Insight into the intestinal microbiome of farrowing sows following the administration of garlic (Allium sativum) extract and probiotic bacteria cultures under farming conditions

Abstract

Background Due to the tendency to reduce antibiotic use in humans and animals, more attention is paid to feed additives as their replacement. Crucial role of feed additives is to improve the health status, production efficiency and performance. In this original research, we estimate the potential influence of garlic (Allium sativum) extract and probiotic formula including Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum on the intestinal microbiota of sows, using the next generation sequencing method (NGS). Results Our results indicate that the overall species richness as well as the composition of swine gut microbiota may be shaped by regular feeding with supplemented additives. On the Family and Genus level both additives (garlic extract and probiotics) seem to decrease microbiome diversity and richness. However, when it comes to garlic supplementation, we found the opposite trend on the Species level. Conclusions The analysis of the selected microbial function indicates that both additives used in this study (garlic extract and composition of probiotics) seem to create a greater metabolic potential than estimated in a control group of sows. A general trend of losing or decreasing members of pathogenic species in the swine microbiome seems to occur in relation to both supplemented additives. In the prevention of some bacterial diseases supplemented additives could be considered for future use.

Effect of BioPlus YC Probiotic Supplementation on Gut Microbiota, Production Performance, Carcass and Meat Quality of Pigs

“…In the healthy animal, a balance of micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal tract helps in efficient digestion and maximum absorption of nutrients, and increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases [38,39]. The presented study showed that BioPlus YC probiotics supplementation resulted in a higher count of B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and LAB as well as a lower count of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Bacillus sp.…”

Beneficial Effects of Organosulfur Compounds from Allium cepa on Gut Health: A Systematic Review

“…The authors found a significant increase of Lactobacillus and a reduction in the counts of coliforms and enteropathogens (Salmonella and Clostridium) in faeces, compared to those animals that consumed a basal diet that included antibiotics but not PTSO. The analysis of microbiome in sows, reported in another recent article [78], showed the reduction of intestinal pathogenic species in those animals that ingested an extract composed of garlic and probiotics, compared to the control group. Moreover, in another assay conducted in swine [65], another extract containing PTS and PTSO was used as a feed additive.…”

“…Two extra articles not identified by the electronic databases were added as the authors were aware of their existence. Finally, as shown in Figure 3, a total of 17 articles [62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78] were found to be eligible for the present systematic review following the full-text eligibility assessment. The characteristics of the selected articles are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…In all cases, it was observed an increase of certain beneficial bacteria and a decrease of harmful bacteria populations in the guts of the evaluated animals. Three articles reported the influence of Allium products intake in swine, showing beneficial effects such as the increase in beneficial bacteria [75,77] or the reduction of pathogenic species [78] in the GM. All the assays conducted in birds and swine models showed how the animals fed with diets supplemented with Allium products had an improvement in their intestinal health, including an important antibacterial activity against pathogenic species.…”

“…In other words, limitations related to search strategy and methodology. For instance, three of the articles discussed [65,66,78] were not found by the four electronic databases used as they did not contain the keywords of the Boolean string chosen in their title, abstract, or keywords sections. However, the search strategy was deeply exhaustive, thus it was expected that only relatively few relevant studies were not identified.…”