SBM Group Research Articles

Dietary Lithospermum erythrorhizon ethanol extract alleviates soybean meal-induced enteritis by improving immune tolerance profile of pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂)

The aquaculture industry has a shortage of objected protection against soybean meal-induced enteritis (SBMIE) in carnivorous fish caused by soybean meal feed. Our initial study discovered that Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE) ethanol extract has potential application value in improving SBMIE. A feeding trial (for eight weeks) was conducted to investigate LE ethanol extract on pearl gentian grouper SBMIE of protection to clarify the influence of LE ethanol extract on the immune tolerance profile. Three hundred and sixty pearl gentian groupers were administered one of three distinct dietary regimes: 1) 100 % fish meal (FM); 2) soybean meal substitution of 50 % fish meal protein (SBM); 3) SBM diet +0.2 % LE ethanol extract (SBMLE). Each treatment included three 1000 L cisterns—each of cisterns with 30 fish. The preliminary weight of the fish varied between 72.01 g and 72.50 g. Growth performance results showed that WGR and SGR were significantly decreased in the SBM group (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the FM and SBMLE groups. There was no significant difference in survival among the three groups. The results showed that SBM-fed fish exhibited enteritis manifested by mucosal fold shortening, lamina propria widening, decreased serum immune markers (IgM, C3, and C4), and up-regulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (il17 and il12) and immune-related gene (tlr3, and tlr9). The addition of 0.2 % LE ethanol extract to the SBM diet, reversed the above symptoms, and anti-inflammatory cytokine (tgf-β1), gene expression increased significantly (P < 0.05). Intestinal transcriptome analysis exhibited that the DEGs between the FM group and the SBM group were mainly enriched in FoxO signaling pathway, while the DEGs between the SBM group and the SBMLE group were enriched in MAPK signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. The RT-qPCR results also revealed changes in MAPK/FoxO signaling pathway-related genes, including Dusp1, jund, Irs2b, fbxo32, and ccng2. Overall, Lithospermum erythrorhizon ethanol extract may alleviate SBMIE by regulating MAPK/FoxO signaling pathway, which would be beneficial for enhancing the immune tolerance and utilization efficiency of pearl gentian groupers to dietary soybean meal.

Evaluation of four novel non-grain protein sources completely replacing soybean meal on growth performance, serum biochemistry, amino acid transport and intestinal health of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) at different water temperatures

To investigate the effects of non-grain protein source and water temperature on growth and feed utilization differences of grass carp, the effects of different protein sources on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, digestive enzymes, amino acid transport and intestinal health of grass carp were studied at 24 °C, 28 °C and 32 °C. In this study, a total of 1350 grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (initial weight 5.00 ± 0.02 g) were selected, and Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) and Chlorella powder (CHP) were used as a single protein source to completely replace soybean meal for 56 days. The results showed that the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of grass carp increased significantly with the increasing temperature (P < 0.001). The CHP and SBM groups showed no significant differences in FBW, WGR, SGR and PER (P > 0.05), which were higher than the CAP, TMM and CPC groups (P < 0.001). The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations of grass carp at 32 °C were significantly lower than those at 24 °C and 28 °C (P < 0.001). The acid phosphatase (ACP) activity decreased significantly with the increase of temperature (P = 0.001). The amylase (AMS) activity of the TMM, CPC and CHP groups was significantly lower than that of the SBM and CAP groups (P < 0.001), and the ACP and lipase (LPS) activities in the TMM group were significantly lower than those in the SBM group (P < 0.001). In addition, the interaction between temperatures and protein sources significantly affected the gene expression levels of amino acid transport including solute carrier family 1 member 3 (SLC1A3), solute carrier family 7 member 1 (SLC7A1), solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5), solute carrier family 15 member 1b (SLC15A1b), solute carrier family 7 member 7 (SLC7A7), target of rapamycin (TOR), 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), intestinal inflammatory including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin1, claudin3, claudin7 and claudin11) (P ≤ 0.001). Collectively, our results indicated that CHP could be a potential protein source in the case of complete replacement of soybean meal in grass carp.

