment with Mdivi-1, an inhibitor of Drp-1, markedly attenuated the LPS-induced elevation in reactive oxygen species levels and rescued the associated decline in muscle mass. Collectively, these data indicate that LPS-induced muscle mass loss was linked to the reduction of Bacteroidetes abundance, increased inflammation, and the disruption of mitochondrial morphology. These insights offer promising avenues for the identification of potential therapeutic targets aimed at mitigating muscle mass loss.

A New Biosynthetic 6-Phytase Added at 500 Phytase Unit/kg Diet Improves Growth Performance, Bone Mineralization, and Nutrient Digestibility and Retention in Weaned Piglets and Growing-Finishing Pigs.

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of a biosynthetic 6-phytase added at 500 phytase unit (FTU)/kg diet on growth performance, bone mineralization, and nutrient digestibility and retention in weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs. Experiments were performed on 90 weaned male and female piglets with an average initial body weight (BW) at 7.7 ± 0.73 kg, 26 days of age) and 300 male and female growing pigs (initial BW: 21.0 ± 3.44 kg) for 43 and 98 days in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In each experiment, the animals were assigned to one of three treatments according to a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of a positive-control (PC) diet formulated to meet nutrient requirements; a negative-control (NC) diet reduced similarly in calcium (Ca) and digestible P by 0.15 and 0.12% points in phases 1 and 2, respectively, in piglets and by 0.14, 0.11, and 0.10% points, respectively, in phases 1, 2, and 3 in growing-finishing pigs, compared with PC diet; and a NC diet supplemented with the new 6-phytase at 500 FTU/kg diet (PHY). The dietary P and Ca depletion reduced (p < 0.05) the final BW (-11.9%; -7.8%,), average daily gain (ADG, -17.8%; -10.1%), average daily feed intake (ADFI, -9.9%; -6.0%), gain-to-feed (G:F) ratio (-8.9%; -4.6%), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P (-7.7% points; -6.7% points) in nursery piglets and growing pigs, respectively. It also decreased (p < 0.001) P and Ca retention by 6.1 and 9.4% points, respectively, in nursery pigs and ash, P, and Ca contents in metacarpal bones by 18.4, 18.4, and 16.8%, respectively, in growing pigs. Compared to animals fed the NC diet, phytase supplementation improved (p < 0.001) the final BW (+7.7%; +11.3%), ADG (+12.5%; +15.0%), G:F ratio (+8.4%; +5.8%), ATTD of Ca (+10.8% points; +7.2% points), and ATTD of P (+18.7% points; +16.6% points) in weaned piglets and growing pigs, respectively. In addition, phytase also increased (p < 0.001) P and Ca retention by 6.1 and 9.4% points, respectively, in nursery pigs and ash, P, and Ca contents in metacarpal bones by 17.7, 15.0, and 15.2%, respectively, in growing pigs. The final BW, ADG, G:F ratio, and bone traits in animals fed the NC diet supplemented with phytase were comparable to animals fed the PC diet. This finding indicates the ability of this novel biosynthetic phytase to restore performance and bone mineralization by improving the availability of P and Ca in piglets and growing pigs fed P- and Ca-deficient diets.

Integrating Transcriptomics and Proteomics to Characterize the Intestinal Responses to Cadmium Exposure Using a Piglet Model.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal element with a wide range of hazards and severe biotoxicity. Since Cd can be easily accumulated in the edible parts of plants, the exposure of humans to Cd is mainly through the intake of Cd-contaminated food. However, the intestinal responses to Cd exposure are not completely characterized. Herein, we simulated laboratory and environmental Cd exposure by feeding the piglets with CdCl2-added rice and Cd-contaminated rice (Cdcr) contained diet, as piglets show anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Subsequent analysis of the metal element concentrations showed that exposure to the two types of Cd significantly increased Cd levels in piglets. After verifying the expression of major Cd transporters by Western blots, multi-omics further expanded the possible transporters of Cd and found Cd exposure causes wide alterations in the metabolism of piglets. Of significance, CdCl2 and Cdcr exhibited different body distribution and metabolic rewiring, and Cdcr had stronger carcinogenic and diabetes-inducing potential. Together, our results indicate that CdCl2 had a significant difference compared with Cdcr, which has important implications for a more intense study of Cd toxicity.

