High-dose dietary zinc oxide mitigates infection with transmissible gastroenteritis virus in piglets

Abstract

BackgroundZinc (Zn) supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhea and to protect animals from intestinal diseases, but the mechanisms of this protective effect against virus infection in vivo have not yet been elucidated. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) causes diarrhea in piglets with an age-dependent decrease of severity.ResultsWe used 60 weaned piglets that were divided into three groups to evaluate the effect of different Zn levels added to a conventional diet (50 mg Zn/kg diet, Znlow, control group). The other groups received the diet supplemented with ZnO at final concentrations of 150 mg Zn/kg diet (Znmed), or 2,500 mg/kg diet (Znhigh). Oral challenge infection with TGEV was performed when the pigs had been fed for 1 week with the respective diet. Half of the piglets of each group were sacrificed at day 1 and 18 after challenge infection. Fecal consistency was improved and body weights increased in the Znhigh group when compared to the other groups, but no direct effect of Zn concentrations in the diet on fecal TGEV shedding and mucosal immune responses was detectable. However, in the Znhigh group, we found a prevention of villus atrophy and decreased caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of jejunal epithelium. Furthermore, pigs receiving high Zn diet showed a down-regulation of interferon (IFN)-α, oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), Zn transporter SLC39A4 (ZIP4), but up-regulation of metallothionein-1 (MT1), as well as the Zn transporters SLC30A1 (ZnT1) and SLC30A5 (ZnT5). In addition, forskolin-induced chloride secretion and epithelial resistance were controlled at a physiological level in the Znhigh but not the other groups. Finally, in the Znhigh group, we documented an earlier and higher systemic TGEV-specific serum antibody response.ConclusionsThese results suggest that high dietary Zn could provide enhanced protection in the intestinal tract and stimulate the systemic humoral immune response against TGEV infection.

Protein and lipid homeostasis altered in rat macrophages after exposure to metallic oxide nanoparticles

“…Indeed, Slc30a1 and Wdr45 were respectively increased following exposure to ZnO and ZnFe 2 O 4 NPs. Noteworthy is the upregulation of Zn transporter Slc30a1after exposure to Zn element which has already been observed following an in vivo exposure of Zn to piglets (Chai et al 2014). Moreover, the higher amount of Zn element found in cells exposed to ZnO NPs, in addition to their soluble potential, could be related to the transient expression of Zn-dependent proteins, such as those encoded by Slc30a genes, Zfand2b, Zgpat, Zfp637, or Zfyve19 (Table S1a and S1b).…”

“…Our results are in agreement with those of Tuomela et al (2013) who demonstrated an overexpression of different metallothioneins as a gene signature of three different immune cell lines after the exposure to ZnO NPs. Other recent studies revealed as well the expression of MTs after exposure to Zn, nano-ZnO, or micro-ZnO (Chai et al 2014;Safar et al 2018;Yang et al 2017). The overexpression of metallothioneins is an indicator of an adaptive response that plays a role in defense mechanisms against oxidative stress.…”

Dietary Zinc Oxide Modulates Antioxidant Capacity, Small Intestine Development, and Jejunal Gene Expression in Weaned Piglets

“…ZO-1 zonula occludens-1, IL-1β interleukin-lβ, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-α, IFN-γ interferon-γ, TGF-β transforming growth factor-β a, b Means within a row without a common superscript are significantly different (P < 0.05) Values are mean ± SEM, n = 4 gastroenteritis virus in piglets [14]. The alleviation of diarrhea, on the other hand, will enhance the normal growth of neonate children and piglets.…”

Probiotic supplementation improves reproductive performance of unvaccinated farmed sows infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

“…Our previous study also suggested that probiotics supplementation modified the gut microbiota by inducing an increase in lactobacilli and a decrease in E. coli (Hayakawa et al., ). Peptide‐zinc complexes in the probiotic compound used in this study also likely contributed to enhance the immune system of sows, as addition of zinc‐oxide to feed was previously shown to help reduce diarrhea incidence and assist in weight gain in pigs (Chai et al., ). Thus, a supply of beneficial bacterial strains and zinc to PED‐infected sows likely enhanced their overall health, which permitted them to eat more, better utilizing nutrients from feed, and gaining more weight.…”