Replacing dietary antibiotics with 0.20% l-glutamine and synbiotics following weaning and transport in pigs

Abstract Dietary antibiotic use has been limited in swine production due to concerns regarding antibiotic resistance. However, this may negatively impact the health, productivity, and welfare of pigs. Therefore, the study objective was to determine if combining dietary synbiotics and 0.20% l-glutamine would improve pig growth performance and intestinal health following weaning and transport when compared with traditionally used dietary antibiotics. Because previous research indicates that l-glutamine improves swine growth performance and synbiotics reduce enterogenic bacteria, it was hypothesized that supplementing diets with 0.20% l-glutamine (GLN) and synbiotics (SYN; 3 strains of Lactobacillus [1.2 × 10^9 cfu/g of strain/pig/d] + β-glucan [0.01 g/pig/d] + fructooligosaccharide [0.01 g/pig/d]) would have an additive effect and improve pig performance and intestinal health over that of dietary antibiotics. Mixed-sex pigs (N = 226; 5.86 ± 0.11 kg body weight [BW]) were weaned (19.4 ± 0.2 d of age) and transported for 12 h in central Indiana. Pigs were blocked by BW and allotted to one of two dietary treatments (5 to 6 pigs per pen): antibiotics (positive control [PC]; chlortetracycline [441 ppm] + tiamulin [38.5 ppm]), no antibiotics (negative control [NC]), GLN, SYN, or the NC diet with both the GLN and SYN additives (GLN + SYN) fed for 14 d. From day 14 post-weaning to the end of the grow-finish period, all pigs were provided common antibiotic-free diets. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX and PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4. Overall, haptoglobin was greater (P = 0.03; 216%) in NC pigs compared with PC pigs. On day 13, GLN and PC pigs tended to have reduced (P = 0.07; 75.2% and 67.3%, respectively) haptoglobin compared with NC pigs. On day 34, the jejunal goblet cell count per villi and per millimeter tended to be greater (P < 0.08; 71.4% and 62.9%, respectively) in SYN pigs compared with all other dietary treatments. Overall, jejunal mucosa tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) gene expression tended to be greater (P = 0.09; 40.0%) in NC pigs compared with PC pigs on day 34. On day 34, jejunal mucosa TNFα gene expression tended to be greater (P = 0.09; 33.3%, 41.2%, and 60.0%, respectively) in GLN pigs compared with SYN, GLN + SYN, and PC pigs. Although it was determined that some metrics of pig health were improved by the addition of GLN and SYN (i.e., haptoglobin and goblet cell count), overall, there were very few differences detected between dietary treatments and this may be related to the stress load incurred by the pigs.

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367 Combinational use of sodium butyrate and phytogenics on intestinal health of nursery pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.270 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 132-133

Author(s):

S Bloomer ◽

Y C Cheng ◽

H M Yakout ◽

S W Kim

Keyword(s):

Sodium Butyrate ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Protein Carbonyl ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Gut Health ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Enterocyte Proliferation ◽

Tnf Α

Abstract The effects of encapsulated sodium butyrate (SB), phytogenics (PH), or a combination were studied on intestinal health of nursery pigs. Phytogenics were blends of dry herbs and essential oil components. Forty-eight weaned pigs (21-d-old; 6.9 ± 0.6 kg BW) were individually housed, blocked by initial BW and sex, allotted to 4 dietary treatments (n = 12) in a RCBD, and fed for 33-d (P1: 0–7; P2: 7–19; and P3: 19–33). Treatments were arranged by 2 factors: SB (P1: 0.2% and P2: 0.1%) and PH (P3: 0.033%). Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (2012) nutrient requirements and pigs were fed ad libitum. For each phase, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were measured. Fecal scores were assessed during d 3–19 and d 26–33. Blood samples were drawn in P2 and P3 to measure tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Four pigs at P2 and 8 pigs in P3 from each treatment were euthanized to collect jejunal tissue, jejunal mucosa, and ileal digesta to measure gut histology, TNF-α, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Fixed effects were treatments and random effects were blocks. In P2 and P1-2, SB decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI whereas no effect on ADG and G:F. In P2, SB tended to decrease (P = 0.063) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) whereas increased (P < 0.05) enterocyte proliferation in P3. In P3 and overall, PH increased (P < 0.05) G:F. No changes were found in TNF-α, IL-6, MPO, MDA, IgG, and protein carbonyl. Conclusively, SB and a combinational use of SB and PH showed minimal effects on growth performance and gut health when added to the diets of nursery pigs. However, PH supplementation increased feed efficiency of nursery pigs during 19–33 d post-weaning.

