Efficacy of Clostridium butyricum as probiotic feed additive against experimental Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs

Low crude protein formulation with supplemental amino acids for its impacts on intestinal health and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs

BACKGROUND

Low crude protein (CP) formulations with supplemental amino acids (AA) are used to enhance intestinal health, reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and maintain growth performance of pigs. However, extensive reduction of dietary CP can compromise growth performance due to limited synthesis of non-essential AA and limited availability of bioactive compounds from protein supplements even when AA requirements are met. Moreover, implementing a low CP formulation can increase the net energy (NE) content in feeds causing excessive fat deposition. Additional supplementation of functional AA, coupled with low CP formulation could further enhance intestinal health and glucose metabolism, improving nitrogen utilization, and growth performance. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of low CP formulations with supplemental AA on the intestinal health and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

METHODS

In Exp. 1, 90 pigs (19.7 ± 1.1 kg, 45 barrows and 45 gilts) were assigned to 3 treatments: CON (18.0% CP, supplementing Lys, Met, and Thr), LCP (16.0% CP, supplementing Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, and Val), and LCPT (16.1% CP, LCP + 0.05% SID Trp). In Exp. 2, 72 pigs (34.2 ± 4.2 kg BW) were assigned to 3 treatments: CON (17.7% CP, meeting the requirements of Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp); LCP (15.0% CP, meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, and Phe); and VLCP (12.8% CP, meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, Phe, His, and Leu). In Exp. 3, 72 pigs (54.1 ± 5.9 kg BW) were assigned to 3 treatments and fed experimental diets for 3 phases (grower 2, finishing 1, and finishing 2). Treatments were CON (18.0%, 13.8%, 12.7% CP for 3 phases; meeting Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp); LCP (13.5%, 11.4%, 10.4% CP for 3 phases; meeting Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, Ile, and Phe); and LCPG (14.1%, 12.8%, 11.1% CP for 3 phases; LCP + Glu to match SID Glu with CON). All diets had 2.6 Mcal/kg NE.

RESULTS

In Exp. 1, overall, the growth performance did not differ among treatments. The LCPT increased (P < 0.05) Claudin-1 expression in the duodenum and jejunum. The LCP and LCPT increased (P < 0.05) CAT-1, 4F2hc, and B0AT expressions in the jejunum. In Exp. 2, overall, the VLCP reduced (P < 0.05) G:F and BUN. The LCP and VLCP increased (P < 0.05) the backfat thickness (BFT). In Exp. 3, overall, growth performance and BFT did not differ among treatments. The LCPG reduced (P < 0.05) BUN, whereas increased the insulin in plasma. The LCP and LCPG reduced (P < 0.05) the abundance of Streptococcaceae, whereas the LCP reduced (P < 0.05) Erysipelotrichaceae, and the alpha diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

When implementing low CP formulation, CP can be reduced by supplementation of Lys, Thr, Met, Trp, Val, and Ile without affecting the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs when NE is adjusted to avoid increased fat deposition. Supplementation of Trp above the requirement or supplementation of Glu in low CP formulation seems to benefit intestinal health as well as improved nitrogen utilization and glucose metabolism.

Butyrogenic effect of galactosyl and mannosyl carbohydrates and their regulation on piglet intestinal microbiota

Diarrhea is a global problem that causes economic losses in the pig industry. There is a growing attention on finding new alternatives to antibiotics to solve this problem. Hence, this study aimed to compare the prebiotic activity of low-molecular-weight hydrolyzed guar gum (GMPS) with commercial manno-oligosaccharide (MOS) and galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS). We further identified their combined effects along with probiotic Clostridium butyricum on regulating the intestinal microbiota of diarrheal piglet by in vitro fermentation. All the tested non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) showed favorable short-chain fatty acid-producing activity, and GOS and GMPS showed the highest production of lactate and butyrate, respectively. After 48 h of fermentation, the greatest enhancement in the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 was observed with the combination of GMPS and C. butyricum. Notably, all the selected NDCs significantly decreased the abundances of pathogenic bacteria genera Escherichia-Shigella and Fusobacterium and reduced the production of potentially toxic metabolites, including ammonia nitrogen, indole, and skatole. These findings demonstrated that by associating with the chemical structure, GMPS exhibited butyrogenic effects in stimulating the proliferation of C. butyricum. Thus, our results provided a theoretical foundation for further application of galactosyl and mannosyl NDCs in the livestock industry. KEY POINTS: • Galactosyl and mannosyl NDCs showed selective prebiotic effects. • GMPS, GOS, and MOS reduced pathogenic bacteria and toxic metabolites production. • GMPS specifically enhanced the Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and butyrate production.

