Spray-dried porcine plasma affects intestinal morphology and immune cell subsets of weaned pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the productive performance, intestinal morphology and leukocyte cell subsets of piglets. Sixteen early-weaned piglets (20 ± 2 d) were distributed into two dietary treatments: 1) free access to control diet or 2) 6% SDPP in the control diet instead of soy-protein concentrate. Intestinal morphometry of the small and large intestine, haematology and immune cell flow cytometric analysis of blood, ileo-colic lymph node and ileal Peyer's patches were performed in all pigs. Although SDPP treatment did not increase growth performance, it improved feed efficiency. We observed that SDPP diminishes blood monocytes, and macrophages (SWC3+), B lymphocytes (CD21+) and γδ T cells (γδTCR+) in gut lymphoid tissues. SDPP-treated piglets also showed lower intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers and lamina propria cell density in the small and large intestine. All these results suggest lower activation of the immune system of the SDPP-piglets during the post-weaning period. Moreover, the use of SDPP can be considered a valid alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.     

Lectin binding to small intestinal goblet cells of newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs

Lectin binding of small intestinal goblet cells was examined in newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs. Sections of duodenum, proximal portion of the jejunum, distal portion of the jejunum, and ileum were embedded in a hydrophilic acrylic resin and treated with each of the following lectins: Canavalia ensiformis, Ricinus communis I, Glycine max, Ulex europaeus I, and Triticum vulgaris. Percentages of goblet cells binding each lectin were calculated within intestinal regions. Differences in lectin-binding affinity were detected among pigs of various ages and among various intestinal regions within pig age groups.     

The intestinal and mammary immune system in pigs

Evidence exists from studies in other species for a link between the intestinal and mammary immune systems. This was examined in pigs by various methods including analysis of lymphocyte subsets in intestinal and mammary tissues and lymphocyte migration studies. It was concluded that in the pig both a common mucosal immune response and a genuine local immune response exist in the mammary gland.     

不同日龄香猪小肠黏膜形态观察

香猪是我国猪种的宝贵资源，是国家二级稀有动物。小肠是动物消化和吸收营养的主要部位，消化道的功能与猪的生长状态密切有关，有关其他猪种小肠黏膜的形态学研究已有报道，但是关于贵州小香猪小肠组织形态学研究尚未见有报道。本试验试图将贵州久仰香猪、剑白香猪两种小香猪发育时期的小肠与长白猪的小肠进行组织学比较研究，为猪种鉴定和选育优良品种提供相关的理论依据。     

肠道的免疫功能及有机酸对肠道健康的影响

正生猪生产的最终目标是将各种饲料转化为猪肉供人类食用。因此,提高饲料的生物转化效率,是提高生猪生产效益和维持生猪生产可持续性的保障。猪采食饲料后在其生物转化过程中,两个初始步骤是饲料消化和营养吸收,主要发生在猪的胃肠道(Gastrointestinal Tract GIT)。除了饲料消化和营养吸收外,猪肠道还包含许多其他生理生化功能,包括中间营养代谢和能量的生成。此外,肠道也是猪机体最     

Endoparasites in swine in different age groups and management systems

In different age groups endoparasites are of varying importance. Sows are predominantly infected with gastrointestinal strongyles (mainly Oesophagostomum spp.), Ascaris suum and Eimeriae, to a lesset extent with Trichuris suis, Hyostrongylus rubidus, Strongyloides ransomi or Isospora suis, while in suckling piglets I. suis and occasionally S. ransomi frequently occur. Weaners and fatteners are infected with coccidia and gastrointestinal strongyles, later with A. suum. Whipworms are also found occasionally. I suis causes diarrhoea in suckling piglets, while in older animals the infection is not correlated with disease. Damage induced by helminths is mainly due to reduced performance, in the case of ascarosis to reduced carcass value. Therefore planned antiparasitic measures should be taken at all stages of pig keeping. Hygienic measures can reduce infection pressure; however parasite elimination is difficult to obtain under conventional management conditions. Consequently the control of parasitic infection at the early stage of piglet production is desirable.     

