Specific Response of a Novel and Abundant Lactobacillus amylovorus -Like Phylotype to Dietary Prebiotics in the Guts of Weaning Piglets

Abstract

Using 16S rRNA gene-based approaches, we analyzed the responses of ileal and colonic bacterial communities of weaning piglets to dietary addition of four fermentable carbohydrates (inulin, lactulose, wheat starch, and sugar beet pulp). An enriched diet and a control diet lacking these fermentable carbohydrates were fed to piglets for 4 days (n ‫؍‬ 48), and 10 days (n ‫؍‬ 48), and the lumen-associated microbiota were compared using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of amplified 16S rRNA genes. Bacterial diversities in the ileal and colonic samples were measured by assessing the number of DGGE bands and the Shannon index of diversity. A higher number of DGGE bands in the colon (24.2 ؎ 5.5) than in the ileum (9.7 ؎ 4.2) was observed in all samples. In addition, significantly higher diversity, as measured by DGGE fingerprint analysis, was detected in the colonic microbial community of weaning piglets fed the fermentable-carbohydrate-enriched diet for 10 days than in the control. Selected samples from the ileal and colonic lumens were also investigated using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and cloning and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. This revealed a prevalence of Lactobacillus reuteri in the ileum and Lactobacillus amylovorus-like populations in the ileum and the colon in the piglets fed with fermentable carbohydrates. Newly developed oligonucleotide probes targeting these phylotypes allowed their rapid detection and quantification in the ileum and colon by FISH. The results indicate that addition of fermentable carbohydrates supports the growth of specific lactobacilli in the ilea and colons of weaning piglets.

Effects of Dietary Protein and Inulin on Growth and Nitrogen Balance in Growing Pigs

“…Although prebiotics like inulin may improve growth performance of young pigs, the current results did not reflect this fact. An increased growth and improved FCR together with reduction of diarrhea or loose feces as a consequence of non-digestible oligosaccharides inclusion in young pigs' diets has been reported (Konstantinov et al, 2004). However, no effect of non-digestible oligosaccharides on growth performance of young pigs were found by Houdijk et al (1999).…”

Analysis of bacterial community shifts in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs fed diets supplemented with β-glucan from Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…The prevalence of this species in pig faeces coincides with its use as a microbial marker of pig manure (Marti et al, 2010). Konstantinov et al (2004) demonstrated that the combination of dietary fibre and oligosaccharides present in the diet may specifically stimulate the L. amylovorus-like population along the gut of weaning pigs.…”

“…The prevalence of this species in pig faeces coincides with its use as a microbial marker of pig manure (Marti et al, 2010). Konstantinov et al (2004) demonstrated that the combination of dietary fibre and oligosaccharides present in the diet may specifically stimulate the L. amylovorus-like population along the gut of weaning pigs.The LD b-glucan caused a shift in the community whereby L. ruminis emerged after the feeding period. L. ruminis has been identified as the dominant lactic acid producing bacterium in the caecum and rectum of the pig (Jassim, 2003).…”

The Gut Microbiota: Ecology and Function

“…However, molecular based profiling studies in the pig have demonstrated marked differences in microbial composition between proximal and distal intestinal locations (Konstantinov et al, 2004;Hill et al, 2005;Richards et al, 2005).…”