Effect of probiotics and xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on nutrient digestibility, intestinal health and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs

Investigation of the nutritional and functional roles of a combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs

BACKGROUND

Xylanase and β-glucanase combination (XG) hydrolyzes soluble non-starch polysaccharides that are anti-nutritional compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of XG on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs.

METHODS

Forty pigs (6.5 ± 0.4 kg) were assigned to 5 dietary treatments and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (11, 9, and 15 d, respectively). Basal diets mainly included corn, soybean meal, and corn distiller's dried grains with solubles, contained phytase (750 FTU/kg), and were supplemented with 5 levels of XG at (1) 0, (2) 280 TXU/kg xylanase and 125 TGU/kg β-glucanase, (3) 560 and 250, (4) 840 and 375, or (5) 1,120 and 500, respectively. Growth performance was measured. On d 35, all pigs were euthanized and jejunal mucosa, jejunal digesta, jejunal tissues, and ileal digesta were collected to determine the effects of increasing XG levels and XG intake on intestinal health.

RESULTS

Increasing XG intake tended to quadratically decrease (P = 0.059) viscosity of jejunal digesta (min: 1.74 mPa·s at 751/335 (TXU/TGU)/kg). Increasing levels of XG quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) Prevotellaceae (min: 0.6% at 630/281 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing XG intake quadratically increased (P < 0.05) Lactobacillaceae (max: 40.3% at 608/271 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing XG intake quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) Helicobacteraceae (min: 1.6% at 560/250 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing levels of XG tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.073) jejunal IgG and tended to quadratically increase (P = 0.085) jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio (max: 2.62 at 560/250 (TXU/TGU)/kg). Increasing XG intake tended to linearly increase the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.087) and ether extract (P = 0.065). Increasing XG intake linearly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain.

CONCLUSIONS

A combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase would hydrolyze the non-starch polysaccharides fractions, positively modulating the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota. Increased intake of these enzyme combination possibly reduced digesta viscosity and humoral immune response in the jejunum resulting in improved intestinal structure, and ileal digestibility of nutrients, and finally improving growth of nursery pigs. The beneficial effects were maximized at a combination of 550 to 800 TXU/kg xylanase and 250 to 360 TGU/kg β-glucanase.

Strategies for reducing noxious gas emissions in pig production: a comprehensive review on the role of feed additives

The emission of noxious gases is a significant problem in pig production, as it can lead to poor production, welfare concerns, and environmental pollution. The noxious gases are the gasses emitted from the pig manure that contribute to air pollution. The increased concentration of various harmful gasses can pose health risks to both animals and humans. The major gases produced in the pig farm include methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and volatile fatty acids, which are mainly derived from the fermentation of undigested or poorly digested nutrients. Nowadays research has focused on more holistic approaches to obtain a healthy farm environment that helps animal production. The use of probiotics, prebiotics, dietary enzymes, and medicinal plants in animal diets has been explored as a means of reducing harmful gas emissions. This review paper focuses on the harmful gas emissions from pig farm, the mechanisms of gas production, and strategies for reducing these emissions. Additionally, various methods for reducing gas in pigs, including probiotic interventions; prebiotic interventions, dietary enzymes supplementation, and use of medicinal plants and organic acids are discussed. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on reducing noxious gas in pigs and offers valuable insights for pig producers, nutritionists, and researchers working in this area.

Xylo-oligosaccharide-based prebiotics upregulate the proteins of the Sus-like system in caecal Bacteroidetes of the chicken: evidence of stimbiotic mechanism

The present study was conducted to investigate the stimbiotic mechanism of xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) in degrading the complex polysaccharides by the caecal bacteria of the chicken, by applying a proteomic approach. A total of 800 as-hatched Ross 308 broiler chicks were equally divided into 4 experimental pens (200 chicks per pen) at a commercial poultry barn, allocating 2 pens per treatment. Birds were fed ad libitum with 2 dietary treatments; CON (without XOS) and XOS (with 0.1g XOS/kg diet) from d 0 to 35. From each pen, 60 Individual birds were weighed weekly whereas caecal content was obtained from 5 birds cervically dislocated on d 35. The caecal bacteria were lysed and their proteins were quantified using label-free quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry. The results showed that XOS significantly increased (P < 0.05) bird weight on d 7, 14, 21, and 28, and body weight gain on d 7, 14, 21, and 35 compared to CON. However, no difference (P > 0.05) in body weight gain was observed from d 0 to 35 between CON and XOS. The proteomic analysis of caecal bacteria revealed that 29 proteins were expressed differently between the CON and the XOS group. Out of 29, 20 proteins were significantly increased in the XOS group compared to CON and 9 of those proteins belonged to the starch-utilizing system (Sus)-like system of the gram-negative Bacteroidetes. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) is a significant constituent of the human gut microbiota, known for its remarkable ability to hydrolyze most glycosidic bonds of polysaccharides. This microorganism possesses a 5-protein complex in its outer membrane, named the starch utilization system (Sus), responsible for adhering to, breaking down, and transporting starch into the cell. Sus serves as an exemplar system for numerous polysaccharide utilization loci that target glycans found in Bt and other members of the Bacteroidetes phylum. The proteins of the Sus-like system are involved in the degradation of complex polysaccharides and transportation of the oligosaccharides into the periplasm of the caecal bacteria where they are further broken down into smaller units. These smaller units are then transported into the cytoplasm of the cell where they are utilized in metabolic pathways leading to potential generation of short-chain fatty acids, thus improving the nutritive value of residual feed. In conclusion, XOS supplementation upregulates the expression of the proteins of the Sus-like system indicating its role as a stimbiotic.

The Effect of Prebiotic Supplements on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Associated Health Parameters in Pigs

Establishing a balanced and diverse microbiota in the GIT of pigs is crucial for optimizing health and performance throughout the production cycle. The post-weaning period is a critical phase, as it is often associated with dysbiosis, intestinal dysfunction and poor performance. Traditionally, intestinal dysfunctions associated with weaning have been alleviated using antibiotics and/or antimicrobials. However, increasing concerns regarding the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has prompted an industry-wide drive towards identifying natural sustainable dietary alternatives. Modulating the microbiota through dietary intervention can improve animal health by increasing the production of health-promoting metabolites associated with the improved microbiota, while limiting the establishment and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Prebiotics are a class of bioactive compounds that resist digestion by gastrointestinal enzymes, but which can still be utilized by beneficial microbes within the GIT. Prebiotics are a substrate for these beneficial microbes and therefore enhance their proliferation and abundance, leading to the increased production of health-promoting metabolites and suppression of pathogenic proliferation in the GIT. There are a vast range of prebiotics, including carbohydrates such as non-digestible oligosaccharides, beta-glucans, resistant starch, and inulin. Furthermore, the definition of a prebiotic has recently expanded to include novel prebiotics such as peptides and amino acids. A novel class of -biotics, referred to as "stimbiotics", was recently suggested. This bioactive group has microbiota-modulating capabilities and promotes increases in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in a disproportionally greater manner than if they were merely substrates for bacterial fermentation. The aim of this review is to characterize the different prebiotics, detail the current understating of stimbiotics, and outline how supplementation to pigs at different stages of development and production can potentially modulate the GIT microbiota and subsequently improve the health and performance of animals.

Dietary supplementation with xylooligosaccharides and exogenous enzyme improves milk production, energy utilization efficiency and reduces enteric methane emissions of Jersey cows

BACKGROUND

Sustainable strategies for enteric methane (CH₄) mitigation of dairy cows have been extensively explored to improve production performance and alleviate environmental pressure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and exogenous enzyme (EXE) supplementation on milk production, nutrient digestibility, enteric CH₄ emissions, energy utilization efficiency of lactating Jersey dairy cows. Forty-eight lactating cows were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: (1) control diet (CON), (2) CON with 25 g/d XOS (XOS), (3) CON with 15 g/d EXE (EXE), and (4) CON with 25 g/d XOS and 15 g/d EXE (XOS + EXE). The 60-d experimental period consisted of a 14-d adaptation period and a 46-d sampling period. The enteric CO₂ and CH₄ emissions and O₂ consumption were measured using two GreenFeed units, which were further used to determine the energy utilization efficiency of cows.

