187 Effects of Oligosaccharide-based Polymer on Growth Performance, Diarrhea, and Fecal β-hemolytic Coliforms in Weanling Pigs Experimentally Infected with a Pathogenic E. coli

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Kwangwook Kim ◽  
Yijie He ◽  
Cynthia Jinno ◽  
Seijoo Yang ◽  
Xunde Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Watery Diarrhea ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Diet Control ◽  
Dietary Treatments

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to investigate dietary supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer on growth performance, diarrhea, and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic F18 Escherichia coli (E. coli). Forty-eight pigs (7.23 ± 1.11 kg BW) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly allotted to one of four treatments with 12 replicate pigs per treatment. The four dietary treatments were a nursery basal diet (control), and 3 additional diets supplemented with 50 mg/kg Mecadox (AGP), 10 or 20 mg/kg of oligosaccharide-based polymer. The experiment lasted 18 d [7 d before and 11 d after the first inoculation (d 0)]. The doses of F18 E. coli inoculum were 1010 cfu/3 mL oral dose daily for 3 days. Growth performance was measured on d -7 to 0 before inoculation, and d 0 to 5 and 5 to 11 post-inoculation (PI). Diarrhea score (DS; 1, normal, to 5, watery diarrhea) was daily recorded for each pig. Fecal samples were collected on d 2, 5, 8, and 11 PI to test the percentage of β-hemolytic coliforms in total coliforms. All data were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED of SAS with pig as the experimental unit. Inclusion of oligosaccharide-based polymer linearly increased (P < 0.05) ADFI on d 0 to 5 PI, and feed efficiency on d 0 to 5 PI and d 5 to 11 PI (P = 0.07), compared with the control. Supplementation of AGP or oligosaccharide-based polymer reduced (P < 0.01) frequency of diarrhea of pigs from d 0 to 11 PI. No differences were observed in overall growth performance and percentage of fecal β-hemolytic coliforms on d 8 PI among pigs in AGP and oligosaccharide-based polymer treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer enhanced feed efficiency and reduced diarrhea of weaned pigs infected with a pathogenic E. coli.

scholarly journals Growth performance and gut health of Escherichia coli-challenged weaned pigs fed diets supplemented with a Bacillus subtilis direct-fed microbial

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangwoo Park ◽  
Jung Wook Lee ◽  
Kevin Jerez Bogota ◽  
David Francis ◽  
Jolie Caroline González-Vega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Growth Promoter ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
E Coli

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) product (Bacillus subtilis strain DSM 32540) in weaned pigs challenged with K88 strain of Escherichia coli on growth performance and indicators of gut health. A total of 21 weaned pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 8.19 kg] were housed individually in pens and fed three diets (seven replicates per diet) for 21 d in a completely randomized design. The three diets were a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet without feed additives, a basal diet with 0.25% antibiotics (neo-Oxy 10-10; neomycin + oxytetracycline), or a basal diet with 0.05% DFM. All pigs were orally challenged with a subclinical dose (6.7 × 108 CFU/mL) of K88 strain of E. coli on day 3 of the study (3 d after weaning). Feed intake and BW data were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Fecal scores were recorded daily. On day 21, pigs were sacrificed to determine various indicators of gut health. Supplementation of the basal diet with antibiotics or DFM did not affect the overall (days 0–21) growth performance of pigs. However, antibiotics or DFM supplementation increased (P = 0.010) gain:feed (G:F) of pigs during the post-E. coli challenge period (days 3–21) by 23% and 24%, respectively. The G:F for the DFM-supplemented diet did not differ from that for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. The frequency of diarrhea for pigs fed a diet with antibiotics or DFM tended to be lower (P = 0.071) than that of pigs fed the basal diet. The jejunal villous height (VH) and the VH to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) were increased (P < 0.001) by 33% and 35%, respectively, due to the inclusion of antibiotics in the basal diet and by 43% and 41%, respectively due to the inclusion of DFM in the basal diet. The VH and VH:CD for the DFM-supplemented diet were greater (P < 0.05) than those for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. Ileal VH was increased (P < 0.05) by 46% due to the inclusion of DFM in the basal diet. The empty weight of small intestine, cecum, or colon relative to live BW was unaffected by dietary antibiotics or DFM supplementation. In conclusion, the addition of DFM to the basal diet improved the feed efficiency of E. coli-challenged weaned pigs to a value similar to that of the antibiotics-supplemented diet and increased jejunal VH and VH:CD ratio to values greater than those for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. Thus, under E. coli challenge, the test DFM product may replace the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter in diets for weaned pigs to improve feed efficiency and gut integrity.

