Effects of organic acid, Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 and sugar cane extract in feed against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in pigs

Hiroki Matsumoto,Yizhe Yin,Takayuki Oosumi,Masashi Miyagawa

doi:10.1186/s13568-021-01228-2

Abstract

Diarrhea can lead to mortality and delayed growth in pigs and is a major economic loss in the pig industry. In this study, we evaluated non-antimicrobial materials that can prevent diarrhea to infection by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in weaned pigs and investigated biological changes. We confirmed the efficacy of fumaric acid, lactic acid, Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 (EC12) and sugar cane extract (SCE) in inhibiting diarrhea and investigated the biological changes by analyzing gut microbiota and plasma metabolites. Administration of EC12 (0.1%, w/w) and SCE (1.0%, w/w) groups had reduced score of diarrhea. Furthermore, the combination of EC12 and SCE was effective at reducing the fecal score of diarrhea even at low concentrations. Administration of either EC12 or SCE greatly reduced the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in pigs. EC12 and SCE were most effective in suppressing ETEC-induced diarrhea in weaned pigs. Furthermore, we were able to identify biological changes in pigs when EC12 and SCE were administered to pigs. These feeds may have prevented infection by ETEC in weaned pigs and may improve pig productivity and reduce the use of antimicrobial agents.

Highlights

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has significant economic impact on swine production worldwide (Amezcua et al 2002; Li et al 2020)
Screening test to identify substances that are highly effective in suppressing diarrhea caused by ETEC in weaning pigs The occurrence of diarrhea was confirmed in all pigs, and the mean fecal score in the control group (CO) group fed only the basal diet (1.72) was the highest among all test groups (Table 3)
Diarrhea was induced in the fumaric acid group (FA), lactic acid group (LA) group fed basal diet mixed with organic acid, but the mean fecal scores in the FA and LA groups (1.09 and 0.91, respectively) were significantly lower than that in the CO group

Summary

Introduction

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has significant economic impact on swine production worldwide (Amezcua et al 2002; Li et al 2020). Infection with ETEC in pigs causes an inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells and induces diarrhea, which leads to growth delay and mortality (Fairbrother et al 2005). Antimicrobials are Addition of organic acids in feed reduces the number of pathogenic bacteria in the stomach and small intestine (Kluge et al 2006). Matsumoto et al AMB Expr (2021) 11:68 feed supplemented with an organic acid such as citric acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, or formic acid, the pH of the stomach is lowered, and the bactericidal effect is imparted such that the growth and health of the pigs are improved (Pettigrew 2006; Tsiloyiannis et al 2001; Edmonds et al 1985; Giesting and Easter 1985). There are reports that feeding fumaric acid reduces ETECinduced diarrhea (Owusu-Asiedu et al 2003)

Methods

Results

Conclusion