Swine Production: Probiotics as an Alternative to the Use of Antibiotics

Animal food production is one of the most powerful European economic sectors; however, this sector is facing new challenge due to the development of bacteria with resistant genes, and consequently, restriction on the administration of antibiotics. Limitation, at the moment, is focused on those antibiotics employed in human medicines. Therefore, it is necessary to improve as much as possible animals’ health and reduce diseases. Among others, alternatives include adequate animal handling, hygienic facilities, quality food, or vaccines. Probiotics also arise as a good alternative due to their already known properties as intestinal microbiota modulators, improving the immune functions and reducing the risk and the development of illness. Significant data can found scientific literature that demonstrates probiotics benefits when they are administrated to the animals through diet. However, to be able to apply all these findings in a specific animal species, at a particular production animal life stage and at a industrialize scale, it is necessary to compile and organize reported information. This chapter presents the most recent and relevant finding on the use of probiotics in swine production.

Efficacy of Lactobacillus animalis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii-Based Feed Additives in Reducing Salmonella-Associated Health and Performance Effects in Commercial Beef Calves

Salmonella enterica, which causes typhoid fever, is one of the most prevalent food-borne pathogens. Salmonellosis in cattle can greatly impact a producer’s income due to treatment costs, decreased productivity of the herd, and mortality due to disease. Current methods of treatment and prevention for salmonellosis consist of antibiotics and vaccinations, but neither of these options are perfect. Probiotics, categorized as antibiotic alternatives, are living microorganisms that are added to animal feeds in appropriate quantities in order to benefit health and productivity in adult and newborn livestock. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that Lactobacillus animalis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii, when used as a direct-fed microbial, was effective in reducing the adverse effects of experimentally induced Salmonella infection in beef calves. We conducted a single site efficacy study with masking using a randomized design comprising two groups of ten beef calves allocated to two treatment groups (control and probiotic). Procedures such as determining general health scores and body weight and collecting fecal samples were carried out following the experimental challenge of calves with Salmonella Typhimurium. The presence of at least one CFU of bacteria in feces was significantly higher among animals in the control than in the probiotic group, which was higher on days 0 to 7 than on days 8 to 14 (p = 0.012). Animals in the control group had a significantly higher presence of abnormal diarrhea scores than animals in the probiotic group (p < 0.001). Most notably, other health benefits in probiotic-fed group calves were obviously better than those for control calves and further substantiates the potential economic and health benefits of feeding effective probiotics.

The isolation and identification of Candida glabrata from avian species and a study of the antibacterial activities of Chinese herbal medicine in vitro

Previously, a fungus was isolated from a diseased pigeon group clinically suspected of being infected with Candida. The fungus was subsequently identified as Candida glabrata using morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology testing methods. In the present study, to determine the controlling effects of Chinese herbal medicine for C. glabrata, the bacteriostatic effects of the ethanol extracts Acorus gramineus, Sophora flavescens, Polygonum hydropiper, Cassia obtusifolia, Pulsatilla chinensis, Dandelion, and Cortex phellodendri on C. glabrata in vitro were analyzed. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₈₀) of Cortex phellodendri was 0.25 μg/μL. Meanwhile, that of S. flavescens was 32 μg/μL; C. obtusifolia was 56 μg/μL; A. gramineus and Polygonum hydropiper was 64 μg/μL; and P. chinensis was 112 μg/μL. However, MIC₈₀ for Dandelion was undetectable. In addition, improved drug sensitivity tests revealed that colonies had grown after 24 h in the blank group, as well as the Polygonum hydropiper, P. chinensis, Dandelion, and ethanol groups. The colonies first appeared at the 48-hour point in the other drug-sensitive medium of Chinese herbal medicine. However, no colony growth was found in Cortex phellodendri medium, and the formation of the maximum colony diameter in that group was later than the blank group (e.g., 96 h in the blank group and 120 h in the Chinese herbal medicine group). It was observed that only 17 colony-forming units had grown in 125 μg/μL of the S. flavescens medium, which was significantly different from other groups. Also, the final colony diameter was significantly smaller than that of the other experimental groups. Therefore, it was determined that the A. gramineus, S. flavescens, Polygonum hydropiper, Cassia obtusifolia, P. chinensis, and Cortex phellodendri had certain inhibitory effects on the growth of the C. glabrata. Among those, it was observed that the Cortex phellodendri had the strongest inhibitory effects, followed by the S. flavescens. In the future, these Chinese herbal medicines are expected to be used to treat the fungal infections related to C. glabrata in poultry to improve production performance.