197 Supplementation of Bacillus Amyloquefaciens on Growth Performance and Diarrhea Score of Weaned Pigs Experimentally Infected with a Pathogenic E. coli

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 79-80
Author(s):  
Cynthia Jinno ◽  
Braden T Wong ◽  
Martina Kluenemann ◽  
Xunde Li ◽  
Yanhong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Oral Dose ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Watery Diarrhea ◽  
Sham Control ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Entire Experiment ◽  
Dietary Treatments

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloquefaciens on diarrhea and growth performance of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic E. coli. A total of 50 weaned pigs (7.41 ± 1.35 kg) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly assigned to one of the 5 treatments: sham control (CON-), sham B. amyloquefaciens (BAM-), challenged control (CON+), challenged B. amyloquefaciens (BAM+) and challenged carbadox (CAR+). The experiment lasted 28 days with 7 days’ adaptation and 21 days after the first E. coli inoculation. The doses of F18 E. coli inoculum were 1010 CFU/3 mL oral dose daily for 3 consecutive days. Pigs were weighed on d -7, and d 0, 7, 14, and 21 PI and feed intake was recorded weekly to calculate growth performance. Diarrhea score was recorded twice daily ranging score from 1 (normal feces) to 5 (watery diarrhea). Fecal swabs were performed on each pig on d 2, 7, 14, and 21 PI to test the percentage of β-hemolytic coliforms in total coliforms. All data were analyzed with PROC MIXED of SAS. E. coli challenge reduced (P < 0.05) growth rate through the entire experiment. However, supplementation of CAR enhanced (P < 0.05) growth performance, while inclusion of BAM tended (P < 0.10) to increase growth performance of weaned pigs. No differences were observed in growth performance of pigs between BAM+ and CAR+ throughout the experiment. E. coli challenge did not change the percentage of β-hemolytic coliforms but increased (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea. However, no difference was observed in diarrhea among 3 dietary treatments. In conclusion, supplementing B. amyloquefaciens tended to enhance growth performance but had limited effects on diarrhea of weaned pigs challenged with E. coli.

Effects of dietary Korean garlic extract aged by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM35046 on growth performance, digestibility, blood profiles, gas emissions, and microbiota in weanling pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 462-469
Author(s):  
J.H. Cho ◽  
S.D. Liu ◽  
I.H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Weanling Pigs ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Dietary Treatments

A total of 150 crossbred pigs [(Duroc × Yorkshire) × Landrace; body weight (BW) = 5.74 ± 1.15 kg; weaned at day 21 after birth] were assigned to one of five dietary treatments (six pens per treatment and five pigs per pen) by BW and sex (two barrows and three gilts) for a 6 wk experiment. The pen was considered the experimental unit in the statistical model. Treatments were corn–soybean meal diets supplemented with 0.0033% tiamulin as well as 0%, 0.05%, 0.10%, or 0.20% fermented garlic (FG). The average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio were linearly (p < 0.05) increased by FG inclusion during days 21–42 and days 0–42. Dietary supplementation of FG linearly increased (p < 0.05) the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy as well as blood immunoglobulin G concentration during week 6. The fecal ammonia (NH3), total mercaptan emissions, and Escherichia coli counts were linearly (p < 0.05) reduced by FG in the diet. Dietary supplementation of FG increased (p < 0.05) ADFI during days 21–42 and days 0–42 and reduced (p < 0.05) fecal NH3 emissions compared with pigs fed tiamulin. In conclusion, the results indicate that FG can enhance growth performance and digestibility, and reduce fecal E. coli counts as well as fecal gas emissions in weanling pigs.

scholarly journals Effect of Dietary Symbiotic and Acidifier on Growth Performance and Nutrients Digestibility in Growing Pigs Crossbreed

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Danung Nur Adli ◽  
Osfar Sjofjan
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Nutrients Digestibility