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154 Evaluating the effects of prophylactic antibiotics on intestinal health in pigs given a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist during weaning and transport

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.222 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 122-122

Author(s):

Betty R McConn ◽

Jean E Rivier ◽

Dominic P Behan ◽

Brian T Richert ◽

John S Radcliffe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prophylactic Antibiotics ◽

Corticotropin Releasing Factor ◽

Mrna Abundance ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Study Objective ◽

Factor Alpha ◽

Jejunal Tumor ◽

Factor Antagonist ◽

Necrosis Factor

Abstract Prophylactic antibiotics improve intestinal health in pigs; however, it is unknown whether their efficacy interacts with a pig’s stress response following weaning and transport. The study objective was to determine whether a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonist would impact the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics on improving intestinal health in transported weaned pigs. Mixed-sex pigs (n = 56; 5.70 ± 1.05 kg BW) were weaned (20.49 ± 0.64 d), a blood sample was taken, pigs were given an i.p. injection of saline (SAL) or a CRF antagonist (CRFA; 30 µg/kg BW; Astressin B), and then were transported for 12 h. Pigs were given a second and third i.p. injection at 6 and 12 h of transport, respectively. Following transport, 4 SAL and 4 CRFA pigs were blood sampled and euthanized. The remaining 48 pigs were individually housed and assigned to an antibiotic [A; chlortetracycline (441 ppm) + tiamulin (38.6 ppm)] or no antibiotic (NA) diet treatment balanced by injection treatment (n = 12 pigs/treatment combination). Blood was collected at 12 h and on d 3, 7, and 14 and pigs were euthanized on d 7 (n = 24) and d 14 (n = 24) post-weaning and transport. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone was reduced overall (P = 0.05; 9.1%) in CRFA versus SAL pigs. On d 7, jejunal villus height was greater (P = 0.04; 33%) in A versus NA pigs. Jejunal zonula occludens-1 (58.8%) and ileal claudin-1 (100.5%) mRNA abundance tended to be increased (P = 0.09) in CRFA+NA versus SAL+NA pigs on d 7. On d 14, jejunal tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA abundance was reduced (P = 0.02; 29.9%) in A versus NA pigs and jejunal glucagon-like peptide-2 mRNA abundance was increased (P = 0.03) in CRFA+NA versus SAL+NA (48.4%) and SAL+A versus SAL+NA (55.8%) pigs. No intestinal health parameter differences were detected (P > 0.05) between CRFA+NA and SAL+A pigs. In conclusion, CRFA and A impacted weaned pig intestinal health measures at similar levels.

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173 Lysed Corynebacterium glutamicum cell mass from lysine production as a novel feed additive to enhance gut health and growth of newly-weaned pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.139 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 77-78

Author(s):

Yi-Chi Cheng ◽

Marcos E Duarte ◽

Sung Woo Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Corynebacterium Glutamicum ◽

Block Design ◽

Cell Mass ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Feed Additive ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Gut Health ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract The objective was to determine the functional and nutritional values of Corynebacterium glutamicum Cell Mass (CGCM) on growth performance and gut health of newly-weaned pigs. Forty newly-weaned pigs (21 d of age; initial BW 7.1 ± 0.4 kg) were allotted to 5 dietary treatments based on randomized complete block design with sex and BW as blocks. The lysine broth of CGCM (CJ Bio, Fort Dodge, IA) was homogenized by using French press and dried to obtain lysed CGCM. Dietary treatments were: basal diet with lysed CGCM at 0, 0.7, 1.4, 2.1%, and with 1.4% intact CGCM. Experimental diets were formulated based on nutrient requirements (NRC, 2012) and pigs were fed based on 2 phases (10 and 11 d for each phase). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to phase 2 diets as an indigestible external marker to calculate nutrient digestibility. Feed intake and BW were measured at d 0, 10, and 21. Pigs were euthanized on d 21 to collect proximal and distal jejunal mucosa to measure TNF-α, IL-8, MDA, IgA, and IgG concentrations. Diets and ileal digesta were collected to measure AID. Data were analyzed by SAS using MIXED, REG, and GLM procedures. Overall, increasing daily lysed CGCM intake increased (P < 0.05) ADG (211 to 296 g) and ADFI (432 to 501 g). Increasing levels of lysed CGCM decreased (P < 0.05) MDA and changed (quadratic, P < 0.05) IgA (max: 4.90 ng/mg at 1.13%) and IgG (max: 3.37 ng/mg at 1.04%) in the proximal jejunal mucosa. Increasing daily lysed CGCM intake had quadratic effect (P< 0.05) of protein carbonyl (max: 6.3 μmol/mg at 4.9 g/d). Lysed CGCM potentially benefits growth performance and gut health of newly-weaned pigs by reducing oxidative stress and increasing immune response.

