XII - 12th International Symposium - Digestive Physiology of Pigs

Digestive
Physiology
of Pigs
weaned pigs. The F4 fimbriae must bind to F4 receptors
on intestinal enterocytes in order diarrhea to occur, thus
only pigs having F4 receptors are susceptible. Positive
pigs may be homo- or heterozygous carriers of the gene
encoding intestinal F4 receptors. Among positive pigs, no
difference between genotypes has been seen regarding
spontaneous E. coli postweaning diarrhea occurrence, but
there is a lack of information regarding intestinal mucosal
responses to ETEC. This study investigated a diarrhealike
condition and intestinal mucosal responses in F4homo-
and -heterozygous susceptible weaners. Sixteen
weaned pigs (28 d of age, 5 to 10 kg BW) were used in a
2 × 2 factorial study with genotype (homo- or heterozygous
F4R+) and inoculation with E. coli F4 or not as the 2
factors. Within genotype, 4 pigs were inoculated with E.
coli F4 and the other 4 pigs received saline buffer on d 7
and 8 after weaning. Fecal score and DM, and bacterial
enumeration were conducted from d 7 (prior inoculation)
until 12 after weaning. Plasma was obtained at 4 d prior
and 2 d after challenge, and at the time of killing. Four pigs
(1 per treatment) were killed per day at 6, 7, 8 and 9 d after
challenge. Small intestine (SI) was divided into 3 parts of
equal length (proximal, mid and distal). From the middle of
each part, a 10 cm section was removed for measurement of
intestinal weight and mucosa. Total percentage of mucosa
was reduced (P = 0.05) by E. coli challenge, with more
pronounced in the mid-part of SI (P < 0.05). No influence
of genotype was seen on mucosal responses, metabolomic
profile and immune responses of the plasma. Although
all pigs in our study had no history of diarrhea from birth,
O-seroagglutination test performed at the day prior- and at
2 d after inoculation showed that E. coli F4 existed before
inoculation and lasted thereafter. This study provided no
evidence for different diarrhea susceptibility or intestinal
mucosal responses between F4-homo- and heterozygous
susceptible pigs to E. coli F4.
Key words: genotype, F4 fimbriae, metabolomic
2014 Impact of Bacillus cereus var. Toyoi on the infection
with Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in weaned
piglets. L. Scharek-Tedin* 1 , R. Pieper 1 , W. Vahjen 1 , S. Kinzinger
2 , A. Mueller 2 , and J. Zentek 1 , 1 Institute of Animal Nutrition,
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2 Lohmann
Animal Health, Cuxhaven, Germany.
Bacterial spore formers are coming more into focus to
promote intestinal health in pigs. This study was conducted
to determine the impact of Bacillus cereus var. Toyoi on the
shedding and translocation of Salmonella Typhimurium and
on the immune response in weaned piglets. Six landrace
sows received 5 × 10 5 cfu/g B. cereus var. Toyoi from 28 d
before parturition until weaning of the piglets. Piglets (n = 24)
from these sows received creep feed supplemented with B.
cereus from d 12 of life with 1 × 10 6 cfu/g and a starter diet
containing 7 × 10 5 cfu/g after weaning (on d 26). A control
group with 6 sows and 24 piglets was managed and fed
equally but without supplementation of B. cereus. Three
days after weaning, all piglets of the treatment group (TG)
and the control Group (CG) were infected orally with 3 × 10 9
cfu S. Typhimurium DT104 (ST). Feces consistency was
monitored daily. Shedding of ST was determined on d 1, 3, 7,
XII INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
DIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY OF PIGS
97
Session III
and weekly until 28 d post infection (p.i.). On d 1, 3, 7 and 28
p.i. Six piglets per group were euthanized to determine the
translocation of ST into mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and
tonsils. Phenotypic analysis of intraepithelial lymphocytes
and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed via
flow cytometry. Results show that piglets in the CG had a
higher occurrence of diarrhea (43.2%) than piglets in the TG
(8.1%, P < 0.05). Shedding of ST tended to be higher in the
CG 28 d p.i. as compared with the TG. No clear differences
were observed for translocation of ST. Gamma-delta (γδ)
T cells were less frequent in the blood of the TG 1 d p.i..
Differences were observed for CD8+ γδT cells (P = 0.032)
as well as for CD8- γδT cells (P = 0.027). Treated piglets
showed lower numbers of γδT cells in the jejunal epithelium
7 and 28 d. p.i. (P < 0.02). In conclusion, treatment of sows
and piglets had a positive impact on the health status of the
piglets. As the γδT cells were less frequent in the blood of
the TG 24 h p.i. it can be assumed that this difference was
present at the time of infection. Whether the lower numbers
of γδT cells in the TG are associated with improved health
has to be further elucidated.
Key words: intraepithelial lymphocytes, probiotic,
Salmonella
2015 Effect of β-glucans on net fluid absorption in
enterotoxigenic E. coli-infected small intestinal segments
of weaned piglets. J. van der Meulen 1 , A. J. M.
Jansman* 1 , J. J. Mes 2 , I. M. van der Meer 3 , and M. M.
Hulst 1 , 1 Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Lelystad,
The Netherlands, 2 Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group
of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen,
The Netherlands, 3 Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen
University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
β-Glucans are known as immunostimulants. In the pig,
β-glucans are not enzymatically hydrolysed in duodenum
and jejunum but may be fermented in the ileum and
hindgut. In this way, they may modulate the gut flora and
its fermentation activity, ultimately possibly influencing gut
morphology and mucosal immune response. β-Glucans
may also have antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) infection is a major cause
of diarrhea in early-weaned piglets. This study investigated
whether β-glucans isolated from Lentinus edodus
(lentinan), Ganoderma lucidum (ganoderma), Alcaligenes
fecalis (curdlan) and Avena sativa (oats) are able to
reduce ETEC-induced loss in fluid absorption in the small
intestinal segment perfusion (SISP) model. In four 5-wk-old
anaesthetized piglets, 4 pairs of jejunal segments (a noninfected
and an adjacent ETEC-infected) were perfused
over 8 h with 4 g/L β-glucans from lentinan, ganoderma,
curdlan and oats with saline as control in another pair of
segments. After perfusion mucosal tissue samples were
taken for analysing pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP)
expression as a biomarker for infection. Net fluid absorption
was calculated from the difference between the volumes
of inflow and outflow divided by the surface area of the
segments. Absorption of net fluid, sodium, potassium and
chloride in non-infected segments was significantly higher
(P < 0.05) than in ETEC-infected segments. There was