title: Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, intestinal morphology, non-specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non-specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non-specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Yanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Jiatao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Lianqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Shengyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai E.K.M biotechnolgy CO. LTD., Shang Hai, China.
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Guangxi shangda tech CO. LTD., Guang Xi, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: De
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009113:Muramidase
keywords: growth performance; intestinal morphology; lysozyme level; non-specific immunity; weanling piglet