Spatial variation of intestinal skatole production and microbial community in Jinhua and Landrace pigs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An excessive accumulation of skatole in pigs is a major contributor to boar taint. Intestinal skatole concentrations may vary among different pig segments and breeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variation of intestinal skatole production and the microbial community in local Jinhua and exotic Landrace pigs.

Spatial variations in intestinal skatole production and microbial composition in broilers

“…(), and Li et al. (), who showed that skatole concentrations increased from the cecum to the rectum in pigs. Similarly, Claus, Weiler, and Herzog () reported the highest skatole levels in the rectum of pigs.…”

“…Li et al. () previously reported that the total VFA, acetate, and propionate contents significantly vary among the intestinal segments in pigs, generally decreasing from the cecum to the rectum. However, skatole and indole levels gradually increased.…”

“…These discrepancies in findings may be attributable to the following: Different animals were assessed in the studies. The previous studies involved pigs, which also differ by breed (Li et al., ; Xue et al., ).…”

“…Skatole results from a multistep degradation of L‐tryptophan by microbial activity, mainly in the hind gut of pigs (Deslandes, Gariepy, & Houde, ). Indole is mainly produced in the cecum of pigs, whereas skatole concentrations increase in the colon, with the highest levels in the distal part of the large intestine (Claus, Dehnhard, Herzog, Bernal‐Barragan, & Gim′enez, ; Li, Chao, Liu, Wang, & Wang, ). These findings suggest that the main sites of skatole and indole production differ across the intestines, and variations in microbial fermentation patterns are responsible for differences in intestinal skatole production (Li et al., ).…”

“…Indole is mainly produced in the cecum of pigs, whereas skatole concentrations increase in the colon, with the highest levels in the distal part of the large intestine (Claus, Dehnhard, Herzog, Bernal‐Barragan, & Gim′enez, ; Li, Chao, Liu, Wang, & Wang, ). These findings suggest that the main sites of skatole and indole production differ across the intestines, and variations in microbial fermentation patterns are responsible for differences in intestinal skatole production (Li et al., ). Various types of anaerobic bacteria are capable of producing indole from l ‐tryptophan, whereas skatole production has only been reported in a few genera, including Lactobacillus spp.…”