Bacillus sp. probiotic supplementation diminish the Escherichia coli F4ac infection in susceptible weaned pigs by influencing the intestinal immune response, intestinal microbiota and blood metabolomics

• Published in: 畜牧与生物技术杂志（英文版） Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 95 - 110
• Main Authors: Diana Luise, Micol Bertocchi, Vincenzo Motta, Chiara Salvarani, Paolo Bosi, Andrea Luppi, Flaminia Fanelli, Maurizio Mazzoni, Ivonne Archetti, Giuseppe Maiorano, Bea K. K. Nielsen, Paolo Trevisi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy%Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via F. De Sanctis, Campobasso, Italy%Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna Bruno Ubertini, V. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy%Endocrinology Unit andCenter for Applied Biomedical Research, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna–S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy%Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via. Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy%Chr. Hansen A/S, Boege Allé 10-12, 2970 Hoersholm, Denmark 2020
• Subjects: Gut microbiota; Post-weaning; Bacillus subtilis; Transcriptomics; Diarrhea; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; ETEC
• ISSN: 1674-9782

Background:Probiosis is considered a potential strategy to reduce antibiotics use and prevent post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). This study investigated the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM25840 or Bacillus subtilis DSM25841 supplementation on growth, health, immunity, intestinal functionality and microbial profile of post-weaning pigs after enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) F4 challenge. Methods: Sixty-four post-weaning piglets (7748 g ± 643 g) were randomly allocated to four groups:control basal diet (CO);CO+1.28 × 106 CFU/g of B. amyloliquefaciens (BAA);CO+1.28 × 106 CFU/g feed of B. subtilis (BAS);CO+1 g colistin/kg of feed (AB). At day (d) 7, animals were challenged with 105 CFU/mL of ETEC F4ac O149 and then followed for fecal score and performance until d 21. Blood was collected at d 6, d 12 and d 21 for immunoglobulins, at d 8 for acute phase proteins, at d 8 and d 21 for metabolomics analysis. Jejunum was sampled for morphometry, quantification of apoptosis, cell proliferation, neutral and acid mucine and IgA secretory cells, and microarray analysis at d 21. Jejunum and cecum contents were collected for microbiota at d 21. Results:AB and BAS reduced the fecal score impairment compared to CO (P<0.05) at d 14. Body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) did not differ between Bacillus groups and CO. AB improved BW at d 7, d 14 and d 21, ADWG ADFI and G:F from d 0 to d 7 (P<0.05). At d 8, CO had higher plasma arginine, lysine, ornithine, glycine, serine and threonine than other groups, and higher haptoglobin than AB (P<0.05). At d 21, CO had lower blood glycine, glutamine and IgA than BAS. Morphology, cells apoptosis and mucins did not differ. BAS and AB increased the villus mitotic index. Transcriptome profile of BAS and AB were more similar than CO. Gene sets related to adaptive immune response were enriched in BAA, BAS and AB. CO had enriched gene set for nuclear structure and RNA processing. CO had a trend of higher Enterobacteriaceae in cecum than the other groups (P=0.06). Conclusion:Bacillus subtilis DSM25841 treatment may reduce ETEC F4ac infection in weaned piglets, decreasing diarrhea and influencing mucosal transcriptomic profile.