RESULTS

Compared with CON, cows fed XOS, EXE or XOS + EXE significantly (P < 0.05) increased milk yield, true protein and fat concentration, and energy-corrected milk yield (ECM)/DM intake, which could be reflected by the significant improvement (P < 0.05) of dietary NDF and ADF digestibility. The results showed that dietary supplementation of XOS, EXE or XOS + EXE significantly (P < 0.05) reduced CH₄ emission, CH₄/milk yield, and CH₄/ECM. Furthermore, cows fed XOS demonstrated highest (P < 0.05) metabolizable energy intake, milk energy output but lowest (P < 0.05) of CH₄ energy output and CH₄ energy output as a proportion of gross energy intake compared with the remaining treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementary of XOS, EXE or combination of XOS and EXE contributed to the improvement of lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and energy utilization efficiency, as well as reduction of enteric CH₄ emissions of lactating Jersey cows. This promising mitigation method may need further research to validate its long-term effect and mode of action for dairy cows.

Xylo-oligosaccharides improve the adverse effects of plant-based proteins on weaned piglet health by maintaining the intestinal barrier and inhibiting harmful bacterial growth

Introduction

Piglets are more susceptible to weaning stress syndrome when fed high levels of plant-based proteins that contain abundant food antigens and anti-nutritional factors. Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are a potential prebiotic that may improve the tolerance of weaned piglets to plant-based proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of XOS supplementation in high and low plant-based protein diets on growth performance, gut morphology, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and gut microbiota of weaned piglets.

Methods

A total of 128 weanling piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 7.63 ± 0.45 kg were randomly allocated to one of the four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two levels of plant-based proteins (d 1-14: 68.3 or 81.33%, d 15-28: 81.27 or 100%) and XOS complex (0 or 0.43%) over a 28-day trial.

Results

The growth performance of piglets did not differ significantly among groups (P > 0.05). However, the diarrhea index of weaned piglets fed a high plant-based protein diet (HP) was significantly higher than that of those fed a low plant-based protein diet (LP) at days 1-14 and throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). XOS treatment tended to reduce the diarrhea index at days 1-14 (P = 0.062) and during the whole experiment period (P = 0.083). However, it significantly increased the digestibility of organic matter at days 15-28 (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary XOS supplementation increased ileal mucosa mRNA expression of occludin and ZO-1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of butyric acid (BA) in the cecal contents and in the concentrations of BA and valeric acid (VA) in colon contents were significantly elevated in the XOS groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, XOS optimized the gut flora by lowering the number of pathogenic bacteria such as p_Campylobacterota, thereby stabilizing the gut ecosystem.

Discussion

In conclusion, the HP diet aggravated diarrhea in weaned piglets while the XOS diet alleviated it by improving nutrient digestibility, protecting intestinal morphology, and optimizing the gut flora.

Sow-Offspring Diets Supplemented with Probiotics and Synbiotics Are Associated with Offspring's Growth Performance and Meat Quality

Probiotics and synbiotics supplementation have been shown to play potential roles in animal production. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotics and synbiotics supplementation to sows during gestation and lactation and to offspring pigs (sow-offspring) on offspring pigs' growth performance and meat quality. Sixty-four healthy Bama mini-pigs were selected and randomly allocated into four groups after mating: the control, antibiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics groups. After weaning, two offspring pigs per litter were selected, and four offspring pigs from two litters were merged into one pen. The offspring pigs were fed a basal diet and the same feed additive according to their corresponding sows, representing the control group (Con group), sow-offspring antibiotics group (S-OA group), sow-offspring probiotics group (S-OP group), and sow-offspring synbiotics group (S-OS group). Eight pigs per group were euthanized and sampled at 65, 95, and 125 d old for further analyses. Our findings showed that probiotics supplementation in sow-offspring diets promoted growth and feed intake of offspring pigs during 95-125 d old. Moreover, sow-offspring diets supplemented with probiotics and synbiotics altered meat quality (meat color, pH_45min, pH_24h, drip loss, cooking yield, and shear force), plasma UN and AMM levels, and gene expressions associated with muscle-fiber types (MyHCI, MyHCIIa, MyHCIIx, and MyHCIIb) and muscle growth and development (Myf5, Myf6, MyoD, and MyoG). This study provides a theoretical basis for the maternal-offspring integration regulation of meat quality by dietary probiotics and synbiotics supplementation.

Feed additives of bacterial origin as an immunoprotective or imunostimulating factor

Since January 2006 when using antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed have been banned scientists are looking for the best resolution to apply alternative substances. Extensive research into the health-promoting properties of probiotics and prebiotics has led to significant interest in the mechanisms of action of the combined administration of these feed additives as a synbiotic. Subsequent research has led to the development of new products. Among the most important health benefits of additives are, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the GI tract, maintenance of homeostasis, treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, and increase in immunity. Specific immunomodulatory mechanisms of action are not well understood and the effect is not always positive, though there are no reports of adverse effects of these substances found in the literature. For this reason, research is still being conducted on their proper application. However, due to the difficulties of carrying out research on humans, evidence of the beneficial effect of these additives comes mainly from experiments on animals. The objective of the present work was to assess the effect of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, as well as new additives including postbiotics, proteobiotics, nutribiotics, and pharmabiotics, on specific immunomodulatory mechanisms of action, increase in immunity, the reduction of a broad spectrum of diseases.

Effect of Arabinoxylan and Xylo-Oligosaccharide on Growth Performance and Intestinal Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of xylose with different polymerizations on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbial composition in weaned piglets. A total of 144 weaned piglets were assigned to 3 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design according to their body weight and sex. Dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON) and 2 additional diets formulated with 1% arabinoxylan (AX) and 1% xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), respectively. Results showed that dietary supplementation of XOS or AX reduced diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). XOS or AX increased the ileal villus height and intestinal activity of antioxidases in weaned piglets compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). XOS or AX reduced the ileal and colonic IL-6 content and increased the colonic sIgA and IL-10 concentrations in weaned piglets compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). XOS or AX increased the total organic acids concentrations in the ileum and in vitro fermentation (p < 0.05). XOS increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the ileal digesta (p < 0.05), while AX increased the population of Lactobacillus in the ileal digesta and the abundance of Bifidobacterium in the colonic digesta of weaned piglets (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both XOS and AX reduce diarrhea incidence and improve antioxidant capacity, immune function, and populations of beneficial bacteria, while microbial fermentation of XOS with a lower polymerization and molecular mass can produce more organic acids and an increased abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the upper gut of weaned pigs compared with AX.

Effects of different starch diets on growth performance, intestinal health and faecal microbiota of growing pigs

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different starch source diets on growth performance, intestinal health, and, microbiota of growing pigs. Eighteen healthy "Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire" pigs (50 ± 0.61 kg, Castrated boar) were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates and one pig per replicate. The pigs in the three treatments were fed diets prepared with cassava flour (CF), rice bran (RB) and sorghum flour (SF), respectively, and the nutritional levels of the three treatments were the same. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed that pigs in the RB group had significantly increased average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) compared with pigs in CF and SF groups. Compared with pigs in the CF group, the final body weight (FBW) of growing pigs in the RB group was increased and the ratio of feed to gain (F: G) was decreased (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between FBW and F: G between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with the CF group, the RB group significantly increased the jejunum amylase activity (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with growing pigs in the CF group and SF group, the duodenal villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio of growing pigs in the RB group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total VFA in the colon and caecum of piglets in the SF group were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to piglets in CF and RB groups, and there was no significant difference between the CF group and RB group. Compared with the RB group, caecal butyric acid concentration was significantly increased in SF and CF groups (p < 0.05). Seven dominant phyla were identified at the phylum level, among which Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota were dominant phyla, accounting for 74.18%, 14.87% and 6.56% of the RB group respectively. Cassava flour group accounted for 80.22%, 9.64% and 3.71%; Accounting for 65.33%, 17.34% and 13.07% of the SF group. Through the comparative analysis of microbial differences among the treatment groups, it was found that at the phylum level, compared with the SF group, the abundance of Synergistota in the diet of the CF group and the diet of the RB group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The abundance decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The quantity of Desulfobacterota in the RB group was significantly higher than that in the CF group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, compared with sorghum starch and cassava starch, RB starch can improve the activity of digestive enzymes and villus height in the small intestine of growing pigs and promote the growth of pigs by protecting the intestinal health of growing pigs.

