Alternative for improving gut microbiota: use of Jerusalem artichoke and probiotics in diet of weaned piglets

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Jerusalem artichoke and probiotics on defence activity of intestinal cells of weaning pigs. One hundred eighty piglets (7 weeks old) were fed with basal feed supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke, Lactobacillus reuteri and Pediococcus pentosaceus. After 5 weeks, the piglets were slaughtered and the gastrointestinal contents and intestine samples were taken for analysis. Results demonstrated that in pigs fed basal diet with both probiotics and Jerusalem artichoke (5% of basal diet) (T3 group) had less (P<0.05) faecal Enterobacteriaceae microorganisms and coliforms and had more (P<0,05) faecal Lactobacillus than in pigs from other groups. Increase by 2% of Enterobacteriaceae and E.coli levels were seen only in control piglets (T1 group). E.coli O157 was found at the closing stage in the piglets fed basal diet with only Jerusalem artichoke powder (T2 group), but Salmonella enteritidis -only in T1 group. In jejunum of T2 group piglets, large deterioration of crypts, a moderate inflammation process and plasmocytes were seen, but in jejunum of T3 group piglets -branching of apical surface of villi, moderate degeneration and mitosis of enterocytes were observed. A moderate number of apoptotic cells in T2 group was found mainly in colon inflammation cells and plasmocytes, but for T3 group piglets -both in jejunum enterocytes and migrating cells. Our study indicated that β-defensin 2 and 3 expression in jejunum and colon segments were incresed in T1 and T2 groups. Findings suggest that feeding with probiotics and Jerusalem artichoke significantly improves the microbial contents, defence and regeneration processes in the intestine of pigs.

Reutericyclin producing Lactobacillus reuteri modulates development of fecal microbiota in weanling pigs

“…The most prominent change attributable to the presence of L. reuteri was the reduced abundance of Enterobacteriaceae . This result conforms to prior reports obtained with diverse probiotic cultures (De Angelis et al, 2007 ; Konstantinov et al, 2008 ; Bednorz et al, 2013 ; Valdovska et al, 2014 ) and indicates that successful competition with Enterobacteriaceae is not a specific property of L. reuteri . Remarkably, this study also demonstrated that the abundance of several members of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes was influenced by L. reuteri .…”

“…Levan and reuteran are not digested by pancreatic digestive enzymes and selectively fermented by hindgut microbiota (Korakli et al, 2002 ; van Bueren et al, 2015 ). However, the exopolysaccharides levels in the feed used in this study, 1–3 g/kg feed (Yang et al, 2015 ), are low when compared to other studies reporting prebiotic intervention (Valdovska et al, 2014 ). Fermented feed containing reuteran, however, specifically reduced the abundance of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in weanling piglets (Yang et al, 2015 ).…”

Topinambur – new possibilities for use in a supplementation diet

“…microbiota in the caecal, colonic and rectal digesta. Valdovska et al [45] investigated the effect of TPB and probiotics on the gut microbiota of weaning pigs. Animals were fed for five weeks on an experimental diet supplemented with TPB and two probiotics (Lactobacillus reuteri and Pediococcus pentosaceus) in different doses.…”

The effects of inulin, dried Jerusalem artichoke tuber and a multispecies probiotic preparation on microbiota ecology and immune status of the large intestine in young pigs

“…The average degree of polymerisation also depends on the variety and ranges from 8 to 15 (Kocsis et al 2007;Matías et al 2011). Jerusalem artichoke may affect short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration in the pig manure and modulate microbiota composition in the large intestine (Farnworth et al 1995;Vhile et al 2012;Valdovska et al 2014) but its prebiotic potential is not well recognised. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of dried Jerusalem artichoke (DJA) tuber on microbial ecology and immune status of the large intestine of young pigs and to compare it with inulin extracted from chicory root.…”