Effects of Bacillus subtilis on jejunal integrity,redox status,and microbial composition of intrauterine growth restriction suckling piglets

The present study used intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) piglets as an animal model to determine the effect of Bacillus subtilis on intestinal integrity, antioxidant capacity, and microbiota in the jejunum of suckling piglets. In total, 8 normal birth weight (NBW) newborn piglets (1.62 ± 0.10 kg) and 16 newborn IUGR piglets (0.90 ± 0.08 kg) were selected and assigned to three groups. Piglets were orally gavaged with 10-mL sterile saline (NBW and IUGR groups), and IUGR piglets were orally gavaged with 10-mL/d bacterial fluid (B. subtilis diluted in sterile saline, gavage in the dose of 2 × 10⁹ colony-forming units per kg of body weight; IBS group; n = 8). IUGR induced jejunal barrier dysfunction and redox status imbalance of piglets, and changed the abundances of bacteria in the jejunum. Treatment with B. subtilis increased (P < 0.05) the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) in the jejunum, decreased (P < 0.05) the plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, and enhanced (P < 0.05) the gene expressions of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1 in the jejunum of IUGR piglets. Treatment with B. subtilis decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of protein carbonyl (PC) and increased (P < 0.05) the activities of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the jejunum of IUGR piglets. Treatment with B. subtilis also increased (P < 0.05) gene expressions of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), CAT, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), as well as the protein expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), SOD1, and Nrf2 in the jejunum of IUGR piglets. Treatment with B. subtilis also improved the abundances and the community structure of bacteria in the jejunum of IUGR piglets. These results suggested that IUGR damaged the jejunal barrier function and antioxidant capacity of suckling piglets, and altered the abundances of bacteria in the jejunum. Treatment with B. subtilis improved the intestinal integrity and antioxidant capacity while also improved the abundances and structure of bacteria in the jejunum of suckling piglets.     

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。     

纳米银对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道绒毛形态及微生物菌群的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加不同水平的纳米银对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态及微生物菌群的影响。本研究共进行3个试验,试验1收集8头断奶后7 d仔猪的回肠内容物,在体外37℃条件下分别添加0、20、40和80μg/kg纳米银,孵育4 h。结果显示,随着纳米银添加水平的升高,回肠内容物大肠杆菌和乳酸杆菌的含量显著线性降低(P<0.05),但对乳酸杆菌比例无显著影响(P>0.05)。试验2分为3个组,每组10头21 d断奶的仔猪,日粮中分别添加0、20和40 mg/kg纳米银,结果发现随着纳米银添加水平的升高,断奶后2周仔猪的日增重表现为显著线性升高(P<0.05),同时回肠大肠杆菌含量有显著线性降低的趋势(P=0.07),显著降低了细菌总量和奇异菌属含量(P<0.05)。20 mg/kg纳米银组产气荚膜杆菌与梭菌比例最低(P<0.05)。试验3分为3组,每组选择10头21 d断奶仔猪,日粮中分别添加0、20和40 mg/kg纳米银,结果发现,日粮纳米银添加水平对仔猪断奶后前两周绒毛形态无显著影响(P>0.05),而隐窝深度有降低趋势(P=0.08)。20 mg/kg纳米银组仔猪在断奶前两周表现为最高(P<0.05),之后随着纳米银添加水平的升高在3~4周显著降低(P<0.05),料比显著升高(P<0.05)。日粮添加低剂量的纳米银可以改善断奶仔猪的采食量和日增重,适宜添加水平为20~40 mg/kg。     

Dietary dimethylglycine sodium salt supplementation improves growth performance,redox status,and skeletal muscle function of intrauterine growth-restricted weaned piglets