The Effects of Phytase and Non-Starch Polysaccharide-Hydrolyzing Enzymes on Trace Element Deposition, Intestinal Morphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Growing-Finishing Pigs

This study investigated the effects of supplementing phytase and non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (NSPases) to corn-soybean meal-based diet on the growth performance, trace element deposition, and intestinal health of growing-finishing pigs. Fifty pigs were randomly assigned into the control (basal diet), phytase (basal diet + 100 g/t of phytase), β-mannanase (basal diet + 40 g/t of β-mannanase), β-glucanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of β-glucanase), and xylanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of xylanase) groups. The results show that the supplementation of phytase and NSPases had no impacts (p  >  0.05) on the growth performance of pigs. Compared with the control group, pigs fed with xylanase had higher (p < 0.05) Zn concentrations in the ileum and muscle and those fed with phytase had higher (p < 0.05) Zn concentrations in the ileum. Phytase and xylanase supplementation decreased (p < 0.05) fecal Zn concentrations in pigs compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, phytase, β-mannanase, β-glucanase, and xylanase supplementation up-regulated (p < 0.05) the FPN1 expression, whereas xylanase up-regulated (p < 0.05) the Znt1 expression in the duodenum of pigs compared with the control group. Moreover, phytase, β-glucanase, and xylanase supplementation up-regulated (p < 0.05) the jejunal Znt1 expression compared with the control group. The intestinal morphology results show that the phytase, β-mannanase, and xylanase groups had increased villus heights (VHs), an increased villus height-crypt depth ratio (VH:CD), and decreased crypt depths (CDs) in the duodenum, whereas phytase, β-mannanase, β-glucanase, and xylanase groups had decreased VH and VH:CD, and increased CD in the jejunum compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Pigs fed with exogenous enzymes had decreased bacterial diversity in the cecum. The dietary supplementation of NSPases increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreased spirochaetes (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, dietary NSPase treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the opportunistic pathogens, such as Treponema_2 and Eubacterium_ruminantium. Moreover, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014 and Lachnospiraceae were enriched in the β-glucanase and β-mannanase groups (p < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, phytase and xylanase supplementation may promote zinc deposition in pigs. Additionally, the supplementation of NSPases may improve the gut health of pigs by modulating the intestinal morphology and microbiota.

Dietary Complex Probiotic Supplementation Changed the Composition of Intestinal Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Improved the Average Daily Gain of Growing Pigs

At present, probiotics are being extensively evaluated for their efficacy as an alternative to antibiotics, and their safety in livestock production. In this study, 128 (Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace) pigs with an average initial body weight of 28.38 ± 0.25 kg were allocated to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete-block design. There were eight pens per treatment, with four pigs per pen (two barrows and two gilts). Dietary treatments included: (1) control diet; (2) control diet + 0.05% complex probiotic; (3) control diet + 0.1% complex probiotic; (4) control diet + 0.2% complex probiotic. During the 28-day experimental period, the feeding of 0.1% complex probiotic in the diet increased body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05). The addition of complex probiotics decreased total cholesterol and glucose concentrations in the blood (p < 0.01). Acetate concentrations in the blood increased from 0.1% complex probiotic in the diet (p < 0.05), while NH₃ and H₂S emissions in the feces decreased (p < 0.05) from 0.1% or 0.2% complex probiotic in the diet. In conclusion, dietary complex probiotic supplementation changed the composition of intestinal short-chain fatty acids and improved growth performance for growing pigs.

Bifidobacterium animalis Promotes the Growth of Weaning Piglets by Improving Intestinal Development, Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity, and Modulating Gut Microbiota

In the modern swine industry, weaning is a critical period in the pig’s life cycle. Sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes can easily lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, diarrhea, and a decrease in growth performance.

Preparation and nutritional properties of xylooligosaccharide from agricultural and forestry byproducts: A comprehensive review

Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) are functional oligosaccharides with prebiotic activities, which originate from lignocellulosic biomass and have attracted extensive attention from scholars in recent years. This paper summarizes the strategies used in the production of XOS, and introduces the raw materials, preparation methods, and purification technology of XOS. In addition, the biological characteristics and applications of XOS are also presented. The most commonly recommended XOS production strategy is the two-stage method of alkaline pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis; and further purification by membrane filtration to achieve the high yield of XOS is required for prebiotic function. At the same time, new strategies and technologies such as the hydrothermal and steam explosion have been used as pre-treatment methods combined with enzymatic hydrolysis to prepare XOS. XOS have many critical physiological activities, especially in regulating blood glucose, reducing blood lipid, and improving the structure of host intestinal flora.

Supplementation of xylo-oligosaccharides to suckling piglets promotes the growth of fiber-degrading gut bacterial populations during the lactation and nursery periods

Modulating early-life microbial colonization through xylo-oligosacharides (XOS) supplementation represents an opportunity to accelerate the establishment of fiber-degrading microbial populations and improve intestinal health. Ninety piglets from 15 litters were orally administered once a day from d7 to d27 of lactation with either 5 mL of water (CON) or 5 mL of a solution containing 30 to 60 mg of XOS (XOS). Supplementation ceased at weaning (d28) when all piglets were fed the same commercial pre-starter diet. Growth performance did not differ between treatments during the experimental period (d7 to d40). Piglet’s fecal microbiota (n = 30) shifted significantly from the end of lactation (d27) to nursery period (d40) exhibiting an increase in microbial alpha diversity. Animals supplemented with XOS showed higher richness and abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production at d27 and d40. Additionally, the predicted abundance of the pyruvate to butanoate fermentation pathway was increased in the XOS group at d40. These results show that supplementation of XOS to lactating piglets promotes fiber-degrading bacterial populations in their hindgut. Moreover, differences observed in the nursery period suggest that XOS can influence the microbiota in the long-term.

Removal or substitution of in feed antimicrobials in swine production

Antimicrobial substitutes are being used in pig production systems, to maintain the health of the animals without compromising their performance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of either the removal of in feed antimicrobials or their substitution for feed additives, at the nursery and growing/finishing stages. At weaning, 1091 piglets were sexed, vaccinated, homogenized by weight and allocated to six treatments during the nursery stage (26-63 d): T1- feed with no antimicrobials nor additives; T2 - feed with antimicrobials; T3 - feed with prebiotic; T4 - feed with probiotic; T5 - feed with essential oils; T6 - feed with organic acids. The same treatments were applied to 840 pigs during the growing/finishing stages (64-167 d). There was no effect of the treatments on feed conversion at the nursery (P = 0.222) and the growing/finishing (P = 0.809) stages. The average daily gain did not differ across treatments in the nursery (P = 0.342) and in growing/finishing (P = 0.050). The cost of the interventions with injectable drugs was not different between the treatments neither at the nursery (P = 0.990) nor at the growing/finishing (P = 0.310). However, the pneumonia and pleurisy index for all treatments was equal or above 1.0, which indicates a respiratory challenge. There was an increase in the cost with antimicrobials or additives per kg of feed produced, which impacts the cost per kg of pig produced. In conclusion, the removal of antimicrobials in pig diets is financially feasible and their substitution by additives did not impact growing performance.