Effect of chito-oligosaccharide on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, intestinal morphology and cecal microflora in weaned pigs

A total of 180 weanling pigs (21 ± 3 d of age; 5.98 ± 0.04 kg) were used to investigate the effect of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora. Based on initial BW, gender and litter, the pigs were given 5 treatments during a 14-d feeding experiment, including a basal diet (control), 3 diets with COS supplementation (200, 400, or 600 mg/kg), and a diet with colistin sulfate (CSE) supplementation (20 mg/kg). Six randomly selected pigs from each treatment were used to collect serum, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and cecal samples on d 7 and 14 postweaning. From d 1 to 7 postweaning, pigs fed COS or CSE had greater ADG and ADFI compared with the control pigs. From d 1 to 14, diets with either 400 or 600 mg/kg COS, or 20 mg/kg CSE increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F compared with the control diet. No significant differences were observed in ADG, ADFI, and G:F between the pigs fed COS and CSE. Pigs fed either 400 or 600 mg/kg COS, or 20 mg/kg CSE had less (P < 0.05) diamine oxidase (DAO) in the serum, but greater concentration of (P < 0.05) DAO in jejunal mucosa, than the control pigs on d 7 postweaning. Treatments did not affect villous height and crypt depth of the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. Pigs fed COS at 400 mg/kg had greater (P < 0.05) concentration of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the cecum than pigs fed the control diet and CSE diet on d 7 postweaning. Supplementation of COS or CSE decreased (P < 0.05) the population of cecal Staphylococcus aureus compared with the control diet on d 7 postweaning. The number of cecal Bifidobacteria in pigs fed 600 mg/kg COS was greater (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed the control diet or CSE diet on d 14 postweaning. No significant differences were observed in Escherichia coli counts in the cecum among treatments. The present results indicate that dietary supplementation of COS at 400 or 600 mg/kg promotes growth performance and improves gut barrier function, increases the population of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, and decreases S. aureus in the cecum of weanling pigs.     

抗菌肽对断奶仔猪生长性能、养分消化率、肠道微生物含量及绒毛结构的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加不同水平抗菌肽替代抗生素对断奶仔猪生长性能、养分消化率、肠道微生物含量及绒毛结构的影响。试验选择平均体重为(5.76±0.02)kg的21 d断奶的杜×长×大仔猪672头,根据个体大小随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复42头。试验分为1～14 d和15～28 d两个阶段,对照组饲喂基础日粮+60 mg/kg盐霉素,抗菌肽组饲喂基础日粮+0、50或100 mg/kg抗菌肽。试验进行28 d。对照组较抗菌肽组显著提高了断奶仔猪28 d体重(P <0.05),1～14 d和1～28 d日增重(P <0.05),1～14 d、15～28 d、1～28 d采食量,显著降低了1～28 d料重比(P <0.05)。随着日粮抗菌肽添加水平的升高,28 d体重、1～14 d、15～28 d及1～28 d日增重显著升高(P <0.05)。对照组较抗菌肽组显著提高了断奶仔猪14和28 d干物质、14 d粗蛋白质表观消化系数(P <0.05)。对照组较抗菌肽组显著降低了14和28 d粪中大肠杆菌含量(P <0.05),且总厌氧菌、梭菌和大肠杆菌含量随抗菌肽添加水平的升高而显著降低(P <0.05);与抗菌肽组相比,对照组显著降低了回肠总厌氧菌含量(P <0.05)。饲喂对照组日粮的断奶仔猪较抗菌肽组显著降低了空肠隐窝深度(P <0.05),显著提高了空肠绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值(P <0.05)。根据试验结果推断,日粮添加抗菌肽可以作为抗生素替代品,具有提高断奶仔猪生长性能、干物质和粗蛋白质的表观消化率、绒毛形态及降低粪中有害菌含量的作用。     

Effects of dietary supplementation of Chinese medicinal herbs on polymorphonuclear neutrophil immune activity and small intestinal morphology in weanling pigs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) supplementation composed of Panax ginseng, Dioscoreaceae opposite, Atractylodes macrocephala, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Ziziphus jujube and Platycodon grandiflorum, on the performance, intestinal tract morphology and immune activity in weanling pigs. Two hundred and forty weaned pigs were assigned randomly to four dietary groups including the negative control (basal diet), 0.1% CMH, 0.3% CMH and 0.114% antibiotic (Chlortetracycline calcium Complex, Sulfathiazole and Procaine Penicillin G) supplementation groups for a 28-day feeding trial. Results indicated that both CMH supplementation groups had a better gain and feed/gain than control group (CT) during the first 2 weeks of the experimental period. The 0.3% CMH had a significant decrease in the diarrhoea score in first 10 days of experimental period when compared with other groups. The CMH supplementation groups had a higher villous height, increased lactobacilli counts in digesta of ileum and decreased coliform counts in colon compared with CT. The immune activities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs), including the respiratory burst and Salmonella-killing ability, were significantly enhanced in CMH supplementation groups at day 7 of experiment period. The CMH and antibiotic supplementations increased the nutrient digestibility such as dietary dry matter, crude protein and gross energy in weanling pigs. In conclusion, the dietary CMH supplementation improved intestinal morphology and immune activities of PMNs, thus giving rise to nutrient digestibility and reduce diarrhoea frequency in weanling pigs.     

