Abstract
We evaluated the potential of multi-strain probiotic (Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001) with or without galacto-oligosaccharides against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 infection in post-weaning pigs. Ninety-six piglets were distributed into 32 pens assigned to five treatments: one non-challenged (CTR+) and four challenged: control diet (CTR−), with probiotics (>3 × 1010 CFU/kg body weight each, PRO), prebiotic (5%, PRE), or their combination (SYN). After 1 week, animals were orally inoculated with ETEC F4. Feed intake, weight, and clinical signs were recorded. On days 4 and 8 post-inoculation (PI), one animal per pen was euthanized and samples from blood, digesta, and tissues collected. Microbiological counts, ETEC F4 real-time PCR (qPCR) quantification, fermentation products, serum biomarkers, ileal histomorphometry, and genotype for mucin 4 (MUC4) polymorphism were determined. Animals in the PRO group had similar enterobacteria and coliform numbers to the CTR+ group, and the ETEC F4 prevalence, the number of mitotic cells at day 4 PI, and villus height at day 8 PI were between that observed in the CTR+ and CTR− groups. The PRO group exhibited reduced pig major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) levels on day 4 PI. The PRE diet group presented similar reductions in ETEC F4 and Pig-MAP, but there was no effect on microbial groups. The SYN group showed reduced fecal enterobacteria and coliform counts after the adaptation week but, after the inoculation, the SYN group showed lower performance and more animals with high ETEC F4 counts at day 8 PI. SYN treatment modified the colonic fermentation differently depending on the MUC4 polymorphism. These results confirm the potential of the probiotic strains and the prebiotic to fight ETEC F4, but do not show any synergy when administered together, at least in this animal model.
Highlights
Diarrhea is the second leading infectious cause of death – after pneumonia – among children younger than 5 years (Liu et al, 2015)
A piglet model of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 colibacillosis was used to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with B. longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 and L. rhamnosus HN001, galactooligosaccharides, and their combination
The current experimental trial clearly demonstrated the effects caused by the pathogen challenge
Summary
Diarrhea is the second leading infectious cause of death – after pneumonia – among children younger than 5 years (Liu et al, 2015). Probiotics are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” These advantageous effects are strain dependent and can include gastrointestinal disorder prophylaxis and treatment, immune system enhancement, cancer prevention, and cholesterol normalization, among others (Kechagia et al, 2013). Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been reported to have positive effects against pathogenic E. coli, the benefits could depend on the probiotic strain. In this sense, L. rhamnosus HN001 has been demonstrated to reduce enterohemorrhagic E. coli translocation and to increase immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration and blood leukocyte phagocytic activity in mice (Shu and Gill, 2001). A combination of B. longum and L. rhamnosus HN001 has been reported as an effective way to modulate the intestinal environment in humans, with the reductions of potential harmful bacteria and an increase of beneficial ones (Toscano et al, 2017)
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