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Effects of dietary supplementation of illite and bentonite in weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of illite (IT) and bentonite (BE) on growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs challenged with Escherichia coli. A total of 24 (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace) weaned pigs (initial body weight: 9.61 ± 0.65 kg, 28 ± 3 days old) were assigned to six treatments with four replicates per treatment. Pigs were housed in individual pens for 17 days, including a 3-day adaptation period and 14 days after the first E. coli challenge. In the E. coli-challenged groups, all pigs were orally inoculated with a total of 10 mL of E. coli for three consecutive days. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of two challenge levels (challenged and non-challenged) and three types of clay mineral (non-supplemented, IT, and BE). IT and BE were included in the diets at 1% and 1.5%, respectively. E. coli challenge reduced (p < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, G:F during the entire experimental period and lowered (p < 0.05) serum interleukin-8, interleukin-10, malondialdehyde (MDA), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels on D 3. However, in the E. coli-challenged group, IT supplementation improved (p < 0.05) G:F compared to the non-supplemented group during the first week. Additionally, IT supplementation increased (p < 0.05) blood IFN-γ and mucin expression levels compared to the non-supplemented group in the challenged groups. At the end of the experiment, intestinal morphology and intestinal immunity were evaluated to assess intestinal health. E. coli challenge reduced (p < 0.05) villus height and tight junction protein expression while increasing (p < 0.05) crypt depth. In the E. coli-challenged group, BE supplementation increased (p < 0.05) villus height and the expression of tight junction proteins compared to the non-supplemented group. Additionally, IT supplementation in E. coli challenge increased (p < 0.05) mucin expression levels in the intestine compared to the non-supplemented group. Inconclusion, dietary supplementation with IT and BE mitigates the adverse effects of E. coli infection and suggests their potential as effective additives for managing E. coli challenges.

Source: Journal of Animal Science and Technology

DOI: 10.5187/jast.2500116