The influence of different beak trimming age on performance, H-L ratio and antibody production to SRBC in laying hens

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of beak trimming age on performance criteria, H-L ratio, antibody production, the percentage of spleen and liver and external appearance. The chicks (Barred Rock) were randomly divided into 4 beak-trimming groups (non-trimmed (control), a trim at 1 d (1D), at 10 d (10D) and at 10 wk (10W)), each of 132 chicks. There were 6 replicate cages at beak trimming groups at rearing period. At 18 wk of age a total of 144 pullets were transferred to the layer house, and the pullets were housed at 323 and 646 cm²/hen with 8 and 4 birds per cage in three-deck layer cages. There were a total of 24 replications with 12 replications equally divided between the high and low density cages, and the beak trimmed treatments were randomly and equally divided within each density. As a result of this experiment differences among groups in body weight in rearing phase were disappear in the laying phase. Low feather condition was found in untrimmed hens. H-L ratio in both pullet and laying phase was higher in hens of untrimmed groups. Cage area affected all examined parameters except that body weight, mortality rate, cracked, broken and unshell egg rates, shell breaking, shape index, shell thickness, meat-blood spot rates, spleen and liver percentages, throat injures and antibody production to SRBC.     

Effects of different rearing systems on growth,small intestinal morphology and selected indices of fermentation status in broilers

A 3×2 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effects of rearing system and stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and fermentation status of broilers. Broilers were kept on three rearing systems: floor litter rearing (FRS), plastic net rearing (NRS) and multilayer cage rearing system (CRS), each with two stocking densities (normal and high stocking densities). Results showed that on 7 to 28 days of age, body weight gain appeared as FRS > NRS > CRS. Whereas, CRS significantly enhanced the weight gain of broilers compared with the other systems subsequently. Broilers on FRS had higher counts of cecum Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli at 28 days of age but had more Escherichia coli and less Bifidobacteria than CRS at 42 days of age. The FRS also decreased volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and jejunal villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio at all ages. In conclusion, FRS appeared to benefit gut microorganisms during the early growing period along with high body weight gain of broilers, whereas this system might have a harmful effect on subsequent intestinal growth, as indicated by high E. coli, low Bifidobacteria count, low VFA concentration and villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio along with low weight gain of broilers.     

Growth, nutrient utilization and intestinal morphology of pigs fed high-fiber diets

Two trials (24 and 48 pigs; 9.7 kg initial body weight) were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber on growth, nutrient utilization and intestinal morphology of young pigs. The four diets fed were: basal corn-soybean meal (B), 15% oat hulls (OH), 15% soybean hulls (SH), and 20% alfalfa meal (AM). Fiber source did not have major effects on performance in a 35-d feeding trial. Balance trials (7-d duration) were conducted 32 d (Trial 1) or 6 d (Trial 2) after completion of the feeding trials. Feed intakes were equalized at 8.7% (Trial 1) or 10.3% (Trial 2) of initial body weight (kg.75). All fiber sources decreased apparent digestibilities of N, energy and dry matter (P less than .05) with no effect on N retention. Apparent digestibilities of neutral and acid detergent fiber, cellulose, and hemicellulose were reduced by OH and AM (P less than .01), but not by SH. Fiber sources did not affect apparent Ca, P, Zn or Mn absorption or retention, or Mg absorption, but decrease Mg retention (P less than .05). Apparent Na absorption was decreased by OH and increased by AM (P less than .05) but was unaffected by SH. All fiber sources increased K intake, but only SH and AM increased apparent K absorption (P less than .05). Fiber sources did not affect Na or K retention. The OH increased Cu intake and balance (P less than .05). All fiber sources increased Fe intake, but only SH and AM increased (P less than .05) Fe balance. Villus shape and surface morphology in jejunum and ileum examined by scanning electron microscopy (Trial 1 only) appeared to be independent of diet. However, jejunum villus morphologies of two pigs fed AM were characterized by loss of epithelial cells and microvilli at the villus apex, and ileum villi were blunted and frequently folded in one pig fed SH. Fiber sources at the levels included in a corn-soybean meal diet fed in this study had only a minimal impact on performance and utilization of minerals and N and intestinal structure, although apparent energy utilization was decreased.     