Boosted growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity and disease resistance of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by single or in combination dietary Bacillus subtilis and xylo-oligosaccharides

In this study, a total of 420 healthy crucian carp (9.77 ± 0.04 g) were randomly divided into CK, B·S, XOS and B·S + XOS group, and cultured for 8 weeks. Results showed that the dietary Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) can significantly increased the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, protein efficiency and survival rate of crucian carp. Dietary B. subtilis and XOS can significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity, significantly decreased the contents of malondialdehyde, and significantly increased the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lysozyme and the contents of complement component 3,4 and immunoglobulin M in crucian carp serum. In addition, compared with CK group, the expression levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in B·S, XOS and B·S + XOS group were significantly increased, and the expression levels of TNF-α, HSP90, IL-1β, TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly decreased. Supplementation of B. subtilis and XOS can also improve the intestinal tissue morphology of crucian carp. After injection of 1 × 10⁷ CFU/mL Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila), compared with CK group, the survival rates of the B·S group, the XOS group and the B·S + XOS group were increased by 13.98%, 10.56% and 30.74%, respectively. These results show that dietary B. subtilis and XOS can significantly improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity and resistance to A. hydrophila of crucian carp, and the combined effect is better than that of single addition.

Effects of Different Oligosaccharides on Growth Performance and Intestinal Function in Broilers

Objective

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different oligosaccharides on the growth performance and intestinal function in broilers.

Methods

A total of 360 1-day-old yellow-feather chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups and fed with a basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (ANT), 3 g/kg isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO), 3 g/kg raffinose oligosaccharide (RFO), and 30 mg/kg chitooligosaccharide (COS). The experiment lasted for 56 days, with 1–28 days as the starter phase and 29–56 days as the grower phase.

Results

The results showed that dietary supplementation with RFO and COS significantly improved average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p &lt; 0.05). Relative to the control group, diets supplemented with oligosaccharides dramatically increased the level of serum IgM (RFO, COS), T-SOD (COS), and GSH-Px (IMO and RFO) and the expression of ZO-1(IMO) and claudin-1 (RFO) (p &lt; 0.05). Adding antibiotics or oligosaccharides to the diet could remarkedly increase the villus height and villus height (VH)/crypt depth (CD) ratio of each group (p &lt; 0.05). Through the ileum α-diversity analysis and comparison of OTU number in each group showed that the microbial richness of the IMO group increased in the starter phase, and that of the RFO and CSO group increased in the grower phase. Additionally, compared with the control group, IMO supplementation increased the level of ileum sIgA (p &lt; 0.05) and the content of valeric acid (p &lt; 0.05) in the cecum.

Conclusions

In summary, the addition of oligosaccharides in diet can improve the immune function and antioxidant capacity and improve intestinal health of broilers.

Dietary Brewer Grain Meal with Multienzymes Supplementation Affects Growth Performance, Gut Health, and Antioxidative Status of Weaning Pigs

We conducted a 28-day feeding study on 80 weaning pigs [(Landrace × Large White) × Duroc] to determine the effects of dietary inclusion with brewer’s grain meal (BGM) and multienzymes on their growth, intestinal health, and antioxidative status. Piglets were grouped by sex and initial BW and assigned to 20 pens with four pigs each. Treatments were a corn–soybean meal-based diet with either 0.1% multienzyme addition (PC) or without (NC), and two BGM compositions fortified with 0.1% multienzyme: 10% (BGM10) and 20% (BGM20). The overall body weight, average daily weight gain, and weight gain:feed ratio were significantly greater in pigs fed BGM20 than those fed the NC diet (p < 0.05). Moreover, the BGM diets significantly increased the digestibility of total ash and ether extract, glucose, total protein, immunoglobulin A, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, heart and small intestine weights, villus height: crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), and Lactobacillus spp. count compared with the NC diet (p < 0.05). The diarrheal rate, blood urea nitrogen, malondialdehyde, duodenal crypt depth, and Salmonella spp. count were reduced in pigs fed the BGM-supplemented diet than those fed the NC diet (p < 0.05). The diarrheal rate (p = 0.010), ether extract digestibility (p = 0.044), total protein (p = 0.044), and duodenal villus height and VH/CD (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively) decreased quadratically with the increase in BGM supplementation. Overall, diets containing up to 20% BGM with multienzyme addition improved the nutrient utilization and intestinal health in weaning pigs by suppressing pathogenic bacterial growth without compromising the overall growth of the pigs.

Effects of dietary oligosaccharides on serum biochemical index, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant status in broilers

In order to determine the effect of different oligosaccharides on growth performance, intestinal health, and antioxidant status of broilers, 240 1-day-old XiangHuang broilers were randomly distributed to 4 treatments with 6 replicates each. Birds were fed corn-soybean-based diets (CON), and birds in xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and iso-maltooligosaccharide (IMO) groups were given the basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg XOS, FOS, and IMO, respectively. Result showed that average daily gain (ADG) during the whole 5 weeks in FOS group was greater than that in control group (p < 0.05). Both breast and thigh muscle percentages were higher for birds fed XOS versus CON (p < 0.05). Oligosaccharides supplementation increased jejunal villus height compared with control group (p < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in breast muscle was lower for birds fed diet containing FOS versus CON (p < 0.05). Activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum and thigh muscle were higher in IMO than in control group (p < 0.05). Serum T-SOD and breast muscle's glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was higher in XOS compared with control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion, dietary oligosaccharides such as XOS, FOS, and IMO could improve intestinal health and antioxidant ability of muscle without affect growth performance in broilers.

The High Level of Xylooligosaccharides Improves Growth Performance in Weaned Piglets by Increasing Antioxidant Activity, Enhancing Immune Function, and Modulating Gut Microbiota

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the high level of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on growth performance, antioxidant capability, immune function, and fecal microbiota in weaning piglets. The results showed that 28 d body weight exhibited linear and quadratic increases (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary XOS level, as well as average daily feed intake (ADFI) on d 15–28, average daily gain (ADG) on d 15–28 and 1–28. There was a linear decrease (P < 0.05) between XOS levels and feed conversion rate (FCR) on d 1–14 and 1–28. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) showed a linear increase (P < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level decreased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) with the increasing dietary level of XOS. Moreover, the XOS treatments markedly increased the levels of immunoglobulin A (Ig A) (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.05), IgM (quadratic, P < 0.05), IgG (linear, P < 0.05), and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) (quadratic, P < 0.05) in serum, while the IL-1β (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (linear, P < 0.05) decreased with increasing level of XOS. Microbiota analysis showed that dietary supplementation with 1.5% XOS decreased (P < 0.05) the α-diversity and enriched (P < 0.05) beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Fusicatenibacter at the genus level, compared with the control group. Importantly, linearly increasing responses (P < 0.05) to fecal acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were observed with increasing level of XOS. Spearman correlation analyses found that Lactobacillus abundance was positively correlated with ADG, acetate, propionate, and IgA (P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with IL-1β (P < 0.05). Bifidobacterium abundance was positively related with ADFI, total SCFAs, IgG, and IL-10 (P < 0.05), as well as g_Fusicatenibacter abundance with ADFI, total SCFAs, and IL-10. However, Bifidobacterium and Fusicatenibacter abundances were negatively associated with MDA levels (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with XOS can improve the growth performance in weaning piglets by increasing antioxidant capability, enhancing immune function, and promoting beneficial bacteria counts.

Microbiomes in the Intestine of Developing Pigs: Implications for Nutrition and Health

The past decade has seen an expansion of studies on the role of gut microbiome in piglet nutrition and health. With the help of culture-independent sequencing techniques, the colonization of gut microbiota and their implication in physiology are being investigated in depth. Immediately after birth, the microbes begin to colonize following an age-dependent trajectory, which can be modified by maternal environment, diet, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. The early-life gut microbiome is relatively simple but enriched with huge metabolic potential to utilize milk oligosaccharides and affect the epithelial function. After weaning, the gut microbiome develops towards a gradual adaptation to the introduction of solid food, with an enhanced ability to metabolize amino acids, fibers, and bile acids. Here we summarize the compositional and functional difference of the gut microbiome in the keystone developing phases, with a specific focus on the use of different nutritional approaches based on the phase-specific gut microbiome.