LTA and PGN from Bacillus siamensis can alleviate soybean meal-induced enteritis and microbiota dysbiosis in Lateolabrax maculatus

An eight-week feeding trial was designed to assess which component of commensal Bacillus siamensis LF4 can mitigate SBM-induced enteritis and microbiota dysbiosis in spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) based on TLRs-MAPKs/NF-кB signaling pathways. Fish continuously fed low SBM (containing 16 % SBM) and high SBM (containing 40 % SBM) diets were used as positive (FM group) and negative (SBM group) control, respectively. After feeding high SBM diet for 28 days, fish were supplemented with B. siamensis LF4-derived whole cell wall (CW), cell wall protein (CWP), lipoteichoic acid (LTA) or peptidoglycan (PGN) until 56 days. The results showed that a high inclusion of SBM in the diet caused enteritis, characterized with significantly (P < 0.05) decreased muscular thickness, villus height, villus width, atrophied and loosely arranged microvillus. Moreover, high SBM inclusion induced an up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a down-regulation of occludin, E-cadherin, anti-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis related genes and antimicrobial peptides. However, dietary supplementation with CW, LTA, and PGN of B. siamensis LF4 could effectively alleviate enteritis caused by a high level of dietary SBM. Additionally, CWP and PGN administration increased beneficial Cetobacterium and decreased pathogenic Plesiomonas and Brevinema, while dietary LTA decreased Plesiomonas and Brevinema, suggesting that CWP, LTA and PGN positively modulated intestinal microbiota in spotted seabass. Furthermore, CW, LTA, and PGN application significantly stimulated TLR2, TLR5 and MyD88 expressions, and inhibited the downstream p38 and NF-κB signaling. Taken together, these results suggest that LTA and PGN from B. siamensis LF4 could alleviate soybean meal-induced enteritis and microbiota dysbiosis in L. maculatus, and p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathways might be involved in those processes.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Fish Meal and Soybean Meal on Gastrointestinal Function in Carnivorous Companion Animals – Using Mink (Neovision vision) as a Model

Abstract Soybean meal (SBM) is fed to various livestock species worldwide. It is also present in dog food as a plant protein source, combined with animal-derived ingredients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation with fishmeal (FM, an animal protein source) and high amounts of SBM (a plant protein source) on nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal function and enzyme activity in mink, a model carnivore. The experiment was performed on 14 female American mink of a standard strain. Diet FM was supplemented with 12% FM and 8% ground wheat grain with sugar beet pulp, and diet SBM contained 20% SBM. It was found that the dietary addition of 20% SBM to mink diets negatively affected the digestibility of protein, carbohydrates and energy. Enhanced colonic fermentation processes as a source of additional energy, observed in SBM group mink, were not sufficient to compensate for the loss of nutrients and energy in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Therefore, SBM should be applied with caution in diets for carnivorous species.

Effect of age on the standardized ileal amino acid digestibility of soybean meal and canola meal in broilers

Standardized ileal digestibility coefficients (SIDC) of nitrogen (N) and amino acids (AA) in two protein sources (soybean meal [SBM] and canola meal [CM]) were investigated at six broiler ages (d 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42). Two assay diets were formulated to contain either SBM (413 g/kg) or CM (553 g/kg) as the sole dietary AA source. Titanium dioxide (5 g/kg) was added as an indigestible marker. A total of 696 male broilers at 1 d old were allotted to 12 replicate cages per age group. Each assay diet was offered to birds for 4 d prior to the ileal digesta collection on d 7 (14 birds/cage), 14 (12 birds/cage), 21 (10 birds/cage), 28 (8 birds/cage), 35 (8 birds/cage) and 42 (6 birds/cage), respectively. The apparent digestibility coefficients were standardized using age-specific basal endogenous AA flows. In the SBM group, though the SIDC of N tended to be influenced (quadratic; P = 0.075) by age, no linear or quadratic response of age effect was observed on the average SIDC of indispensable (IAA) and total AA (TAA). An age effect (quadratic; P < 0.05) was observed on the average SIDC of dispensable AA (DAA) in SBM with the highest value recorded at d 7, followed by a decrease from d 14 to 28, which increased beyond d 35. The SIDC of some individual AA (Arg, Thr, Trp, Cys, Pro) were affected (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) in a quadratic manner by age. In the CM, the SIDC of N, average SIDC of IAA, DAA and TAA were influenced (quadratic; P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) by age. The SIDC of N and average SIDC of DAA and TAA were higher from d 7 to 14, declined at d 21, and then increased beyond d 28. The average SIDC of IAA was low between d 7 and 28 and increased thereafter. The SIDC of individual AA were affected (linear or quadratic; P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) by different magnitudes by age. The age influence on the SIDC AA was variable, depending on the protein source and AA. The results demonstrate that age-specific SIDC AA data might need consideration in broiler feed formulations.

