1,721,076 research outputs found
A microencapsulated mixture of flavoring substances in a model of coccidiosis in broilers
No full textThe aim of this study was to test the anticoccidial activity of a microencapsulated blend of flavoring substances in vivo in broilers artificially infected with Eimeria cocci. A total of 1,500 day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were divided in pens (50 chicks/pen) and assigned to 3 groups (10 pens/group): negative control (NEG), fed a basal diet, not challenged; positive control (POS), fed a basal diet, challenged; treated (TRT) group, fed a basal diet supplemented with a microencapsulated blend of flavoring substances at 250 g/MT, challenged. The challenge consisted of an oral inoculation with a multispecies Eimeria inoculum at day 21. The study lasted 42 days with intestinal lesions and oocysts per gram (OPG) of feces determined on day 28, and growth performance recorded throughout the study. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and differences considered significant at P<0.05. In the first week after the infection, the challenge did have a negative impact on growth performance for the POS group compared to the NEG control, while the treated group, despite the challenge, showed already significantly better body weight gain and FCR. From the cocci challenge to the end and for the overall period, FCR of TRT group was comparable to the NEG not-challenged group (P<0.001). Moreover, TRT group showed reduced intestinal lesion scores for Eimeria spp. at d28 (P<0.05) and numerically lower fecal shedding of oocysts compared to POS group. To conclude, the microencapsulated blend of flavoring substances used in this study has the potential to contain loss of performance and intestinal lesions associated with coccidiosis challenge in broiler chickens
Botanicals as a zinc oxide alternative to protect intestinal cells from an Escherichia coli F4 infection in vitro by modulation of enterocyte inflammatory response and bacterial virulence
Full text linkPharmacological doses of zinc oxide (ZnO) have been widely used in pig industry to control post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) symptoms exacerbated by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 infections. Because of environmental issues and regulatory restrictions, ZnO is no longer sustainable, and novel nutritional alternatives to manage PWD are urgently required. Botanicals represent a wide class of compounds employed in animal nutrition because of their diverse beneficial functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro protective action of a panel of essential oils and natural extracts on intestinal Caco-2 cells against an E. coli F4 infection. Moreover, we explored the potential mechanisms of action of all the botanicals compared to ZnO. Amongst the others, thyme essential oil, grape seed extract, and Capsicum oleoresin were the most effective in maintaining epithelial integrity and reducing bacterial translocation. Their mechanism of action was related to the modulation of cellular inflammatory response, the protection of tight junctions' expression and function, and the control of bacterial virulence, thus resembling the positive functions of ZnO. Moreover, despite their mild effects on the host side, ginger and tea tree essential oils provided promising results in the control of pathogen adhesion when employed during the challenge. These outcomes support the advantages of employing selected botanicals to manage E. coli F4 infections in vitro, therefore offering novel environmentally-friendly alternatives to pharmacological doses of ZnO capable to modulate host-pathogen interaction at different levels during PWD in pigs
Thymol modulates the endocannabinoid system and gut chemosensing of weaning pigs
Full text linkBackground: The recent identification of the endocannabinoid system in the gastrointestinal tract suggests a role
in controlling intestinal inflammation. In addition, the gut chemosensing system has therapeutic applications in the
treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and inflammation due to the presence of a large variety of receptors. The
purposes of this study were to investigate the presence of markers of the endocannabinoid system and the
chemosensing system in the pig gut and, second, to determine if thymol modulates these markers. One hundred
sixty 28-day-old piglets were allocated into one of 5 treatment groups (n = 32 per treatment): T1 (control), T2 (25.5
mg thymol/kg feed), T3 (51 mg thymol/kg feed), T4 (153 mg thymol/kg feed), and T5 (510 mg thymol/kg feed).
After 14 days of treatment, piglets were sacrificed (n = 8), and then duodenal and ileal mucosal scrapings were
collected. Gene expression of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1),
the olfactory receptor OR1G1, diacylglycerol lipases (DGL-α and DGL-β), fatty acid amine hydrolase (FAAH), and
cytokines was measured, and ELISAs of pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were performed.
Results: mRNAs encoding all markers tested were detected. In the duodenum and ileum, the CB1, CB2, TRPV1, and
OR1G1 mRNAs were expressed at higher levels in the T4 and T5 groups compared to the control group. The level
of the FAAH mRNA was increased in the ileum of the T4 group compared to the control. Regarding the immune
response, the level of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) mRNA was significantly increased in the duodenum of the
T5 group, but this increase was not consistent with the protein level.