Few studies have focused on the role of dimethylglycine sodium (DMG-Na) salt in protecting the redox status of skeletal muscle, although it is reported to be beneficial in animal husbandry. This study investigated the beneficial effects of DMG-Na salt on the growth performance, longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) redox status, and mitochondrial function in weaning piglets that were intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR). Ten normal birth weight (NBW) newborn piglets (1.53 ± 0.04 kg) and 20 IUGR newborn piglets (0.76 ± 0.06 kg) from 10 sows were obtained. All piglets were weaned at 21 d of age and allocated to the three groups with 10 replicates per group: NBW weaned piglets fed a common basal diet (N); IUGR weaned piglets fed a common basal diet (I); IUGR weaned piglets fed a common basal diet supplemented with 0.1% DMG-Na (ID). They were slaughtered at 49 d of age to collect the serum and LM samples. Compared with the N group, the growth performance, LM structure, serum, and, within the LM, mitochondrial redox status, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, energy metabolites, redox status-related, cell adhesion-related, and mitochondrial function-related gene expression, and protein expression deteriorated in group I (P < 0.05). The ID group showed improved growth performance, LM structure, serum, and, within the LM, mitochondrial redox status, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, energy metabolites, redox status-related, cell adhesion-related, and mitochondrial function-related gene expression, and protein expression compared with those in the I group (P < 0.05). The above results indicated that the DMG-Na salt treatment could improve the LM redox status and mitochondrial function in IUGR weaned piglets via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγcoactivator-1α network, thus improving their growth performance.     

Intact brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) in diets of weaned piglets: effects on performance, gut bacteria and morphology and plasma oxidative status

The aim was to assess the effects of intact dried Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed on piglet performances, gut bacteria and function and plasma oxidative status. A total of 160 weaned piglets (21 days, 6.59 ± 0.91 kg) were allocated to four dietary treatments with eight pen replicates of five animals each for 28 days: a control diet; based on cereals, soybean meal and milk products, and three basal diets supplemented with either 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g dried seaweed per kg. At day 12/13 one piglet from each pen was sacrificed. Plasma samples were taken to determine parameters of oxidative status. Digesta were sampled for microbiological plate countings onto selective media and molecular analysis using PCR‐DGGE. Small intestinal tissue was taken for morphological and electro‐physiological determinations. Data were analysed by a linear model with treatment as fixed effect. A. nodosum supplementation had no effect on daily weight gain, nor did it alter feed conversion ratio. Plate countings failed to reveal differences among treatments. Dendograms prepared using PCR‐DGGE banding patterns did not indicate clustering of microbial profiles based on diet supplement. Plasma oxidative status and outcome of morphology and of electro‐physiological measurements from gut tissues were similar for all treatments. Thus, the addition of A. nodosum seaweed to well digestible diets did not enhance performances of piglets nor some gut health parameters and plasma oxidative status.     

酵母培养物降低黄曲霉毒素和呕吐毒素对猪生长性能、器官健康和免疫状态影响的研究

文章旨在评估酵母培养物对饲喂毒素污染日粮断奶猪生长性能、器官健康和免疫状态的影响。试验选择体重为(8.75±0.38)kg,28 d断奶的三元杂交猪500头,随机分为5组,每组5个重复(20头/重复),试验共开展42 d。对照组为未加毒素污染原料,处理1组含150μg/kg黄曲霉B1毒素+1100μg/kg呕吐毒素,处理2组在处理1组中添加2 mg/kg蒙脱石,处理3组在处理1组中添加1.0 mg/kg蒙脱石和0.5 mg/kg酵母培养物复合物,处理4组在处理1组中添加0.5 mg/kg蒙脱石和0.5 mg/kg酵母培养物复合物。结果显示:日粮污染降低了仔猪日增重,通过增加单核细胞和免疫球蛋白来改变免疫系统。霉菌毒素可引起肝、胆管增生和核肿大等组织损伤。毒素污染日粮添加2 mg/kg蒙脱石或1.0 mg/kg蒙脱石和0.5 mg/kg酵母培养物复合物降低了霉菌毒素对免疫系统和肝脏的影响,改善了仔猪生长性能。结论:日粮添加2 mg/kg蒙脱石或1.0 mg/kg蒙脱石和0.5 mg/kg酵母培养物复合物对饲喂毒素污染日粮猪的健康和生长性能具有改善作用。     

Ethanol-soluble components in soybean meal influence the digestive physiology,hepatic and intestinal morphologies,and growth performance of the marine fish pompano (Trachinotus blochii)

