Effects of the prebiotics inulin and lactulose on intestinal immunology and hematology of preruminant calves

Abstract

Prebiotics are suggested as an alternative to antibiotics in animal rearing. Fermentable substances such as inulin or lactulose have been proposed to stimulate the immune system and health by modulation of the intestinal flora and its fermentation products. In this study, effects of inulin and lactulose on the intestinal health and hematology of calves have been investigated. Both prebiotics significantly decreased thrombocyte counts in peripheral blood. Only inulin was able to increase hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit. Total leukocyte count was decreased by lactulose while both prebiotics tended to lower monocyte proportions. mRNA expression of inflammation-related markers in the intestine was also affected by both prebiotics hinting at a decreased inflammatory status. This may be due to a possible decrease in intestinal pathogen load that remains to be verified. Only mRNA amounts of interleukin 8 were increased by lactulose in mesenteric lymph nodes. In the ileum, expression of a proliferation marker was increased by inulin while an apoptosis-related gene was increased by both prebiotics. The results of this study show a clear effect of prebiotics on certain parameters associated with animal health and performance that remain to be studied in detail in future investigations.

Effects of inulin supplementation on selected faecal characteristics and health of neonatal Saanen kids sucking milk from their dams

“…Thus, the kids in EG could receive the daily dose of inulin. In previous studies with young livestock such as calves (Heinrichs et al, 2003;Hill et al, 2008;Masanetz et al, 2011), lambs (Thayne, 2007;Milewski et al, 2010) and pigs (Davis et al, 2004;Lynch et al, 2007), prebiotics were added to milk replacer or concentrate feed of suckling or weanling animals. However, prebiotics have not been supplemented to animals sucking milk from their dams through oral gavage.…”

“…Verlinden et al (2006) reported that 3% inulin added to the diet did not change blood neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte concentrations and haematocrit value in dogs. Masanetz et al (2011) reported no change in the total WBC count, blood neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte concentrations of calves fed the diet containing 2% inulin. The results of Verlinden et al (2006) and Masanetz et al (2011) were in agreement with those of our study.…”

“…Masanetz et al (2011) reported no change in the total WBC count, blood neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte concentrations of calves fed the diet containing 2% inulin. The results of Verlinden et al (2006) and Masanetz et al (2011) were in agreement with those of our study. Studies where an immune challenge is presented may be conducted to determine whether changes in the concentrations of lymphocyte and neutrophil from blood immune characteristics are useful or harmful.…”

“…Studies in humans and animals have shown that fructans can alter intestinal microbial populations, pH and SCFA concentrations and have the potential to positively affect host health, immune function and animal performance (digestion, BW gain, feed efficiency; Buddington et al, 2002;Saavedra and Tschernia, 2002;Schley and Field, 2002;Masanetz et al, 2011). However, data on the efficacy of fructans are variable owing to the type of fructans and basal diet used and animal characteristics (species, age, stage of production, health status) and are not yet fully conclusive (Schley and Field, 2002;De Vrese and Marteau, 2007).…”

“…Although some prebiotics such as scFOS, OF, inulin, mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) and galactooligosaccharides have been supplemented to cows (Mwenya et al, 2005), calves (Masanetz et al, 2011) and lambs (Thayne, 2007) and some information is available on the effects of feeding prebiotics in selected species mentioned above (Swanson et al, 2002a), there is no information on the effects of supplemental inulin in kids.…”