Conclusions: These results indicate the presence of endocannabinoid system and gut chemosensing markers in
the piglet gut mucosa. Moreover, thymol modulated the expression of the CB1, CB2, TRPV1, and OR1G1 mRNAs in
the duodenum and ileum. It also modulated the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and
degradation of endocannabinoid molecules. Based on these findings, the effects of thymol on promoting gut
health are potentially mediated by the activation of these receptors
Dosi nutrizionali di zinco modulano l'espressione genica dei fattori di virulenza di Escherichia coli K88
No full textFrom Acidifiers to Intestinal Health Enhancers: How Organic Acids Can Improve Growth Efficiency of Pigs
Full text linkOrganic acids have been used successfully in pig production as a cost-effective performance-enhancing option and they continue to be the number one alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. The aim of this review is to provide the biological rationale behind organic acids use in pig production, focusing on their different effects along the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Organic acids are reviewed for their antimicrobial properties and for their classic use as acidifiers, with particular attention to pH modulation and microflora control. Additional beneficial effects on intestinal health and general metabolism are presented and we explain the advantage of microencapsulation as a tool to deliver organic acids along the intestine
Tributyrin differentially regulates inflammatory markers and modulates goblet cells number along the intestinal tract segments of weaning pigs
Full text linkButyric acid is widely used in pig production as feed additive to improve growth performance at weaning, based
on its intestinal health-promoting action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intestinal architecture and
expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junctions (TJ) markers in weaning piglets fed with tributyrin,
either free or microencapsulated, as dietary source of butyric acid. One hundred and eight weaned piglets were
divided into pens (4 piglets/pen, n = 9) and received either a basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented
with tributyrin at 1750 mg/kg (f-TB) or its encapsulated form (m-TB) at 3800 mg/kg (providing 1750 mg/kg of
tributyrin equally to f-TB). Growth performance was recorded until d21 when 7 pigs/group were euthanized to
collect intestinal samples (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon) for histomorphology, cytokines, and TJ markers
gene expression analysis. Data were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA. Growth performance was not affected.
Compared with control pigs, m-TB pigs tended to induce deeper crypts in the duodenum (P = 0.09); goblet cell
number tended to be reduced by f-TB treatment in duodenum villi (P=0.09), by both f-TB and m-TB treatments
in ileum villi (P = 0.06), and by m-TB treatment in colon crypts (P = 0.08). Compared with control animals, f-
TB pigs showed higher tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression in duodenum (trend with P = 0.06), and
higher interferon γ (IFN-γ) in the jejunum (P = 0.04), whereas in the colon m-TB pigs tended to down regulate
IFN-γ (P = 0.06). Claudin-1 mRNA in the jejunum was reduced in m-TB group compared to control group
(P=0.05). Occludin mRNA in the ileum was reduced in both groups treated with tributyrin compared to control
group (P < 0.01). In the colon occludin mRNA was downregulated both in f-TB and m-TB pigs compared to
control pigs (P < 0.05).
Overall, the supplementation of tributyrin in the diet reduced the mucous-secreting goblet cells in a tractspecific
way and modulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and TJ components along the intestinal
tract of weaning piglets, without any negative effect on growth performance
Attività antimicrobica di acidi organici e composti naturali identici per il controllo di Salmonella typhimurium nel suino
No full textAssessing Intestinal Health. In Vitro and Ex vivo Gut Barrier Models of Farm Animals: Benefits and Limitations
Full text linkAnimal performance is determined by the functionality and health of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Complex mechanisms and interactions are involved in the regulation of GIT functionality and health. The understanding of these relationships could be crucial for developing strategies to improve animal production yields. The concept of “gut health" is not well defined, but this concept has begun to play a very important role in the field of animal science. However, a clear definition of GIT health and the means by which to measure it are lacking. In vitro and ex vivo models can facilitate these studies, creating well-controlled and repeatable conditions to understand how to improve animal gut health. Over the years, several models have been developed and used to study the beneficial or pathogenic relationships between the GIT and the external environment. This review aims to describe the most commonly used animals' in vitro or ex vivo models and techniques that are useful for better understanding the intestinal health of production animals, elucidating their benefits and limitations
A microencapsulated blend of botanicals can enhance growth performance and improve gut health of broiler chickens
No full textPhenol-Rich Botanicals Modulate Oxidative Stress and Epithelial Integrity in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Full text linkBotanicals are mainly known for their role as antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories. Thus, the dual purpose of the study was to verify the antioxidant potential of the tested botanicals and to evaluate their possible modulation of intestinal barrier integrity. As the effects of various phenol-rich extracts were screened, the human Caco-2 cell line was determined to be most suitable for use as the in vitro model for the intestinal epithelium. The tested botanicals, all approved as feed additives, are ginger essential oil, tea tree oil, grape seed extract, green tea extract, olive extract, chestnut extract, pomegranate extract, thyme essential oil, and capsicum oleoresin. The cells were treated with incremental doses of each botanical, followed by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), gene expression of tight junctions (TJs), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results showed how different phenol-rich botanicals could modulate barrier functions and oxidative stress in different ways. Interestingly, all the botanicals tested exerted an antioxidant potential by dropping the cytoplasmatic ROS, while the beneficial effect was exerted at different concentrations for each botanical. Our data support the role of plant extracts and essential oils in controlling gut barrier function and in reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby supporting gut barrier functionality
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