Effects of a blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids and a toxin-adsorbing mineral on diarrhea and gut microbiome of weanling pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic E. coli

A proprietary antimicrobial feed additive comprised of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and a toxin-adsorbing mineral showed promising bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in vitro. This study investigated the impacts of supplementing this blend on growth, gut microbiome, and enteric disease resilience in weaned pigs experimentally challenged with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Thirty-six weanling pigs (6.88 ± 0.30 kg body weight (BW)) blocked by weight and gender were assigned to one of three dietary treatments: control or dietary supplementation with 0.25% or 0.50% of the antimicrobial blend. This study lasted 28 d with 7 d before and 21 d after the first ETEC inoculation (d 0). All pigs were orally inoculated with 10 10 cfu F18+ ETEC/3-mL dose for 3 consecutive days. Growth performance data and diarrhea scores were recorded throughout the experiment. Fecal samples collected on d -7, 0, 7 and 21 post first inoculation (PI), and ileal digesta and mucosal tissue collected on d 21 PI were further analyzed for gut microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. All data, except for frequency of diarrhea and gut microbiome, were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED of SAS. The Chi-square test was used for analyzing frequency of diarrhea. Gut microbiome data were analyzed using QIIME2 and visualized using the R program. Dietary supplementation of 0.25% or 0.5% of the antimicrobial blend increased (P < 0.05) feed efficiency on d 14 to 21 PI of ETEC and reduced (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea during the study. Compared to the control group, adding 0.5% dietary antimicrobial blend increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Firmicutes but reduced (P < 0.05) Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in feces on d 7 PI. Pigs that received the antimicrobial blend also had higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae, but lower (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in feces on d 7 PI than pigs in control. In conclusion, supplementation of this antimicrobial blend at 0.5% reduced incidence of severe diarrhea in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC and enhanced feed efficiency of weaned pigs at the last week of the experiment. Supplementation of this antimicrobial blend also modified the microbiota diversity in feces and ileal mucosa of weaned pigs.

Short and Medium Chain Fatty Acids and Their Derivatives as a Natural Strategy in the Control of Necrotic Enteritis and Microbial Homeostasis in Broiler Chickens

The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) has historically been the most important prophylactic strategy for the control of Necrotic Enteritis (NE) caused by some Clostridium perfringens toxin types in poultry. During the last five decades, AGPs have also been supplemented in feed to improve body weight gain and feed efficiency as well as to modulate the microbiome (consisting of microbes and their genes both beneficial and potentially harmful) and reduce enteric pathogens, among other benefits. New regulatory requirements and consumer preferences have led to strong interest in natural alternatives to the AGPs for the prevention and control of illnesses caused by enteric pathogens. This interest is not just focused on the direct removal or inhibition of the causative microorganisms but also the improvement of intestinal health and homeostasis using a range of feed additives. A group of promising feed additives is short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFA and MCFA, respectively) and their derivatives. The use of SCFA and MCFA, including butyric, caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids, has shown strong effects against NE in broilers both at experimental and commercial levels. These fatty acids also benefit intestinal health integrity and homeostasis. Other effects have also been documented, including increases in intestinal angiogenesis and gene expression of tight junctions. Chemical modifications to improve stability and point of release in the intestine have been shown to improve the efficacy of SCFA and MCFA and their derivatives. The aim of this review is to give an overview of SCFA, MCFA and their derivatives, as an alternative to replace AGPs to control the incidence and severity of NE in poultry.

71 The Use of Medium Chain Fatty Acids to Reduce Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome Virus Replication in MARC-145 Cells

Porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome virus (PPRSV) costs the U.S. Swine Industry an estimated $664 million annually. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) on PRRSV replication in M-145 cells. Two experiments were conducted to 1) evaluate the use of individual MCFAs (C6, C8, C10), and 2) evaluate MCFA combinations (C8/C10, C10/C12, C8/C10/C12) on viral replication of PRRSV. Experiment one used individual MCFAs at 7 concentrations from 1-1000µg/ml compared to a control. Experiment two used MCFA combinations at 6 different concentrations from 50–500µg/ml compared to a control. North American Type II P-129 PRRSV and European Type I Lelystad PRRSV strains were used. Viral replication was determined using FITC labeled IgG anti-PRRSV monoclonal antibody and TCID50 was calculated for each treatment concentration using 5 wells per treatment at each virus concentration with plates run in triplicate. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed procedures of SAS. In experiment 1, C6 had no effect on replication of PRRSV in M145 cells. C8 induced a 3.02 and 2.02 log reduction in TCID50 for type I and type II virus strains, respectively (P < 0.01) at 1000µg/ml. C10 induced a 2.85 and 3.23 log reduction in TCID50 for type I and type II virus strains, respectively (P < 0.01) at 300µg/ml. In experiment 2, C8/C10 induced a 1.9 and 2.2 log reduction in TCID50 for type I and type II virus strains, respectively (P < 0.01) at 200µg/ml. C10/C12 resulted in a 3.37 and 2.14 log reduction in TCID50 at 200µg/ml for type I and type II virus strains, respectively (P < 0.01). C8/C10/C12 resulted in a 1.34 and 1.56 log reduction in TCID50 at 200µg/ml for type I and type II virus strains (P < 0.01), respectively.

Lipidomic and Proteomic Alterations Induced by Even and Odd Medium-Chain Fatty Acids on Fibroblasts of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders

Medium-chain fatty acids (mc-FAs) are currently applied in the treatment of long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (lc-FAOD) characterized by impaired β-oxidation. Here, we performed lipidomic and proteomic analysis in fibroblasts from patients with very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCADD) and long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHADD) deficiencies after incubation with heptanoate (C7) and octanoate (C8). Defects of β-oxidation induced striking proteomic alterations, whereas the effect of treatment with mc-FAs was minor. However, mc-FAs induced a remodeling of complex lipids. Especially C7 appeared to act protectively by restoring sphingolipid biosynthesis flux and improving the observed dysregulation of protein homeostasis in LCHADD under control conditions.