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Modulation of gut health in monogastric animals through nutritional additives
Full text linkThere is a wide interest in developing management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in monogastric animals. The ultimate aim of these strategies is to improve productivity, while minimizing the use of antibiotics and rather expensive feed ingredients: indeed, under practical conditions, animals don’t achieve the maximum of their growth performance potential. Large amounts of research have been conducted evaluating the impact of a wide range of feed ingredients and feed additives on various aspects of gut health and development in monogastric animals.
The main objective of this thesis was to improve our knowledge on the properties of new additives as feeding strategy, in order to increase general health in piglets around weaning and poultry, with the aim to substitute antibiotics growth promoters. Three different trials were designed to study different strategies.
In the first study proposed, the effects of plant extract administered through drinking water on post-weaning gut health of piglets were investigated. Phytogenic feed additives are plant-derived products used in animal feeding to improve the performance of agricultural livestock. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effects of a novel plant extract derived from common food plants on performance and health of weaned piglets fed mixed diet. At weaning (24 d), a total of 144 piglets were allocated in two post-weaning rooms, using a 2x2 factorial arrangement; treatments were Plant Extracts, 0 (Control group) or 8 μl daily/piglet (PE group) and Feeding Regimen, Ad Libitum or Restricted (piglets fed from 8 AM to 8 PM). Plant Extracts were a liquid mixture administered through drinking water. Piglets were housed in pens of three; each pen represented one treatment replicate, with six pens per treatment per room. On day 9 of the trial, after an adaptation period, each piglet of room 2 was orally injected with 4 ml of a solution containing 109 cfu of the virulent E. coli 0149: F4(K88)-positive strain. Animals were weighed and growth performance were recorded weekly; fecal score was evaluated at the same time as the weighing. At 0, 14 and 35 days, fecal samples were collected for microbiological analysis, while at day 0, 6, 19 and 35, blood samples were obtained from one pig per pen. At the end of the trial (35 d), 24 animals (12 from Control groups and 12 from Plant Extract groups) among Restricted feeding piglets were selected according to their body weight and slaughtered; immediately after slaughtering, the gastro-intestinal tract was removed from each animal: the distal ileum was collected and examined to assess the ileum micro-anatomical structure, perform histometry and immunohistochemistry and determine intestinal inflammatory parameters. PE supplementation enhanced ADG during the last week of the trial (P=0.007) and reduced FCR during the second (P=0.009) and the last weeks (P=0.04), and considering the overall period (P=0.01); a lower fecal score was observed in PE piglets (P<0.01). On day 35, lower fecal E.Coli (P=0.02) and Entrobacteriaceae (P=0.009) concentrations were determined in PE animals compared to control ones. Ileum crypts from PE piglets were deeper in challenged animals in comparison with not-challenged ones (P<0.05); number of mucosal macrophages was higher in Control challenged animals (P<0.05): in particular, number of mucosal macrophages in PE challenged piglets was similar to that one identified in not challenged Controls. PE supplementation also increased GSH-Px plasma concentration at d 6 (P=0.02) and tended to lower value of MDA at day 6 (P=0.07) and to increase value of T-AOC at the end of the trial (P=0.07). Hence, our results confirmed the possible protective functional role of the plant extracts mixture after the bacterial challenge: we can postulate that the use of plant extracts may be useful in the prevention of post-weaning diarrhea with an associated improvement in performance.
The aim of the second trial was to evaluate the effect of the administration of mannanooligosaccharides (MOS) on growth performance, microbial population in feces and cecum and potential alteration of intestinal histomorphometric and gene expression of some intestinal inflammatory parameters of piglets fed a low digestible diet. Forty-eight weaned piglets (6.72 ± 0.32 kg of BW, 24 d of age) were used in a 35-d experiment and randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments: basal diet (Control) and basal diet + 0.2 % MOS. Growth performance were recorded weekly, fecal samples were collected at 0, 14 and 35 d. At the end of trial, 10 piglets from each group were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. Data were analysed by a General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS. BW, ADG, ADFI were not influenced by MOS supplementation; FCR was lower in treated animals in the last 2 weeks (P<0.05). Mean fecal score was improved in MOS piglets (P<0.01). At the end of trial treated piglets had higher Lactobacilli fecal count (P<0.05). No difference was detected among groups for Coliforms, while lower Clostridia occurred on day 14 in MOS piglets (P<0.05). Intestinal villi height in the duodenum was higher in MOS than Control (P<0.05). MOS supplementation also led to significant increase of NO production in ileal mucosa (P<0.05); finally, MOS suppressed mRNA relative expression of pro-inflammatory genes for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TLR2 (P<0.05), for TLR4 (P<0.01) and for TNF (P<0.001), while there was no effect on IL-10 and PPARγ expression. Results indicate that MOS supplementation improved feed efficiency and intestinal morphometry of piglets fed low digestible diet.
