Effects of forage phosphorous content on faecal phosphorous excretion and possible markers of low phosphorous intake in foals fed forage-only diets.

Knowledge of endogenous nutrient losses is important when estimating the nutrient requirements of animals. It has been suggested that faecal endogenous phosphorus (P) losses differ between growing and adult horses, but studies on foals are scarce. In addition, studies on foals on forage-only diets with different P contents are lacking. Thus this study: (1) assessed faecal endogenous P losses in foals fed a grass haylage-only diet close to or below estimated P requirements; (2) evaluated use of serum cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type-I collagen (CTx) as a marker of bone resorption secondary to low-P intake; and (3) examined whether analysis of faecal P concentration on a dry matter (DM) basis could be used as an indicator of P intake. Six foals were fed three grass haylages (fertilised to contain different amounts of P: 1.9, 2.1, 3.0 g/kg DM) for 17-day periods in a Latin square design. Total collection of feaces was performed by the end of each period. Faecal endogenous P losses were estimated using linear regression analysis. There was no difference in the concentration of CTx in plasma between diets in samples collected on the last day of each period. A correlation was found (y = 0.64x - 1.51; r2 = 0.75, p < 0.0001) between P intake and faecal P content, but regression analysis indicated that underestimation as well as overestimation of intake is likely if faecal P content is used to assess intake. It was concluded that faecal endogenous P losses in foals are low, probably no higher than in adult horses. It was also concluded that plasma CTx cannot be used to assess short-term low-P intake in foals and that faecal P content cannot be used to assess differences in P intake, at least not when P intake is close to or below estimated P requirements.

Phytol from Faeces Bombycis alleviated migraine pain by inhibiting Nav1.7 sodium channels.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Faeces Bombycis (silkworm excrement, called Cansha in Chinese), is the dried faeces of the larvae of silkworm. According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica", Faeces Bombycis has often been prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of recurrent headache, rheumatalgia, rubella and itching et al. However, the bioactive components and their exact mechanisms underlying the pain-relieving effects remain to be revealed. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of Faeces Bombycis extract (FBE) on migraine, explore the main active constituents and investigate the pharmacological mechanisms for its pain relief. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bioactivity of different extracts from Faeces Bombycis was tracked by the nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine model on rats and identified by NMR spectroscopic data. Whole-cell patch clamp technique, an electrophysiological method, was used to screen the potential targets and study the mechanism of action for the bioactive compound. The following targets have been screened and studied, including Nav1.7 sodium channels, Nav1.8 sodium channels, TRPV1 channels and TRPA1 channels. The trigeminal ganglion neurons were further used to study the effects of the identified compound on neuronal excitability. RESULTS: By testing the bioactivity of the different extracts proceedingly, fraction petroleum ether showed higher anti-migraine activity. Through further step-by-step isolations, 7 compounds were isolated. Among them, phytol was identified with the highest yield and displayed a potent anti-migraine effect. By screening the potential ion channel targets for migraine, phytol was found to preferentially block the inactivated state of Nav1.7 sodium channels with half-inhibition concentration 0.32 ± 0.05 µM. Thus, the effects of phytol on the biophysical properties of Nav1.7 sodium channels were further characterized. Phytol induced a hyperpolarizing shift of voltage-dependent inactivation and slowed the recovery from inactivation. The affinity of phytol became weaker in the inactivation-deficient Nav1.7 channels (Nav1.7-WCW). And such an effect was independent on the local anesthetic site (Nav1.7 F1737A). Consistent with the data from recombinant channels, the compound also displayed state-dependent inhibition on neuronal sodium channels and further decreased the neuronal excitability in trigeminal ganglion neurons. Moreover, besides Nav1.7 channel, phytol also antagonized the activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels at micromolar concentrations with a weaker affinity. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that phytol is the major anti-migraine ingredient of Faeces Bombycis and alleviates migraine behaviors by acting on Nav1.7 sodium channels in the trigeminal ganglion neurons. This study provided evidences for the therapeutic application of Faeces Bombycis and phytol on migraine disease.