Ingestion of xylooligosaccharides during the suckling period improve the feed efficiency and hindgut fermentation capacity of piglets after weaning

Fiber ingestion during the suckling period is helpful for gut development and probiotic colonization. Xylooligosaccharides (Xos) and xylan (Xyl) were selected to investigate the effects of different polymerization degree fiber ingestion on the growth performance and microbiota fermentation capacity of pre- and post-weanling piglets. An in vitro fermentation trial was also conducted to verify the microbial fermentation capacity of weanling piglet fecal microbiota. Results showed that Xos and Xyl ingestion had no significant effect on the piglet body weight and D-lactate level in the plasma at 21 d during the suckling period. After weaning, piglets in the Xyl group had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05), vitro dry matter (DM) fermentability (P < 0.05) and activity of xylanase (P < 0.05) than the control and Xos groups. The Xos group had no significant difference in the ADG when compared with the control group, but a significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05) than the control group, which means a high feed efficiency in the Xos group. The highest carbohydrate digestion and absorption ability of fecal microbiota (P < 0.05) was found in the Xos group. Meanwhile, the Xos group had the highest butyrate production ability (P < 0.05) and activity of xylanase (P < 0.05) during in vitro fermentation. The ingestion of Xyl during the suckling period had negative effects on the feed efficiency and hindgut fermentation capacity of weanling piglets. Xylooligosaccharide ingestion to suckling piglets improves growth performance and feed efficiency after weaning through increasing the fermentation capacity of microbiota and fiber-degrading enzyme secretion.

Lactobacillus plantarum metabolites reduce deoxynivalenol toxicity on jejunal explants of piglets

The deterioration of food and feed stuffs and toxic intestinal effects due to fungal colonization and concomitant production of mycotoxins is an increasing concern. The development of fungi resistance to many commonly used chemical preservatives adds further alarm. Therefore, effective detoxification methods would be useful in counteracting this problem. Biotransformation/adsorption of mycotoxins by lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites is a promising approach to minimize the deleterious effects of mycotoxins. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum metabolites in reducing deoxynivalenol intestinal toxicity. To achieve this aim, histological, morphometrical and oxidative stress analyses were performed in the intestinal mucosa of piglets exposed to deoxynivalenol alone or associated with two strains (SN1 and SN2) of L. plantarum subsp. plantarum metabolites. Metabolites were obtained after dichloromethane (D) or ethyl acetate (A) extraction. Jejunal explants were exposed to the following treatments for 2 and 4 h a) culture medium (control group); b) deoxynivalenol (DON, 10 μM); c) L. plantarum metabolites DSN1; d) L. plantarum metabolites DSN1+DON; e) L. plantarum metabolites DSN2; f) L. plantarum metabolites DSN2+DON; g) L. plantarum metabolites ASN1; h) L. plantarum metabolites ASN1+DON; i) L. plantarum metabolites ASN2; j) L. plantarum metabolites ASN2+DON. The metabolites were incubated 1 h previously to DON challenge (one and 3 h of exposure). Histological assessment showed DON-treated explants with villi fusion and atrophy, multifocal apical necrosis and cuboid or flattened enterocytes with 2 and 4 h of exposure, while LP metabolites groups individually or associated with DON remained like control. The density of goblet cells in villi and crypts was reduced in DON explants compared to control group with 2 and 4 h of exposure; on the other hand, a significant increase in this parameter was achieved in LP metabolites groups compared to DON. Morphometric evaluation showed no difference in villi height or crypts depth in any treated explants. Overall, oxidative stress response assessments showed that explants exposed to SN1 extracted with dichloromethane and ethyl acetate, and SN2 extracted with dichloromethane reduced superoxide anion production. In conclusion, L. plantarum metabolites induced beneficial effects in intestinal mucosa, reducing the toxic effects of DON on intestinal morphology and oxidative response.

Xylo-Oligosaccharides, Preparation and Application to Human and Animal Health: A Review

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are considered as functional oligosaccharides and have great prebiotic potential. XOS are the degraded products of xylan prepared via chemical, physical or enzymatic degradation. They are mainly composed of xylose units linked by β-1, 4 bonds. XOS not only exhibit some specific physicochemical properties such as excellent water solubility and high temperature resistance, but also have a variety of functional biological activities including anti-inflammation, antioxidative, antitumor, antimicrobial properties and so on. Numerous studies have revealed in the recent decades that XOS can be applied to many food and feed products and exert their nutritional benefits. XOS have also been demonstrated to reduce the occurrence of human health-related diseases, improve the growth and resistance to diseases of animals. These effects open a new perspective on XOS potential applications for human consumption and animal production. Herein, this review aims to provide a general overview of preparation methods for XOS, and will also discuss the current application of XOS to human and animal health field.

Effects of graded levels of xylo-oligosaccharides on growth performance, serum parameters, intestinal morphology, and intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOSs) supplementation on growth performance, serum parameters, small intestinal morphology, intestinal mucosal integrity, and immune function in weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 8.82 ± 0.05 kg (28 d of age) were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments in a 28-d trial, including a control (CON) diet and three diets with XOS supplementation at the concentration of 100 (XOS100), 500 (XOS500), and 1,000 (XOS1000) mg/kg. There were four replicates per treatment with 15 pigs per pen. From day 1 to 14, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, and gain to feed ratio (G:F) during the different treatments. The different doses of XOSs showed a quadratic effect on BW on day 28, ADG, and G:F on day 1 to 28 of piglets (P < 0.05). From day 15 to 28, ADG of pigs fed the XOS500 diet was higher (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the CON diet. During the overall period (day 1 to 28), pigs fed the XOS500 diet had a higher BW, ADG, and G:F than pigs fed the CON diet (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the CON group, the XOS500 group had significantly higher serum total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, and lower malondialdehyde levels on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.05). The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in the XOS500 group was also significantly higher compared with the CON group on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.05). However, serum immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M were not affected by the dietary treatments. Supplementation of XOS500 to the feed significantly increased the villus height (VH) and VH to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum in comparison with the CON and XOS1000 groups. Moreover, the XOS500 group significantly elevated the expression levels of occludin and zonula occludens protein-1 in the ileum compared with the CON group. The ileal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression levels in the XOS100 and XOS500 groups were markedly lower than in the CON group. In contrast, the ileal IL-10 mRNA expression levels were remarkably higher in the XOS500 than in the CON group. In conclusion, XOSs have a beneficial effect on growth performance by improving serum antioxidant defense system, serum IgG, small intestinal structure, and intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets.

Dietary Supplementation With Xylo-oligosaccharides Modifies the Intestinal Epithelial Morphology, Barrier Function and the Fecal Microbiota Composition and Activity in Weaned Piglets

The present study determined the effects of dietary xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) supplementation on the morphology of jejunum and ileum epithelium, fecal microbiota composition, metabolic activity, and expression of genes related to colon barrier function. A total of 150 piglets were randomly assigned to one of five groups: a blank control group (receiving a basal diet), three XOS groups (receiving the basal diet supplemented with 100, 250, and 500 g/t XOS, respectively), as well as a positive control group, used as a matter of comparison, that received the basal diet supplemented with 0.04 kg/t virginiamycin, 0.2 kg/t colistin, and 3,000 mg/kg ZnO. The trial was carried out for 56 days. The results showed that the lowest dose tested (100 g/t XOS) increased (P < 0.05) the ileal villus height, the relative amount of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp., and the concentration of acetic acid and short-chain fatty acid in feces when compared with the blank control group. In conclusion, dietary 100 g/t XOS supplementation modifies the intestinal ecosystem in weaned piglets in an apparently overall beneficial way.