Performance, intestinal microflora, and wall morphology of weanling pigs fed sodium butyrate

Adding organic acids to piglet diets is known to be helpful in overcoming postweaning syndrome, and butyric acid is known to be the main energy source for the epithelial cells of the large intestine and the terminal ileum. This study investigated the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on in vitro and in vivo swine microflora, piglet growth performance, and intestinal wall morphology. During a 24-h in vitro cecal fermentation, total gas production and maximal rate of gas production were reduced linearly by SB (P < 0.001). Ammonia in cecal liquor was increased linearly by SB after 4, 8, and 24 h of fermentation (P < 0.001). In the in vivo study, 48 piglets housed in individual crates were allotted to 4 treatment groups (12 animals per treatment) for 6 wk. Piglets received a basal diet with a) no addition (control), or with SB at b) 1,000 ppm, c) 2,000 ppm, or d) 4,000 ppm. After 6 wk, 6 animals per treatment were killed, and samples of intestinal content and mucosa were collected. Sodium butyrate did not improve the animal growth performance. In the cecum, SB increased pH and isobutyric acid concentration (linear, P < 0.05) and tended to increase ammonia concentration (P = 0.056). Intestinal counts of clostridia, enterobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria as well as intestinal mucosal morphology were not affected by feeding SB. This study showed that SB influenced the cecal microflora in an in vitro system, reducing the total gas production but increasing ammonia concentrations. When fed to piglets, SB did not improve the animal growth performance, increased cecal pH, and tended to increase cecal ammonia concentrations. Further studies will be needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the effects observed when SB is fed to piglets.     

Effects of spray-dried porcine plasma and plant extracts on intestinal morphology and on leukocyte cell subsets of weaned pigs

We evaluated the effects of a 6% spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) and a plant extracts mixture (XT; 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde, and 2% capsicum oleoresin) on the productive performance, intestinal morphology, and leukocyte cell subsets of early-weaned pigs compared with a control group. Morphometry of the jejunum, ileum, and colon, and immune cell analysis of blood, ileocolic lymph node (LN), and ileal Peyer's patches were done in 24 weaned pigs (20 +/- 2 d) at 19 or 21 d postweaning. Although SDPP and XT treatments did not increase ADG or ADFI, SDPP improved the G:F ratio (P = 0.024) compared with the control group. Dietary SDPP reduced the percentages of blood monocytes (P = 0.006) and macrophages in ileal Peyer's patches and LN (P = 0.04), of B lymphocytes (P = 0.04) and gammadelta+ T cells in LN (P = 0.009), and of intraepithelial lymphocytes (P = 0.026) as well as the density of lamina propria cells in the colon (P < 0.01). Dietary XT reduced intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers in jejunum (P = 0.034) and the percentages of blood cytotoxic cells (P = 0.07) and B lymphocytes in LN (P = 0.03); however, XT increased blood monocytes (P = 0.038) and the density of lamina propria lymphocytes in the colon (P = 0.003). These results indicate that dietary SDPP and plant extracts can affect intestinal morphology and immune cell subsets of gut tissues and blood in weaned pigs. Furthermore, the effects of SDPP suggest lower activation of the immune system of the piglets.     

复合酸化剂对早期断奶仔猪生产性能、血清生化指标、肠道形态和微生物区系的

试验选取14日龄、体重约3.8kg的杜×(大×长)三元杂交仔猪60头,按窝别、性别和体重分为5组,每组2个重复,每个重复6头猪,研究以磷酸为主的复合酸化剂对早期断奶仔猪生产性能、血液与胃肠酸碱平衡、胃肠道微生物区系和小肠形态的影响.试验分两阶段第一阶段3.8～7kg(14～35日龄),第二阶段7～15kg.结果表明(1)总体看来,添加适宜复合酸化剂能有效提高断奶仔猪血液的酸碱平衡能力、降低胃内容物的pH值、提高小肠中乳酸杆菌的比例、降低大肠杆菌比例,并能使断奶仔猪小肠隐窝深度变浅、后期小肠绒毛高度也有升高的趋势,仔猪也相应表现出腹泻减少、生长加快和饲料转化率改善;(2)对于断奶后2～3周内的超早期断奶仔猪,添加国产复合酸化剂1500g/t效果最佳,其效果明显优于美国同类型酸化剂U;但过量添加酸化剂,尽管能改善仔猪小肠壁形态、降低腹泻率,但却导致仔猪血清碱储、HCO3-浓度升高,胃、小肠内容物pH值升高,一定程度上诱发了代谢性酸中毒,仔猪的生长性能得不到改善.(3)在7～15kg阶段,添加两种复合酸化剂的两个剂量都呈现极相近的作用,复合酸化剂对断奶后3周内仔猪的效果优于断奶3周后仔猪.     

