An interdisciplinary study on the mode of action of probiotics in pigs

Abstract

An interdisciplinary research group granted by the German Research Foundation (FOR 438) tested various hypotheses and tired to develop a model for the mode of action of probiotics in pigs. The study included the fields of animal nutrition/digestion physiology, anatomy and histology of the intestinal mucosa, transport and secretory properties of the mucosa, microbiology of the intestinal tract, immune system (classes of intraepithelial lymphocytes, humoral responses), gene expression of the mucosa and finally the in vitro and in vivo resistance against infection with Salmonella.Five trials with ten sows per treatment each and their piglets and two probiotic strains were included in this study. The studied bacterial strains were Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 and Bacillus cereus var. toyoi NCIMB 40112.Concluding from our studies and the published data of others, the effects of probiotics on performance are rarely significant. However, with one exception the incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea under the effect of both probiotics was significantly reduced in the trials of the research group. Furthermore, the identification frequency of various E. coli sero-pathovars relevant in post weaning diarrhoea was reduced in these animals. On the other hand, no significant modifications were found for the morphology and histology of the intestinal mucosa and also not on transport properties of this tissue. A further important finding was that the mode of action for probiotics is not unique but species or even strain specific. Most probably the studied probiotics act directly and/ or via modifications of the intestinal microbiota on the immune system (intraepithelial lymphocyte population).

Microencapsulated organic acid blend with MCFAs can be used as analternative to antibiotics for laying hens

“…An intensive amount of research has focused on the development of alternatives to antibiotics to maintain animal health and performance using different feed additives (3).…”

Probiotics use in intensive fish farming

“…Alternative control of pathogens instead of the use of antibiotics is the manipulation of the gut flora with probiotic which can be added to the diet to increase the proportion of health promoting bacterial in the gut (Ringo and Birkbeck, 1999) and its use in aquaculture is gaining acceptance (Rollo et al, 2006). Infact its use in feed has being on for decades as a growth promoters that lessen the diarrhea and commercial losses occurring around weaning period for animals such as piglets (Janczyk et al, 2009;Simon, 2010). The use of probiotics as a feed supplement in farms became popular due to the total ban in 2006 in European Union of the use of antibiotics (as growth promoting and therapeutic agent causing inbalance in the gut environment).…”

“…Bacteria probiotics do not have a mode of action but act on species-specific or even strainspecific and the immune response of the animal and its interaction with intestinal bacterial communities will play a key role (Simon, 2010). Probiotic produces inhibitory substances which may be antagonistic to the growth of pathogens in the intestine.…”

Effects of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on diarrhoea events of foals in their first weeks of life

“…In addition, administration of E. faecium reduces and shortens Rotavirus shedding in piglets (Kreuzer et al., ). Other studies in pigs treated with E. faecium and challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 demonstrated that the excretion of Salmonella in faeces and the colonisation of organs increase with no severe clinical signs of salmonellosis, although treated pigs have an earlier and more intense development of humoural immunity (Simon, ; Szabo et al., ). In calves, the administration of viable Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 has a clear beneficial effect on the prophylaxis and treatment of neonatal diarrhoea (von Buenau et al., ).…”