The third study was carried out to determine the effects of a probiotic mixture containing two strains of Lactobacillus on growth performance, carcass composition, blood lipids, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens. Two dietary treatments, consisting of basal diet (control) and basal diet supplemented with combination of L. farciminis and L. rhamnosus were fed to 392 one day-old Ross 708 broiler chicks for 7 weeks. Each treatment had 28 replicates of 7 broilers.
The results showed that body weight gain was improved in broilers fed probiotics diet compared to controls during 0-42 d (P<0.001) but not 43-49 d of age. Probiotic fed chicks had transitorily higher serum total cholesterol (P=0.02) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.008) at 28 d of age. Serum total protein was higher at 28 d of age (P=0.02) and lower at 49 d of age (P=0.001) in probiotics fed chicks compared to controls. Probiotics tended to increase abdominal fat percentage at 49 d of age (P<0.10). No difference in enzyme activity of small intestine digesta was observed. Dietary probiotics markedly increased Lactobacilli (P=0.01) and total Anaerobes (P≤0.01) counts and decreased Coliform (P=0.01) and total Aerobe counts (P≤0.01) in small intestine and caecum. The overall results demonstrated that dietary inclusion of a mixture of L. farciminis and L. rhamnosus could promote the growth and positively modulate intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens
Dietary supplementation of mannanooligosaccharides in nutritionally stressed piglets : effects on gut health
No full textThe aim of the trial was to evaluate the effect of the administration of mannanooligosaccharides (MOS) on growth performance, villi height and crypts depth of gastrointestinal tracts, intestinal inflammatory responsive parameters and microbial population in feces and cecum of piglets fed a low digestible diet. Forty-eight weaned piglets (6.72 ± 0.32 kg of BW, 24 d of age) were used in a 35-d experiment and randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments: basal diet (Control) and basal diet + 0.2 % MOS. Growth performance were recorded weekly, fecal samples were collected at 0, 14 and 35 d. At the end of trial, 10 piglets from each group were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. Data were analysed by a General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS. BW, ADG, ADFI were not influenced by MOS supplementation; FCR was lower in treated animals in the last 2 weeks. Mean fecal score was improved in MOS piglets. At the end of trial treated piglets had higher anaerobic, aerobic bacteria and Lactobacilli fecal count. No difference was detected among groups for Coliforms, while lower Clostridia occurred on day 14 in MOS piglets. Intestinal villi height in the duodenum was higher in MOS than Control. MOS supplementation also led to significant increase of NO production in ileal mucosa. Results indicate that MOS supplementation slightly improved feed efficiency and intestinal morphometry of piglets fed low digestible diet
Administration of a novel plant extract product via drinking water to post-weaning piglets : effects on performance and gut health
Full text linkThe present study evaluated the effects of a novel plant extract (PE) product (GrazixTM) on the performance and gut health of
weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. The PE was a standardised mixture of green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) and
pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) obtained by using the LiveXtractTM process. A total of 144 piglets were weaned at 24 days
and allocated to 8 for a 35-day experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design comparing different treatments (water without product
(CT) or 8 μl/kg per day PE in drinking water (PE)), feeding regimens (ad libitum (AD) or restricted (RE)) and oral E. coli challenges
on day 9 (sham (− ) or infected ( +)). There were six pens per group with three piglets per pen. On day 35, 24 of the RE feeding
piglets were slaughtered. It was found that PE supplementation increased the average daily gain (ADG) from day 28 to day 35
( P =0.03) and increased the gain to feed ratio (G : F) from day 7 to day 14 ( P = 0.02). RE feeding led to lower feed intake in
piglets during the 1st week ( P<0.01), 2nd week ( P = 0.06), 3rd week ( P = 0.05), and throughout the course of the overall study
period ( P = 0.05). E. coli challenge decreased the ADG and G : F ratio from day 7 to day 14 ( P = 0.08 and <0.01, respectively)
and increased the faecal score (higher values indicate more severe diarrhoea) on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P<0.01). PE
supplementation decreased the faecal score in the challenged piglets during the 1st week post-challenge ( P<0.01). E. coli
challenge increased the faecal E. coli level on day 14 ( P = 0.03) and increased the Enterobacteriaceae level on day 35 ( P<0.01).
