Spray-dried plasma improves growth performance and reduces inflammatory status of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K881

Abstract

We investigated whether spray-dried plasma (SDP) improved growth and health of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). Forty-eight pigs weaned at 21 d (BW = 4.88 +/- 0.43 kg) received one of four diets containing 6% SDP or fish proteins (as-fed basis) either nonmedicated (SDP-NM and FP-NM diets) or medicated with 0 or 250 mg/kg of colistine + 500 mg/kg of amoxycycline (SDP-M and FP-M diets), for 15 d. On d 4, pigs were orally challenged with ETEC. On d 15, eight pigs per dietary group were killed, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of K88 fimbriae-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)-A, and jejunum was removed for villi preparation, histological analysis, and cytokine expression. The presence or absence of K88 receptors (K88+ and K88- pigs respectively) was determined by villous adhesion assay. Effects of protein source on ADG (P = 0.04) and ADFI (P < 0.01), as well of medication on ADFI (P < 0.02), of all pigs were observed. In sacrified pigs, there was an effect of protein source on ADG (P = 0.03) and ADFI (P < 0.001), as well an interaction between medication and presence of K88 receptor (P = 0.02) for feed:gain ratio. Plasma K88 specific IgA were low in all K88 pigs and higher in K88+ pigs fed FP-NM compared with all the other groups (P < 0.05), except SDP-M. An interaction was found among protein source, medication, and presence of K88 receptors (P = 0.04). Saliva IgA concentrations were high in all pigs fed FP-NM and low in all other pigs. Jejunum of pigs fed FP-NM showed some ulcerations, edema, and mild inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI). In pigs fed FP-M, edema was reduced. Conversely, only a mild ICI was observed in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M. Crypt depth was increased in K88+ pigs fed SDP-NM and an interaction between protein source and presence of K88 receptors was observed (P < 0.05). Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 were lower in pigs fed SDP-NM and SDP-M than in those fed FP-NM and FP-M, either K88- or K88+ (P < 0.01). In pigs fed FP diets, expression of IL-8 tended to increase (P = 0.08) in K88+ compared with K88- subjects. Expression of interferon-gamma increased in K88 and K88+ pigs fed FP-M as compared with other pigs (P < 0.01). These results indicate that feeding with SDP improved growth performance and protected against E. coli-induced inflammatory status, and suggest that use of SDP-NM can be considered a valid antibiotic alternative.

Administration of a novel plant extract product via drinking water to post-weaning piglets: effects on performance and gut health

“…The K88-positive strain, isolated from pigs with colibacillosis, also expressed heat-labile and heat-stable B toxins, and further prepared as described by Bosi et al (2004).…”

Dietary supplementation with ovine serum immunoglobulin attenuates acute effects on growth, organ weights, gut morphology and intestinal mucin production in the growing rat challenged with Salmonella enteritidis

“…For animals that have undergone an immune challenge such as infection with Escherichia. coli, the effects of AP on growth were even more pronounced (Bosi et al, 2004). It has also been suggested that Ig present in AP may bind to bacteria in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and prevent their attachment to the mucosa (Bosi et al, 2004), thereby reducing the degree of adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to the gut wall (Coffey and Cromwell, 1995).…”

Natural alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in pig production: can immunomodulators play a role?

“…This decreased infiltration is likely to be a reflection of a lower antigenic challenge (Nofrarias et al, 2007). Additionally, the jejunal expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-a was decreased in 6% SDP-fed piglets 15 days after a challenge with ETEC K88, irrespective of their status for K88 receptor (Bosi et al, 2004). This decreased inflammatory response was associated with a lower histopathological score in SDP-fed piglets, thus suggesting that SDP would be efficient in helping piglets fight against infections.…”

“…The growth-promoting properties of SDP that are usually reported (Jiang et al, 2000;Bosi et al, 2004;Nofrarias et al, 2006 and2007;Niewold et al, 2007) are more commonly observed with SDP from porcine than bovine origin (Hansen et al, 1993;van Dijk et al, 2001). Moreover, their anti-microbial/immunomodulatory properties would be more likely to be beneficial when piglet growth may be compromised, such as in conventional on-farm nursery setting as compared to 'cleaner' off-site nursery (Coffey and Cromwell, 1995), or in pigs weaned early v. a late weaning (Torrallardona et al, 2002).…”

“…These results confirm that protection conferred by SDP would be mainly due to specific antibodies, but also highlight the implication of less-specific components. Indeed, the decreased intestinal inflammatory response observed in SDP-fed pigs challenged with ETEC K88 may be explained by a lower colonisation or binding of E. coli to intestinal receptors as assessed by their lower serum IgA titre and histopathological score (Bosi et al, 2004). For instance, the glycan moieties of glycoproteins would compete with natural intestinal receptors, thus reducing bacterial adhesion to the gut (Nollet et al, 1999).…”