This study aimed to examine the effects of ethanol-soluble components (Es) in soybean meal (SBM) on gut content transit, bile acid (BA) and pancreatic digestive enzyme secretions, nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), liver and intestinal morphologies, and growth performance of pompano (Trachinotus blochii). The SBM was extracted with aqueous ethanol, then the supernatant and residue were separated and dried to produce ethanol-extracted SBM (ESBM) and the Es. Four experimental diets were formulated with fish meal (FM), ESBM and SBM as main dietary protein sources. The diets were denoted as follows: FMD (FM diet), SBMD (SBM diet), ESBMD (ESBM diet) and ESBM + EsD (ESBM plus Es diet). Thirty-five fingerling pompano with an initial body weight (BW) of 18.3 g were allocated to each of 12 polyvinyl chloride tanks (1000-L holding capacity), resulting in triplicate tanks per dietary treatment. For 10 weeks, the fish were hand-fed the experimental diets to apparent satiation twice daily. The results showed that the final BW, weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly lower, while the feed conversion ratio was higher in the SBMD and ESBM + EsD groups than in the ESBMD and FMD groups (p < 0.05). Fish fed SBMD and ESBM + EsD showed accelerated gastric transit, slowed intestinal mobility, and lowered secretions of BAs and pancreatic digestive enzymes as compared to those fed ESBMD and FMD. Morphological abnormalities in mucosal folds of the posterior intestine, but not the liver, were clearly observed in the SBMD and ESBM + EsD groups. These results indicated that the Es in SBM inhibited the digestive system, leading to decreased nutrient digestibility and growth performance in pompano. The findings of the present study suggested that removal of the Es would effectively improve the nutritional quality of SBM and enhance growth performance of pompano fed a SBM-based diet.     

A mixture of cottonseed meal, soybean meal and animal byproduct mixture as a fish meal substitute: growth and tissue gossypol enantiomer in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Diets incorporating three different sources of extracted cottonseed meal (CM), soybean meal and an animal protein mixture were evaluated for juvenile rainbow trout. Fish averaging 0.96 g were divided into groups of 30; 3 groups per treatment, and each group was fed one of four diets for a 16-week period. Fish meal (FM) was replaced on a 25% protein basis by each of three different sources of CM from California (CA), Tennessee (TN), and Arkansas (AR), U.S.A. In the three CM-containing diets another 25% soybean meal protein and 50% animal protein mixture were also incorporated to completely replace FM protein. The results of growth rate and feed utilization showed that FM could be entirely replaced by a mixture of plant proteins (CM and soybean meal) and animal by-product proteins. Hematocrit levels were significantly lower in the group fed CM-containing diets than in the control. The findings suggest that CM can be used as a good protein source by the incorporation of at least 15% in diets (25% of fish meal protein replacement), and that the nutritive values of CM in juvenile trout can be different due to their different origin. Significantly higher concentrations of total gossypol were found in faeces of CM-TN (5.8 +/- 0.4 micromol/g) and CM-AR (5.6 +/- 0.6) groups than in that of CM-CA (3.7 +/- 0.4) group. It was documented that gossypol enantiomers, present in an equal proportion in diets, selectively accumulated in liver and bile, whereas equal proportions of (+)- and (-)-enantiomers were found in whole-body and faeces. Depending on CM source, fish can absorb approximately 35-50% of dietary gossypol, and the majority of the absorbed gossypol seemed to be excreted.     

Effects of different protein sources completely replacing fish meal in low‐protein diet on growth performance,intestinal digestive physiology,and nitrogen digestion and metabolism in nursery pigs

The study compared the effects of selected proteins replacing fish meal in low‐protein diets on piglets’ growth performance, intestinal digestive physiology, and nitrogen digestion and metabolism. Five reduced CP, amino acid (AA)‐supplemented diets containing 4% of either S50, HP300, concentrated degossypolized cottonseed protein (CDCP), P50, or fish meal were assigned to six pens with 11 pigs for a 28‐day study period. Compared with fish meal, dietary proteins did not affect growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, serum hormone levels and biochemical parameters, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of CP and most AA, colonic short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents, duodenal and ileal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, and pH in small intestine of piglets. However, HP300, CDCP, and P50 decreased (p < 0.05) fecal N excretion per weight gain. AID of Ile in S50 and HP300 and Glu in P50 were improved (p < 0.05), and AID of Gly in other proteins was reduced (p < 0.05). S50 and P50 lowered (p < 0.05) the contents of colonic isobutyric and isovaleric. S50 and HP300 reduced (p < 0.05) jejunal villus height. CDCP increased (p < 0.05) the pepsin activity in stomach. S50, HP300, and CDCP decreased (p < 0.05) pH in the proximal colon. Overall, the selected proteins could completely replace fish meal in low‐protein diet without impairing piglets’ growth via maintaining intestinal digestive physiology, and nitrogen digestion and metabolism.     

