Fecal Microbiota and Its Correlation With Fatty Acids and Free Amino Acids Metabolism in Piglets After a Lactobacillus Strain Oral Administration.

Dongyan Zhang,Jing Wang,Sixin Wang,Hongwu Tian,Haifeng Ji,Hui Liu,Wei Zhang,Yamin Wang

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00785

Dongyan Zhang, Jing Wang + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00785

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Abstract

Lactobacillus has a positive effect on the host intestinal microbiota. In piglets, dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus affects general health and plays an important role in nutrient digestion and fermentation. However, this association requires further investigation. Here, we studied newborn piglets from 12 litters. The nursed piglets were given a creep feed beginning on day 10 post-partum and weaned at day 30. Piglets were fed either a control basic diet or a diet including supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri ZLR003 at 6.0 × 106 CFU/g feed. At day 30 and 60, feces samples were taken and used for sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. At day 60, feces samples and serum samples were also taken and used to measure the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and to detect long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and free amino acids (FAAs), respectively. The results revealed that L. reuteri ZLR003 could improve piglet fecal microbiota composition, especially at the end of weaned period. The concentrations of lactic acid and butyric acid in feces were higher, and acetic acid concentration was lower in the L. reuteri ZLR003 group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The serum polyunsaturated fatty acids C18:2n6c, C18:3n3, C20:4n6, and C22:6n3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05), as were the serum FAAs Gly, Ala, Val, Iso, Asn, Asp, Glu, Met, Phe, and Leu (P < 0.05), in the L. reuteri group compared with the control group. A correlation analysis revealed that the genera Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 had a negative correlation with the SCFAs content in feces, the genus Prevotella_9 had a higher positive correlation with C18:2n6c, and the genera Megasphaera and Mitsuokella had a more positive significant effect on the serum FAAs content in weaned piglets in the L. reuteri ZLR003 group compared with the control group. In conclusion, L. reuteri ZLR003 influenced the fecal microbiota composition of piglets, and its effects were related to the metabolism of SCFAs, LCFAs, and FAAs. Our findings will help facilitate the application of Lactobacillus strains in pig production.

Highlights

Lactobacillus, an essential member of the normal microbiota, can improve the intestinal microbial balance with beneficial effects when administered in adequate amounts (Bogovic et al, 2016; Simpson et al, 2018)
The L. reuteri ZLR003 group exhibited trends toward a higher diversity compared with the control group for both nursed and weaned piglets according to the ACE, Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices, these differences did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05)
The flexible distribution of intestinal microbes leads to differences in microbiota composition, which is influenced by factors such as the porcine species, age, feed, and husbandry (Zhao et al, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Lactobacillus, an essential member of the normal microbiota, can improve the intestinal microbial balance with beneficial effects when administered in adequate amounts (Bogovic et al, 2016; Simpson et al, 2018). The Lactobacillus market has maintained a growth rate of 15–18% in recent years in China. There is increased acceptance of the application of Lactobacillus strains in animal feeds to maintain health, and animal studies have shown the beneficial probiotic effects. Piglets are subjected to sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes, and the microbiota are sharply changed, generally resulting in a decrease in bacteria of the Lactobacillus group and an increase in pathogenic bacteria, mainly leading to colibacillosis resulting in diarrhea, poor appetite, lower feed intake, and growth retardation (Isaacson and Kim, 2012; Schokker et al, 2015). Weaning has been associated with a “disrupted state” for the microbiota that is referred to as “dysbiosis,” and weaning stress in piglets is always the major cause of economic loss for pig farmers (Wilson et al, 1989; Lalles et al, 2007)

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