Properties of hydrolyzed guar gum fermented in vitro with pig fecal inocula and its favorable impacts on microbiota

In order to identify an appropriate substitute for antibiotic use in livestock production, this study investigates the fermentation of guar gum and its low molecular weight hydrolyzed derivatives (GMLP-1, 1-10 kDa; GMLP-2, < 1 kDa) in pig fecal cultures and the associated effects on the intestinal microbiota. Both the non-hydrolyzed guar gum and GMLP were quickly utilized by fecal microbiota. GMLP-2 showed the most rapid SCFA-producing activity and produced higher concentrations of lactate, acetate, and propionate. However, GMLP-1 showed the highest yield of total SCFAs and butyrate. Both the guar gum and GMLP groups improved the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Bifidobacterium, but the most significant enhancement was observed with GMLP-1. This study showed that by associating with its chemical structure, GMLP-1 can be utilized to direct a targeted promotion of the intestinal microbiota and may offer the most favorable effects in livestock production.

The Effect of Clostridium butyricum on Gut Microbiota, Immune Response and Intestinal Barrier Function During the Development of Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens

Necrotic enteritis (NE) causes huge economic losses to the poultry industry. Probiotics are used as potential alternatives to antibiotics to prevent NE. It is known that Clostridium butyricum can act as a probiotic that can prevent infection. However, whether or not it exerts a beneficial effect on NE in chickens remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated the impact of C. butyricum on immune response and intestinal microbiota during the development of NE in chickens, including experimental stages with basal diets, high-fishmeal-supplementation diets, and Clostridium perfringens challenge. Chickens were divided into two groups from day 1 to day 20: one group had its diet supplemented with C. butyricum supplementation and one did not. At day 20, the chickens were divided into four groups: C. perfringens challenged and unchallenged chickens with and without C. butyricum supplementation. All groups were fed a basal diet for 13 days and thereafter a basal diet with 50% fishmeal from day 14 to 24. Chickens were infected with C. perfringens from day 21 to 23. At days 13, 20 and 24, samples were collected for analysis of the relative expression of immune response and intestinal mucosa barrier-related genes and intestinal microbes. The results show that C. butyricum can inhibit the increase in IL-17A gene expression and the reduction in Claudin-1 gene induced-expression caused by C. perfringens challenge. Moreover, C. butyricum was found to increase the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in infected chickens. Although C. butyricum was found to have a significant beneficial effect on the structure of intestinal bacteria in the basal diet groups and decrease the abundance of C. perfringens in the gut, it did not significantly affect the occurrence of intestinal lesions and did not significantly correct the shift in gut bacterial composition post C. perfringens infection. In conclusion, although C. butyricum promotes the expression of anti-inflammatory and tight junction protein genes and inhibits pro-inflammatory genes in C. perfringens-challenged chickens, it is not adequate to improve the structure of intestinal microbiota in NE chickens. Therefore, more effective schemes of C. butyricum supplementation to prevent and treat NE in chickens need to be identified.

Could probiotics be the panacea alternative to the use of antimicrobials in livestock diets?

Probiotics are most frequently derived from the natural microbiota of healthy animals. These bacteria and their metabolic products are viewed as nutritional tools for promoting animal health and productivity, disease prevention and therapy, and food safety in an era defined by increasingly widespread antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens. In contemporary livestock production, antimicrobial usage is indispensable for animal welfare, and employed to enhance growth and feed efficiency. Given the importance of antimicrobials in both human and veterinary medicine, their effective replacement with direct-fed microbials or probiotics could help reduce antimicrobial use, perhaps restoring or extending the usefulness of these precious drugs against serious infections. Thus, probiotic research in livestock is rapidly evolving, aspiring to produce local and systemic health benefits on par with antimicrobials. Although many studies have clearly demonstrated the potential of probiotics to positively affect animal health and inhibit pathogens, experimental evidence suggests that probiotics' successes are modest, conditional, strain-dependent, and transient. Here, we explore current understanding, trends, and emerging applications of probiotic research and usage in major livestock species, and highlight successes in animal health and performance.