Effects of different degrees of deacetylation and levels of chitosan on performance, egg traits and serum biochemistry of laying hens.

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether the deacetylation degree of chitosan (low: 70% vs. high: 90%) and its dietary level (0, 200, 400, 800, 1600 mg/kg diet) would affect laying performance, faeces viscosity, egg quality, egg and serum biochemistry of layers. For the experimental feeding period of 8 weeks, 140 four weeks old Hisex Brown layers were divided into 10 treatment groups, comprising 14 birds each. The birds were housed in individual cages in a complete randomised design. Performance was assessed by recording feed intake, egg weight, daily egg production, egg quality and egg biochemistry. Serum biochemistry parameters were determined at the beginning and end of the experiment and faeces viscosity at the end of the experiment. Feed conversion ratio and faeces viscosity were deteriorated by increased level of chitosan. Lightness of egg yolk was significantly increased in animals receiving high-degree deacetylated chitosan compared to low-degree deacetylated chitosan. Yellowness of egg yolk was affected by interaction of deacetylation degree and level of chitosan. Yolk cholesterol concentration was lower in groups receiving high deacetylated chitosan by increasing chitosan level, while laying hens fed low deacetylated chitosan had a higher level of yolk cholesterol. A significant interaction between degree of deacetylation and chitosan level was determined for serum glucose and calcium concentration. Serum total antioxidant content increased with higher levels of dietary chitosan. In conclusion, dietary level or different degrees of deacetylated chitosan may reduce yolk cholesterol and improve serum antioxidant status. However, feed conversion ratio and faeces viscosity were impaired by increasing levels of chitosan supplementation, and lightness of yolk was increased by supplementation of chitosan with a high degree of deacetylation.

Impact of Dietary Zinc Chloride Hydroxide and Zinc Methionine on the Faecal Microbiota of Healthy Adult Horses and Ponies.

Zinc supplements are often used in equine nutrition to support skin and hoof quality or the immune function. However, no data on the effects of dietary zinc on the intestinal microbiota of horses and ponies are available so far. In the present study, varying dietary zinc concentrations (maintenance (4 mg/kg BW0.75/day), 120 mg/kg dry matter (DM)/day and 240 mg/kg DM/day) were achieved by the supplementation of either zinc chloride hydroxide or zinc methionine (six treatment periods of 4 weeks each). Eight healthy adult ponies and two healthy adult horses were included, and faecal samples were collected at the end of each treatment period to analyse the microbiota (16S rDNA sequencing) and microbial metabolites. With increasing dietary zinc concentrations, the richness of the faecal microbiota decreased, independently of the zinc compound used. In addition, a decrease of the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Fibrobacteres as well as of acetate and total short-chain fatty acids in the faeces of the animals was observed at high zinc intakes. Effects on the bacterial order, family and genus level were also detected, which were partly more pronounced for zinc chloride hydroxide. It can be concluded that high dietary zinc levels decrease the richness and fermentative activity of the faecal microbiota of horses and ponies. Although all animals were healthy throughout the study, the effects could be critical for gut health, and deserve more research. The detected differences between the zinc compounds used indicate differences in the bioavailability of organic and inorganic zinc sources in equines.