Amino acid fortified diets for weanling pigs replacing fish meal and whey protein concentrate: Effects on growth,immune status,and gut health

Background

Limited availability of fish meal and whey protein concentrate increases overall feed costs. Availability of increased number of supplemental amino acids including Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, Val, and Ile allows replacing expensive protein supplements to reduce feed costs. This study was to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate in nursery diets with 6 supplemental amino acids on growth performance and gut health of post-weaning pigs. Treatments were 1) FM-WPC: diet with fish meal (FM) and whey protein concentrate (WPC); 2) FM-AA: diet with FM and crystalline amino acids (L-Lys, L-Thr, L-Trp, DL-Met, L-Val, and L-Ile); 3) WPC-AA: diet with WPC and crystalline amino acid; and 4) AA: diet with crystalline amino acid.

Results

Pigs in FM-AA, WPC-AA, and AA had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and gain:feed than pigs in FM-WPC during wk 1 (phase 1). Plasma insulin concentration of pigs in AA tended to be greater (P = 0.064) than that of FM-WPC at the end of wk 1(phase 1). Plasma concentrations of IgG in AA was lower (P < 0.05) compared with WPC-AA and FW, and FM-AA had lower (P < 0.05) IgG concentration than WPC-AA at the end of wk 1 (phase 1). Concentration of acetate in cecum digesta in FM-AA tended to be greater (P = 0.054) than that of FM-WPC and WPC-AA. Concentration of isovalerate in cecum digesta of pigs in FM-AA was greater (P < 0.05) than that of FW and WPC-AA.

Conclusions

This study indicates that use of 6 supplemental amino acids can replace fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate without adverse effects on growth performance, immune status, and gut health of pigs at d 21 to 49 of age. Positive response with the use of 6 supplemental amino acids in growth during the first week of post-weaning may due to increased plasma insulin potentially improving uptake of nutrients for protein synthesis and energy utilization. The replacement of fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate with 6 supplemental amino acids could decrease the crude protein level in nursery diets, and potentially lead to substantial cost savings in expensive nursery diets.     

Effects of Chinese herbal ultra-fine powder as a dietary additive on growth performance, serum metabolites and intestinal health in early-weaned piglets

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a Chinese herbal ultra-fine powder on growth performance, serum metabolites and intestinal health in early-weaned piglets. Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups, representing supplementation with 0 or 2 g/kg of the powder, or 0.2 g/kg of colistin to maize- and soybean meal-based diets (n = 20 per group). Dietary supplementation with the powder increased ADFI and ADG, improved the gain/feed ratio, and reduced the incidence of diarrhea in the weaned piglets (P < 0.05), compared with the non-additive group. In contrast to colistin, the Chinese herbs decreased (P < 0.05) serum levels of triglycerides and glucose and increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of ferrum and phosphorus. Collectively, these findings indicate that the Chinese herbal powder is safe and effective in preventing the weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and improving the growth performance in piglets.     