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Effects of amino acid biomass or feed-grade amino acids on growth performance of growing swine and poultry12

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz163 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 49-58

Author(s):

Madie R Wensley ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Joel M Derouchey ◽

Steve S Dritz ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Suitable Alternative ◽

Poultry Diets ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of three fermented amino acids (AA) with their respective biomass compared to crystalline AA on the growth performance of swine and poultry. In experiment 1, 315 barrows (DNA 200 × 400, initially 11.3 ± 0.69 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 5 pigs per pen and 15 or 16 pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included a negative control (16% standardized ileal digestible [SID] Tryptophan:lysine [Trp:Lys] ratio), positive control (21% SID Trp:Lys ratio from crystalline Trp), or diets containing Trp with biomass to provide 21 or 23.5% SID Trp:Lys ratios, respectively. Pigs fed the positive control or low Trp with biomass diet had increased (P < 0.05) ADG compared to pigs fed the negative control diet, with pigs fed the high Trp with biomass diet intermediate. Pigs fed the low Trp with biomass diet had increased (P < 0.05) G:F compared to the negative control diet, with others intermediate. In experiment 2, 1,320 1-d-old male broilers (Cobb 500, initially 45.2 g) were allotted to one of four dietary treatments with 33 birds per pen and 10 pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included a negative control (58/58% Threonine:lysine [Thr:Lys] ratio), positive control (65/66% Thr:Lys ratio from crystalline Thr), or diets containing Thr with biomass to provide 65/66 or 69/70% Thr:Lys ratios in starter and grower diets, respectively. Broilers fed the positive control or Thr with biomass diets had increased (P < 0.05) ADG compared to broilers fed the negative control diet. Broilers fed the positive control or the low Thr with biomass diet had increased (P < 0.05) G:F compared to the negative control and high Thr with biomass treatments. In experiment 3, 2,100 one-day-old male broilers (Cobb 500, initially 39.4 g) were allotted to one of four dietary treatments with 35 birds per pen and 15 pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included a negative control (59/63% Valine:lysine [Val:Lys] ratio), positive control (75/76% Val:Lys ratio from crystalline Val), or diets containing Val with biomass to provide 75/76 or 84/83% Val:Lys ratios in starter and grower diets, respectively. Broilers fed the positive control or Val with biomass diets had increased (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and G:F compared to those fed the negative control diet. In conclusion, Trp, Thr, or Val with their respective biomass appear to be equally bioavailable and a suitable alternative to crystalline AA in swine and poultry diets.

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Supplementation of a low-energy diet with recombinant ferritin from Perinereis sp. can be beneficial to finishing pigs

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2018-0129 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 631-639

Author(s):

S. Serpunja ◽

I.H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

High Energy ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Low Energy ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Average Body ◽

Low Energy Diet

A total of 90 finishing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 50.02 ± 1.78 kg were used in a 10 wk experiment. The pigs were distributed into three dietary treatments replicated six times with five pigs (two barrows and three gilts) per pen. The treatment diets were a positive control (PC; high-energy diet), a negative control (NC; low-energy diet), and an NC + 0.05% ferritin diet (TRT1). The supplementation of ferritin in a low-energy diet tended (P = 0.06) to increase the BW at week 5 compared with pigs fed low-energy diets without ferritin. At week 5 and overall period, the gain-to-feed ratio of pigs fed high-energy diets was higher (P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed low-energy diets. The pigs receiving a ferritin-supplemented diet had a comparable growth performance to pigs fed high-energy diets. At week 10, fecal Lactobacilli counts of pigs fed high-energy diets were higher (P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed low-energy diets. The supplementation of low-energy diets with ferritin resulted in comparable growth performance to pigs fed high-energy diets and had no adverse effect on digestibility and fecal gas emissions. Thus, it seems beneficial to include ferritin in low-energy diets of finishing pigs.