Methanotroph (Methylococcus capsulatus, Bath) bacteria meal alleviates soybean meal-induced enteritis in spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) by modulating immune responses and the intestinal flora

The effect of methanotroph (Methylococcus capsulatus, Bath) bacteria meal (FeedKind®, FK) supplementation in a high-soybean meal diet on growth, non-specific immunity, and gut health in spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) was investigated. Six experimental diets were formulated: control (containing 38% fish meal, FM, and 16.5% soybean meal, SBM), a high-soybean meal diet (containing 28% FM and 35% SBM), and four experimental diets each containing 28% FM and 35% SBM with the addition of FK at 2% (FK2), 4% (FK4), 6% (FK6) or 8% (FK8) in the diet to replace wheat gluten. All diets also contained 0.1% yttrium oxide to determine apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein and crude lipid. Following a 14-day acclimation period, fish were fed the diets for 56 days. Results showed that the FK2 and FK4 groups showed significantly higher weight gain (WG) compared to the SBM group (P < 0.05), whilst the FK2, FK6, and FK8 groups showed higher WG compared to the FM group (P < 0.05). The FK2, FK4, and FK8 had lower feed conversion rate (FCR) compared to the SBM group (P < 0.05). No differences were noted in overall survival. Intestinal lipase activity was significantly increased in the FK2 and FK4 groups and trypsin activity was significantly increased in the FK2 group compared to the SBM group (P < 0.05). The FK2 group showed significantly higher apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients than the SBM group (P < 0.05). The expressions of anti-inflammatory genes (tgfβ, il-4, and il-10) in the intestine of the FK-supplemented group showed a significant increment (P < 0.05), whilst the expressions of pro-inflammatory genes (tnfα, il-1β, and il-8) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that indexes of alpha diversity in the SBM group were decreased (P < 0.05) compared with all other diets. In addition, the FK2 group showed significantly higher serum acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), complement 4 (C4), and total protein (TP), levels than the SBM group (P < 0.05). Inclusion of FeedKind in high SBM diets alleviated SBM-induced intestinal inflammation by modulating the expression of intestinal inflammatory factors and regulating intestinal flora. Overall, supplementation of SBM diets with 2%–4% FK improved growth, non-specific immunity, and ADC's in spotted seabass.

Substitution of soyabean meal by faba bean improves body weight, sperm production and testosterone concentration in mature Queue Fine de l'Ouest rams.

The current study aimed at investigating the effects of partial or total substitution of soybean meal with faba bean on reproductive parameters of Queue Fine de l'Ouest rams. Eighteen adult rams (49.8 ± 3.7 kg and 2.4 ± 1.5 years old) were divided into three homogenous groups. Rams received oat hay ad libitum and 3 types of concentrate (33 g/BW0.75) where soybean meal was the main protein source (SBM diet, n = 6), partially (50%, SBMFB diet, n = 6) or totally (100% FB diet, n = 6) substituted in nitrogen basis by local faba bean. The volume of ejaculate, sperm concentration and sperm mortality rate were measured weekly by collecting semen using an artificial vagina. Serial blood samples were collected 30 days and 120 days after the beginning of the experiment in order to assess plasma testosterone concentrations. The results showed that hay intake was affected (P < 0.05) by the nature of the nitrogen source incorporated (1032.3 ± 12.2; 1026.8 ± 56.6 and 972.8 ± 39.05 g DM/d for SBM, FB and SBMFB respectively. The average live weight of the rams increased from 49.8 ± 0.4 (week 1) to 57.3 ± 0.9 kg (week 17) without effect of the diet. A positive effect of faba bean incorporation in the concentrate was observed on ejaculate volume, concentration and spermatozoa production. All these parameters were significantly higher in SBMFB and FB groups than in SBM group (P < 0.05). The protein source did not affect the percentage of dead spermatozoa and the total abnormalities which were similar for the three diets (38.7; 35.8 and 38.1% for SBM; SBMFB and FB, respectively). The mean testosterone concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in rams fed with faba bean (1.7 ± 0.7 to 1.9 ± 0.7 ng/ml for the SBMFB and the FB groups respectively) than in rams fed SBM diet (1.06 ± 0.5 ng/ml). It was concluded that the substitution of soybean meal by faba bean improved the reproductive performance and did not affect sperm quality in Queue Fine de l'Ouest rams.

