Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Supplementation on the Fecal Microbiotas of Piglets.

Ryo Inoue,Naoya Takizawa,Taiga Yamashita,Takamitsu Tsukahara,Toshinobu Kido,Aya Abe,Akira Sugiyama,Makoto Ozeki,Hikari Otabi

doi:10.3390/pathogens10111420

Abstract

Probiotics and prebiotics have become viable alternatives of growth-promoting antimicrobials in animal production. Here, we tested partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) as a possible prebiotic for piglets in the commercial farm. Five hundred and ninety-four piglets were used for the experiments, with 293 given a normal pig feed (control), while the rest the feed plus 0.06% (w/w) of PHGG (PHGG). One and three months post-PHGG supplementation, fecal samples were collected from randomly selected 20 piglets in each group and analyzed for microbiota and organic acid concentrations. Notably, the abundance of Streptococcus, and unclassified Ruminococcaceae were lower (p < 0.05) in PHGG than in control, one-month post-supplementation. Lactobacillus and Prevotella were higher (p < 0.05), while Streptococcus was lower (p < 0.05), in PHGG than in control, three months post-supplementation. The concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate were greater in PHGG than in control, three months post-supplementation. Finally, PHGG grew faster and had fewer deaths until slaughter time (p < 0.05), than control. We concluded that PHGG not only was an effective prebiotic to alter gut microbiota of weanling piglets but also can possibly promote body weight accretion and health.

Highlights

The gastrointestinal tract of the piglet is rapidly populated with a complex and diverse microbial community immediately after birth [1]
As mounting evidence has shown that the overuse of antimicrobials has created drug-resistant microorganisms, probiotics are being used as alternative growth promoters, and prebiotics are being added to feed to maximize the proliferation of both exogenous and endogenous microorganisms
We wanted to investigate whether partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) supplementation would exert such prebiotic effects on the microbiota present in the guts of piglets

Summary

Introduction

The gastrointestinal tract of the piglet is rapidly populated with a complex and diverse microbial community immediately after birth [1]. Gastrointestinal disorders are commonly observed immediately post-weaning [4]. It has been shown that lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria, and streptococci are the major first colonizers of the piglet’s intestine, but lactobacilli numbers drop significantly after weaning [5], while others such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes increase [6]. Adhikari et al observed that piglets suffering from postweaning diarrhea had a high abundance of Campylobacter in their intestinal samples. McCormack et al [7] reported that piglets with low feed efficiency had a high abundance of Streptococcus spp. in the intestinal and fecal samples, 42 days postweaning. As the efficiency by which the animal utilizes feed to reach the optimal body weight by the required finishing time, determines production performance [9], a healthy microbiota is deemed necessary to maintain the homeostasis and production performance of the piglet

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion