PSIV-19 Understanding Intestinal Health in Nursery Pigs Through Potential Non-Invasive Biomarkers

Abstract

Abstract Mannans in feed ingredients can cause a feed-induced immune response (FIIR), resulting in intestinal inflammation. The addition of beta-mannanase can limit this anti-nutritional action, reducing the cost of activating the immune response. In the same way, non-invasive biomarkers are important tools that can provide early diagnosis of low-grade inflammation by mannans. The objective of this study was to assess potential non-invasive biomarkers in nursery pigs reared in different scenarios of low-grade inflammation. Female piglets (n = 396; 6.86 ± 0.9 kg; Large white × Landrace) weaned at 21 days of age were used for this trial. Treatments were organized in a factorial design with two diet types (simple or complex feed formulas containing 25 and 12% of soybean-meal, respectively) and two enzyme supplementation plans (control without supplementation or supplemented with beta-mannanase at 0.4 kg per feed of 1,000 kg Hemicell HT, Elanco Animal Health, São Paulo, Brazil). Fecal samples were collected from 10 pigs per treatment at the 21st experimental day. The fecal concentration of calprotectin, neopterin, free fatty acid, lactoferrin, and calcium binding proteins were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. Blood was sampled 6h after oral gavage of FITC-dextran at the 22nd experimental day to access intestinal permeability. The variables were subjected to the normality test (Shapiro-Wilk), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's test. Differences among treatments were considered at 5 and 10% significance levels. Piglets receiving beta-mannanase had reduced fecal levels of calprotectin (-41%; P = 0.048), neopterin (-43%; P = 0.019), and free fatty acid (-34%; P = 0.050) in relation to the control group. A tendency was observed for the reduction of novel lactoferrin (-1%; P = 0.072) and calcium binding proteins (-35%; P = 0.095) when comparing control with supplemented animals. In addition, beta-mannanase supplementation decreased intestinal permeability (-10%; P = 0.053) compared with control treatment. However, there was no effects of diet type or diet by enzyme interactions (P > 0.10). The addition of beta-mannanase in the nursery phase reduced fecal biomarkers associated with gut health inflammation. However, there was no difference between diets indicating a simple diet may be used to reduce diet cost without compromising the intestinal health of the animals.