Adding a bio-response modifier and zinc oxide to piglet weaner diets influences immunological responses to weaning

Abstract

The effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) and a Mycobacterium smegmatis-derived bio-response modifier (BRM) supplementation on blood neutrophil functions, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses was studied in early weanling piglets. In total, 45 piglets were placed in the following five groups: basal diet only (I), supplemented with ZnO (II), supplemented with BRM (III), supplemented with ZnO plus BRM (IV) in basal diet and basal diet without weaning from dam (V). The phagocytic activity, superoxide anion and myeloperoxidase production in blood neutrophils and the concentrations of HMGB1, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β in blood plasma were measured before and after weaning. The neutrophil functions were impaired and the concentrations of HMGB1, inflammatory cytokines, were elevated in piglets during the post-weaning period. The neutrophil functions were not improved until Day 7 of weaning (P > 0.05) and pronounced elevation (P < 0.05) in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and HMGB1 was observed until Days 14 and 21 respectively, in Groups II and III. The addition of BRM plus ZnO in basal diet improved superoxide anion and myeloperoxidase production on Day 2 (P < 0.05) and decreased the TNF-α and IFN-γ concentrations on Day 7 (P < 0.05), with no significant change in the level of IL-1β and HMGB1 in Group IV. Finally, it is concluded that addition of ZnO plus BRM in the diet induced the neutrophil functions and reduced the inflammatory cytokine response much earlier to stimulate innate immunity than did ZnO or BRM alone.

Effects of dietary supplementation of bacteriophage cocktail on health status of weanling pigs in a non-sanitary environment

“…The first line of immune system cellular defense is formed by neutrophils [ 18 , 32 ]. However, excessive neutrophil activation leads to the production of toxic mediators including MPO, which encourages tissue damage and inflammatory reactions [ 8 , 33 ].…”

“…However, with BP and ZO supplementations, the jejunum's inflammatory damage could be mitigated to a certain extent. Another study also demonstrated that a pharmacological dose of ZnO has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects by inhibiting polymorphonuclear leukocyte population activity, as well as by quantitatively reducing MPO and MDA [ 14 , 18 ], and pro-inflammatory mediators like TNF-α and IL-1β, all of which are crucial in oxidative stress [ 37 ]. Moreover, in the current study, it was found that bacteriophage and ZnO reduced COX-2 release.…”

“…A pharmacological dose of ZnO has long been added to the weaned diet as the most practical and effective method in the past two decades. ZnO properly reduced the tendency to increase recurrent diarrhea and intestinal injuries in pigs [ 16 , 18 ]. However, the use of ZnO has been phased out since June 2022, due to high Zn excretion and consequent environmental issues [ 15 , 19 ].…”

Probiotic, paraprobiotic, and hydrolyzed yeast mixture supplementation has comparable effects to zinc oxide in improving growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets

“…During weaning, high levels of intestinal coliform bacteria commonly lead to postweaning diarrhea in pigs [43]. During colonization of the epithelial cells of the intestine by Escherichia coli, it produces enterotoxins and leads to intestinal in ammation that increases gut permeability, thus leading to diarrhea [44][45][46][47]. Therefore, ameliorating the colonization of coliform bacteria in the intestine and/or alleviating intestinal in ammation are ways to control the diarrhea condition and subsequently improving nutrient digestibility, feed e ciency, and/or growth performance.…”