Strategies to improve the weaning transition of piglets: Fermented cereal liquid feed with added probiotics and ETEC-targeted single-domain antibodies

TY - BOOK

T1 - Strategies to improve the weaning transition of piglets

T2 - Fermented cereal liquid feed with added probiotics and ETEC-targeted single-domain antibodies

AU - Xu, Jiajia

PY - 2024/6/18

Y1 - 2024/6/18

N2 - The pig industry in Denmark, a main consumer of antimicrobials, is actively taking actions to reduce antibiotic use to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance. While the consumption of antibiotics in Danish pig production is lower compared to many other countries, the relatively high usage in weaners at 9.8% indicates potential for further reduction, especially within this group. Moreover, with the European Union’s June 2022 ban on medicinal zinc oxide, previously a common alternative to antimicrobials for preventing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), there is a clear need for innovative and sustainable interventions. This PhD project addresses this urgent need by evaluating the effectiveness of two alternative strategies: fermented cereal liquid feed supplemented with Pediococcus acidilactici (FCLFp) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-targeted single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), to improve the weaning transition of piglets. The primary goal is to enhance gut health and reduce susceptibility to ETEC-induced PWD, with the hypothesis that FCLFp, due to its anti-pathogen characteristics, and sdAbs, by targeting pathogenic ETEC, could offer significant protective effects against PWD.Paper Ⅰ explored the impact of FCLFp, when provided from suckling period to post-weaning period, on diarrhea, performance, immune response, and intestinal epithelial barrier function in weaning piglets challenged with F4+ ETEC. Despite a high microbial quality of FCLFp and a high level of the probiotic provided through fermentation, the intervention did not significantly alter the incidence of diarrhea and ETEC shedding, or affect markers of immune response and intestinal barrier function compared to feeding dry feed. This suggests that while FCLFp can support probiotic delivery, its effectiveness in mitigating ETEC-induced infection is limited.Paper Ⅱ investigated the effects of FCLFp on gut microbial ecology and gut health, revealing mixed outcomes. Shortly after weaning, piglets fed with FCLFp showed higher feed intake, but they also displayed elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and soft stools, indicating early post-weaning dysbiosis. On the other hand, four weeks post weaning, piglets showed improved growth performance and signs of a more balanced gut microbiota. These findings indicate that FCLFp, as prepared and fed here, did not enhance the gut health of piglets in the immediate weeks after weaning, instead, an increase in diarrhea was observed, while some beneficial effects emerged in later weeks, particularly in growth performance.Paper Ⅲ investigated the effects of ETEC-targeted sdAbs (BL1.2+BL2.2), revealing its promising potential in mitigating ETEC infection post-weaning. The study found that sdAbs significantly reduced F4+ ETEC fecal shedding and colonization in the small intestine, decreased the diarrhea occurrence, and modulated immune responses, while also protecting the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. These results highlight the potential of sdAbs as an effective and novel approach to prevent ETEC-induced PWD, contributing to improved gut health and weaning transition in piglets.In conclusion, this PhD project contributes with significant insights into the management of PWD in piglets, highlighting the complexities of gut health during the weaning transition. While feeding with FCLFp starting in the suckling period did not show a beneficial impact on PWD or gut health, sdAbs emerge as a promising novel preventative strategy against ETEC-induced PWD, offering an innovative alternative to antimicrobials and zinc oxide. Future research should focus on optimizing these interventions and assessing their practical application in pig production systems.

AB - The pig industry in Denmark, a main consumer of antimicrobials, is actively taking actions to reduce antibiotic use to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance. While the consumption of antibiotics in Danish pig production is lower compared to many other countries, the relatively high usage in weaners at 9.8% indicates potential for further reduction, especially within this group. Moreover, with the European Union’s June 2022 ban on medicinal zinc oxide, previously a common alternative to antimicrobials for preventing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), there is a clear need for innovative and sustainable interventions. This PhD project addresses this urgent need by evaluating the effectiveness of two alternative strategies: fermented cereal liquid feed supplemented with Pediococcus acidilactici (FCLFp) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-targeted single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), to improve the weaning transition of piglets. The primary goal is to enhance gut health and reduce susceptibility to ETEC-induced PWD, with the hypothesis that FCLFp, due to its anti-pathogen characteristics, and sdAbs, by targeting pathogenic ETEC, could offer significant protective effects against PWD.Paper Ⅰ explored the impact of FCLFp, when provided from suckling period to post-weaning period, on diarrhea, performance, immune response, and intestinal epithelial barrier function in weaning piglets challenged with F4+ ETEC. Despite a high microbial quality of FCLFp and a high level of the probiotic provided through fermentation, the intervention did not significantly alter the incidence of diarrhea and ETEC shedding, or affect markers of immune response and intestinal barrier function compared to feeding dry feed. This suggests that while FCLFp can support probiotic delivery, its effectiveness in mitigating ETEC-induced infection is limited.Paper Ⅱ investigated the effects of FCLFp on gut microbial ecology and gut health, revealing mixed outcomes. Shortly after weaning, piglets fed with FCLFp showed higher feed intake, but they also displayed elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and soft stools, indicating early post-weaning dysbiosis. On the other hand, four weeks post weaning, piglets showed improved growth performance and signs of a more balanced gut microbiota. These findings indicate that FCLFp, as prepared and fed here, did not enhance the gut health of piglets in the immediate weeks after weaning, instead, an increase in diarrhea was observed, while some beneficial effects emerged in later weeks, particularly in growth performance.Paper Ⅲ investigated the effects of ETEC-targeted sdAbs (BL1.2+BL2.2), revealing its promising potential in mitigating ETEC infection post-weaning. The study found that sdAbs significantly reduced F4+ ETEC fecal shedding and colonization in the small intestine, decreased the diarrhea occurrence, and modulated immune responses, while also protecting the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. These results highlight the potential of sdAbs as an effective and novel approach to prevent ETEC-induced PWD, contributing to improved gut health and weaning transition in piglets.In conclusion, this PhD project contributes with significant insights into the management of PWD in piglets, highlighting the complexities of gut health during the weaning transition. While feeding with FCLFp starting in the suckling period did not show a beneficial impact on PWD or gut health, sdAbs emerge as a promising novel preventative strategy against ETEC-induced PWD, offering an innovative alternative to antimicrobials and zinc oxide. Future research should focus on optimizing these interventions and assessing their practical application in pig production systems.

M3 - Ph.D. thesis

SN - 978-87-94253-84-0

BT - Strategies to improve the weaning transition of piglets

PB - Aarhus University

CY - Aarhus

ER -