Bacterial probiotics as an aid in the control of Clostridium difficile disease in neonatal pigs |
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| Authors: | Paulo H E Arruda Darin M Madson Alejandro Ramirez Eric W Rowe J Glenn Songer |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine (Arruda, Madson, Ramirez, Songer), Biomedical Science Department (Rowe), Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Department (Songer), College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA |
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| Abstract: | Although Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common disease in swine, there is a lack of prevention strategies. The objectives of this study were to evaluate: i) the effectiveness of Lactobacillus spp. and ii) non-toxigenic C. difficile (NTCD) as prevention for the development of CDI in piglets. Cesarean-derived piglets (N = 150) were randomly assigned to 6 groups: GROUP 1 — negative control (n = 10); GROUP 2 — NTCD only (n = 13); GROUP 3 — Lactobacillus spp. only (n = 14); GROUP 4 — positive control (challenged with toxigenic C. difficile strain) (n = 35); GROUP 5 — NTCD and challenged with the toxigenic C. difficile strain (n = 34); and GROUP 6 — Lactobacillus spp. and challenged with the toxigenic C. difficile strain (n = 44). Piglets which received NTCD showed lower prevalence of toxin-positive feces, mesocolonic edema, and microscopic lesions compared with positive control piglets. Administration of Lactobacillus spp. did not reveal clear benefits. |
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