Effect of different ratios of phytogenic feed additives on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal barrier integrity, and immune response in weaned pigs challenged with a pathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing different ratios of phytogenic feed additives (PFA) to weaned pigs challenged with pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal barrier integrity, and immune response, and to determine the optimal mixing ratio for PWD prevention. A total of 48 4-week-old weaned pigs with initial body weight of 8.01 ± 0.39 kg were placed in individual metabolic cages, and then randomly assigned to eight treatment groups. The eight treatments were as follows: a basal diet without E. coli challenge (negative control, NC), a basal diet with E. coli challenge (positive control, PC), PC with supplementing 0.1% mixture of 20 % bitter citrus extract (BCE), 10% microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol (MEO), and 70% excipient (T1), PC with supplementing 0.1% mixture of 10% MEO, 20% premixture of grape seed & grape marc extract, green tea, and hops (PGE), and 60% excipient (T2), PC with supplementing 0.1% mixture of 10% BCE, 10% MEO, 10% PGE, and 70% excipient (T3), PC with supplementing 0.1% mixture of 20% BCE, 20% MEO, and 60% excipient (T4), PC with supplementing 0.1 % mixture of 20% MEO, 20% PGE, and 60% excipient (T5), and PC with supplementing 0.1 % mixture of 10% BCE, 20% MEO, 10% PGE, and 60% excipient (T6). The experiments progressed in 16 days, including 5 days before and 11 days after the first E. coli challenge (d 0). In the E. coli challenge treatments, all pigs were orally inoculated by dividing a total of 10 mL of E. coli F 18 for 3 consecutive days from d 0 post-inoculation (PI). Compared with the PC group, the PFA2 and PFA6 groups significantly increased (P < 0.05) feed efficiency and decreased (P < 0.05) diarrhea during the entire period. At d 11 PI, the PFA6 group significantly improved (P < 0.05) gross energy digestibility compared to the PFA1 group. The PFA6 group significantly decreased (P < 0.05) tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum and increased (P < 0.05) the villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD). The PFA2 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the relative protein expression of calprotectin in the ileum. In conclusion, improvements in growth performance, diarrhea reduction, and immunity enhancement are demonstrated when 10% BCE, 20% MEO, 10% PGE, and 60% excipient are mixed.

Effect of diets supplemented with coated plant essential oil on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant activity, and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets

“…The diarrhea rate of the piglets is related to their resistance to pathogens, which represents the intestinal health status of piglets. Chang et al ( 26 ) showed that a 0.1% mixture of a microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol and phytogenic feed additives increased feed efficiency and decreased the diarrhea of weaned piglets. Research has also demonstrated that 1.5 g/kg red pepper essential oil presented the lowest incidence of diarrhea ( 27 ).…”

Pioneering gut health improvements in piglets with phytogenic feed additives

“…These phytogenic supplements are designed and optimised to enhance palatability and promote digestibility by stimulating enzyme secretion in the gut (Mohana Devi et al 2015). Consequently, several studies observed corresponding improvements in growth performance (Chang et al 2023;Mohana Devi et al 2015).…”

Impacts of F18+ Escherichia coli on Intestinal Health of Nursery Pigs and Dietary Interventions

“…In recent years, F18 + E. coli infection has become more frequent [11]. Studies using the F18 + E. coli challenge model are necessary to understand the consequences and the alternatives to mitigate this infection [7,8,16,[66][67][68]77,79,81,85]. Studies using the F18 + E. coli model have shown a 14% reduction in villus height ranging from −0.4 to −25%, a 6% increase in crypt depth ranging from −6.32 to 11.92%, and a reduction in villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) ranging from −3.5 to −28.8% (Figure 3A-C to 21 days after oral inoculation with F18 + E. coli [8,16,[76][77][78][79][80][81].…”

“…Studies using the F18 + E. coli challenge model are necessary to understand the consequences and the alternatives to mitigate this infection [7,8,16,[66][67][68]77,79,81,85]. Studies using the F18 + E. coli model have shown a 14% reduction in villus height ranging from −0.4 to −25%, a 6% increase in crypt depth ranging from −6.32 to 11.92%, and a reduction in villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) ranging from −3.5 to −28.8% (Figure 3A-C [85]. The percentage of change refers to statistically significant (p < 0.05) and tendency (0.05 ≤ p < 0.10) effects of F18 + E. coli compared with the negative control on the intestinal morphology reported from each respective study.…”

“…3 Villus height to crypt depth ratio. [85]. The percentage of change refers to statistically significant (p < 0.05) and tendency (0.05 ≤ p < 0.10) effects of F18 + E. coli compared with the negative control on the intestinal morphology reported from each respective study.…”