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366 Efficacy of mycotoxin deactivators on health and growth of newly weaned pigs under chronic dietary challenges of deoxynivalenol

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.268 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 130-132

Author(s):

D M Holanda ◽

S W Kim

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Liver Function ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Mucosa ◽

Plant Extracts ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Yeast Culture ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Lower Serum

Abstract The efficacy of mycotoxin deactivators on health and growth performance of newly weaned pigs (27 d-old) fed diets naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol was investigated. Sixty pigs were housed individually and assigned to 5 treatments for 34 d subdivided into 3 phases: NC (no added deoxynivalenol); PC (deoxynivalenol at 2 mg/kg); CYC (PC + clay/yeast culture based product, 0.2%); CYE (PC + clay/yeast cell wall/plant extracts/antioxidants based product, 0.2%); and CYB (PC + clay/inactivated yeast/botanicals/antioxidants based product, 0.2%). Blood was taken at d 14 and 34. Intestinal mucosa was taken at d 34. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed of SAS with pre-planned contrasts. Deoxynivalenol reduced (P < 0.05) ADG in P3. Pigs fed CYC had greater (P < 0.05) ADG during overall period, ADFI during P3, and gain/feed during P2 than PC. At d 14, deoxynivalenol reduced (P < 0.05) BUN/creatinine and tended to reduce (P = 0.088) BUN. Pigs fed CYB tended to have greater (P = 0.059) AST than PC. At d 34, pigs fed CYC (P = 0.083) and CYB (P = 0.068) tended to have lower serum CPK than PC. Pigs fed CYE had lower (P < 0.05) BUN/creatinine than PC. Deoxynivalenol tended to increase (P = 0.068) malondialdehydes and decrease (P = 0.072) glutathione in jejunal mucosa. Pigs fed CYE and CYB had lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehydes, whereas pigs fed CYB had greater (P < 0.05) glutathione and tended to have lower (P = 0.079) jejunal IgA than PC. Pigs fed CYC (P = 0.066) and CYE (P = 0.099) tended to have lower jejunal IL8 than PC. In conclusion, deoxynivalenol compromised growth performance and intestinal health. The mycotoxin deactivators could enhance intestinal health of pigs fed diets with deoxynivalenol without affecting liver function.

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Modulation of jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota in relation to intestinal health and nutrient digestibility in pigs by supplementation of β-glucanase to corn soybean meal-based diets with xylanase

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab190 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marcos Elias Duarte ◽

Chris Sparks ◽

Sung Woo Kim

Keyword(s):

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Nutrient Utilization ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

The Status

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of β-glucanase on modulation of jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota in relation to nutrient digestibility and intestinal health of pigs fed diets with 30% corn DDGS and xylanase. Forty pigs at 12.4 ± 0.5 kg BW were allotted in a RCBD with initial BW and sex as blocks. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet with xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg) and increasing levels of β-glucanase (0, 200, 400, and 600 U/kg) meeting nutrient requirements and fed to pigs for 21 d. Blood samples were collected at d 19. At d 21, all pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal tissues and digesta. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), IL-6, and MDA were measured in plasma and mid-jejunal mucosa. Viscosity was determined using digesta from the distal jejunum. Ileal and rectal digesta were evaluated to determine AID and ATTD of nutrients. Mucosa samples from the mid-jejunum were utilized for microbiota sequencing. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure on SAS 9.4. Overall, increasing dietary β-glucanase tended to increase (Linear; P = 0.077) the ADG of pigs. Increasing dietary β-glucanase affected (quadratic; P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, reduced (linear; P < 0.05) Helicobacter rappini, whereas increased (Linear, P < 0.05) Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. β-glucanase supplementation (0 vs. others) tended to increase (P = 0.096) the AID of CP in the diet, whereas increasing dietary β-glucanase tended to increase (Linear; P = 0.097) the ATTD of GE in the diet and increased (Linear; P < 0.05) the concentration of IL-6 in the plasma of pigs. In conclusion, increasing β-glucanase up to 600 U/kg feed in a diet containing xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg) modulated mucosa-associated microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and reducing potentially harmful bacteria. Furthermore, increasing β-glucanase up to 600 U/kg feed in a diet containing xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg feed) enhanced the status of intestinal environment and nutrient utilization, as well as reduced systemic inflammation of pigs, collectively resulting in moderate improvement of growth performance. Supplementing β-glucanase at a range of 312 to 410 U/kg with xylanase at 1,500 EPU/kg feed showed the most benefit on jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota and reduced systemic inflammation of pigs.

