scholarly journals Bacteriophage as an Alternative to Antibiotics Promotes Growth Performance by Regulating Intestinal Inflammation, Intestinal Barrier Function and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongdi Zeng ◽  
Zirui Wang ◽  
Tiande Zou ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Guanhong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Weaned Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary bacteriophage supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets fed antibiotic-free diet. A total of 120 weaned piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments with five pens/treatment and six piglets/pen in a 21-d feeding trial. The control diet was supplemented with 25 mg/kg quinocetone and 11.25 mg/kg aureomycin in the basal diet, while the three treatment diets were supplemented with 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg bacteriophage in the basal diet, respectively. There was no difference for growth performance and all measured indices of serum and intestinal tissues between 200 mg/kg bacteriophage group and the control group with antibiotics (P > 0.05). More importantly, compared with the control diet, dietary 400 mg/kg bacteriophage inclusion increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake, and decreased feed/gain ratio and diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets (P < 0.05). Also, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had elevated villi height (VH) in jejunum and ileum, reduced crypt depth (CD) in jejunum and ileum, and elevated VH/CD ratio in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had lower interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and higher interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration in serum, and higher secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), and tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) content in the ileal mucosa (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary addition with 400 mg/kg bacteriophage decreased the D-lactate concentration and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum, and increased the relative mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, as well as the relative protein expression of Occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). However, the growth performance and all analyzed parameters in serum and intestinal tissues were not further improved when piglets fed 600 vs. 400 mg/kg bacteriophage (P > 0.05). MiSeq sequencing analysis showed that bacteriophage regulated the microbial composition in caecum digesta, as indicated by higher observed_species, Chao1, and ACE richness indices, as well as changes in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes (P < 0.05). Collectively, 400 mg/kg bacteriophage can be used as an antibiotics alternative for promoting the growth of weaned piglets. The underlying mechanism is associated with a positive effect of bacteriophage on intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

scholarly journals Effects of Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Leaf Extract on Growth Performance and Metabolomics in Weaned Piglets Challenged by Escherichia Coli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingfa Wang ◽  
Luli Zhou ◽  
Hanlin Zhou ◽  
Guanyu Hou
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antioxidant Ability ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Diarrhea Incidence

Abstract Background: The effects of dietary supplementation with guava leaf extracts (GE) on growth performance, diarrhea and intestinal barrier function, as well as associated with its modulation of serum and fecal metabolic changes in weaned piglets challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were investigated.Method: Fifty weaned piglets (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace) from 5 pens (2 piglets per pen) were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group (BC), negative control group (NC), or those supplemented with 50 mg kg-1 (S50), 100 mg kg-1 (S100), or 200 (S200) mg kg-1 diet GE, respectively. On day 4, all piglets (except for BC) were orally challenged with about 1.0 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU) enterotoxigenic ETEC. After 28-day trial, growth performance, diarrhea incidence, intestinal barrier function and metabolomics of serum and fecal were investigated.Results: We demonstrated that dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) reduced diarrhea incidence of piglets and increased expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) (P < 0.05) and sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) upregulated level of tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) and reversed higher level of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) caused by ETEC in serum compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets. In addition, dietary addition with GE (100 mg kg-1) reversed the lower level of L-pipecolic acid caused by ETEC in feces compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and decreased oxidative stress response of piglets. Further, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in the final weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and F/G among dietary groups during the overall period, and piglets in S50 group has the higher average daily gain (ADG). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with 50-200 mg kg-1 GE reduced diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets challenged by ETEC and exhibited positive effect on improving intestinal barrier function. Meanwhile, dietary addition with GE organized and redistributed energy resources through similar or dissimilar metabolic pathways, and finally enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets challenged by ETEC.

scholarly journals Anethole Attenuates Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-Induced Intestinal Barrier Disruption and Intestinal Inflammation via Modification of TLR Signaling and Intestinal Microbiota

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingyuan Yi ◽  
Jiaxin Liu ◽  
Yufeng Zhang ◽  
Hanzhen Qiao ◽  
Fang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Tnf Α