Enhancing immunogenicity and antiviral protection of inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccine in piglets.

OBJECTIVE: Porcine interferon-γ (poIFN-γ) and porcine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (poGM-CSF) are multifunctional cytokines that exhibit robust antiviral activity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In this study, the immunoadjuvant effects of recombinant poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF fusion protein in inactivated PRRSV vaccine administered to piglets were assessed. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight 4-week-old specific pathogen-free piglets. METHODS: The experimental piglets were divided into control, highly pathologic PRRSV, PRRSV killed virus vaccine (KV), poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF, KV + 1.0 mg poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF, KV + 2.0 mg poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF, and KV + 4.0 mg poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF groups. A recombinant poIFN-γ-linker-poGM-CSF fusion gene was constructed via splicing by overlap extension PCR and prepared using an Escherichia coli expression system, after which its adjuvant activity in the context of PRRSV KV administration was assessed. RESULTS: This analysis revealed the successful construction of the poIFN-γ-linker-poGM-CSF fusion gene via splicing by overlap extension PCR, with recombinant poIFN-γ-linker-poGM-CSF successfully being prepared in E coli with a plasmid vector for expressing thioredoxin fusion proteins with an enterokinase site. Importantly, the coadministration of poIFN-γ-linker-poGM-CSF and PRRSV KV significantly increased neutralizing antibody titers, accelerated viral clearance, reduced clinical symptoms, and prevented highly pathogenic PRRSV infection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The recombinant poIFN-γ-poGM-CSF fusion protein is a promising candidate adjuvant for use in the context of swine immunization and viral challenge.

Comparison of an injectable toltrazuril-gleptoferron and an oral toltrazuril + injectable gleptoferron in piglets: Hematinic activities and pharmacokinetics.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and cystoisosporosis are the most common clinical conditions of fast-growing piglets. Until now, IDA and cystoisosporosis have been managed by intramuscular injection of iron complexes (such as dextran or gleptoferron) and oral administration of toltrazuril. Recently, a new combination product containing toltrazuril and gleptoferron for intramuscular application (Forceris®) has been registered. The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of toltrazuril and its main metabolite, toltrazuril sulfone, following a single oral (Baycox®) or intramuscular (Forceris®, a toltrazuril-iron combination product) administration at 20 mg/kg to young suckling piglets. The orally treated piglets were also supplemented with iron (Gleptosil®), and the hematinic activities were compared. Piglets in both groups received comparable doses. The peak concentration (Cmax) of toltrazuril after intramuscular administration was 11% lower than that after oral administration (p = .376). However, the exposure to toltrazuril (AUC) was significantly increased (40% higher) when toltrazuril was administered intramuscularly (p = .036). The Cmax and AUC values of the active metabolite, toltrazuril sulfone were 39% and 34% higher, respectively, after intramuscular administration (p = .007 and 0.008, respectively). Piglets in both groups were properly protected against IDA. In conclusion, a higher relative bioavailability of toltrazuril is observed when toltrazuril is administered intramuscularly.

Dietary Fiber-Derived Butyrate Alleviates Piglet Weaning Stress by Modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway.

During weaning, piglets are susceptible to intestinal inflammation and impairment in barrier function. Dietary fiber (DF) plays an active role in alleviating weaning stress in piglets. However, the effects of different sources of dietary fiber on the performance of weaned piglets are inconsistent, and the mechanisms through which they affect intestinal health need to be explored. Therefore, in this study, sixty weaned piglets were randomly divided into three treatment groups: basal diet (control, CON), beet pulp (BP), and alfalfa meal (AM) according to the feed formulation for a 28-day trial. The results showed that both AM and BP groups significantly reduced diarrhea rate and serum inflammatory factors (IL-1ß and TNF-α) and increased antioxidant markers (T-AOC and SOD), in addition to decreasing serum MDA and ROS concentrations in the AM group. At the same time, piglets in the AM group showed a significant reduction in serum intestinal permeability indices (LPS and DAO) and a substantial increase in serum immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, and IgM) and expression of intestinal barrier-associated genes (Claudin1, Occludin, ZO-1, and MUC1), which resulted in an improved growth performance. Interestingly, the effect of DF on intestinal inflammation and barrier function can be attributed to its modulation of gut microbes. Fiber-degrading bacteria enriched in the AM group (Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Pediococcus and Weissella) inhibited the production of TLR4- through the promotion of SCFAs (especially butyrate). MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway activation reduces intestinal inflammation and repairs intestinal barrier function. In conclusion, it may provide some theoretical support and rationale for AM to alleviate weaning stress and improve early intestinal dysfunction, which may have implications for human infants.

