The effect of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial supplemented to sows on the gastrointestinal microbiota of their neonatal piglets

Abstract

Direct-fed microbials (DFM) supplemented in sow diets may confer health benefits to the host and their piglets by reducing pathogens in the sow and environment. In this study we evaluated the effect of a Bacillus-based DFM on the gastrointestinal microbiota of neonatal piglets. A total of 208 sows were divided into 2 treatments: a control diet and the control diet supplemented with a Bacillus subtilis-based DFM (3.75 × 10(5) cfu/g feed). Twenty-one piglets sampled from each sow treatment group were euthanized on d 3 of lactation followed by an additional 15 piglets per treatment on d 10 of lactation. Litters from DFM-supplemented sows had greater (P = 0.02) weaning weights and a tendency (P = 0.09) for improvement in litter ADG. Sows supplemented with the DFM weaned more pigs (P = 0.06) than control sows which was reflected in numerically lower but not statistically different (P = 0.12) decrease in piglet mortality in DFM litters. Terminal RFLP was used to characterize gastrointestinal (GI) microbial populations in the ileum and colon of the piglets. Terminal restriction fragments (T-RF) were compared between control and DFM treatments. There was a greater incidence and quantity of T-RF B423 and H330 (binary P = 0.01, 0.08; quantitative P = 0.01, 0.05, respectively), putatively identified as Lactobacillus gasseri/johnsonii, in the ileum of pigs nursing sows supplemented with DFM at d 3. Terminal restriction fragment peaks B423 and H330 were also greater (binary P = 0.01, 0.08; quantitative P = 0.01, 0.01, respectively) in the colon of pigs nursing sows supplemented with DFM at d 3. Peaks M495 and B394, putatively identified as E. coli, were greater (binary P = 0.01, 0.04; quantitative P = 0.01, 0.01, respectively) in the colon of the control pigs at d 3. At d 10, both the presence and quantity of Lactobacillus species were greater (P < 0.05) in the colon of pigs with the DFM treatment. Additionally, there was a tendency for T-RF B227 and H257 (binary P = 0.07, 0.07, respectively), putatively identified as Clostridium perfringens, to be present in the ileum of the control pigs at d 10 compared with treated pigs. Results of this study reveal that the developing gastrointestinal microbiota of a neonatal piglet can be affected by DFM supplementation to the sow.

Bacteriophage cocktail and multi-strain probiotics in the feed for weanling pigs: effects on intestine morphology and targeted intestinal coliforms and Clostridium

“…in ileum. There are numerous studies about probiotics which show higher lactobacillus colonization in intestine (Choi et al, 2011a and2011b;Baker et al, 2013). We had hypothesized an interaction between bacteriophages and probiotics, because bacteriophages have the ability of eliminating pathogens and give the opportunity to Lactobacillus spp.…”

Evaluation of Lactobacillus and Bacillus-based probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in enteric microbial challenged weaned piglets

“…They cannot colonize in the gastrointestinal tract; but stimulate the growth of Lactobacilli through production of catalase and subtilisin (Hosoi et al, 2000). Several studies reported improvements in growth performance (Huang et al, 2004;Alexopoulos et al, 2004), nutrient digestibility (Shon et al, 2005;Chen et al, 2006), humoral and cell-mediated Ahmed et al 97 immune responses (Fernandes and Shahani, 1990; European food safety authority, 2010), and the microbial ecosystem (Huang et al, 2004;Baker et al, 2013) upon dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus or Bacillusbased probiotics, although inconsistencies in result have also been reported (Cromwell, 2001). The discrepancies observed can be attributed to different strains, dose levels, diet compositions, feeding strategies, age of animals, etc (Chesson, 1994).…”

Oral Administration of a Select Mixture of Bacillus Probiotics Affects the Gut Microbiota and Goblet Cell Function following Escherichia coli Challenge in Newly Weaned Pigs of Genotype MUC4 That Are Supposed To Be Enterotoxigenic E. coli F4ab/ac Receptor Negative

“…In swine, litters from sows fed Bacillus subtilis (3.75 ϫ 10 5 CFU/g feed) exhibit greater weaning weight (14). Oral supplementation with B. subtilis spores increases the abundance of Lactobacillus species in the colon of pigs (14).…”

“…In swine, litters from sows fed Bacillus subtilis (3.75 ϫ 10 5 CFU/g feed) exhibit greater weaning weight (14). Oral supplementation with B. subtilis spores increases the abundance of Lactobacillus species in the colon of pigs (14). Our previous studies using an E. coli model showed that pretreatment with certain probiotics, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus or various Bacillus strains, ameliorates infectious enteritis or diarrhea in newly weaned piglets; however, there is a risk that high-dose probiotic pretreatment may negate the preventative effects (10,15).…”