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Journal article
Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces fermentation products impact performance and the fecal microbiome in weanling pigs inoculated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Journal of animal science, Vol.103, skae394
2025
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic F4 E. coli (F4-ETEC) pose an economic threat to the swine industry through reduced growth, increased mortality and morbidity, and increased costs associated with treatment. Prevention and treatment of F4-ETEC often relies on antimicrobials; however, due to the threat of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use is being minimized, and hence alternative control methods are needed. This study investigated the effects of postbiotics in the form of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products (LFP) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SFP), on pigs challenged with an F4 ETEC strain. Eighty pigs were selected based on a pre-screening F4-ETEC susceptibility test. The animals were divided into five treatments each with four replicate pens. Pigs were assigned to five different diets: a control diet (CON); CON diet with 3,000 ppm ZnO (ZnO); CON diet with 2,000 ppm LFP (LFP); CON diet with 2,000 ppm SFP (SFP); CON diet with both 2,000 ppm LFP and 2,000 ppm SFP (LAS). Pigs were inoculated per os with F4-ETEC twice, on day 0 and day1 of the experiment.BACKGROUNDEnterotoxigenic F4 E. coli (F4-ETEC) pose an economic threat to the swine industry through reduced growth, increased mortality and morbidity, and increased costs associated with treatment. Prevention and treatment of F4-ETEC often relies on antimicrobials; however, due to the threat of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use is being minimized, and hence alternative control methods are needed. This study investigated the effects of postbiotics in the form of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products (LFP) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SFP), on pigs challenged with an F4 ETEC strain. Eighty pigs were selected based on a pre-screening F4-ETEC susceptibility test. The animals were divided into five treatments each with four replicate pens. Pigs were assigned to five different diets: a control diet (CON); CON diet with 3,000 ppm ZnO (ZnO); CON diet with 2,000 ppm LFP (LFP); CON diet with 2,000 ppm SFP (SFP); CON diet with both 2,000 ppm LFP and 2,000 ppm SFP (LAS). Pigs were inoculated per os with F4-ETEC twice, on day 0 and day1 of the experiment.No significant differences in fecal consistency scores or fecal F4-ETEC concentration in pigs supplemented with LFP and/or SFP were detected. An increased diversity and abundance of Lactobacillaceae in the fecal microbiome of pigs supplemented with LFP were detected, as well as an increased final liveweight of pigs supplemented with LFP and/or SFP.RESULTSNo significant differences in fecal consistency scores or fecal F4-ETEC concentration in pigs supplemented with LFP and/or SFP were detected. An increased diversity and abundance of Lactobacillaceae in the fecal microbiome of pigs supplemented with LFP were detected, as well as an increased final liveweight of pigs supplemented with LFP and/or SFP.This study demonstrated that the fecal microbiome is modified in F4-ETEC-challenged pigs supplemented with the combination of LFP and SFP, with these modifications previously associated with increased growth performance and health status in young pigs. Pigs receiving this combination of postbiotics also demonstrated an increased final liveweight, indicating that management of ETEC-associated performance loss may not require the complete removal of ETEC from a production system.CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that the fecal microbiome is modified in F4-ETEC-challenged pigs supplemented with the combination of LFP and SFP, with these modifications previously associated with increased growth performance and health status in young pigs. Pigs receiving this combination of postbiotics also demonstrated an increased final liveweight, indicating that management of ETEC-associated performance loss may not require the complete removal of ETEC from a production system.
Details
- Title
- Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces fermentation products impact performance and the fecal microbiome in weanling pigs inoculated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
- Authors/Creators
- Tanya Cherrington - Murdoch UniversityDavid Jordan - Murdoch UniversityJohn Pluske - The University of MelbourneJosie Mansfield - Murdoch UniversityKittitat Lugsomya - Murdoch UniversityStuart WilkinsonDavid CadoganSam Abraham - Murdoch UniversityMark O'Dea
- Publication Details
- Journal of animal science, Vol.103, skae394
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.; CARY
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- Australian Pork Research Institute Ltd: A1-101
The authors would like to acknowledge the AMRID Laboratory staff at Murdoch University for laboratory support for this project. This research was funded by Australian Pork Research Institute Ltd (Grant A1-101).
- Identifiers
- 991005733086507891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Disease Laboratory; Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
- 3.51.208 Poultry Nutrition
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science