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary anethole supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, inflammatory response, and intestinal microbiota of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88. Thirty-six weaned piglets (24 ± 1 days old) were randomly allocated into four treatment groups: (1) sham challenge (CON); (2) Escherichia coli K88 challenge (ETEC); (3) Escherichia coli K88 challenge + antibiotics (ATB); and (4) Escherichia coli K88 challenge + anethole (AN). On day 12, the piglets in the ETEC, ATB, and AN group were challenged with 10 mL E. coli K88 (5 × 109 CFU/mL), whereas the piglets in the CON group were orally injected with 10 mL nutrient broth. On day 19, all the piglets were euthanized for sample collection. The results showed that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was increased in the Escherichia coli K88-challenged piglets, which was reversed by the administration of antibiotics or anethole (P &lt; 0.05). The duodenum and jejunum of the piglets in ETEC group exhibited greater villous atrophy and intestinal morphology disruption than those of the piglets in CON, ATB, and AN groups (P &lt; 0.05). Administration of anethole protected intestinal barrier function and upregulated mucosal layer (mRNA expression of mucin-1 in the jejunum) and tight junction proteins (protein abundance of ZO-1 and Claudin-1 in the ileum) of the piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, administration of antibiotics or anethole numerically reduced the plasma concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α (P &lt; 0.1) and decreased the mRNA expression of TLR5, TLR9, MyD88, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the jejunum of the piglets after challenge with Escherichia coli K88 (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary anethole supplementation enriched the abundance of beneficial flora in the intestines of the piglets. In summary, anethole can improve the growth performance of weaned piglets infected by ETEC through attenuating intestinal barrier disruption and intestinal inflammation.

scholarly journals Dietaryl-threonine supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of broiler chickens at an early age

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (11) ◽  
pp. 1254-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueping Chen ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Yefei Cheng ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
Chao Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Lps Challenge ◽  
Cell Counts

AbstractThis study was conducted to investigate the protective effects ofl-threonine (l-Thr) supplementation on growth performance, inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier function of young broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 144 1-d-old male chicks were allocated to one of three treatments: non-challenged broilers fed a basal diet (control group), LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet withoutl-Thr supplementation and LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 3·0 g/kgl-Thr. LPS challenge was performed intraperitoneally at 17, 19 and 21 d of age, whereas the control group received physiological saline injection. Compared with the control group, LPS challenge impaired growth performance of broilers, andl-Thr administration reversed LPS-induced increase in feed/gain ratio. LPS challenge elevated blood cell counts related to inflammation, and pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in serum (IL-1βand TNF-α), spleen (IL-1βand TNF-α) and intestinal mucosa (jejunal interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and ileal IL-1β). The concentrations of intestinal cytokines in LPS-challenged broilers were reduced byl-Thr supplementation. LPS administration increased circulatingd-lactic acid concentration, whereas it reduced villus height, the ratio between villus height and crypt depth and goblet density in both jejunum and ileum. LPS-induced decreases in jejunal villus height, intestinal villus height:crypt depth ratio and ileal goblet cell density were reversed withl-Thr supplementation. Similarly, LPS-induced alterations in the intestinal mRNA abundances of genes related to intestinal inflammation and barrier function (jejunal toll-like receptor 4,IFN-γand claudin-3, and ilealIL-1βand zonula occludens-1) were normalised withl-Thr administration. It can be concluded thatl-Thr supplementation could attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of young broilers.

scholarly journals Effects of Clostridium butyricum on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Barrier Function of Broilers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjia Li ◽  
Bin Xu ◽  
Linyi Wang ◽  
Quanyou Sun ◽  
Wen Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
The Body ◽  
Clostridium Butyricum ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Significant Difference

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Clostridium butyricum dietary supplementation on the growth, antioxidant, immune response, gut microbiota, and intestinal barrier function of broilers under high stocking density (HSD) stress. A total of 324 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments with six replicates, each replicate including 18 chickens (18 birds/m2). The experiment lasted 6 weeks. The three treatments were basal diet (control, CON), basal diet supplemented with 1 × 109 colony forming units (cfu)/kg C. butyricum (CB), and basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg virginiamycin (antibiotic, ANT). The results showed that the body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) of broilers in the CB group were significantly higher than those in the CON group in three periods (p &lt; 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum of the CB group were significantly increased compared with those in the CON and ANT groups at 42 days (p &lt; 0.05). At 42 days, the serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels of the CB group were significantly higher than those of the CON group. Compared with the CON group, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the CB group was significantly decreased in the starter and grower stages (p &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (p &gt; 0.05). C. butyricum significantly decreased the high stocking density-induced expression levels of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the ileum of broilers at different stages. Additionally, C. butyricum could increase the expressions of claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in intestinal tissue. Moreover, C. butyricum significantly increased the Sobs and Shannon indices in the CB group compared with the ANT group (p &lt; 0.05), while the Ace index in the CB group was significantly higher than that of the CON group (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the proportion of Bacteroides in the CB group was increased compared to those in the CON and ANT groups at the genus level. In conclusion, C. butyricum supplemented into feed could improve the growth performance and feed utilization of broilers by promoting immune and intestinal barrier function and benefiting the cecal microflora.

scholarly journals Effects of Fermented Feed on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Function and Microbiota of Piglets Weaned at Different Age

