Dietary supplementation with products of Citrus reticulata "Chachi" for improving the fecal microbiome of weaned piglets

Abstract

23Nutritional interventions play a critical role in modifying the intestinal microbiome of 24 host animals. This study was conducted to interrogate the physiological effects on 2 25 fecal microflora of weaned piglets via the dietary supplemented with two types of 26 products of Citrus reticulata "Chachi", respectively. For this purpose, A total of 72 27 piglets with uniform sizes were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups 28 consisted of a negative control group (NCG), a fermented citrus reticulata "Chachi" 29 pulp group (FCRPG), a Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium group (CRPG) and a positive 30 control group (PCG) in a 21-day feeding trial. After the raising experiment, fresh 31 feces of piglets were analyzed systematically using multi-omics technologies. 32Metagenomics method with high-throughput compositional characterization indicated 33 that the architecture and diversity of fecal microbiome were both influenced by these 34 two additives and compound antibiotics. Metabolite analysis showed that FCRPG 35 have an significant effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) among four 36 treatment groups. Results of functional proteomics approaches found that FCRPG 37 presented the highest butyrate metabolic level, and CRPG showed the highest flavone 38 and flavonol biosynthesis level in feces. In addition, NCP produced an effective effect 39 on adjusting fecal microbiota profile. Consequently, our findings demonstrate that 40 dietary supplementation with FCRP or CRP modulates the microbial taxa, metabolic 41 and proteomic alterations in fecal microbiota of weaned piglets for health 42 maintaining.43 44 3 48 metabolism, immune regulation and gene expression. The vast majority of commensal 49 micro-bacteria are well adapted to the host environment but also can be shaped by 50 various factors such as nutrient import and external circumstances [2, 3]. Weanling 51 period is a special developmental stage throughout the entire lifecycle of pig, during 52 which piglets have exhibited rapid growth, high demand for nutrition, fast energy 53 harvesting capability [4], and succession of gut microbial composition [5-7]. However, 54 common diseases such as digestive disorders and intestinal inflammation, often 55 plague the piglet farming during this rearing phase. Gut microbiota obviously play the 56 function of facilitating adaption of weanling piglets to fibrous ingredients and 57 reducing the risk of colonization of enteric pathogens after weaning [8]. Actually, 58 although antibiotics have been pervasively applied many decades for antimicrobial 59 application and growth promoting for livetocks in China, European Union has banned 60 their prophylactic use in modern swine industry for the potential public hazard of 61 bacterial resistances and drug residues since 2006 [9, 10]. Thus, nutritional strategies 62 have been employed as an efficient way to improve intestinal microbiota architecture 63 for the purpose of restricting the use of antibiotics and enhancing the health of piglets 64 except for alternative ...