Reduced faecal E. coli was observed on days 14 and 35 ( P = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively), and reduced Enterobacteriaceae
( P<0.01) was found on day 35 in the PE animals. RE feeding increased the faecal Lactobacillus, Enterobacteriaceae and
E. coli levels on day 35 ( P = 0.02, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively). These results suggest that PE supplementation may improve
the gut health status of post-weaning piglets and counteract some of the negative effects that occur when piglets are challenged
with E. coli
Effects of plant polyphenols and mannan-oligosaccharides on growth performance, antioxidant plasma activity and health in E. coli Challenged piglets
No full textThe objective of the current study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of plant polyphenols (PP, mixture containing anthocyanin, catechins, chlorgenic and oleuropein as active ingredients) and/or mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth performance, plasma antioxidant capacity and gut health of weanling piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. Ninety-six weanling piglets (LxLW)xPenerland, 22 days old, 6.85 ± 0.71 kg L.W.) were homogenously allocated to 24 pens and fed a basal diet for one week. After diet adaptation period, piglets were divided into 4 treatments (6 replicates per treatment, 4 piglets per replicate) and fed the basal diet (Ctr) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% of PP, MOS or PP+MOS. The study lasted 6 weeks. At 28 and 32 d on trial, all piglets were orally inoculated with 4 ml of E.coli (1×109cfu/ml) or saline water. Blood samples were collected at 14, 28, 32, 34 and 41 d to analyse plasma antioxidative property : Total Antioxidant Capacity (T-AOC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Superoxide Dismutase (T-SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), ceruloplasmin. At 32 and 34 d 1 piglet per replicate was slaughtered and ileal mucosa samples collected to determine the following intestinal inflammatory response parameters : inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO).
There were no significant effect of dietary treatments or challenge in growth of piglets. Feed Convertion Ratio (FCR) of Ctr piglets was lower than PP+MOS during pre-challenge (P< 0.05). Piglets fed diets supplemented with PP or MOS had lower FCR than Ctr and PP+MOS in week after challenge (P< 0.05).
Dietary PP partially enhanced the systemic antioxidant properties with higher T-AOC (P= 0.08) and lower MDA (P= 0.08) compared to Ctr at 28 d. At 32 d, challenge did not affect antioxidant capacity, while dietary PP or MOS increased plasma GSH-Px activity (P= 0.003). Diet supplemented with PP or PP+MOS increased CAT activity (P= 0.013). At 34 d, E. Coli increased plasma superoxide anion inhibiting capacity (P< 0.01), and hydroxyl radical inhibiting capacity (P< 0.05). Challenge tended to increase plasma ceruloplasmin at 32 d (P< 0.05).
E. Coli challenge increased ileal mucosa inflammatory enzyme activities of iNOS and MPO as well as NO production at 32 and 34 d. At 34 d, dietary PP or PP+MOS tended to inhibit the increase of iNOS activity (P= 0.07) and NO production (P= 0.08) and markedly suppressed the increase of MPO activity post infection (P< 0.05) due to challenge compared to Ctr.
