title: Effect of dietary supplementation with inulin and/or benzoic acid on the incidence and severity of post-weaning diarrhoea in weaner pigs after experimental challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding pigs with inulin and/or benzoic acid on post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), indices of fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, and production in pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli (ETEC). Forty-eight entire male pigs (Large White×Landrace) aged 21 ± 3 days of age and weighing 4.97 ± 0.08 kg (mean ± SE) were used in a 2×2 factorial experiment, with the respective factors being inulin (0 versus 8%) and benzoic acid (0 vs. 0.5%). Feeding inulin-supplemented diets improved (p = 0.022) the faecal consistency (FC) and reduced (p = 0.001) the incidence of PWD; however, the use of benzoic acid had no effects on PWD or faecal ETEC shedding. Wet faeces (a higher FC score) were associated with increased faecal ETEC shedding (R(2) = 0.394, p = 0.001). Inulin reduced the total concentrations of short chain fatty acids (p = 0.029) in the proximal colon. The total concentration of lactic acid was increased by inulin in the caecum (p = 0.007) and proximal colon (p = 0.002). Feeding inulin or benzoic acid had no effects on production after weaning.
authors.affiliation: a Animal Research Institute, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch , Australia.
authors.forename: Danka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halas
authors.affiliation: a Animal Research Institute, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch , Australia.
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: a Animal Research Institute, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch , Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.affiliation: b Animal Research and Development , Department of Agriculture and Food, Bentley Delivery Centre , Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Mullan
authors.affiliation: c Wandalup Farms , Mandurah , Australia.|d Rob Wilson Consulting , Mosman Park , Australia.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: a Animal Research Institute, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch , Australia.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pluske
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D054307:Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005285:Fermentation; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015994:Incidence; D007444:Inulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D019817:Benzoic Acid; D007444:Inulin
keywords: benzoic acid; diarrhoea; inulin; pigs; post-weaning interval