Xylooligosaccharide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal injury in piglets via suppressing inflammation and modulating cecal microbial communities

Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) has been considered to be an effective prebiotic, but its exact mechanisms remain unknown. This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of XOS on pig intestinal bacterial community and mucosal barrier using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-caused gut damage model. Twenty-four weaned pigs were assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design involving diet (with or without XOS) and immunological challenge (saline or LPS). After 21 d of feeding 0% or 0.02% commercial XOS product, piglets were treated with saline or LPS. After that, blood, small intestinal mucosa and cecal digesta were obtained. Dietary XOS enhanced intestinal mucosal integrity demonstrated by higher villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, disaccharidase activities and claudin-1 protein expression and lower crypt depth. XOS also caused down-regulation of the gene expression of toll-like receptor 4 and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein signaling, accompanied with decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2 contents or mRNA expression and increased heat shock protein 70 mRNA and protein expression. Additionally, increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes relative abundance were observed in the piglets fed with XOS. At the genus level, XOS enriched the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, e.g., Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella. Moreover, XOS enhanced short chain fatty acids contents and inhibited histone deacetylases. The correlation analysis of the combined datasets implied some potential connections between the intestinal microbiota and pro-inflammatory cytokines or cecal metabolites. These results suggest that XOS inhibits inflammatory response and beneficially modifies microbes and metabolites of the hindgut to protect the intestine from inflammation-related injury.

Friend or Foe? Impacts of Dietary Xylans, Xylooligosaccharides, and Xylanases on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Monogastric Animals

This paper discusses the structural difference and role of xylan, procedures involved in the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and their implementation into animal feeds. Xylan is non-starch polysaccharides that share a β-(1-4)-linked xylopyranose backbone as a common feature. Due to the myriad of residues that can be substituted on the polymers within the xylan family, more anti-nutritional factors are associated with certain types of xylan than others. XOS are sugar oligomers extracted from xylan-containing lignocellulosic materials, such as crop residues, wood, and herbaceous biomass, that possess prebiotic effects. XOS can also be produced in the intestine of monogastric animals to some extent when exogenous enzymes, such as xylanase, are added to the feed. Xylanase supplementation is a common practice within both swine and poultry production to reduce intestinal viscosity and improve digestive utilization of nutrients. The efficacy of xylanase supplementation varies widely due a number of factors, one of which being the presence of xylanase inhibitors present in common feedstuffs. The use of prebiotics in animal feeding is gaining popularity as producers look to accelerate growth rate, enhance intestinal health, and improve other production parameters in an attempt to provide a safe and sustainable food product. Available research on the impact of xylan, XOS, as well as xylanase on the growth and health of swine and poultry, is also summarized. The response to xylanase supplementation in swine and poultry feeds is highly variable and whether the benefits are a result of nutrient release from NSP, reduction in digesta viscosity, production of short chain xylooligosaccharides or a combination of these is still in question. XOS supplementation seems to benefit both swine and poultry at various stages of production, as well as varying levels of XOS purity and degree of polymerization; however, further research is needed to elucidate the ideal dosage, purity, and degree of polymerization needed to confer benefits on intestinal health and performance in each respective species.

Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharides on Growth and Gut Microbiota as Potential Replacements for Antibiotic in Weaning Piglets

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) is a well-known kind of oligosaccharide and extensively applied as a prebiotic. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of XOS supplementation substituting chlortetracycline (CTC) on growth, gut morphology, gut microbiota, and hindgut short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of weaning piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments for 28 days, as follows: control group (basal diet, CON), basal diet with 500 mg/kg (XOS500) XOS, and positive control (basal diet with 100 mg/kg CTC). Compared with the CON group, the piglets in the XOS500 group improved body weight (BW) on days 28, average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed: gain ratio during days 1–28 (P < 0.05). The XOS500 supplementation increased Villus height and Villus height: Crypt depth ratio in the ileum (P < 0.05). Villus Height: Crypt Depth of the ileum was also increased in the CTC treatment group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the XOS500 supplementation increased significantly the numbers of goblet cells in the crypt of the cecum. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed distinct differences in microbial compositions between the ileum and cecum. XOS500 supplementation significantly increased the bacterial diversity. However, CTC treatment markedly reduced the microbial diversity (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, XOS500 supplementation in the diet significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus genus compared to the CON and CTC group in the ileum and cecum (P < 0.01), whereas the level of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Escherichia-Shigella, and Terrisporobacter genus in the XOS500 group were markedly lower than the CON and CTC group (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary supplementation with XOS500 significantly increased the total short-chain fatty acids, propionate and butyrate concentrations and decreased the acetate concentration compared to the CON group in the cecum (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplemented with XOS500 could enhance specific beneficial microbiota abundance and decrease harmful microbiota abundance to maintain the structure of the intestinal morphology and improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Thus, XOS may potentially function as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets in modern husbandry.

Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and xylo-oligosaccharides improves growth performance and intestinal morphology and alters intestinal microbiota and metabolites in weaned piglets

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis (BS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbial community, and metabolites of weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty-eight piglets were randomly allocated to one of four groups, including a control group (basal diet), BS group (basal diet + 500 g t-1 BS), XOS group (basal diet + 250 g t-1 XOS), and BS + XOS group (basal diet + 500 g t-1 BS + 250 g t-1 XOS). Dietary BS and XOS were mixed with the basal diet. All groups had eight replicates with four piglets per replicate. The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results showed that dietary XOS supplementation increased the ADFI and ADG, while decreasing the F/G. Dietary BS or XOS supplementation improved the intestinal morphology of weaned piglets by increasing the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum. In addition, dietary XOS supplementation increased the concentrations of butyrate in the ileum and tryptamine and spermidine in the colon, while decreasing the concentration of indole in the colon compared with the control group. Dietary BS supplementation increased the colonic concentrations of butyrate, tryptamine, and cadaverine, while decreasing the concentration of skatole compared with the control group. The LEfSe analysis identified 16 biomarkers in the ileum of the BS group. The intestinal microbiota alterations of weaned piglets indicated that dietary BS or XOS supplementation could improve intestinal health by increasing the gut microbial diversity and altering the relative abundances of different bacterial species. Moreover, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed the potential link between gut microbiota alterations and metabolite changes of weaned piglets. These findings suggest that dietary XOS supplementation could alone improve the growth performance, while dietary BS or XOS and BS with XOS supplementation could influence intestinal health by altering the intestinal morphology, microbial community, and metabolites of weaned piglets. Meanwhile, there were interactions between BS and XOS in intestinal metabolites.

Opportunities of prebiotics for the intestinal health of monogastric animals

The goal of prebiotic applications from different sources is to improve the gut ecosystem where the host and microbiota can benefit from prebiotics. It has already been recognized that prebiotics have potential roles in the gut ecosystem because gut microbiota ferment complex dietary macronutrients and carry out a broad range of functions in the host body, such as the production of nutrients and vitamins, protection against pathogens, and maintenance of immune system balance. The gut ecosystem is very crucial and can be affected by numerous factors consisting of dietary constituents and commensal bacteria. This review focuses on recent scientific evidence, confirming a beneficial effect of prebiotics on animal health, particularly in terms of protection against pathogenic bacteria and increasing the number of beneficial bacteria that may improve epithelial cell barrier functions. It has also been reviewed that modification of the gut ecosystem through the utilization of prebiotics significantly affects the intestinal health of animals. However, the identification and characterization of novel potential prebiotics remain a topical issue and elucidation of the metagenomics relationship between gut microbiota alteration and prebiotic substances is necessary for future prebiotic studies.