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Liu ◽  
Yunxia Xiong ◽  
Jingping Chen ◽  
Hao Xiao ◽  
Qiwen Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Function ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Fermented Feed

Abstract BACKGROUND: The beneficial function of fermented feed in livestock industry has been widely investigated. However, little is known about the effects of fermented feed on different weaned-day piglets. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented diet on the growth performance, intestinal function and microbiota of piglets weaned at age of 21 days and 28 days.RESULTS: The results found that weaning on d 21 significantly increased (P < 0.05) ADG, and ADFI (calculated based on wet weight and dry matter), while reduced (P < 0.05) F: G, the activities of trypsin and lipase of jejunum and villus height of ileum, compared with 28-d weaning. The protein levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1 of ileum in the groups weaning on d 21 were less (P < 0.05) than the groups weaning on d 28. Moreover, dietary supplementation with fermented diet upregulated (P < 0.05) Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1 proteins of ileum, compared with the groups treated with control diet both weaning on d 21 and d 28. In addition, dietary supplementation with fermented diet decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Clostridia (class) and increased (P < 0.05) Bacteroidia (class) level of cecal microbiota, compared with the groups treated with control diet both weaning on d 21 and d 28. However, supplementation with fermented diet did not affect the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the cecum (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Therefore, our data suggest that feed digestibility is improved in piglets weaned at 21 days, but intestinal barrier function is weaker than in piglets weaned at 28 days. However, compared with feeding control diet, supplementation with fermented diet both improved feed conversion and intestinal barrier function of weaned piglets by modulating intestinal microbiota.

The efficacy of anti-mycotoxin feed additives in preventing the adverse effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on performance, intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility and retention in weanling pigs

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bich Van Le Thanh ◽  
Martin Lessard ◽  
Younès Chorfi ◽  
Frédéric Guay
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Fusarium Mycotoxins ◽  
Weanling Pigs

Thanh, B. V. L., Lessard, M., Chorfi, Y. and Guay, F. 2015. The efficacy of anti-mycotoxin feed additives in preventing the adverse effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on performance, intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility and retention in weanling pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 197–209. This study was designed to determine the effect of feeding deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated wheat to growing pigs on growth performance, digestibility and retention of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). Secondly, we wished to evaluate the potential of four commercial anti-mycotoxin additives in preventing the adverse effects of DON. Sixty piglets (6.0 kg body weight) were assigned to six different corn-soybean meal-wheat diets (control diet: <0.5 mg kg−1 DON; contaminated diet (DON-contaminated): 4 mg kg−1; and four contaminated diets supplemented with a different anti-mycotoxin additive: DON+GLUC (glucomannan), DON+YBP (yeast, live bacteria, enzymes, plant extracts), DON+ALU (aluminosilicate) and DON+PC (preservation components). Piglets were housed individually in pens for 7 d and then transferred to metabolic crates for urine and feces collection for 7 d. At the end of these 2 wk, mannitol and lactulose doses were given by oral administration. Urine was collected for 24 h for an evaluation of barrier integrity of intestinal mucosa. The piglets were then euthanatized and intestinal samples collected for morphology studies. Feeding DON-contaminated wheat reduced average daily feed intake, average daily gain and G:F ratio compared with the control diet (P<0.05). Only DON+PC diet restored the growth performance of piglets fed DON-contaminated diet. Daily retention of N and P was not affected by DON contamination or anti-mycotoxin additives, but retention of Ca was higher in piglets fed the DON-contaminated diets than the control diet. DON-contaminated diet reduced digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and fat, villi height in jejunum, and recovery of mannitol and lactulose compared with the control diet (P<0.05). Finally, DON concentrations in serum from piglets fed the DON-contaminated diets were higher than in the control diet (P<0.05). Piglets fed DON-contaminated wheat had reduced growth possibly caused by impaired jejunal morphology and decreased digestibility of energy and fat.

scholarly journals Macleaya cordataExtract Decreased Diarrhea Score and Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Function in Growing Piglets

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Guiping Guan ◽  
Jun Fang ◽  
Yordan Martínez ◽  
Shuai Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barrier Function ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Supplement Group ◽  
Macleaya Cordata

Macleaya cordataextract is of great scientific and practical interest to researchers, due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses within experimental animals. This study was designed to determine the diarrhea score and innate immunity of growing piglets after they had receivedMacleaya cordataextract supplements. A total of 240 growing pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments, with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 piglets per replicate. All pigs received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients. The three treatments were a control (no additive), an antibiotic (200 mg/kg colistin), and theMacleaya cordataextract supplement group (40 mg/kgMacleaya cordataextract). The diarrhea score was calculated after D 28. The jejunal samples were obtained from five piglets selected randomly from each treatment on D 28. In comparison with the control group, the dietaryMacleaya cordataextract and colistin group demonstrated a substantially decreased diarrhea score. The introduction ofMacleaya cordataextract supplements to the diet significantly increased volumes of ZO-1 and claudin-1, particularly in comparison with the pigs in the control group (P<0.05). The findings indicate thatMacleaya cordataextract does enhance intestinal barrier function in growing piglets and that it could be used as a viable substitute for antibiotics.