Effect of glutamine and spray-dried plasma on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and immune responses of Escherichia coli K88+-challenged weaned pigs

Forty weaned barrows (5.32 +/- 0.3 kg BW) at 17 +/- 2 d of age were used to investigate the effects of feeding glutamine and spray-dried plasma on the growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and immune responses of Escherichia coli K88-challenged pigs. Pigs were allotted to four treatments including: 1) nonchallenged control (NONC); 2) challenged control (CHAC); 3) 7% (as-fed basis) spray-dried plasma (SDP); and 4) 2% (as-fed basis) glutamine (GLN). On d 11 after weaning, all pigs were fitted with an indwelling jugular catheter. On d 12 after weaning, pigs in the CHAC, SDP, and GLN groups were orally challenged with skim milk E. coli K88 culture, whereas pigs in the NONC group were orally inoculated with sterilized skim milk. Rectal temperatures and fecal diarrheic scores were recorded and blood samples collected at 0 (baseline), 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after the challenge for serum hormone and cytokine measurements. At 48 h postchallenge, all pigs were killed for evaluation of small intestinal morphology. There was no effect of feeding SDP or GLN on growth performance during the 11-d prechallenge period (P = 0.13). At 48 h after the challenge, CHAC pigs had decreased ADG (P = 0.08) and G:F (P = 0.07) compared with the NONC pigs; however, SDP and NONC pigs did not differ in G:F, and GLN and NONC pigs did not differ for ADG and G:F. At 6, 36, and 48 h after the challenge, CHAC, SDP, and GLN pigs had increased rectal temperature relative to the baseline (P = 0.09). At 12 and 36 h after the challenge, CHAC pigs had the highest incidence of diarrhea among treatments (P = 0.08). Serum IL-6 and ACTH were not affected by treatment or time after E. coli challenge (P = 0.11). In proximal, midjejunum, and ileum, CHAC pigs had greater villous atrophy and intestinal morphology disruption than NONC pigs (P < 0.01), whereas SDP and GLN pigs had mitigated villous atrophy and intestinal morphology impairment after E. coli challenge. Pigs in the SDP had the lowest GH at 12 h and the greatest GH at 36 h after the challenge among treatments (P = 0.08). Pigs in the NONC had the highest IGF-1 at 12 and 36 h postchallenge (P < 0.04). These results indicate that feeding glutamine has beneficial effects in alleviating growth depression of E. coli K88-challenged pigs, mainly via maintaining intestinal morphology and function, and/or possibly via modulating the somatotrophic axis.     

Infections with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in fattening pigs. Influence of piglet production systems and influence on production parameters

Two hundred and sixty-four feeder pigs from an age-segregated herd (A-pigs) and 264 feeder pigs from a continuous production system (C-pigs) were transferred into identical but separate rooms in a fattening herd employing all-in all-out production. On arrival, none of the A-pigs and 39% of the C-pigs were seropositive to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo). At slaughter 30% of the A-pigs and 99% of the C-pigs were seropositive to M. hyo. Pigs with acute swine enzootic pneumonia (SEP) at slaughter and pigs that seroconverted to M. hyo late in the rearing period showed a lower growth rate compared with pigs with chronic SEP or pigs that seroconverted to M. hyo early or not at all. No A-pigs and 12% of the C-pigs were seropositive to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae 2 (A. pp 2) at arrival to the fattening herd. At slaughter, 10% of the A-pigs and 13% of the C-pigs were seropositive to A. pp 2. On arrival, the prevalence of pigs seropositive to A. pp 3 was lower among A-pigs than C-pigs. During the fattening period the situation was reversed. The prevalence of pleuritis at slaughter was low (2.7-4.2%) and there were no associations between pleuritis at slaughter and developments of antibodies to A. pp 2 or 3. However, pigs with pleuritis developed antibodies to M. hyo to a greater extent than pigs without pleuritis. Pigs with pleuropneumonia at slaughter and pigs that seroconverted to A. pp 2 or 3 had, during certain periods of the rearing, higher growth rates compared with pigs without pleuropneumonia or pigs that did not seroconvert to A. pp 2 or 3.