Blood parameters as biomarkers in a Salmonella spp. disease model of weaning piglets

Abstract

BackgroundThe weaning pig is used as an experimental model to assess the impact of diet on intestinal health. Blood parameters (BP) are considered a useful tool in humans, but there is very scarce information of such indicators in the weaning pig. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the use of different BP as indicators in an experimental model of salmonellosis.MethodologySeventy-two 28-day-old piglets were divided into four groups in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with animals receiving or not a probiotic combination based on B. infantis IM1® and B. lactis BPL6 (109 colony forming units (cfu)/d) and orally challenged or not a week later with Salmonella Typhimurium (5x108 cfu). Blood samples of one animal per pen (N = 24) were taken four days post-inoculation for the evaluation of different BP using an I-stat® System and of plasmatic concentrations of zinc, iron and copper.Principal findingsResults reported marginal deficiencies of zinc in piglets at weaning. Moreover, plasmatic zinc, copper and iron presented good correlations with weight gain (r 0.57, r -0.67, r 0.54 respectively; P < 0.01). Blood electrolytes (Na+, Cl- and K+) decreased (P < 0.01) only when the performance of the animals was seriously compromised and clinical symptoms were more apparent. Acid-base balance parameters such as HCO3-, TCO2 and BEecf significantly correlated with weight gain, but only in the challenged animals (r -0.54, r -0.55, and r -0.51, respectively; P < 0.05), suggesting metabolic acidosis depending on Salmonella infection. Glucose was affected by the challenge (P = 0.040), while Htc and Hgb increased with the challenge and decreased with the probiotic (P < 0.05). Furthermore, correlations of Glu, Htc and Hgb with weight gain were observed (P < 0.05). Overall, BP could be regarded as simple, useful indexes to assess performance and health of weaning piglets.

Prevention of enteric bacterial infections and modulation of gut microbiota with conjugated linoleic acids producing Lactobacillus in mice

“…22,40,41 In most cases, Salmonella infections are associated with diarrhea, weight loss, dramatic alterations in composition of blood cells, as well as death. 14,[42][43][44] Accordantly we detected 10 5 -10 7 CFU/g intestinal colonization of ST induced salmonellosis and caused around 8% weight loss, 52% higher level of RBC, 19% and 71% lower levels of WBC (especially neutrophils and lymphocytes) and PLT, and severe cecal inflammation in the survival mice. The physical, hematological, and gut intestinal abnormalities mentioned above in our in vivo examination contributed in the 40% death rate of mice challenged with enteric bacterial pathogen ST.…”

A Simple Assay to Assess Salmonella Typhimurium Impact on Performance and Immune Status of Growing Pigs after Different Inoculation Doses

“…Furthermore, higher HTC and HGB concentrations have been described as indicators of decreased performance [ 30 ] since both are related to impaired metabolism over the course of diarrhea observed in challenged pigs. A negative correlation between HTC and HGB and average weight gain in weaned piglets challenged with ST was observed [ 31 ]. It may occur because, under conditions of water restriction, growth may be impaired.…”

Significance of the Gut Microbiome for Viral Diarrheal and Extra-Intestinal Diseases

“…living in mammalian guts as commensals have been proven to act as probiotics by improving immune responses to rotavirus vaccines in gn piglets [ 39 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ]. Probiotic bacteria have also ameliorated health in weaned piglets challenged with Salmonella typhimurium [ 87 ] and in children with Salmonella and rotavirus gastroenteritis [ 88 , 89 , 90 ]. Lactobacillus reuteri was shown to decrease the pathogenicity of Clostridioides difficile by the generation of reactive oxygen species [ 91 ].…”