Stimbiotic supplementation improved performance and reduced inflammatory response via stimulating fiber fermenting microbiome in weaner pigs housed in a poor sanitary environment and fed an antibiotic-free low zinc oxide diet

This study investigated whether the inclusion of a stimbiotic (STB) can improve performance, influence intestinal microbiota and fermentation activity, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in piglets fed a low zinc oxide diet without antimicrobial growth promotors compared to fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) when housed either in good sanitary (GS) or poor sanitary (PS) environments. One hundred forty-four male pigs (28-day-old) were sorted by initial body weight (BW) and allocated to one of six experimental treatments: 1) GS environment without any additive (GS-CTR); 2) GS environment with 0.01% stimbiotic (GS-STB); 3) PS environment (without cleaning and disinfection of a previously populated room) without any additive (PS-CTR); 4) PS environment with 0.01% STB (PS-STB); 5) PS environment with 0.1% MOS (PS-MOS); and 6) PS environment with 0.2% FOS (PS-FOS). Each treatment had six replicates, with four animals each. Three feeding phases, based on corn, wheat, and soybean meal were available ad libitum for the 42-days of the study. Housing piglets under PS conditions negatively influenced performance, increased plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), affected the fecal microbial populations and increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) compared to GS. Stimbiotic improved 42-d-BW under PS conditions (P < 0.05) whereas MOS or FOS had no effect. On d35, plasma TNF-α was reduced with STB in PS (P < 0.05). The ratio between VFA:BCFA increased (P < 0.05) with STB, MOS or FOS in PS, and under GS condition, STB also increased the ratio. Stimbiotic increased the proportion of Clostridiales Family XIII Incertae Sedis and Clostridiaceae, while MOS and FOS increased Selenomonadaceae, Catabacteriaceae and Fibrobacteraceae. These results indicate that STB shifted the intestinal microbiome to favor fiber fermentation which likely contributed to reduced inflammatory response and improved performance, particularly in piglets reared in PS conditions.

Effects of Probiotics BaSC06 on Intestinal Digestion and Absorption, Antioxidant Capacity, Microbiota Composition, and Macrophage Polarization in Pigs for Fattening

This study aimed to compare the effects of BaSC06 and antibiotics on growth, digestive functions, antioxidant capacity, macrophage polarization, and intestinal microbiota of pigs for fattening. A total of 117 pigs for fattening with similar weight and genetic basis were divided into 3 groups: Anti group (containing 40 g/t Kitasamycin in the diet), Anti+Ba group (containing 20 g/t Kitasamycin and 0.5 × 108 CFU/kg BaSC06 in the diet) and Ba group (containing 1 × 108 cfu/Kg BaSC06 in the diet without any antibiotics). Each treatment was performed in three replicates with 13 pigs per replicate. Results showed that BaSC06 replacement significantly improved the ADG (P < 0.05), intestinal digestion and absorption function by increasing the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes and the expression of glucose transporters SGLT1 (P < 0.05) and small peptide transporters PEPT1 (P < 0.05). Besides, BaSC06 supplementation enhanced intestinal and body antioxidant capacity by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant signaling pathway due to the increased expression of p-Nrf2 (P < 0.05). Notably, BaSC06 alleviated intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-8, IL-6, and MCP1 (P < 0.05), and simultaneously increasing the expression of M1 macrophage marker protein iNOS (P < 0.05) and M2 macrophage marker protein Arg (P < 0.05) in the intestinal mucosa. Moreover, BaSC06 promoted the polarization of macrophages to M2 phenotype by stimulating the STAT3 signaling pathway. It was also noted that BaSC06 improved microbiota composition by enhancing the proportion of Firmicutes, and reducing that of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Taken together, our results indicate that dietary supplementation of BaSC06 in pigs for fattening improves the growth, mucosal structure, antioxidative capacity, immune functions (including increasing M1 and M2 polarization of macrophage) and composition of intestinal microbiota, which is much better than antibiotics, suggesting that it is an effective alternative to antibiotics in the preparation of pig feed.

Prebiotics Regulation of Intestinal Microbiota Attenuates Cognitive Dysfunction Induced by Surgery Stimulation in APP/PS1 Mice

Emerging evidence indicates that the intestinal microbiota could interact with the central nervous system and modulate multiple pathophysiological changes, including the integrity of intestinal barrier and blood-brain barrier, as well as neuroinflammatory response. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiological process of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Six-month-old APP/PS1 mice were subjected to partial hepatectomy to establish surgery model and exhibited cognitive dysfunction. The expressions of inflammatory mediators increased and tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin) levels decreased in the intestine and hippocampus. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing showed altered β diversity and intestinal microbiota richness after surgery, including genus Rodentibacter, Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 and Faecalibaculum, as well as family Eggerthellaceae and Muribaculaceae. Furthermore, prebiotics (Xylooligosaccharides, XOS) intervention effectively attenuated surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction and intestinal microbiota alteration, reduced inflammatory responses, and improved the integrity of tight junction barrier in the intestine and hippocampus. In summary, the present study indicates that intestinal microbiota alteration, the related intestinal barrier and blood-brain barrier damage, and inflammatory responses participate the pathophysiological process of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Prebiotics intervention could be a potential preventative approach.

In Vitro Characterization of Indigenous Probiotic Strains Isolated from Colombian Creole Pigs

Three lactic acid strains were isolated from feces of the native Zungo Pelado breed of pigs (n = 5) and presumably identified as belonging to the Lactobacillaceae family by morphological techniques showing that they were Gram-positive/rod-shaped and catalase- and oxidase-negative. They were then identified by biochemical tests using API 50CHL as Lactobacillus plantarum (CAM6), Lactobacillus brevis (CAM7), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (CL4). However, 16S rRNA identification showed that all three strains were Lactobacillus plantarum. Additionally, all three isolates were able to grow in pH 3 and 4. Interestingly, the growth of the CAM7 strain decreased at pH 5.6 compared to that of the CAM6 strain (p < 0.05), and the growth of the CL4 strain was reduced at pH 7(p < 0.05). All three candidates showed good growth on bile salts (≥0.15%), and CAM6 and CAM7 showed better tolerance at higher concentrations (0.30%). Similarly, all strains tolerated sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations from 2 to 10%. These strains also grew well at all temperatures tested (30, 37, and 42 °C). The CAM6 strain showed in vitro antibacterial activity against selected enteropathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli strain NBRC 102203 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium 4.5.12) and commensal bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC BAA-1705D-5 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442) and resistance to all antibiotics except amoxicillin. Further studies to evaluate the effects of these probiotic candidate strains in commercial pigs are currently underway.

Development of Swine's Digestive Tract Microbiota and Its Relation to Production Indices-A Review

Simple Summary

Proper cooperation between digestive system microbiota and the host is an important issue in maintaining proper health condition, and—in the case of farm animals—production indices. In the case of pigs, microbiota significantly affect production parameters such as meat quality, growth rate or improvement of immune response to infections. Understanding of pig digestive system microbiota and factors affecting this is an important issue. This may enable improvement of animal performance and stabilization of microbiota during their growth, reducing the risk of metabolic or systemic diseases.

Abstract

The development of research methods and tools related to microbiome investigation, as well as widened knowledge and awareness concerning the significance of microorganisms inhabiting mammalian organisms, has led to an increasing popularity of studies in this field. This review paper presents some issues related to the swine microbiome, its development starting from an early age of life and its status in adult animals, as well as factors affecting the microbiome in pigs. Attention is paid to the role of probiotics and prebiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in the context of post-weaning diarrhea treatment, and to the role of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract of pigs in performance indices formation. In veterinary and pork production practice, understanding of the swine microbiome and its relationships with the host organism may be useful in the prevention of some diseases and also in improvement of performance results of animals.

Effect of probiotic containing Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota in weaning pigs

A total of 150 weaning pigs (7.53 ± 1.23 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatments consisting of basal diet, and the basal diet supplemented with 300 and 600 mg kg−1 of probiotics, respectively, in a 42 d trial. The incremental levels of probiotics linearly increased average daily gain during week 1 and through the overall experimental period (P < 0.05). The average daily feed intake, body weight, and the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy also increased (P < 0.05) with the increased level of probiotics. A significant reduction in Escherichia coli counts (P = 0.0037) and increase (P = 0.0016) in Lactobacillus counts were observed on day 42.