Quantification of zinc concentrations in serum, milk and faeces of dairy cattle as a measure of effective zinc supplementation for management of facial eczema.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between Zn concentrations in serum and those in milk or faeces, and to assess the ability of the Zn concentrations in milk, serum and faeces to predict intake of ZnO in dairy cattle. METHOD: Seventy cows from one commercial farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand received one of seven dose rates (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 g/100 kg bodyweight (BW)) of ZnO given by oral drench, every morning, for 7 consecutive days. Every afternoon, milk and blood samples were collected from all cows. Free-catch faecal samples were collected during the afternoon milking on 3 days throughout the trial.Linear mixed models were used to assess the relationship between the concentration of Zn in serum and that in milk, and in faeces, respectively, and the relationship between dose rate of ZnO and concentrations of Zn in serum, faeces and milk, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the ability of the Zn concentration in serum, milk and faeces to predict that a cow had been treated with a dose of ZnO ≥2.5 g/100 kg, the industry-recommended dose rate needed to protect against facial eczema. RESULTS: A 1-µmol/L increase in Zn concentration in milk was associated with a 0.14 (95% CI = 0.11-0.17) µmol/L increase in Zn concentration in serum. Zn concentration in faeces was scaled by its SD; a 1 SD increase was associated with a 1.83 (95% CI = 0.54-3.12) µmol/L increase in zinc concentration in serum. Zn concentrations in serum and faeces increased with increasing dose rates of ZnO. No differences in Zn concentrations in milk were noted between animals dosed with 1.5-3.5 g ZnO/100 kg BW, inclusive. At the optimal threshold of Zn concentration in serum to predict protective ZnO intake (22 µmol/L), the sensitivity was 0.76 (95% CI = 0.69-0.82) and specificity 0.85 (95% CI = 0.80-0.89). For the concentration of Zn in faeces, the optimal threshold was 17.36 mmol/kg, with a corresponding sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI = 0.84-0.85) and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.73-0.94). At the optimal threshold for the Zn concentration in milk (76.6 µmol/L), the sensitivity was lower than the other two sample types at 0.59 (95% CI = 0.52-0.67), but with a similar specificity of 0.84 (95% CI = 0.79-0.88). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The concentration of Zn in milk shows promise as an initial screening test to identify dairy farms that do not provide adequate zinc to provide protection against FE.

Zootherapeutic uses of animals excreta: the case of elephant dung and urine use in Sayaboury province, Laos.

BACKGROUND: Despite a widespread aversion towards faeces and urine, animal excreta are used in traditional medicine in many countries since centuries, but records are scattered and few therapeutic uses have been accurately documented while in the current context of emerging zoonoses such records may be of major interest. METHODOLOGY: In this study, we investigated the therapeutic uses that mahouts in Xayaboury province, Lao PDR make of elephant urine and faeces as well as of the brood chamber that beetles (Heliocopris dominus) fashion from elephant dung. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mahouts on elephant diet, health problems and responses to disease, andwhether they use elephant products. Data were supplemented by interviews with traditional healers. RESULTS: Seven respondents reported the use of elephant urine in ethnoveterinary care for elephants and in human medicine in case of diabetes and otitis. 25 respondents reported therapeutic use of elephant faeces (EF) and elephant dung beetle brood chambers. The major indications are gastrointestinal and skin problems. Macerations or decoctions are drunk or used externally as a lotion. The mahouts attribute the therapeutic effectiveness of EFs to their content which includes the remains of many species from the elephant diet which they consider to be medicinal. DISCUSSION: The indications of these uses are consistent with pharmacological and clinical studies highlighting the properties of different animals' urine and faeces and their curative potential tested in vivo. The acknowledgement by the mahouts of medicinal properties of elephant faecal bolus contrasts with the rare justifications of animal material use recorded in zootherapeutic studies, which falls within the symbolic domain. However, numerous studies highlight the preponderant role of the microbiota in physiological processes, raising the hypothesis of a curative action of EF, by rebalancing the user's microbiota. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic uses of EF preparations despite their possible curative properties are a potential source of zoonotic transmission from elephants to humans. In the current context of globalisation of trade which favours the emergence of zoonoses and in relation with the issue of One Health, it becomes crucial to further document the zootherapeutic practices to prevent emerging diseases. As elephants and local related ethnoethological knowledge are threatened, documenting them is urgent to contribute to their preservation.

Addition of a blend of essential oils (cloves, rosemary and oregano) and vitamin E to replace conventional chemical antioxidants in dog feed: effects on food quality and health of beagles.

