Evaluation of dietary supplementation of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithothamnium calcareum as functional algae in F4+ Escherichia coli challenged piglets

Autor: Matteo Dell’Anno, Sara Frazzini, Serena Reggi, Irene Ferri, Elena Scaglia, Linda Schiasselloni, Alessia Inglesi, Federica Riva, Nicole Verdile, Rolando Pasquariello, Luciana Rossi
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol 11 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2297-1769
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1430347
Popis: IntroductionDespite progress in reducing antimicrobial use in the veterinary field, it is crucial to find alternatives to preserve effectiveness and limit antimicrobial resistance. In pig farming, pathogenic strains of E. coli are the main cause of gastrointestinal disorders and antibiotic use. In this field, algae represent an innovation in animal nutrition that aligns with livestock sustainability principles and provide a high content of functional molecules.AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an innovative dietary combination of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithothamnium calcareum, on growth, duodenum gene expression, jejunum intestinal morphology, and serum oxidative status in F4+ Escherichia coli challenged piglets.Materials and methodsForty-eight weaned pigs, aged 28 ± 2 days, were divided into two groups (n = 24 pigs/group): the control group was fed a commercial diet (CTRL), while the seaweeds group was fed a commercial diet supplemented with 1.5% A. nodosum and 0.5% L. calcareum for 27 days (ALGAE). After 13 days, 50% of animals in each group were challenged with a single dose of 108 CFU/dose of E. coli F4+, resulting in two infected groups (CTRL+ and ALGAE+, n = 12 pigs/group). Growth performance was assessed by measuring the individual body weight. At day 27, from six animals/group duodenum and jejunum sections were sampled for gene expression analysis via qRT-PCR and histological evaluation.Results and discussionThe results indicated a significantly higher body weight in the ALGAE+ group compared to CTRL+ after 7 days post-challenge (p
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