Dietary Supplementation With Bacillus subtilis Promotes Growth and Gut Health of Weaned Piglets

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) on the growth and gut health of weaned piglets. A total of 160 piglets were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (a basal diet), BS-A group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis A at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), BS-B group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis B at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), and BS-C group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis C at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed). All groups had five replicates with eight piglets per replicate. On days 7, 21, and 42 of the trial, blood plasma and intestinal tissues and digesta samples were collected to determine plasma cytokine concentrations, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota community and metabolic activity, and the expression of genes related to gut physiology and metabolism. The results showed that dietary B. subtilis supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the body weight and average daily gain (in BS-B and BS-C groups) of weaned piglets and decreased (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rates (in BS-A, BS-B, and BS-C groups). In the intestinal morphology analysis, B. subtilis supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the size of villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum of weaned piglets. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes were the most dominant microflora in piglets' colon whatever the trial group and time of analysis. Dietary BS-C supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundances of Anaerovibrio and Bulleidia and decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundances of Clostridium and Coprococcus compared with the control group. In addition, dietary B. subtilis supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the indicators of intestinal health, including plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, as well as the colonic levels of short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, dietary B. subtilis supplementation also up-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation. In conclusion, these findings suggest that a diet containing BS-B or BS-C can efficiently promote growth performance, decrease diarrhea incidence, and ameliorate several indicators of intestinal health through the modulation of gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity in weaned piglets.

Effects of dietary supplementation with multispecies probiotics on intestinal epithelial development and growth performance of neonatal calves challenged with Escherichia coli K99

“…Also, B. subtilis supplementation can increase the ileal villus height and V/C ratio and serve as an antibiotic substitute for the intestinal ecosystem of weaned piglets 68 . Dietary B. subtilis supplementation also upregulates the genes involved in the metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation after intramuscular inoculation with E. coli 69 . Furthermore, S. cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) improve the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy calves, 70 likely resulting from reduction of jejunal crypt depth in the small intestine, along with reduction in the intestinal pH value, as observed in animals 59 .…”

“… 68 Dietary B. subtilis supplementation also upregulates the genes involved in the metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation after intramuscular inoculation with E. coli . 69 Furthermore, S. cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) improve the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy calves, 70 likely resulting from reduction of jejunal crypt depth in the small intestine, along with reduction in the intestinal pH value, as observed in animals. 59 In the present study, MSP supplementation also significantly increased the duodenal, jejunal and ileal villus heights and crypt depths in neonatal calves infected by E. coli K99, indicating that MSP‐supplemented diets can improve the development of the intestinal mucosa.…”

Comparative efficacy of a novel Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic and pharmacological zinc oxide on growth performance and gut responses in nursery pigs

“…In our study, an increased ADG of the BS9 supplemented piglets is believed to be correlated with the reduction of diarrhea incidence compared to the control group. Previous studies have shown that Bacillus subtilis supplementation was able to reduce diarrhea and improve growth performance and interestingly, without significantly improving average daily feed intake 29 , 30 . This may suggest an improved feed digestibility and availability of nutrients associated with BS9 supplementation.…”

Dietary supplementation with full-fat Hermetia illucens larvae and multi-probiotics as a substitute for antibiotics improves the growth performance, gut health, and antioxidative capacity of weaned pigs

“…Tian et al [41] also reported an increase in VH and VH:CD in weaned pigs fed Bacillus-based probiotics. Taken together, these ndings indicate that the BSFL12 and BSFL + Pro diets have potential utility as an alternative to antibiotics, and can enhance the intestinal morphology of weaned pigs.…”