Effects of supplemental Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide on growth performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets.

In this study, we investigated the effects of supplemental Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GCP) on growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets. Ninety piglets weaned at 28 days of age were randomly allocated to three groups with five replicates per treatment. Piglets were fed the following diets for 28 days: (1) CON (control group), basal diet; (2) G500, CON + 500 mg/kg GCP; (3) G1000, CON + 1000 mg/kg GCP. The results showed that supplementation with 1000 mg/kg GCP increased the average daily gain (ADG) and decreased the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) (P < 0.05). Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactic acid (DL-A) levels were lower in the G1000 group (P < 0.05). Dietary GCP 1000 mg/kg improved mucosal trypsin activity in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and increased lipase and amylase activity in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Moreover, in the G1000 group, ZO-1, claudin 1 and occludin levels were increased in the jejunum mucosa, whereas interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-6 levels were decreased (P < 0.05). The 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that dietary 1000 mg/kg GCP altered the jejunal microbial community, with increased relative abundances of beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, dietary GCP 1000 mg/kg can improve growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal immunity, barrier function and microbial community in weaned piglets.

Leucine Supplementation Modulates Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Early Weaning Piglets.

Early weaning can induce the programmed dysregulation of glycolipid metabolism and inflammation in adult animals. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of leucine supplementation administered promptly after early weaning in mitigating these adverse effects in piglets. At day 21, 24 piglets were randomly selected and divided into 3 groups: EW group where the piglets were weaned at day 21 and fed basal diet, EWL group where the piglets were weaned at day 21 and fed the basal diet with supplementation of 1% leucine, and C group where the piglets were fed basal diet and weaned at 28 days. Each group contained eight replicates, with one piglet per replicate. The results indicated that early weaning had an impact on gut health and could activate the inhibitor of the kappa B kinase gamma/inhibitor kappa B alpha/NF-kappa-B (IKKγ/IκBα/NF-κB) signaling pathway to ameliorate pro-inflammatory factor and apoptosis levels. Furthermore, early weaning reduced the activity of fatty acid ß oxidation (FAßO) and affected genes linked with lipid metabolism. Supplementing with leucine can improve the effects of these factors. In summary, leucine may alleviate the influences of early weaning on the lipid metabolism and inflammation in piglets.

Effect of an organic acid blend as an antibiotic alternative on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier function, and fecal microbiota in weaned piglets.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary organic acid blend on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier function, and fecal microbiota in weaned piglets compared to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). A total of 90 weaned crossbred barrows (24 ± 1 days of age) with an initial body weight of 7.40 kg were allocated into 3 experimental treatments. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicate pens, with 5 piglets housed in each pen. The dietary treatments included the basal diet (NC), the basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (PC), and the basal diet supplemented with organic acid blend (OA). On day 42, one piglet per pen was randomly selected for plasma and small intestinal sample collection. The results showed that dietary AGP significantly improved growth performance and reduced diarrhea incidence compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). Dietary OA tended to increase body weight on day 42 (P = 0.07) and average daily gain from day 0 to 42 (P = 0.06) and reduce diarrhea incidence (P = 0.05). Dietary OA significantly increased plasma catalase (CAT) activity and decreased the plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-6, which were accompanied by upregulated the relative mRNA abundance of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in comparison to that in the NC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, pigs fed the OA diet significantly increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth and upregulated the relative expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Claudin1 gene in the jejunum compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). Interestingly, dietary AGP or OA did not affect the fecal microbiota structure or volatile fatty acid content (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggested that dietary OA supplementation could improve growth performance and antioxidant capacity and protect the intestinal barrier of weaned piglets, therefore it has the potential to be consideredas an alternative to AGP in the pig industry.

