Abstract
Simple SummaryThe use of antibiotics as growth promoters for swine must be minimized as it can promote resistance in microorganisms. Therefore, it is essential to search for alternative additives. This study aimed to investigate the effects of benzoic acid and a blend of essential oils (thymol, 2-methoxyphenol, eugenol, piperine, and curcumin) on the performance and intestinal health of weanling piglets challenged with Escherichia coli F4. The combination of benzoic acid and essential oils at 3 g/kg improved the piglets’ average daily gain and consequently their final body weight and it is an economically viable alternative to replace colistin. These results could have a great impact on society, contributing to the one heath concept and demonstrating the ability to replace antibiotics as growth promoters and thus minimize the chance of causing bacteria resistance.Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EOs) (thymol, 2-methoxyphenol, eugenol, piperine, and curcumin) are being studied to minimize the impairment of gastrointestinal functions in weanling piglets. This study evaluates the effects of combining BA and EO on the performance and intestinal health of piglets challenged with E. coli F4 (1 mL, 106 CFU/mL). In total, 270 weaned piglets were used in a randomized block design with six treatments: positive control, with 40 mg/kg colistin (PC); negative control, without the growth promoter (NC); negative control +5 g/kg benzoic acid (BA); negative control +2 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO2); negative control +3 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO3); negative control +4 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO4). BA+EO3 presented a greater average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.0013) and better feed-to-gain ratio (p = 0.0138), compared to NC, from 21 to 35 days age. For the total period, BA, BA+EO3, and BA+EO4 were similar to PC and superior to NC for ADG (p = 0.0002) and final body weight (BW) (p = 0.0002). No difference (p > 0.05) was verified for diarrhea, microbial population, production of volatile fatty acids, pH, weight of organs, cellular proliferation, and cholecystokinin count. NC and BA+EO4 resulted in a higher villus height in the jejunum (p = 0.0120) compared to BA+EO3. The use of BA or the combination of BA and EO at 3 g/kg provides improved performance, aside from being an economically viable alternative to replace colistin.
Highlights
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a complex environment, especially after weaning, when there is separation of the piglet from the sow and the rest of the litter, a change of facility, the imposition of a new social life, and an abrupt change from a liquid diet to one based on less digestible plants [1]
Most occurrences in this phase are caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, a highly proliferating pathogenic bacterial strain that has fimbriae for adhering to the intestinal mucosa and proliferating [6]
This study aimed to investigate the effects of combining benzoic acid and a blend of essential oils, at different concentrations, compared to benzoic acid alone at a customary dose and to an antibiotic
Summary
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a complex environment, especially after weaning, when there is separation of the piglet from the sow and the rest of the litter, a change of facility, the imposition of a new social life, and an abrupt change from a liquid diet to one based on less digestible plants [1]. With the occurrence of these stressful events, there is a fall in feed intake in the first two nursery weeks and some physiological functions of the GIT are not remodeled quickly enough to keep up with the changes and to maintain the piglet’s performance [2]. Deterioration of barrier function, and electrolyte absorption and secretion disturbances are triggered [3], leading to an increased susceptibility to infectious agents and generating clinical signs such as diarrhea and reduced feed intake [4,5]. The occurrence of diarrhea is a serious consequence, which can lead to morbidity and mortality in piglets. The administration of non-therapeutic concentrations of antimicrobial agents, known as growth-promoting antibiotics (GPAs), has been and remains the main line of defense in swine farming [7,8]
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