title: Effects of oral Enterococcus faecium strain DSM 10663 NCIMB 10415 on diarrhoea patterns and performance of sucking piglets.
abstract: Effects of probiotic Enterococcus faecium DMS 10663 NCIMB 10415 on diarrhoea and performance of sucking piglets were evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Piglets from treatment group (TG, n=56) and placebo group (PG, n=53) sows were included in the study. Immediately after birth and at day 2 and 3 post natum, each of the TG piglets received 2.8×10(9) colony forming units (cfu) per os. From day 4 until weaning (day 26), 1.26×10(9) cfu E. faecium/piglet were given twice a day via a liquid additive. Piglets already suffering from diarrhoea additionally got a glucose-electrolyte solution enriched with 2.9×10(8) (week 1) and 5.8×10(8) (week 2) cfu E. faecium/day. PG piglets received corresponding placebo preparations. A score was defined to characterise the severity of diarrhoea, including accompanying symptoms. The counts of viable born, stillborn and weaned piglets were similar in TG and PG litters (P>0.05). The probiotic treatment mitigated incidence and severity of diarrhoea (P<0.05) with no impact on diarrhoea length (P>0.05). Probiotic treatment improved daily weight gain (P<0.05) yet with no provable effect on body weight at weaning (P>0.05). The additional supply of E. faecium in piglets suffering from diarrhoea had no further beneficial effect.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 8, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Büsing
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 11, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeyner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000254:growth & development*; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos
keywords: Enterococcus faecium; pig; probiotic; weight gain