Herd-Level and Individual Differences in Fecal Lactobacilli Dynamics of Growing Pigs

Abstract

We studied the fecal lactobacilli count and species diversity of growing pigs along with immune parameters associated with intestinal lactobacilli. Thirty pigs categorized as small (S, n = 12) or large (L, n = 18) at birth were followed from birth to slaughter in two commercial herds, H1 and H2. Herds differed in terms of their general management. We determined sow colostrum quality, colostrum intake, piglet serum immunoglobulins, and pig growth. We took individual fecal samples from pigs in the weaning and finishing units. We studied lactobacilli count and identified their diversity with 16S PCR. Total lactobacilli count increased in H1 and decreased in H2 between samplings. Lactobacilli species diversity was higher in H1 in both fecal sampling points, whereas diversity decreased over time in both herds. We identified altogether seven lactobacilli species with a maximum of five (one to five) species in one herd. However, a relatively large proportion of lactobacilli remained unidentified with the used sequencing technique. Small pigs had higher lactobacilli counts in both herds but the difference was significant only in H2 (p = 0.01). Colostrum quality was numerically better in H1 than in H2, where colostrum intake tended to be associated with total lactobacilli count (p = 0.05).

Molecular identification and probiotic potential characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the pigs with superior immune responses

“…In this study, 52 strains belonging to nine species were identified: Lactobacillus animalis, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus crispatus, Enterococcus Montessori, Enterococcus sakazakii, Pseudostaphylococcus, Enterococcus hirae, and Enterococcus faecalis. These results were in line with previous studies that suggested that LAB strains are prevalent in pigs (König et al, 2021;Zhong et al, 2022).…”

Bacterial profiles of the oral, vaginal, and rectal mucosa and colostrum of periparturient sows

“…The swabs were placed into cryotubes that were placed in a cool box, moved to a –18°C freezer within an hour and further to a –80°C freezer on arrival at the laboratory. Colostrum samples were milked within 6 hours from birth of the first piglet into sterile 10-ml plastic tubes after disinfection of the udder as described in detail in [76]. From one sow the colostrum sample was not obtained.…”

Fecal microbiota profiles of growing pigs and their relation to growth performance

“…Fecal Lactobacillaceae abundance was determined as described elsewhere [ 21 ]. Briefly, ten-fold dilutions of fecal samples were plated on blood liver (BL) agar (Nissui Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan).…”