This study aimed to produce dog food containing natural antioxidants (blend of essential oils and vitamin E) to replace synthetic antioxidants and determine the effects on food conservation and animal health sequentially. The foods were produced in a commercial factory, and the antioxidants were added at the oil bath stage. Ten adult beagle dogs were used, divided into two treatments; control treatment (CON; synthetic antioxidant feed [butylhydroxytoluene]) and test treatment (NAT; natural antioxidant feed; blend of essential oils from clove, rosemary, oregano, and vitamin E). The dogs were weighed at the beginning and end of each experimental period, and there were no treatment effects for body weight. In both treatments, food conservation efficiency was observed, demonstrating the feasibility of using natural sources as antioxidants in dog food because chemical and oxidative variables did not differ regardless of the antioxidant used during production. The animals' metabolic and haematological variables were not influenced by the treatments; however, a reduction in the number of lymphocytes was observed over time only in the dogs of the NAT group. There was also a day effect for total leukocyte, neutrophil and erythrocyte counts only in NAT animals, which means a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the variables on d 28. There was an effect of the treatment and an interaction treatment x day for the total bacterial count, whereas a decrease in the bacterial count (p < 0.05) was observed in NAT dogs' faeces on day 28. Dogs fed the NAT diet had lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p ≤ 0.05) to minimise oxidative stress. In group NAT, the NPSH and glutathione S-transferase levels were increased, which may explain the decrease in ROS levels. It was concluded that natural antioxidants in dog feed, in addition to promoting feed conservation, stimulate levels of systemic antioxidants and minimise the impacts caused by free radicals in the dogs' blood.

Estimation of diet organic matter digestibility in grazing dairy cows.

Precise and continual information on the energy supply from pasture is mandatory for managing grazing ruminants. Therefore, estimating the organic matter (OM) digestibility from faecal crude protein concentration using the regression equation, OM digestibility [%] = 79.76-107.7 · e(-0.01515 · faecal crude protein [g/kg OM]), is known to be a suitable tool. However, essential information regarding faeces sampling times and the required number of samples are not yet available. We therefore analysed the OM digestibility data of an experiment with dairy cows grazing two pasture types and receiving two concentrate types over 6 d in three independent runs. Both pasture type and grazing day affected the OM digestibility estimates, whereas concentrate type and intake did not, indicating that this method reliably detects small changes in OM digestibility of pasture without being interfered by moderate concentrate supplementation, selective grazing behaviour or differences in feed intake. Likewise, as sampling time did not influence OM digestibility, faeces sampling once daily can be recommended to be sufficient for an accurate estimation of OM digestibility. The variance within pasture type and grazing day amounted for 1.1 percentage units of estimated OM digestibility, which enabled to define the minimum sample number required to detect given differences in OM digestibility with adequate statistical certainty. In conclusion, estimating OM digestibility from faecal crude protein concentration is an applicable and sensitive method to reliably detect differences in the quality of ingested pasture using a limited number of animals. Therefore, instructions for faeces sample collection  were provided.

Combination of urine and faeces metabolomics to reveal the intervention mechanism of Polygala tenuifolia compatibility with Magnolia officinalis on gastrointestinal motility disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the intervention mechanism of combining Polygala tenuifolia (PT) with Magnolia officinalis (MO) on gastrointestinal motility disorders caused by PT. METHODS: Urine and faeces of rats were collected; the effects of PT and MO on the gastric emptying and small intestine advancing rates in mice were analysed via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) to determine the potential metabolites. Changes in the metabolic profiles of the urine and faeces were revealed by untargeted metabolomics, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. The integration of urine and faeces was applied to reveal the intervention mechanism of PT-MO on PT-induced disorders. KEY FINDINGS: PT + MO (1:2) improved the gastrointestinal function in mice suffering from PT-induced gastrointestinal motility disorder. Metabolomics indicated that the PT-MO mechanism was mainly associated with the regulations of 17 and 12 metabolites and 11 and 10 pathways in urine and faeces, respectively. The common metabolic pathways were those of tyrosine, purine, tricarboxylic acid cycle, pyruvate and gluconeogenesis, which were responsible for the PT-MO intervention mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: The PT-MO (1:2) couple mechanism mitigated the PT-induced disorders, which were related to the energy, amino acid and fatty metabolisms.