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of dietary probiotic enhanced liquid acidifier combined with mannan-rich fraction on growth performance, nutrients digestibility in growing pigs. Thirty [(Duroc×Yorkshire)×Landrace] pigs with the average initial BW of 36.75±1.57 kg were allocated into three treatments by a randomized complete block design. There were five pens per treatment with six pigs per pen. Dietary treatments include: 1) CON (basal diet); 2) T1 (basal diet+probiotic 0.1%) and 3) T2 (basal diet+probiotic+mannan rich fraction 0.2%). the data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using of SAS University Version 4.0. The model included the effects of block (replication) and treatment. Pen served as the experimental unit. During the entire experimental period of 6 weeks, results showed that addition of complex probiotic at the level of 0.2% to diet increased ADG significantly (p<0.05). Also, digestibility of DM and N tended to increase. To sum up, results in this experiment indicated that dietary [(probiotik×acidifier)×mannan-rich-fraction]  supplementation had a positive effect on growing pigs performance and nutrient digestibility

216 Effect of Dietary L-valine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immune Response, and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs Raised in Varying Sanitary Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 113-114
Author(s):  
Bonjin Koo ◽  
Martin Nyachoti
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Microbial Metabolites ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Sanitary Condition ◽  
Sanitary Conditions

Abstract This study investigated the effects of dietary L-valine supplementation and sanitary conditions on growth performance, immune response, and microbial metabolites in weaned pigs. Thirty-two weaned pigs (6.98 ± 0.47 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement based on dietary Val level and sanitary condition (clean or unclean). The pigs were fed either a basal diet containing the standard levels of Val suggested by NRC (2012) or the basal diet with an additional 0.1% of L-Val. A room designated as the clean room was washed weekly, whereas the designated unclean room was not washed throughout the experiment and 5 kg of manure from the nursery pig barn was spread on the pen floors on day 1. All data were analyzed using a mixed procedure of SAS, with the individual pen as the experimental unit. The pigs raised in unsanitary conditions exhibited a lower average daily gain and average daily feed intake and a higher incidence of diarrhea than those raised in sanitary conditions during the 14-day experimental period (P &lt; 0.05). The pigs in the unclean group also had a lower concentration of butyrate in the jejunum and a higher concentration of ammonia-N in the colon than those in the clean group (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary valine supplementation reduced plasma interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1 receptor antagonist concentrations as well as isovalerate and ammonia-N concentrations in the colon (P &lt; 0.05). Interactions between dietary Val supplementation and sanitary conditions were observed in the abundance of mRNA-encoding β-defensins 113, 125, and 129 (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Val supplementation beneficially modulates inflammatory response and microbial metabolites regardless of sanitary condition, while transcriptional levels of β-defensins are regulated by dietary Val supplementation in a manner dependent on housing hygiene conditions.

scholarly journals 140 Effects of Bacillus subtilis probiotics on growth performance, diarrhea, and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 79-80
Author(s):  
Yijie He ◽  
Kwangwook Kim ◽  
Cynthia Jinno ◽  
Lauren Kovanda ◽  
Seijoo Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
E Coli

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, diarrhea and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a strain of E. coli (F18, express genes of LT, STb, and SLT 2 toxins). Weaned pigs (n = 48, 6.17 ± 0.36 kg BW) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: negative control (NC, control diet without E. coli challenge), positive control (PC, control diet with E. coli challenge), and supplementation of 50 mg/kg of carbadox or 500 mg/kg of Bacillus subtilis probiotics. The experiment lasted 28 d with 7 d before and 21 d after the first E. coli inoculation. The F18 E. coli were given to pigs at 1010 CFU/3 mL dose for three consecutive d. Diarrhea score was daily recorded for each pig to calculate frequency of diarrhea. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 PI to analyze β-hemolytic coliforms. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS. Pigs supplemented with carbadox had greater (P < 0.05) body weight on d 7, 14, and 21 PI than pigs in the PC and probiotics group. Supplementation of probiotics enhanced pig body weight on d 21 PI, compared with the PC. E. coli challenge reduced (P < 0.05) ADG and feed efficiency from d 0 to 21 PI, while supplementation of antibiotics or probiotics enhanced ADG and feed efficiency from d 0 to 21 PI. Pigs in carbadox and probiotics groups had reduced (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea throughout the experiment and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms on d 7 PI than pigs in the PC. In conclusion, supplementation of Bacillus subtilis could enhance disease resistance and promote growth performance of weaned pigs under disease challenge condition.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Resistance Phenotype and Genotype of Generic Escherichia coli from Encapsulated Cinnamaldehyde and Citral Fed-Broiler Chicken