Effects of fermented soybean meal supplementation on the growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility by modulating the gut microbiome of weaned piglets

This study investigates the effects of soybean meal fermented by Enterococcus faecium as a replacement for soybean meal on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, blood profile and gut microbiota of weaned pigs. Eighty piglets (weaned at 21 days) [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with average body weight of 6.52 ± 0.59 kg) were selected and assigned to 4 treatments/4 replicate pens (3 barrows and 2 gilts). The four diets (SBM, 3, 6 and 9% FSBM) were formulated using fermented soybean meal to replace 0, 3, 6 and 9% of soybean meal, respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days phase 1, 2 and 3. Result showed that supplemental FSBM increased (P < 0.05) the body weight gain (BWG) of piglets at day 7, 21 and 42 and ADG at days 1–7, 8–21, 22–42 and 1–42, and ADFI at days 8–21, 22–42 and 1–42 and G: F at days 1–7, 8–21 and 1–42, and crude protein, dry matter, and gross energy digestibility at day 42, and lowered (P < 0.05) diarrhea at days 1–21 and 22–42. The concentration of glucose levels, WBC, RBC, and lymphocytes were increased while, concentration of BUN level in the serum was lowered in the FSBM treatment compared to the SBM group (P < 0.05). Microbiota sequencing found that FSBM supplementation increased the microbial Shannon, Simpsons and Chao indexs, (P < 0.05) and the abundances of the phylum Firmicutes, and genera prevotella, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium (P < 0.05), lower in the abundances of the phylum bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, genera Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto1, Bacteroides and Parabacteroides (P < 0.05). Overall, FSBM replacing SBM improved the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, and blood profiles; perhaps via altering the faecal microbiota and its metabolites in weaned pigs. The present study provides theoretical support for applying FSBM at 6–9% to promote immune characteristics and regulate intestinal health in weaning piglets.

Effectiveness of post-operative pain management among patients who underwent general and orthopedic surgeries at a national referral hospital Asmara, Eritrea

Background: Post-operative pain poses significant challenges with high global prevalence. Inadequately managed pain can result in patients increased medical complications, prolonged hospital stays and reduced effective pain management. The study was aimed at comparing the effectiveness of existing and severity-based POP management of patients who underwent general and orthopedic surgeries in Halibet National Referral Hospital. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted among 118 patients who underwent general and orthopedic surgeries. Data was collected by using socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and visual analogue scale (VAS). The intervention group received a severity based (SBM) POP management, whereas the comparative group received the existing management (EM). Data on severity of POP and effectiveness of its management was collected using VAS. Descriptive statistics for the demographic and clinical data, median pain reduction, and Mann-Whitney U value were used to analyze data. P&lt; 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results:98.3% of the patients in the EM and 88.1% in the SBM experienced pain at the initial point after surgery with mild pain (30.5%) (11.9%), moderate pain (37.3%) (54.2%) and severe pain (30.5%) (22%) respectively. The common type of analgesic used in the EM was Diclofenac (63.72%). The median pain reduction was statistically insignificant (p=0.056) in the EM group, while a significant pain reduction (p&lt;0.001) was seen in the SBM group. Significant difference in the effectiveness of POP management was found between EM and SBM groups in middle aged adults (p=0.026), females (p= 0.016), patients who took GA (p&lt;0.001) and patients who had general surgery (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The management of POP should be based on the severity of pain experienced by the patient and use of the most suitable analgesics. Pain assessment should be performed for every post-operative patient using appropriate pain assessing tool and documented.

Effect of Raw Chickpea in the Broiler Chicken Diet on Intestinal Histomorphology and Intestinal Microbial Populations.

Simple SummaryRaw chickpea seed (CPR) can be an alternative source of cheaper native proteins in the diet of chickens, replacing the standard soybean meal. The present results were obtained in a study on the addition of raw chickpea seeds to replace 50% of soybean meal (SBM) protein in an experimental feed mixture for broiler chickens. We investigated the effect of the substitution on the intestinal histomorphology, intestinal microbial population, and health of broiler chickens.The aim of the study was to determine the effect of partial replacement of SBM protein with CPR-derived protein in the broiler rearing period from 22 to 42 days of age on the intestinal histomorphology and the composition of the intestinal microbial population. Male broiler chicks aged 1 day were assigned to two groups with different nutrition schemes (n = 100 in each, 5 cages of 20 chicks in each). The chickens were reared for 42 days. All birds were fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets: starter (1 to 21 d), grower (22 to 35 d), and finisher (36 to 42 d). From rearing day 22, different diets were provided to the birds: the SBM group received feed with 100% soybean meal protein, and the diet of the CPR group the protein originated from soybean meal was replaced by 50% chickpea protein. The study results indicated a significant impact of the inclusion of CPR in the diet on the basic intestinal structures (thickness of myenteron: submucosa, jejunum and duodenum mucosa, and jejunum transversal lamina). The addition of CPR led to shortening of intestinal villi, an increase in villus thickness, and reduced intestine absorptive surface in the duodenum and jejunum. The CPR group exhibited a significantly lower villus length-to-crypt depth ratio in the jejunum (p < 0.001). The inclusion of chickpeas in the diet increased the total count of mesophilic bacteria and coliforms in the intestinal contents (p < 0.05). In summary, it has been demonstrated that the inclusion of CPR in the diet induced considerable disturbances in metabolism and intestinal structure. Although CPR is a cheap protein source, its use in poultry diet does not ensure development of the intestinal structure comparable to that in the case of an SBM-only diet.