Plant polyphenols and MOS supplementation had the potential to improve feed efficiency after E. Coli challenge, while a combination of PP and MOS had no effect. PP and MOS separately enhanced the antioxidant defense system before challenge. Dietary PP and MOS favorably affected the systemic antioxidant capacity during E. Coli post-challenge. Dietary PP shortened the ileal mucosa inflammatory response due to challenge via inhibiting the elevation of MPO and iNOS activity and NO production. The unfavorable response of the combination of PP and MOS might be indicative of some unclear interactive effects between the two additives
Effect of plant extract on growth performance, antioxidant defense system and gut health in weanling pigs infected with Escherichia coli
Full text linkThis study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of plant extract on growth performance, systemic antioxidant defense and gut health in weanling pigs infected with Escherichia coli virus. One hundred and forty-four weanling pigs (Stambo HBI Dalland 40) (24-d-old) were homogenously allocated to 8 treatments according to body weight and sex (6 replicates with 3 pigs per treatment). Treatments followed a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 types of water treatment (control and plant extract (PE) addition), 2 kinds of feed regimen (ad libitum and restricted) and 2 levels of E. coli virus (with and without). PE was supplemented to pigs from 8 PM to 8 AM through drinking water (the amount of the product was estimated at 0.0728 ml/pig/day) every day. After 9 d of 35-d period of drinking the treatments, half of the pigs in each water treatment received an orally inoculation of 4 ml solution containing 109cfu/ml of the virulent E. coli 0149: F4 (K88)-positive strain. Plasma samples were collected at 0, 6, 19 and 35 days of the trial and ileac mucosa samples were prepared at 35 d for antioxidative property and intestinal inflammatory responsive parameters. Supplementation of PE significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) from 28 to 35d, and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 7 to 14 d, from 28 to 35 d and from 0 to 35 d. Restricted the feed induced to animals have lower ADG from 28 to 35d, ADFI from 7 to 14d and from 14 to 21 d than piglets who were fed as ad libitum, but animals had high FCR in restrictive groups from 21 to 28 days of the trial. After E.coli challenge, low ADG from 14 to 21d and ADFI from 28 to 35 and the whole phase were observed compared to non-challenge animals, and also challenge groups had higher FCR than non-challenge animals from 7 to 14 d. There were significant interactions among treatment, regime and challenge on bacterial counts of Lactobacilli at 14 d, Enterobacteriaceae at 35 d and E.coli at 14 d. Addition of PE significantly decreased the bacterial counts of Enterobacteriaceae and E.coli at 35d of the trial. Fed animals by restrictive way increased the bacterial counts of Lactobacilli, Enterobacteriaceae and E.coli at 35 d of the trial. Injection of E.coli virus induced to high bacteria counts of Enterobacteriaceae at 35 d and E.coli at 21 d. The significant interactions between treatment and challenge on faecal score were observed at 28 and 35 d. Supplementation of PE decreased the faecal score throughout the trial. Pigs after injection of E. coli virus had high faecal scores at 14, 21, 28 and 35 d compared to without challenge. There was significant interaction between treatment and challenge on T-AOC at 19 days of the trial. PE treatment had low GSH-Px at day 6 compared to Control group. Restrictively fed animals increased SOD at 35d. Challenge induced to the significant increase of GSH-Px at 19d and MDA at 35d. After infection of E. coli, there were significant interactions among treatment, regime and challenge on HGB at 35 d and HCT at 19d. Supplementation of PE increased the concentration and ratio of Eosinophils at 19 days of the trial. Restrictive feeding induced to significant increase of HGB, HCT, RDW-SD, RDW-CV, Monocytes, ratio of Monocytes and Eosinophilsat 35 days of the trial. Injection of E.coli increased WBS, RDW-CV, Neutrophils, Basophils, ratio of Eosinophils and Basophils at 19 d, meanwhile, it also increased WBS, MCHC, PLT, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes and Basophils at 35d. At slaughtering, there was no significant interaction on inflammatory parameters between challenge and treatment in the intestinal mucosa of restrictive feeding animals. While challenge induced to significant high MPO. Regard to histomorphometry of ileum in piglets fed restricted diet, supplementation of PE in combination with E. coli inoculation had highest crypt depth compared with others groups, and control group in combination with E. coli injection had highest Macrophages number. Briefly, supplementation of PE improved growth performance and faeces population in the face of E. coli challenge
Effect of plant extract administered through drinking water on post-weaning gut health of piglets
No full textThe objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of a novel plant extract, derived from common food plants, on performance and health of weaned piglets fed mixed diet. At weaning (24 d), a total of 144 piglets were used in a 2x2 factorial arrangement. Treatments were Grazix TM (LiveLeaf Bioscience), a blend of Plant Extract administered through drinking water, 0 (C) or PE (8ul/d/kg), and feeding regimen, Ad Libitum and Restricted. Piglets were allocated in pens in two postweaning rooms. The trial lasted 35 d. Piglets of one room were orally challenged with E.coli. Results indicate that the use of plant extract may be useful in the prevention of postweaning diarrhea with an associated improvement in growth performance
Effects of a novel plant extract administered through drinking water on the post-weaning gut health of piglets after exposure to E. coli
No full textThe effects of a novel plant extract administered through drinking water on the post-weaning gut health of piglets after exposure to E. coli were evaluate
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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