Dietary replacement of fish meal by defatted and fermented soybean meals with taurine supplementation for pompano fish: effects on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and biological parameters in a long-term feeding period

A 16-wk growth trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary replacement of fish meal by defatted soybean meal (SBM) and fermented soybean meal (FSBM) with taurine supplementation on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and biological parameters of pompano fish. The FSBM was produced by fermenting SBM with Lactobacillus spp. Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to replace 35% or 50% of fish meal by SBM or FSBM with taurine supplementation. The diets are denoted as follows: FM, SBM35, SBM35T, FSBM35T, SBM50, SBM50T, and FSBM50T. The FM (the basal diet) contained fish meal as a main source of dietary protein. Taurine was supplemented to SBM35T, FSBM35T, SBM50T, and FSBM50T at the level of 15 g/kg diet. Pompano juveniles with an initial body weight (BW) of 80 g reared in floating net cages were fed the experimental diets twice daily for 16 wk. Results showed that the final BW, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of fish fed SBM35 and SBM50 were significantly lower than those of fish fed FM (P < 0.05), indicating that the replacement of fish meal by SBM at the rate of 35% in the diet is excessive for pompano. Supplementation of taurine to the SBM-included diets significantly increased growth performance and feed utilization (P < 0.05); however, these diets did not restore the performance back to a level equivalent to that of fish offered the basal diet. Meanwhile, fish fed FSBM35T had comparable growth and feed performances to those fed FM. Hematocrit values, total biliary bile acid levels, whole body lipid contents, and tissue taurine concentrations of fish fed SBM35 and SBM50 were the lowest among the treatments, but these parameters were improved by taurine supplementation and FSBM inclusion in the diet. Taurine supplementation increased lipid ADC, and SBM fermentation slightly enhanced both lipid and protein ADCs of the fish. These findings suggest that the combination of FSBM and taurine supplementation is an effective way to improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and biological parameters, and that FSBM with taurine supplementation can replace 35% of fish meal in pompano diets without any negative effects on growth and feed performances in a long-term feeding period.     

豌豆分离蛋白和豌豆浓缩蛋白替代部分鱼粉对鲤鱼生长性能的影响

分别采用豌豆分离蛋白和豌豆浓缩蛋白替代饲料中33%、66%和100%鱼粉(对照组鱼粉10%)配制与对照组等氮、等能、等赖氨酸、等蛋氨酸和有效磷的试验饲料(其中豌豆分离蛋白用量3%、6%和9%,豌豆浓缩蛋白用量4.5%、9%和13.5%),饲养初始体重(18.53±0.35)g的建鲤75 d。结果表明:豌豆分离蛋白替代100%鱼粉组增重和特定生长率显著高于、饲料系数显著低于对照组(P<0.05),其余处理组与对照组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。两种豌豆蛋白替代鱼粉对成活率、肥满度和肠长指数无显著影响(P>0.05),但显著影响肝胰脏指数,其中豌豆分离蛋白替代100%鱼粉组和豌豆浓缩蛋白组显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。豌豆浓缩蛋白替代100%鱼粉组可观察到对适口性有不良影响。由上述结果可得出,豌豆分离蛋白和豌豆浓缩蛋白均可作为鲤鱼料的蛋白源,本试验条件下,以生长性能为标识结合适口性推荐豌豆分离蛋白可完全替代鱼粉,适宜用量9%;豌豆浓缩蛋白可替代33%鱼粉,适宜用量4.5%。     

Yellow mealworm,Tenebrio molitor (Col: Tenebrionidae), larvae powder as dietary protein sources for broiler chickens: Effects on growth performance,carcass traits,selected intestinal microbiota and blood parameters

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) inclusion on the performance, carcass traits, caecum microbiota and blood parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 180-day-old chickens were allocated to three dietary groups with five replicate pens (12 birds/pen). Experimental diets were included a corn-soybean basal diet, and two diets with 2.5% and 5% TM. TM-included diets have been administered for periods of starter (1–10 days) and grower (11–25 days). A regular finisher diet was given to all groups during the 26–42 days of age. Diets containing TM meal did not influence feed intake and mortality percentage. Feed conversion ratio was lower with the 2.5% TM meal diet compared with the control group at starter period (p < .05). Besides, broiler chickens fed TM meal included diet had a higher body weight gain than the control group during 1–10 days of age (p < .05). The carcass characteristics and length and weight of different parts of small and large intestines were not influenced by diets. TM meal inclusion decreased the albumin-to-globulin ratio compared with the control group (p < .05). Additionally, lower total count of aerobic and Escherichia coli bacteria was observed in response to diet inclusion of 5% TM meal. Overall, the inclusion of TM meal in broilers' diet improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starting period, decreased albumin-to-globulin ratio and E. coli bacteria content.