Efficiency of Soybean Products in Broiler Chicken Nutrition.

Simple SummaryThe studies show how replacing soybean meal with soybean expeller cake or extruded full-fat soybean in feed rations for broiler chickens affects rearing results (weight gain, intake and conversion of feed), carcass composition (dressing percentage, musculature, fattens) and meat quality (physical properties: pH, colour, water holding capacity; the chemical composition: basic components, fatty acids and organoleptic value: flavour, tenderness, palatability and juiciness). Based on the results the use of soybean expeller cake in broiler chicken starter/grower diets can be recommended as it allowed for obtaining the best production and slaughter results. However, from the point of view of the human diet, extruded full-fat soybean should be suggested since it best modified the lipid fraction of muscles.The study aimed to determine the overall effect of replacing soybean meal completely with soybean expeller cake or extruded full-fat soybean in feed rations for broiler chickens on their carcass composition and meat quality. The experiment involved one hundred and twenty Ross 308 broiler chickens randomly allocated to three equinumerous groups (SBM, SEC, EFS). Each group was divided into five subgroups—each consisting of eight birds of both sexes (1:1). From Day 1 to Day 21 of life the birds were fed with loose starter rations, and from Day 22 to Day 42 they were fed grower rations based on a wheat meal, protein products and mineral and vitamin admixtures. The experimental factor was a protein raw material comprising: SBM group—soybean meal from GM (genetically modified) seeds, SEC—soybean expeller cake from n-GM seeds, and EFS—extruded full-fat soybean from n-GM seeds. The experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. It was demonstrated that replacing soybean meal with SEC or EFS in feed rations for broiler chickens led to a significant (p < 0.05) weight gain on Day 42 of rearing by 4.57% and 2.88%, respectively. The chickens fed diets with EFS had worse (more than 4.14%) feed conversion rate (FCR) in comparison to the others (p < 0.05). Broiler chickens from the SBM and SEC groups showed a higher share of breast and leg muscles (by 4.74% and 7.54%) and a lower share of abdominal fat (by 31.1%) and skin with subcutaneous fat (by 18.8% and 13.4%) in comparison with birds from the EFS group (p < 0.05). The highest content of intramuscular fat with the best fatty acids profile was determined in the muscles of birds fed with diets containing EFS, while the muscles of chickens receiving SEC scored the highest. The results provide grounds for recommending SEC in broiler chicken nutrition as it allowed for obtaining the best production and slaughter results, whereas—from the point of view of the human diet—EFS should be recommended since it best modified the lipid fraction of muscles.

Multiomics analysis of soybean meal induced marine fish enteritis in juvenile pearl gentian grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus \u2640\u2009\xd7\u2009Epinephelus lanceolatus \u2642

As an important protein source, soybean products can cause intestinal inflammation and injury in many animals including human beings, particularly infants and juvenile individuals. Research in this field has been performed for terrestrial animals and fish, but still lacks integrity and systematicness. In this study, the main biological processes in the intestinal tract of marine fish juvenile pearl gentian grouper in the state of soybean meal-induced enteritis (SBMIE) were analyzed. A total of 720 groupers with an approximate initial weight of 12.5 g were randomly divided into three groups: the fish meal (FM) control group, the 20% SBM group (SBM20), and the SBM40 group (n = 4). Three iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets were prepared and fed to fish for 10 weeks. Each barrel contained a water volume of about 1 m3 in and was exposed to natural light and temperature. Results indicated that the growth and physiology of groupers fed with SBM were significantly negatively affected, with the gene expressions of intestinal structural protein abnormal. 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that the intestinal microflora played an important role in the pathogenesis of pearl gentian grouper SBMIE, which may activate a variety of pathogen pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors, and nod-like receptors. Transcriptome analysis revealed that changes of the SBMIE signaling pathway in pearl gentian groupers were conservative to some extent than that of terrestrial animals and freshwater fish. Moreover, the TLRs-nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway becomes activated, which played an important role in SBMIE. Meanwhile, the signal pathways related to nutrient absorption and metabolism were generally inhibited. Metabolomics analysis showed that isoflavones and saponins accounted for a large proportion in the potential biomarkers of pearl gentian grouper SBMIE, and most of the biomarkers had significantly positive or negative correlations with each other; 56 metabolites were exchanged between intestinal tissues and contents, which may play an important role in the development of enteritis, including unsaturated fatty acids, organic acids, amino acids, vitamins, small peptides, and nucleotides, etc. These results provide a basic theoretical reference for solving the intestinal issues of fish SBMIE and research of inflammatory bowel disease in mammals.

