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PSV-19 Effects of Short Chain Fatty Acids Derivatives on Gut Morphology of Weanling Pigs Challenged with F4 and F18 Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of monobutyrin, monovalerin, or their combinations on gut morphology of weanling pigs infected with F4 and F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). A total of 176 pigs (7.14 ± 1.12 kg, 88 gilts and 88 barrows, 21 to 24 days old) were housed individually and randomly allotted into 11 treatments (n = 16) in a randomized complete block design with group and sex as blocks. The treatments included a negative control (NC) without ETEC infection, a positive control with ETEC, and 9 additional groups supplemented with 50 mg/kg carbadox, 2,500 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO), 0.10% sodium butyrate, 0.10% or 0.15% monobutyrin, 0.10% or 0.15% monovalerin, a low dose combination (0.05% monobutyrin and 0.05% monovalerin), and a high dose combination (0.075% monobutyrin and 0.075% monovalerin), respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days, including 7 days’ adaptation and 21 days’ post inoculation (PI). After the adaptation, all piglets except those in the NC group were orally inoculated with 3 mL dose containing equal amount of 5 × 109 CFU F4 and 5 × 109 CFU F18 ETEC for three consecutive days. Sixty-six pigs (n = 6) were administrated with iododeoxyuridine (IdU) through oral gavage on d 4 PI to collect jejunum and ileum on d 5 PI for measuring cell proliferation using the IdU assay. The rest of the pigs (n = 10) were euthanized on d 21 PI to collect duodenum, jejunum, and ileum for intestinal morphology analysis. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using SAS with a randomized complete block design using pig as experimental unit. Pigs on d 21 PI had increased (P < 0.05) villi area, villi height, and goblet cell number in all intestinal segments than those on d 5 PI. On d 5 PI, pigs in the low dose combination had the greatest (P < 0.05) jejunal villi height, ileal villus area and villus height compared with other treatments. Pigs in carbadox group had the greatest (P = 0.07) ileal crypt depth and goblet cell number across all treatments. On d 21 PI, pigs fed with carbadox had the lowest (P = 0.07) duodenal crypt depth, and pigs fed with ZnO and 0.10% monobutyrin had the highest jejunal villi height:crypt depth among all treatments. Pigs fed with 0.10% monovalerin and high dose combination had similar goblet cell numbers as pigs in carbadox and ZnO groups. Pigs supplemented with the low dose combination had the greatest (P < 0.05) percent of IdU staining cells in the jejunum and ileum among all treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of monobutyrin, monovalerin, or their combination may enhance intestinal morphology of weaning pigs infected with ETEC F4 and F18.

Source: Journal of Animal Science

DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf300.470