Microbial Community and Metabolome Analysis of the Porcine Intestinal Damage Model Induced by the IPEC-J2 Cell Culture-Adapted Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) Infection.

This study was conducted to elucidate the intestinal damage induced by the IPEC-J2 cell culture-passaged PDCoV. The results showed that PDCoV disrupted the intestinal structure and increased intestinal permeability, causing abnormalities in mucosal pathology. Additionally, PDCoV induced an imbalance in the intestinal flora and disturbed its stability. Microbial community profiling revealed bacterial enrichment (e.g., Proteobacteria) and reduction (e.g., Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) in the PDCoV-inoculated piglet model. In addition, metabolomics analysis indicated that 82 named differential metabolites were successfully quantified, including 37 up-regulated and 45 down-regulated metabolites. Chenodeoxycholic acid, sphingosine, and oleanolic aldehyde levels were reduced in PDCoV-inoculated piglets, while phenylacetylglycine and geranylgeranyl-PP levels were elevated. Correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between Escherichia-Shigella and choline, succinic acid, creatine, phenyllactate, and hippuric acid. Meanwhile, Escherichia-Shigella was positively correlated with acetylcholine, L-Glutamicacid, and N-Acetylmuramate. Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010, Blautia, and Limosilactobacillus were negatively and positively correlated with sphingosine, respectively. These data suggested PDCoV-inoculated piglets exhibited significant taxonomic perturbations in the gut microbiome, which may result in a significantly altered metabolomic profile.

Modulation of Gut Microbial Community and Metabolism by Bacillus licheniformis HD173 Promotes the Growth of Nursery Piglets Model.

Maintaining the balance and stability of the gut microbiota is crucial for the gut health and growth development of humans and animals. Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) has been reported to be beneficial to the gut health of humans and animals, whereas the probiotic effects of a new strain, B. licheniformis HD173, remain uncertain. In this study, nursery piglets were utilized as animal models to investigate the extensive impact of B. licheniformis HD173 on gut microbiota, metabolites, and host health. The major findings were that this probiotic enhanced the growth performance and improved the health status of the nursery piglets. Specifically, it reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α in the serum while increasing the level of IL-10 and SOD. In the gut, B. licheniformis HD173 reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Mycoplasma, Vibrio, and Vibrio metschnikovii, while it increased the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, including Oscillospira, Coprococcus, and Roseburia faecis, leading to an enhanced production of butyric acid. Furthermore, B. licheniformis HD173 effectively improved the gut metabolic status, enabling the gut microbiota to provide the host with stronger metabolic abilities for nutrients. In summary, these findings provide scientific evidence for the utilization of B. licheniformis HD173 in the development and production of probiotic products for maintaining gut health in humans and animals.

Preweaning Purified Fucoidan Drench: Effects on Growth, Immune Response, and Intestinal Morphology in Weaned Piglets.

Weaning stress imposes considerable physiological challenges on piglets, often manifesting in intestinal disturbances, such as inflammation and compromised barrier function, ultimately affecting growth and health outcomes. While conventional interventions, including antimicrobials, have effectively mitigated these sequelae, concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance necessitate the exploration of alternatives. Fucoidan, derived from brown seaweed, offers promise due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Previous research has been limited to the in-feed supplementation of partially purified fucoidan extracted from brown seaweed. The focus of the present study is assessing the effect of a preweaning drench with highly purified (85%) fucoidan on piglet growth, immune response, and intestinal morphology post-weaning. Forty-eight male piglets at 17 ± 3 days of age (5.67 ± 0.16 kg) were assigned to a saline (control), fucoidan, or antimicrobial group, receiving treatment as a single 18 mL oral drench three days before weaning. Monitoring for seven days post-weaning included body weight measurements, blood sample collection for the inflammatory protein assay, and small intestine morphological analysis. The findings revealed that the preweaning fucoidan drench did not elicit adverse effects on piglets. However, neither fucoidan nor antimicrobial drenches significantly enhanced growth parameters, immune markers, or intestinal morphology compared to that of the control-treated piglets (p > 0.05). The lack of response may be attributed to the high health status of the experimental cohort and the limitation of a single dosage. Future research should consider a more challenging production setting to evaluate the viability and optimal application of fucoidan as an antimicrobial alternative in the pig industry.