Digestive physiological characteristics of black soldier fly larvae reared on five organic wastes

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are able to utilise a broad range of organic wastes to fulfil their growth needs. To acquire this basic knowledge of its digestive adaptation to various food, five organic wastes (soybean meal [SBM], wheat bran [WB], beer yeast [BY], kitchen waste [KW] and chicken manure [CM]) were fed to 3-day-old BSFL for 16 days. The growth performance, luminal pH of the gut, midgut histology, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal bacterial microbiota of the larvae were assessed. Growth performance was greatest in the KW group followed by the SBM group and was worst in the CM group. Nutrient compositions of larvae were not significantly affected by those of the food sources, with the exception of crude ash. The ultrastructural observations of midgut showed the number of mitochondria in CM and BY groups was less than other three groups. Twenty-four hours after feeding, weakly acidic, acidic, strongly acidic, and alkaline luminal pH values were detected in the anterior, middle and posterior segments of the gut in all groups, but the luminal pH values of the hindgut varied with food source. Significant lipase and esterase activity, cellulase activity, and amylase activity were detected in the intestines of larvae reared on KW, WB and BY, respectively, revealing that digestive enzyme activity was closely associated with the nutrient composition of the food source. Bacterial composition and diversity differed significantly between groups and were characterised by specific indicator bacteria, which may play important roles in food digestibility. The results suggested that different food sources induced adaptive physical, chemical and biological changes in the digestive tracts of BSFL and may indicate that BSFL developed specific strategies for nutrient utilisation and accumulation. The knowledge acquired here will be beneficial for developing rearing protocols to optimise bioconversion in this insect for their various applications.

Dietary sodium butyrate supplementation attenuates intestinal inflammatory response and improves gut microbiota composition in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed with a high soybean meal diet.

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (NaBT) supplementation on the gut health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed with a high soybean meal diet. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated: a high fishmeal group (Control); a high soybean meal group (SBM), in which the 30% fishmeal protein in the Control diet was replaced by soy protein; and an NaBT group, in which 0.2% NaBT was added to the SBM diet. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks (20 fish in each tank). After 8weeks of feeding trial, the distal intestine and intestinal digesta of the fish in each treatment were sampled. The results showed that fishmeal replacement and NaBT supplementation did not affect fish growth performance. Dietary 0.2% NaBT supplementation improved intestinal morphology, increasing the villus width and villus height and reducing the width of lamina propria. The distal intestine of fish in the control and NaBT groups demonstrated lower activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and a lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, compared with the fish in the SBM group. Moreover, the addition of 0.2% NaBT in the feed significantly decreased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) compared to the SBM diet. PCoA and UPGMA analyses based on weighted UniFrac distances demonstrated that intestinal microbial communities in the NaBT group were closer to those in the control group than to those in the SBM group. In addition, dietary 0.2% NaBT supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of Tenericutes at the phylum level. Furthermore, the abundance of Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_unclassified, and Lachnospiraceae_uncultured was significantly increased, while that of Mycoplasma was significantly decreased in fish intestine at NaBT group at the genus level. In conclusion, dietary NaBT supplementation had beneficial roles in protecting the gut health of largemouth bass from the impairments caused by soybean meal.

Fermented Cottonseed Meal as a Partial Replacement for Soybean Meal Could Improve the Growth Performance, Immunity and Antioxidant Properties, and Nutrient Digestibility by Altering the Gut Microbiota Profile of Weaned Piglets.