Dietary xylo-oligosaccharide improves intestinal functions in weaned piglets

This study aimed at investigating the effects of dietary xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) on intestinal functions (i.e., intestinal morphology, tight junctions, gut microbiota and metabolism) and growth performance in weaned piglets. 19 weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups (n = 9/10): a control group (basic diet) and a XOS treated group in which piglets were fed 0.01% XOS for 28 days. Growth performance, blood cells and biochemical parameters, serum cytokines, intestinal morphology, tight junctions, gut microbiota, and the metabolic profiles of the gut digesta were analyzed. The results showed that dietary supplementation with XOS had little effects on growth performance, blood cells and biochemical parameters, and intestinal morphology. However, the inflammatory status and intestinal barrier were improved in XOS-fed piglets evidenced by the reduction of IFN-γ and upregulation of ZO-1. Microbiota analysis showed that XOS enhanced α-diversity and affected the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Turicibacter at the genus level. The alterations in the microbiota might be further involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cell motility, cellular processes and signaling, lipid metabolism, and metabolism of other amino acids by functional prediction. A metabolomics study identified three differentiated metabolites, including coenzyme Q6, zizyphine A, and pentadecanal, which might be produced by the microbiota and further affect host metabolism. In conclusion, dietary XOS improved the inflammatory status, gut barrier, and microbiota communities, which might be used as a potential feed additive to prevent gut dysfunction caused by weaning in the pig industry.

Assessment of Gut Microbiota and Selected Blood Parameters in Weaned Piglets Following Supplementation with a Probiotic and Vitamin C

The aim of the study was to assess the gut microbiota and selected haematological and biochemical blood parameters of weaned piglets following dietary supplementation with a probiotic and vitamin C. the piglets were divided into a control group (group C) and an experimental group (group E), with 30 piglets in each group. All animals received the same feed ad libitum. The animals in the control group (group C) received feed with no added probiotic and vitamin C. the piglets in the experimental group (group E) were given a supplement containing a probiotic (Bacillus cereus 1×109 CFU/kg) in the amount of 1.5 g/piglet/day and vitamin c in the amount of 300 mg/piglet/day. The supplement was administered for 28 days. The total numbers of bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae and of the genus Lactobacillus were determined in faeces. The erythrocyte count, haemoglobin level, haematocrit, leukocyte count, and percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes were determined in the blood. The biochemical analysis concerned the concentration of triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and LDL and HDL cholesterol. In group E a significant decrease (P<0.01) in the total number of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria was observed in the faeces of the piglets, accompanied by an increase in the number of lactobacilli relative to group C. E. coli was found to predominate over other microorganisms. Salmonella choleraesuis bacteria were present in the faeces of both groups before administration of the supplement, but were not found after its use. The supplement with probiotic and vitamin C caused a significant increase in the erythrocyte, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in the blood of the piglets and a significant decrease in the concentration of triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Positive effects of a Clostridium butyricum-based compound probiotic on growth performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology, hypothalamic neurotransmitters, and colonic microbiota in weaned piglets

Weaning stress in piglets can lead to poor health outcomes and reduced production. We investigated the effects of probiotics, one potential antibiotic alternative, on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, mucosal immunity, hypothalamic neurotransmitters, and colonic microflora in weaned piglets. Thirty-six weaned piglets were fed a basal diet, a diet supplemented with colistin sulphate antibiotic, or a diet supplemented with probiotics including Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus subtilis, and B. licheniformis. Probiotics significantly increased the feed : gain ratio, improved the average day gain from day 1 to day 28, and decreased the diarrhoea index. Probiotics also lowered the serum concentrations of AST, ALT, and ALP on day 14 and lowered the serum concentration of ALT on day 28 compared with the control. Probiotic supplementation caused fewer ileal apoptotic cells. The serum and ileal concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β on day 28 were significantly lowered, and the serum concentrations of IL-6 were significantly lowered on days 14 and 28. Probiotic-fed piglets exhibited higher contents of hypothalamic serotonin and dopamine as well as serum γ-aminobutyric acid along with higher colonic concentrations of butyrate and valerate on day 28. High-throughput sequencing showed 972 core operational taxonomic units among all groups, of which 48 were unique to the probiotic-treated group. The relative abundance of genus Bacillus and species Bacillus velezensis was enriched in probiotic piglets; the phylogenetic investigation of communities by the reconstruction of unobserved states indicated that amino acid metabolism, DNA repair, replication and recombination proteins, and secretion systems were enriched with probiotics. In conclusion, the Clostridium butyricum-based probiotics improved growth performance, enhanced intestinal morphology, changed hypothalamic neurotransmitters and modulated colonic microflora in weaned piglets.

Effects of oligosaccharides on the growth and stress tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 in vitro, and the potential synbiotic effects of L. plantarum ZLP001 and fructo-oligosaccharide in post-weaning piglets1

In this study, we evaluated the effects of seven oligosaccharides on the growth rate and stress tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001 in vitro, and the potential synbiotic effects of the most effective oligosaccharide [fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS)] and L. plantarum ZLP001 on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and serum immune index in weaning piglets. Most oligosaccharides were utilized as carbohydrate sources by L. plantarum ZLP001, but we observed obvious differences in the bacterial growth depending on oligosaccharide type and concentration. Oligosaccharides and glucose significantly alleviated the decrease in L. plantarum ZLP001 viability in artificial gastric fluid, whereas none of the sugars affected viability in artificial intestinal fluid. FOS and galacto-oligosaccharide significantly improved the viability of L. plantarum ZLP001 under heat stress (65 °C for 15 and 30 min). FOS and soybean oligosaccharide significantly increased the viability of L. plantarum ZLP001 in response to cold stress (4 °C for 30 and 60 days). On the basis of the findings of in vitro experiments, we selected FOS for in vivo studies. Eighty-four weaned piglets were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control (basal diet, no additives), freeze-dried L. plantarum ZLP001 (4.2 × 109 CFU/g, 2 g/kg diet), FOS (5 g/kg diet), and combination (0.2% L. plantarum ZLP001 + 0.5% FOS). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded for determinations of the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed-to-gain ratio (F/G). On day 28, fresh fecal samples were collected to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and microbiota, and serum samples were collected to determine the immune status. L. plantarum ZLP001 plus FOS significantly increased ADG and decreased the F/G ratio compared with the no-additive control. The combination treatment also increased the apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter and crude protein. Compared with the control and single supplementation, the combination treatment had a significant regulatory effect on the intestinal microbiota, as evidenced by increases in Lactobacillus spp. and a decrease in Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the combination treatment increased the concentrations of serum IFN-γ and immunoglobulin G. In conclusion, FOS can be utilized well by L. plantarum ZLP001 and can be combined with it as a potential synbiotic that shows synergistic effects in weaning piglets.

Influence of Bacillus subtilis GCB-13-001 on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, faecal microbiota and faecal score in weanling pigs

The present study investigated the influence of Bacillus subtilis GCB-13-001 on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, faecal microbiota and faecal score in weanling pigs. A total of 120 weaning pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc; 7.73 ± 0.75 kg (28 days of age)] were randomly allotted into three treatments according to their initial body weight (BW) and gender in a 6-week experiment. There were 8 replication pens in each treatment, with five pigs/pen. Dietary treatment groups were as follows: (a) basal diet (CON), (b) CON + 0.1% Bacillus subtilis GCB-13-001 1 × 10⁸  CFU/kg (T1) and (c) CON + 0.1% Bacillus subtilis GCB-13-001 1 × 10⁹  CFU/kg (T2). Days 1 to 7, the BW and ADG with T2 treatment were higher (p < .05) than CON treatment, as well as F:G showed trends in linear reduction (p < .1). Days 8 to 21, the BW and ADG were improved (p < .05) in pigs offered T1 and T2 diets compared with CON diet. Days 22 to 42, BW and ADG were higher (p < .05) in pigs fed T2 diet than CON and T1 diets, and the pigs fed T1 diet had higher BW than CON treatment. Overall, the ADG with the T2 treatment was higher (p < .05) than that with the T1 and CON treatments, and pigs offered T1 treatment had higher (p < .05) ADG than CON treatment. Moreover, F:G ratio were significantly decreased (p < .05) by T2 treatment compared with CON treatment. The faecal Lactobacillus counts were improved, and E. coli counts were reduced (p < .05) in pigs fed T2 diet compared with CON at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, supplementation of 0.1% Bacillus subtilis GCB-13-001 1 × 10⁹  CFU/kg has shown a beneficial effect in improving BW, increase ADG, decrease F:G ratio.