title: Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation improves protein utilization efficiency while vitamin E supplementation reduces markers of the inflammatory response in weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenicE. coli.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that vitamin E (Vit E) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, will additively reduce the production of the immunosuppressive molecule prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and hence reduce inflammatory responses in weaner pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain ofE. coli.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was conducted in a research facility with 192 individually-housed male weaner pigs (Landrace × Large White) weighing 6.6 ± 0.04 kg (mean ± SEM). The pigs were experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain ofE. coliand were allocated to a 2 × 3 factorial design with the respective factors being without and with 125 ppm ASA and three levels of Vit E supplementation (50, 100 or 200 IU/kg diet,dl-α-tocopheryl acetate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation improved average daily gain (P <0.05) and tended to improve feed:gain ratio (P <0.10) during the first 14 d after weaning. Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation also improved (P< 0.001) amino acid utilization efficiency (as assessed by plasma urea level) and tended to decrease (P< 0.10) PGE2production in the liver without affecting small intestinal histology and tight junction protein mRNA expression in the jejunal epithelium. Vitamin E supplementation greater than 100 IU/kg diet sustained both the plasma Vit E concentration (P< 0.001) and plasma haptoglobin content (P< 0.001) after weaning. However, there was no additive effects of the combined supplementation of ASA and Vit E on performance, intestinal barrier function and inflammatory responses of weaned pigs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although ASA and vitamin E improved amino acid utilization efficiency and reduced acute inflammatory responses, ASA and vitamin E did not additively reduce production of PGE2and inflammatory responses in weaner pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain ofE. coli.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150 Australia ; Present address: AB Vista Asia Pte. Ltd., Balestier Road, The Mezzo, 329682 Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jae Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Food, Pork Innovation, South Perth, WA 6151 Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Mullan
authors.affiliation: John L Black Consulting, Warrimoo, NSW 2774 Australia.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: SunPork Farms Solutions, Loganholme, QLD 4129 Australia.
authors.forename: Robert J E
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.affiliation: Barneveld Nutrition Pty Ltd, Loganholme, QLD 4129 Australia.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Barneveld
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150 Australia.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pluske
keywords: Acetylsalicylic acid; E. coli infection; PGE2; Vitamin E; Weaner pigs