The study investigated the impact of fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) on growth performance, immunity and antioxidant properties, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota of weaned piglets by replacing soybean meal with FCSM in the diet. The experimental piglets were fed with either the soybean meal diet (SBM group) or fermented cottonseed meal diet (FCSM group) for 14days after weaning. The digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE), amino acids and nitrogen was higher in the FCSM diet than those in the SBM diet (p<0.05). The piglets in the FCSM group showed greater growth performance and lower diarrhea rate than those in the SBM group (p<0.05). The concentration of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and antioxidase, intestinal and hepatic antioxidase were increased and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum was decreased in those piglets in the FCSM group compared to those piglets in the SBM group (p<0.05). The piglets in the FCSM group had a higher concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in their ileum and cecum and a higher Simpson index of ileum than piglets in the SBM group (p<0.05). The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and [Ruminococcus]_torques_group in ileum and Intestinibacter, norank_f_Muribaculaceae, unclassified_o_Lactobacillales and [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group in cecum were enhanced in piglets fed with the FCSM diet, whereas the relative abundance of Sarcina and Terrisporobacter were increased in piglets fed with the SBM diet. Overall, FCSM replacing SBM improved the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant properties, and nutrient digestibility; possibly via the alterant gut microbiota and its metabolism of weaned piglets. Graphical Fermented cottonseed meal as a partial replacement for soybean meal could improve the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant properties, and nutrient digestibility by altering the gut microbiota profile of weaned piglets. SBM, soybean meal; FCSM, fermented cottonseed meal.

The Antimicrobial Peptide Cecropin AD Supplement Alleviated Soybean Meal-Induced Intestinal Inflammation, Barrier Damage, and Microbial Dysbiosis in Juvenile Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus

This study aimed to investigate the benefit of dietary cecropin AD (CAD) on the intestinal health of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) fed diets with a high level of soybean meal. A 12-week feeding trial was conducted with four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets: a fishmeal-based diet (FM), a diet replacing 40% fish meal protein of FM diet with soybean meal protein (SBM), and the SBM diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg (C1) and 1.0 g/kg (C2) CAD, respectively. The results of histology of distal intestine (DI) showed that turbots fed the SBM diet exhibited distinct symptoms of enteritis. However, fish fed diets with CAD supplementation kept the normal appearance of the DI which was similar to that in FM group. Compared with the SBM group, diet with CAD supplementation significantly decreased the gene expression of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α), interleukin-1β (il-1β), interferon-gamma (ifn-γ), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (nf-κb p65), while up-regulated the gene expression of intestinal tight junction proteins claudin-3, claudin-4, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (zo-1). Besides, diet C1 shaped the intestinal microbiota profile toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype represented by the increased abundance of Blutia, Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio, and decreased Prevotellaceae. In conclusion, dietary CAD could positively modulate the intestinal health of turbot from the impairment induced by soybean meal, which expands its application to help fish better adapt to the increasing plant protein level in aquafeed.

Suture loop myopexy versus silicone band loop myopexy in the management of myopic strabismus fixus

To compare two different modalities of superior rectus-lateral rectus loop myopexy; suture (SLM) and silicone band loop (SBM), in the treatment of myopic strabismus fixus. The medical records of patients with myopic strabismus fixus who underwent surgical management with either SLM or SBM at a single institution over a period of 4years were retrospectively reviewed. In cases with positive intraoperative forced duction test, the medial rectus muscle was recessed. The primary outcome measures were improvement of primary position esotropia, hypotropia, and limitations of abduction and elevation. The angle between the displaced superior rectus and lateral rectus muscles (angle of globe dislocation) was also assessed by orbital imaging before and after surgery. A total of 21 patients were identified, of whom 10 underwent SLM and 11 underwent SBM. Mean age at surgery was 65.4±5.7years in the SLM group and 68.5±6.4years in the SBM group. Both procedures significantly improved esotropia, hypotropia, angle of globe dislocation, and limitation of abduction and elevation (P<0.0001), with no significant statistical difference between procedures (P>0.05). Intraoperative muscle splitting occurred in 2 cases in the SLM group, and transient foreign body sensation was documented in 3 cases in the SBM group. In this study cohort, both techniques achieved significant correction of ocular deviation, limitation of ocular ductions, and angle of globe dislocation associated with myopic strabismus fixus, with no statistically significant difference between procedures. Operative complications in both groups were mild and innocuous.

Intestinal Morphometry, Enzymatic and Microbial Activity in Laying Hens Fed Different Levels of a Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal and Toxic Elements Content of the Insect Meal and Diets

Simple SummaryRecently, several studies have focused on the use of insect larvae meal as an alternative to soybean meal in poultry diets. In this regard, it is crucial to understand all the possible aspects related to the chemical-nutritional characteristics, the effects on the animals’ health and welfare, and the safety of different insect meals. This study aimed to evaluate volatile fatty acids production in the caeca, the intestinal morphometry, and the brush border enzymatic activity of hens fed different levels of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae meal for 24 weeks. The research also aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the concentration of toxic elements in insect meals. Overall, the insect meal inclusion affected the small intestine morphometry, the enzymatic activity, and the caecal microbial activity. The soybean meal group showed the highest intestinal functionality, while a compensatory mechanism, probably mediated by the chitin, led to a positive increase of volatile fatty acids and butyrate in the 50% protein replacement diet with potential positive effects on gut healthiness. The levels of toxic elements in the diets and insect meal were lower than the maximum levels of heavy metals set by the EU Commission for the feed.To evaluate the effects of feeding a Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal on the different intestinal traits of hens, and to determine the toxic elements’ concentration in the insect meal and diets, 162 hens were randomly allotted to three groups. The control received a corn-soybean meal-based diet (SBM); the HI25 and HI50 groups received two diets in which the 25% and 50% of the dietary protein were replaced by the HI protein, respectively. The duodenal and jejunal villi height and villi/crypt were higher (p < 0.01) in the SBM than in the HI groups. The ileal villi height was higher (p < 0.05) in the SBM and HI25 groups than the HI50. The HI50 group exhibited a lower duodenal maltase activity. The intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity linearly decreased in the duodenum and jejunum as the dietary insect meal inclusion increased. The HI50 group had a higher acetate and butyrate level than the SBM. The levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in the diets and insect meal were lower than the maximum values established by the EU Commission. The 25% soybean protein replacement with Hermetia illucens larvae meal in the diet of laying hens was more suitable and closer to the optimal level than 50%.

Sodium butyrate supplementation in high-soybean meal diets for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.): Effects on inflammatory status, mucosal barriers and microbiota in the intestine

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (NaBT) on the intestinal health of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.), in terms of inflammatory status, mucosal barriers and microbiota. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic practical diets were used: (1) fish meal based group (FM); (2) soybean meal group (SBM), soy protein replacing 40% fish meal protein in FM; (3) NaBT group, 0.2% NaBT supplemented in SBM. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks (30 fish in each tank). The current results showed that 0.2% dietary NaBT improved the growth performance of fish and alleviated the enteropathy, increasing the absorptive surface and mitigating the infiltration of mixed leukocytes in lamina propria. Fish fed the NaBT diet presented increased activities of intestinal brush border enzyme and similar nutrient digestibility with the FM group. Compared to SBM, the inclusion of 0.2% NaBT in diet significantly up-regulated the intestinal gene expression of tight junction proteins and down-regulated the gene expression of TNF-α and NF-κB. The gut microbial communities of the NaBT group were closer to the FM group than to the SBM group, in terms of PCoA, UPGMA and Heatmap analyses based on weighted Unifrac distance. The relative abundance of several dominant bacteria at the phylum (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Deinococcus-Thermus and Actinobacteria) and genus level (Thermus, Acinetobacter, Bacteroides and Silanimonas) were altered by dietary NaBT. In conclusion, dietary NaBT had positive roles in protecting the intestinal health of turbot from the impairment of soybean meal.

Fatty acid profile of lipids and caeca volatile fatty acid production of broilers fed a full fat meal from Tenebrio molitor larvae

Volatile fatty acid production (VFA) in the caeca and fatty acid profile of meat and fat depots were investigated on 62 days old broiler equally divided in 2 groups fed with a corn-soybean (SBM) or a corn-insect meal (TML, from Tenebrio molitor larvae) based diet from 30 days of age. The total amount of VFAs was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML and the same happened for all the single VFA studied in the trial. When the VFAs were expressed as percentage of total VFAs, acetate, propionate and valerianate were higher (p < .01) in SBM group, while the proportion of butyrate was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML. The fatty acids C12:0 and C14:0 had higher percentages (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively) in the intramuscular fat of broilers fed TML diet. Regarding the FA groups (SFA, MUFA and PUFAs), only the PUFAn1 fatty acids were higher (p < .01) in the broilers fed TML diet. Insect meals can affect the microbial activity in broiler caeca and, in addition, induced very few modifications in the fatty acid profile of broiler breast.HighlightsTenebrio molitor in broiler feeding affects the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the caeca.The total production of VFAs doubled in Tenebrio molitor feeding group, and the butyrate increased (+183%).TM slightly modify the fatty acid profile of breast meat.