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Effects of ambient levels of traffic-derived air pollution on the ocular surface: Analysis of symptoms, conjunctival goblet cell count and mucin 5AC gene expression

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2014.02.014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 131 ◽

pp. 59-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

André Augusto Miranda Torricelli ◽

Monique Matsuda ◽

Priscila Novaes ◽

Alfésio Luiz Ferreira Braga ◽

Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Cell Count ◽

Surface Analysis ◽

Goblet Cell ◽

Ocular Surface ◽

Ambient Levels

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15 Dietary supplementation with lactic acid and glutamine improve intestinal digestive and regulate intestinal microflora in weaning piglets

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 16-16

Author(s):

Ping Zheng ◽

Junjie Jiang ◽

Bing Yu ◽

Jun He ◽

Jie Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Intestinal Development ◽

Serum Growth Hormone ◽

Weaning Piglets ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of lactic acid and glutamine on growth performance and intestinal health in weaning pigs. Ninety six 24-d-old piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with BW of 7.24± 0.09 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: 1) basal diet (CON), 2) CON supplemented with 2% lactic acid (LS), 3) CON supplemented with 1% glutamine (GS), and 4) CON supplemented with 2% lactic acid and 1% glutamine (LGS). After 28-d trial, 6 piglets from each treatment were randomly selected to collect serum and intestinal samples. The results showed that piglets fed the LGS had a greater (P < 0.05) ADG than piglets fed the CON diet. Compared with CON, apparent total tract digestibility of CP in LS, GS and LGS was greater (P < 0.05), index of diarrhea in LS and LGS was lower (P < 0.05), serum IGF-1 in LS, GS and LGS and serum growth hormone in LS and GS were improved (P < 0.05). Furthermore, jejunal villus height in LS and LGS were increased (P < 0.05), the activities of amylase and lipase of the jejunal mucosa in LS and LGS were increased (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with CON, pigs fed the LS, GS and LGS up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA levels of glucose transport type 2, IGF-1, occludin. Moreover, LGS had higher (P < 0.05) abundances of total bacteria, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in cecal and colonic digesta, and higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acid in cecal digesta. Collectively, the current results indicate that dietary addition of lactic acid and glutamine combination could improve growth performance through the promotion of the small intestinal development, increasing digestive, and regulating balances of microflora in piglets.

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Supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer enhanced growth and disease resistance of weaned pigs by modulating intestinal integrity and systemic immunity

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40104-021-00655-2 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kwangwook Kim ◽

Yijie He ◽

Cynthia Jinno ◽

Lauren Kovanda ◽

Xunde Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Animal Health ◽

Control Group ◽

Jejunal Mucosa ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Ileal Mucosa ◽

Total Coliforms ◽

Systemic Immunity

Abstract Background There is a great demand for antibiotic alternatives to maintain animal health and productivity. The objective of this experiment was to determine the efficacy of dietary supplementation of a blood group A6 type 1 antigen oligosaccharides-based polymer (Coligo) on growth performance, diarrhea severity, intestinal health, and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), when compared with antibiotics. Results Pigs in antibiotic carbadox or Coligo treatment groups had greater (P < 0.05) body weight on d 5 or d 11 post-inoculation (PI) than pigs in the control group, respectively. Supplementation of antibiotics or Coligo enhanced (P < 0.05) feed efficiency from d 0 to 5 PI and reduced (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea throughout the experiment, compared with pigs in the control group. Supplementation of antibiotics reduced (P < 0.05) fecal β-hemolytic coliforms on d 2, 5, and 8 PI. Pigs in antibiotics or Coligo groups had reduced (P < 0.05) neutrophil counts and serum haptoglobin concentration compared to pigs in the control group on d 2 and 5 PI. Pigs in Coligo had reduced (P < 0.05) total coliforms in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 5 and 11 PI, whereas pigs in antibiotics or Coligo groups had reduced (P < 0.05) total coliforms in spleen on d 11 PI compared with pigs in the control group. On d 5 PI, pigs in the Coligo group had greater (P < 0.05) gene expression of ZO1 in jejunal mucosa, but less (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of IL1B, IL6, and TNF in ileal mucosa, in comparison with pigs in the control group. Supplementation of antibiotics enhanced (P < 0.05) the gene expression of OCLN in jejunal mucosa but decreased (P < 0.05) IL1B and IL6 gene expression in ileal mucosa, compared with the control. On d 11 PI, supplementation of antibiotics or Coligo up-regulated (P < 0.05) gene expression of CLDN1 in jejunal mucosa, but Coligo reduced (P < 0.05) IL6 gene expression in ileal mucosa compared to pigs in the control group. Conclusions Supplementation of Coligo improved growth performance, alleviated diarrhea severity, and enhanced gut health in weaned pigs infected with ETEC F18 in a manner similar to in-feed antibiotics.

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