Effects of fermentation products of Ganoderma lucidum on growth performance and immunocompetence in weanling pigs.
The purpose of this study was to test fermentation, for its products of a Chinese medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, cultured by submerged fermentation for its effect on growth performance and immunocompetence in weanling piglets. In Experiment 1, 72 weanling piglets were allotted to one of four treatments receiving these fermentation products (GLF, expressed as amount of beta-glucans) at 0 (control), 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg feed for 4 weeks. The results showed that at a supplementation level of 50 mg/kg feed, GLF caused the best growth performance, the highest pseudorabies antibody titre, and a decrease of blood glucose level. It was also demonstrated that GLF up-regulated the cell-mediated immune response related cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha) expression in different lymphoid tissues. After challenging with porcine circovirus (PCV) type 2 (Experiment 2), a supplementation with 50 mg GLF per kg feed also inhibited PCV-2 virus amplification, and ameliorated lymphocyte depletion in different lymphoid tissues. Conclusively, feed supplemented with GLF at 50 mg/kg could be beneficial to counteract the physiological stress in weanling piglets.
Chen
Su-Der
SD
Institute of Biotechnology, National I-Lan University, I-Lan, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Meng-Chen
MC
Chiou
Ming-Tang
MT
Lai
Yu-Shen
YS
Cheng
Yeong-Hsiang
YH
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017925:Circovirus / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005285:Fermentation; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000276:immunology; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000187:drug effects*; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D047071:beta-Glucans