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongwu Yang ◽  
Muhammad Attiq Rehman ◽  
Xianhua Yin ◽  
Catherine D Carrilloc ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Diet Control ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Relationship Of

This study investigated the effects of in-feed encapsulated cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and citral (CIT) alone or in combination (CIN+CIT) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes and genotypes of E. coli isolated from feces of 6-, 16-, 23- and 27-days old broiler chickens. The five dietary treatments including the basal diet (control; NC), the basal diet supplemented with 55 ppm bacitracin (BAC), 100 ppm encapsulated CIN, CIT, or CIN+CIT. Antimicrobial susceptibility using a Sensititre method of 240 E. coli isolates showed that the most frequent resistances were against b-lactam, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide and tetracycline, however, the prevalence of AMR decreased (P &lt; 0.05) when birds aged in general. The prevalence of resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, gentamicin, and sulfonamide was lower (P &lt; 0.05) in isolates from CIN or CIN+CIT compared to those from NC or BAC. The whole-genome sequencing analysis of 227 of the 240 isolates detected 26 AMR genes (ARGs) and 19 plasmids but the prevalence of some ARGs and plasmid numbers were lower (P &lt; 0.05) in E. coli isolated from CIN or CIN+CIT than NC or BAC. The most prevalent resistance genes included tet(A) (n=108), aac3_Vla (n=91), aadA1 (n=86), blaCMY-2 (n=78), sul1 (n=77), aph3_lb (n=58), aph6_ld (n=58), and sul2 (n=24). Interestingly, the number of most virulence genes (VGs) increased (P &lt; 0.05) over time from 6 to 27 days of age. The prevalence of isolates of serotype O21:H16 was lower (P &lt; 0.05) in CIN and CIN+CIT while colibacillosis-associated multi-locus sequence typing (ST117) was the most prevalent in isolates from day 23. A whole genome-based phylogenetic tree revealed a close relationship of 25 of 227 isolates to human or broiler extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. This study indicates that AMR and virulence genotypes of E. coli could be modulated by encapsulated CIN or CIN+CIT feed supplementations and prompt further investigations on the involved mechanisms.

scholarly journals Probiotics and Achyranthes bidentata Polysaccharides Improve Growth Performance via Promoting Intestinal Nutrient Utilization and Enhancing Immune Function of Weaned Pigs

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2617
Author(s):  
Gaifeng Hou ◽  
Wei Peng ◽  
Liangkai Wei ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Xingguo Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Function ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Nutrient Utilization ◽  
Jejunal Mucosa ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Achyranthes Bidentata ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Nutrients Digestibility

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics and Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides on the growth performance, nutrients digestibility, and immune function of weaned pigs. One hundred and twenty weaned pigs (about 7 kg BW, 23 ± 2 d) were allotted to five dietary treatments (CON: antibiotics-free basal diet; ANT: CON + antibiotics; PRO: CON + probiotics; ABPS: CON + Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides; P-ABPS: PRO + ABPS) for a 28-day trial. Compared with CON, pigs in ANT, PRO, ABPS, and P-ABPS had greater (p < 0.05) ADG, ATTD of CP and GE, serum ALB, IgA and IL-2, duodenal intraepithelial lymphocyte, ileal VH and jejunal mucosa sIgA, but lower (p < 0.05) fecal scores, serum BUN, and IL-1β. Meanwhile, ANT, PRO, ABPS, and P-ABPS exhibited similar beneficial roles on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, serum parameters, and immune function. Interestingly, P-ABPS effects were similar to those obtained with ANT rather than with PRO or ABPS. In conclusion, Dietary PRO or ABPS used alone or in combination (P-ABPS), the combination augmenting the positive effect more than the independent supplement, could improve piglets’ growth performance via promoting intestinal nutrient digestion and absorption and enhancing immune function, indicating it had the potential to act as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics used in piglet diets.

scholarly journals PSVII-42 Growth performance, gut health, and immune responses of Escherichia coli-challenged weaned pigs fed probiotic-supplemented diets

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 359-360
Author(s):  
Sangwoo Park ◽  
Jinsu Hong ◽  
David Francis ◽  
Caroline J González -Vega ◽  
John K Htoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Immunoglobulin A ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Villous Height

Abstract To evaluate the effects of probiotics on performance and gut health of Escherichia coli-challenged weaned pigs, a total of 28 weaned pigs (initial BW = 8.25 kg) were housed individually in pens and fed 4 experimental diets for 21 d in a completely randomized design. The 4 diets were corn-soybean meal-based basal diet without or with 0.25% antibiotics (neomycin + oxytetracycline), 0.05% Bacillus subtilis DSM 32540, or 0.05% Bacillus pumilus DSM 32539. All pigs were orally challenged with K88 strain of E. coli on d 3. Feed intake and BW data, and blood samples were collected on d 3, 7, 14, and 21. Fecal scores were recorded daily. On d 21, pigs were sacrificed to determine gastrointestinal histomorphology, pH and organ weights. Supplementation of the basal diet with antibiotics or B. pumilus did not affect the overall (d 0 to 21) ADG and G:F. The B. subtilis supplementation did not affect the overall ADG, but tended to increase (P &lt; 0.1) the overall G:F by 15%. Fecal score was unaffected by dietary treatment. Supplementation of the basal diet with either probiotic, but not antibiotics increased (P &lt; 0.05) jejunal villous height and reduced (P &lt; 0.05) cecal digesta pH. Supplementation with B. pumilus tended to increase (P &lt; 0.1) colon weight relative to BW; however, antibiotics or B. subtilis supplementation did not affect colon weight. The addition of B. subtilis to basal diet tended to increase (P &lt; 0.1) serum immunoglobulin A concentration on d 21 of the study; however, such effect was not observed with the addition of antibiotics or B. pumilus. In conclusion, dietary B. subtilis improved G:F and jejunal villous height and reduced cecal digesta pH, indicating that dietary supplementation with B. subtilis at 0.05% could improve growth performance and gut health of weaned pigs.

scholarly journals Bacillus subtilis: a potential growth promoter in weaned pigs in comparison to carbadox

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijie He ◽  
Kwangwook Kim ◽  
Lauren Kovanda ◽  
Cynthia Jinno ◽  
Minho Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Ileal Mucosa ◽  
E Coli

Abstract The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a probiotic Bacillus subtilis strain on growth performance, diarrhea, systemic immunity, and intestinal health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and to compare the efficacy of B. subtilis with that of carbadox. Weaned pigs (n = 48, 6.17 ± 0.36 kg body weight [BW]) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: negative control (NC, control diet without E. coli challenge), positive control (PC, control diet with E. coli challenge), and supplementation of 50 mg/kg of carbadox (antibiotic growth promotor [AGP]) or 2.56 × 109 CFU/kg of B. subtilis probiotics (PRO). The experiment lasted for 28 d with 7 d before and 21 d after the first E. coli inoculation. Fecal and blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 post inoculation (PI) to analyze β-hemolytic coliforms and complete blood cell count, respectively. Diarrhea score was recorded daily for each pig to calculate the frequency of diarrhea. All pigs were euthanized at day 21 PI to collect jejunal and ileal mucosa for gene expression analysis. Pigs in AGP had greater (P &lt; 0.05) BW on days 7, 14, and 21 PI than pigs in PC and PRO groups. Supplementation of PRO enhanced pigs’ BW on day 21 PI compared with the PC. Escherichia coli F18 challenge reduced (P &lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency from day 0 to 21 PI, while supplementation of carbadox or PRO enhanced ADG and feed efficiency in E. coli F18-challenged pigs from day 0 to 21 PI. Pigs in AGP and PRO groups had reduced (P &lt; 0.05) frequency of diarrhea throughout the experiment and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms on day 7 PI than pigs in the PC. Pigs in PRO had greater (P &lt; 0.05) gene expression of CLDN1 in jejunal mucosa than pigs in the PC. Supplementation of carbadox or PRO reduced (P &lt; 0.05) the gene expression of IL6 and PTGS2 in ileal mucosa of E. coli-infected pigs compared with pigs in the PC. Pigs in the PRO group had lower (P &lt; 0.05) white blood cell number and neutrophil count, and serum haptoglobin concentration on day 7 PI, and less (P &lt; 0.05) monocyte count on day 14 PI, compared with PC. In conclusion, supplementation of probiotic B. subtilis could enhance disease resistance and promote the growth performance of weaned pigs under disease challenge conditions. The potential mechanisms include but not limited to enhanced gut barrier integrity and local and systemic immune responses of weaned pigs.

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