Spray-dried plasma improves growth performance and reduces inflammatory status of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88.
We investigated whether spray-dried plasma (SDP) improved growth and health of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). Forty-eight pigs weaned at 21 d (BW = 4.88 +/- 0.43 kg) received one of four diets containing 6% SDP or fish proteins (as-fed basis) either nonmedicated (SDP-NM and FP-NM diets) or medicated with 0 or 250 mg/kg of colistine + 500 mg/kg of amoxycycline (SDP-M and FP-M diets), for 15 d. On d 4, pigs were orally challenged with ETEC. On d 15, eight pigs per dietary group were killed, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of K88 fimbriae-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)-A, and jejunum was removed for villi preparation, histological analysis, and cytokine expression. The presence or absence of K88 receptors (K88+ and K88- pigs respectively) was determined by villous adhesion assay. Effects of protein source on ADG (P = 0.04) and ADFI (P < 0.01), as well of medication on ADFI (P < 0.02), of all pigs were observed. In sacrified pigs, there was an effect of protein source on ADG (P = 0.03) and ADFI (P < 0.001), as well an interaction between medication and presence of K88 receptor (P = 0.02) for feed:gain ratio. Plasma K88 specific IgA were low in all K88 pigs and higher in K88+ pigs fed FP-NM compared with all the other groups (P < 0.05), except SDP-M. An interaction was found among protein source, medication, and presence of K88 receptors (P = 0.04). Saliva IgA concentrations were high in all pigs fed FP-NM and low in all other pigs. Jejunum of pigs fed FP-NM showed some ulcerations, edema, and mild inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI). In pigs fed FP-M, edema was reduced. Conversely, only a mild ICI was observed in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M. Crypt depth was increased in K88+ pigs fed SDP-NM and an interaction between protein source and presence of K88 receptors was observed (P < 0.05). Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 were lower in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M than in those fed FP-NM and FP-M, either K88- or K88+ (P < 0.01). In pigs fed FP diets, expression of IL-8 tended to increase (P = 0.08) in K88+ compared with K88- subjects. Expression of interferon-gamma increased in K88 and K88+ pigs fed FP-M as compared with other pigs (P < 0.01). These results indicate that feeding with SDP improved growth performance and protected against E. coli-induced inflammatory status, and suggest that use of SDP-NM can be considered a valid antibiotic alternative.
Bosi
P
P
Diproval, University of Bologna, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy. paolo.bosi@stpa.unibo.it
Casini
L
L
Finamore
A
A
Cremokolini
C
C
Merialdi
G
G
Trevisi
P
P
Nobili
F
F
Mengheri
E
E
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory