Probiotics: viable and inactivated cells on the performance, microflora and blood parameters of piglets

Abstract

The objective of the current work was to evaluate the use of oral probiotics comprised of viable and inactivated Lactobacillus spp. (referred to herein as "pool" of Lactobacillus spp.) on the performance, intestinal microbiota and blood parameters of piglets from birth to 35 days of age. Lactation piglets (n=108), with an average initial weight of 1.41kg, and nursery piglets (n=72), with an average initial weight of 5.47kg, were included in the study and distributed in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were as follows: Control: 1mL MRS broth + 1mL sterile saline; Active: 1 mL probiotics ("pool" of Lactobacillus spp. and Lactobacillus plantarum) activated in MRS broth + 1 ml saline; Inactive: 1 mL inactivated probiotics containing MRS broth + 1mL saline. Treatments were not observed to affect total and daily weight gain of piglets during lactation. Differences were observed between treatments for feed intake, daily feed intake as well as total and daily weight gain from 21 to 35 days of age. Counts of lactic acid bacteria and coliforms were not affected by treatment or age. With the exception of globulin, blood parameters are also not affected. In the nursery phase the probiotic treatment with inactivated cells means a viable alternative for use primarily by the performance obtained for weight gain; however probiotics supplementation did not influence the microbiological counts and blood parameters.

Effects of probiotics on growth performance, blood parameters, and antibody stimulation in piglets

“…It was only observed for globulin and albumin; negative control group had high concentration of albumin and globulin. These results are similar to those observed by Busanello et al (2015), who concluded that high concentration of albumin and globulin indicate the presence of infection and dehydration. This suggest that piglets in the control treatment group were more exposed to infections as compared to piglets in the probiotic treatment groups.…”

Effects of dietary inactivated probiotics on growth performance and immune responses of weaned pigs

“…1 ). Previous studies also showed live and heat-killed Lactobacillus strains increased weight gain in pigs [ 30 – 32 ], mice [ 33 ], and fish [ 34 ] and mitigated diarrhea in human and animals [ 18 , 35 , 36 ]. When pigs are infected by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) after weaning, it increases cell fluid and electrolytes into the lumen and decreases absorbing them into intestinal cells by ETEC, leading post-weaning diarrhea [ 37 ].…”

Gut health benefit and application of postbiotics in animal production

“…However, Busanello et al showed treatment with inactivated probiotics cells including L. spp. and L. plantarum showed no significant effects on blood parameters and microbiological counts in the gut of piglets during lactation [140]. Sprat-dried L. plantarum strain 22F, 25F, Pediococcus acidilactici 72 N isolated from pig feces exhibited beneficial effects in the nursery-finishing pigs, including a better feed conversion ratio, increase of Lactobacilli counts, decrease of Enterobacterial counts in the gut, which demonstrated the feasibility of substitute for antibiotics [141].…”