Potential of a fucoidan-rich Ascophyllum nodosum extract to reduce Salmonella shedding and improve gastrointestinal health in weaned pigs naturally infected with Salmonella

Abstract

Background Dietary supplementation with a fucoidan-rich Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE), possessing an in vitro anti-Salmonella Typhimurium activity could be a promising on-farm strategy to control Salmonella infection in pigs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate the anti-S. Typhimurium activity of ANE (containing 46.6% fucoidan, 18.6% laminarin, 10.7% mannitol, 4.6% alginate) in vitro, and; 2) compare the effects of dietary supplementation with ANE and Zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, Salmonella shedding and selected gut parameters in naturally infected pigs. This was established post-weaning (newly weaned pig experiment) and following regrouping of post-weaned pigs and experimental re-infection with S. Typhimurium (challenge experiment). Results In the in vitro assay, increasing ANE concentrations led to a linear reduction in S. Typhimurium counts (P < 0.05). In the newly weaned pig experiment (12 replicates/treatment), high ANE supplementation increased gain to feed ratio, similar to ZnO supplementation, and reduced faecal Salmonella counts on d 21 compared to the low ANE and control groups (P < 0.05). The challenge experiment included thirty-six pigs from the previous experiment that remained on their original dietary treatments (control and high ANE groups with the latter being renamed to ANE group) apart from the ZnO group which transitioned onto a control diet on d 21 (ZnO-residual group). These dietary treatments had no effect on performance, faecal scores, Salmonella shedding or colonic and caecal Salmonella counts (P > 0.05). ANE supplementation decreased the Enterobacteriaceae counts compared to the control. Enterobacteriaceae counts were also reduced in the ZnO-residual group compared to the control (P < 0.05). ANE supplementation decreased the expression of interleukin 22 and transforming growth factor beta 1 in the ileum compared to the control (P < 0.05). Conclusions ANE supplementation was associated with some beneficial changes in the composition of the colonic microbiota, Salmonella shedding, and the expression of inflammatory genes associated with persistent Salmonella infection.

Purification and Molecular Characterization of Fucoidan Isolated from Ascophyllum nodosum Brown Seaweed Grown in Ireland

“…Prior to this study, the seasonal variation and influence of climatological parameters on the abundance of fucoidan and other bioactive compounds produced by the Irish brown seaweed A. nodosum was analysed [ 11 ]. A new hydrothermal-assisted extraction process was developed and optimised for the extraction of high yields of fucoidan while monitoring the antioxidant activities in vitro of the compounds achieved from A. nodosum [ 18 ] and further evaluation of the antimicrobial and probiotic potential of these fucoidan extracted from A. nodosum using the newly developed methods were analysed both in vitro and in vivo [ 19 , 20 ]. The current study aims to develop an efficient purification procedure involving molecular weight cut-off and solid phase extraction for fucoidan extracted from A. nodosum , monitoring the purification process by measuring the yields of fucoidan and their antioxidant activities in vitro, as well as the elucidation of the chemical structure of fucoidan by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.…”

The utility of algae as sources of high value nutritional ingredients, particularly for alternative/complementary proteins to improve human health

“…For ducks however, the inclusion of 12 to 15% red seaweeds Polysiphonia improved carcass muscle quality ( 73 ). In swine, the inclusion of seaweed resulted in improved immune function responses ( 74 ), and at a 1% inclusion level of Ascophyllum , muscle quality and gut health were improved ( 75 , 76 ). In vitro digestibility of seaweeds ranged from 77 to 82% ( 77 ).…”

Nutritional and Antioxidative Benefits of Dietary Macroalgae Supplementation in Weaned Piglets

“…Previous studies on microalgae supplementation concerned weaning piglets at different ages: 4, 5, or 3 weeks of age, or pigs in the grower-finisher period and rather concerned aspects related to intestinal microflora, immune function, or edible tissues [6][7][8][9][10]. In this study, weaning piglets were chosen.…”