scholarly journals Dietary seaweed-derived polysaccharides improve growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbial populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiande Zou ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
Xiaobo Guo ◽  
Qin He ◽  
Zirui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
G Ratio

Abstract Background: Seaweed-derived polysaccharides (SDP) represent an attractive source of prebiotic nutraceuticals for the food and animal husbandry industry. However, the mechanism by which SDP from Enteromorpha mediates pig growth are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how SDP supplementation influences the growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs.Results: In Exp. 1, 240 weaned pigs were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet or a basal diet containing 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP, respectively, in a 21-d trial. Pigs on the 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP-supplemented group had greater ADG and lower F/G ratio than those on the control group (P＜0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 male weaned pigs were randomly assigned to two treatments and fed with a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg SDP (the optimum does from Exp. 1), in a 21-d trial. Pigs fed the SDP diet had greater ADG, the concentrations of serum IL-6 and TNF-α and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase (P＜0.05), and lower F/G, diarrhea rate, as well as serum D-lactate concentrations and diamine oxidase activity (P＜0.05). Moreover, dietary SDP supplementation enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A content, villus height and villous height: crypt depth ratio in small intestine, as well as the lactase and maltase activities in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). SDP supplementation elevated the mRNA levels of inflammatory response-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, TLR4, TLR6 and MyD88), and the mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). Importantly, SDP not only increased the Lactobacillus population but also reduced the Escherichia coli population in cecum (P＜0.05). Furthermore, SDP increased acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in cecum (P＜0.05).Conclusions: These results not only suggest a beneficial effect of SDP on growth performance and intestinal barrier functions, but also offer potential mechanisms behind SDP-facilitated intestinal health in weaned pigs.

scholarly journals Diet complexity and l-threonine supplementation: effects on growth performance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and microbial metabolites in nursery pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonjin Koo ◽  
Janghan Choi ◽  
Chengbo Yang ◽  
Charles Martin Nyachoti
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Microbial Metabolites ◽  
Nursery Pigs

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diet complexity and l-Thr supplementation level on the growth performance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and microbial metabolites in nursery pigs. Thirty-two weaned pigs (body weight 7.23 ± 0.48 kg) were randomly assigned to dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement based on diet complexity (complex or simple) and dietary Thr content. The complex diet contained fish meal, plasma protein, and dried whey to mimic a conventional nursery diet. The simple diet was formulated with corn, wheat, and soybean meal and did not contain any animal products. l-Thr was supplemented to each diet to supply either 100% (STD Thr) or 115% (SUP Thr) of the NRC (2012) requirement for standardized ileal digestible Thr. Pigs were individually housed and fed experimental diets ad libitum for 14 d. Diet complexity, dietary Thr content, and their interactions were considered the main effects. Pigs fed the simple diet had greater (P &lt; 0.05) plasma interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 concentrations compared with those fed the complex diet on days 7 and 14, respectively. Simple diet-fed pigs tended to show greater (P &lt; 0.10) expression of genes encoding for tumor necrosis factor-α, claudin-1, and zonula occludens-1 in the jejunum compared with complex diet-fed pigs. The simple diet-fed pigs had greater (P &lt; 0.05) concentrations of NH3-N in the jejunum digesta than did complex diet-fed pigs. The SUP Thr increased (P &lt; 0.05) villus height and goblet cell (GC) density in villi and crypts in the jejunum and deepened (P &lt; 0.05) crypts in the proximal colon. The SUP Thr resulted in the upregulation (P &lt; 0.05) of occludin gene expression and a tendency toward the downregulation (P = 0.10) of IL-6 gene expression in the jejunum. Interactions (P &lt; 0.05) between diet complexity and l-Thr supplementation level were observed in GC density in the crypt, NH3-N concentration in the jejunum, and the contents of acetate, propionate, and total volatile fatty acids in the colon. In conclusion, feeding a simple diet to nursery pigs resulted in systemic and intestinal inflammation. The SUP Thr diet did not normalize the simple diet-induced inflammation but improved gut integrity. SUP Thr seems to have greater benefits with a simple diet than with a complex diet. Therefore, SUP Thr in a simple diet could be a beneficial nutritional strategy for enhancing gut health.

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