Developing Gut Microbiota Exerts Colonisation Resistance to Clostridium (syn. Clostridioides) difficile in Piglets

Abstract

Clostridium (syn. Clostridioides) difficile is considered a pioneer colonizer and may cause gut infection in neonatal piglets. The aim of this study was to explore the microbiota-C. difficile associations in pigs. We used the DNA from the faeces of four sows collected during the periparturient period and from two to three of their piglets (collected weekly until nine weeks of age) for the determination of bacterial community composition (sequencing) and C. difficile concentration (qPCR). Furthermore, C. difficile-negative faeces were enriched in a growth medium, followed by qPCR to verify the presence of this bacterium. Clostridium-sensu-stricto-1 and Lactobacillus spp. predominated the gut microbiota of the sows and their offspring. C. difficile was detected at least once in the faeces of all sows during the entire sampling period, albeit at low concentrations. Suckling piglets harboured C. difficile in high concentrations (up to log10 9.29 copy number/g faeces), which gradually decreased as the piglets aged. Enrichment revealed the presence of C. difficile in previously C. difficile-negative sow and offspring faeces. In suckling piglets, the C. difficile level was negatively correlated with carbohydrate-fermenting bacteria, and it was positively associated with potential pathogens. Shannon and richness diversity indices were negatively associated with the C. difficile counts in suckling piglets. This study showed that gut microbiota seems to set conditions for colonisation resistance against C. difficile in the offspring. However, this conclusion requires further research to include host-specific factors.

Formula-fed and Clostridioides difficile infected neonatal piglets carry a highly diverse and abundant set of antimicrobial resistance genes

“…Moreover, the early neonatal phase seems to determine the microbial pro le and intestinal health later in life. In pigs, the very early colonizers between birth and 2 days of age are mainly enterobacteria, streptococci and clostridia of maternal and environmental origin [13,14,16]. This is supported by our ndings here, where Escherichia, Streptococcus, Shigella, Enterococcus, Collinsella, Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus were the dominating genera in FP and FP-CD piglets.…”

“…In addition, sow colostrum exerted a protective effect against CD toxin-induced effects in porcine intestinal cell model IPEC-J2 [21]. A formula-induced altered or delayed intestinal colonization and low abundance of lactobacilli or clostridia may decrease colonization resistance thereby promoting CD dissemination [16,22,23]. The expansion of Escherichia, Streptococcus, Shigella, Enterococcus phylotypes through the formula diet is of particular relevance because they represent a presumed source of persisting multi-drug resistant pathogens through further forward selection under medical treatment or other stress factors in the gut environment later in life.…”

“…This is supported by our ndings here, where Escherichia, Streptococcus, Shigella, Enterococcus, Collinsella, Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus were the dominating genera in FP and FP-CD piglets. Under normal conditions, these genera become later outcompeted by others such as Alistipes, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Lactobacillus [13,16]. Because FP and FP-CD piglets were transferred into the arti cial rearing units within 6 h after birth and had no further contact to the mothers surroundings, it seems likely that these piglets habored an 'immature-like' microbiome as compared with SP and WP piglets, accompanied by a further expansion of these early colonizers through the formula diet.…”

“…Pasteurella spp., and Globicatella spp. taxa have been found in healthy suckling piglets, which suggests that CD and other potential pathogens could contribute to a gut in ammation and AR spread [16]. It is known that certain groups of bacteria such as Proteobacteria and enterococci carry a high abundance of AR genes [24].…”

Porcine Colostrum Protects the IPEC-J2 Cells and Piglet Colon Epithelium against Clostridioides (syn. Clostridium) difficile Toxin-Induced Effects

“…In this context, our findings strongly support the important role of maternal protection against CDI in neonatal piglets. Although C. difficile outgrowth in pigs as well as in humans seems to be dependent on the microbial diversity [46,47], piglets colonised by toxigenic C. difficile may also be able to further develop immunity against toxins, similar to human infants [48], protecting the gut from potential intoxication and infection in the future.…”