350 The effect of early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii on weaning stress of piglets

Abstract

Abstract This study was designed to determine the effect of early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii on anti-weaning stress capacity of piglets. 22 pregnant sows were selected in this study, 10 sows were divided into control group (CON), and 12 sows were divided into treatment group (FMT combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii, FMT+C+S). Piglets in CON were gavaged with placebo and piglets in treatment group were gavaged with bacterial solution once daily for the first 3 days after birth. Piglets were weaned at age of 28-day. To explore the effects of early intervention on weaning stress in piglets, after weaning, each group selected 65 healthy piglets to continue feeding for 4 weeks. The growth performance was measured by weekly individual weighing. ADFI during post-weaning period were measured daily. The blood biochemical markers for immunity function, intestinal barrier, and inflammation levels were determined by ELISA kits, and the indices of antioxidant ability were examined using the commercial assay kit. Isolated DNA from fecal were used for 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing to determine microbiota composition. FMT+C+S improved growth rate and decreased diarrhea rate both in sucking and post-weaning period in piglets. FMT+C+S significantly increased immunity function, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and reduced inflammation levels in weaned piglets. FMT+C+S significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes in feces before and after weaning (P < 0.01). In addition, at the genus level, several beneficial bacteria, such as Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillospira, Faecalibacterium, etc. were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) before weaning, and Lactobacillus, Lachnospira, Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, etc. were enriched significantly (P < 0.05) after weaning. These results suggested that early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii may be a effectively method to promote piglets growth and protect piglets from weaning stress, and even disease, through regulating gut microbiota composition.