Metagenomic Analysis of the Faecal Microbiome of Rats with 1, 2-Dimethylhydrazine Induced Colon Cancer and Prophylactic Whole-Cell Carotenoid Intervention.

Rapidly evolving sequencing technologies have enabled efficient sequencing of complex genomes and metagenomes. Here, we have presented our metagenomic analysis of rat faeces isolated DNA, sequenced using long-read sequencing technology. The microbiome changes in the rat faeces after sixteen weeks of prolonged administration of subcutaneous 1,2 dimethylhydrazine to induce colon carcinogenesis and oral carotenoid-rich whole-cell lyophilised Dunaliella salina supplement. The faecal pellets were aseptically collected, and DNA was isolated and sequenced subsequently. The post-sequencing analysis revealed that the rat gut microbiome is highly complex and diverse. There was a significant difference between the microbiome of rats that received Dunaliella salina supplement in comparison with rats treated with 1,2 dimethylhydrazine and control rats. We observed the dominance of Bacteroidetes over Firmicutes in both cases of administration. The dominance was notably contributed by individuals like B. vulgatus, B. dorei, B. fragilis, P. ruminicola, and P. copri. The presence of protozoans like Trypanosoma, Trichomonas, and Leishmania was also identified among other commensal eukaryotes. Moreover, there was an abundant presence of bacteriophages targeting probiotic organisms like Lactobacillus among the identified DNA viruses.

Lignans and phenylpropanoids from the liquid juice of phyllostachys edulis.

Seven lignans and eight phenylpropanoids, including one new lignan, 7S,8R,8'R-5,5'-dimethoxyariciresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), were isolated from the liquid juice of Phyllostachys edulis. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of the new compound was determined by comparing its experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra with calculated ECD spectra. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitor activity, and the results showed that compound 9 exhibited a moderate activity in these two bioassays. In addition, all the compounds can be detected in health panda faeces by LC-MS.

Possible mechanisms by which silkworm faeces extract ameliorates adenine-induced renal anaemia in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Silkworm faeces are the dry faeces of the insect Bombyx mori (Linnaeus) and have historically been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat blood deficiency and rheumatic pain. Silkworm faeces extract (SFE) is derived from silkworm faeces. AIM OF THE STUDY: Clinical observations of patients in the Department of Nephrology have shown that SFE effectively improves renal anaemia. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This article mainly explores the regulatory effects of SFE on erythropoietin (EPO) and hepcidin to identify the molecular mechanism of SFE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat model of renal anaemia was established by feeding rats food containing 0.75% adenine. SFE was orally administered to the rats, while recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) was used as a positive control drug. Haematological parameters and inflammation levels were compared between rats from each group, and pathological kidney sections from each rat were observed. The serum EPO and hepcidin levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, while Western blot analyses were performed to detect the levels of proteins involved in the EPO-related hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α)/prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) signalling pathway and hepcidin-related BMP6/SMAD4 and interleukin-6 (IL-6)/STAT3 signalling pathways. RESULTS: SFE significantly ameliorated haematological parameters, renal function, and inflammation levels in the rats. A mechanistic study showed that SFE promoted EPO expression by upregulating HIF-2α expression and inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and GATA2 both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, SFE inhibited PHD2 expression, resulting in a decrease in the enzymatic reaction of HIF-2α to increase EPO expression. Furthermore, SFE inhibited hepcidin expression by blocking the BMP6/SMAD4 and IL-6/STAT3 pathways. CONCLUSIONS: SFE regulated iron metabolism by inhibiting hepcidin and simultaneously promoted EPO synthesis to improve renal anaemia in rats.

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of grass carp fed with chicken faeces.

The gut microbiota is closely related to health and disease. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is an important food fish in China. We aimed to investigate the effect of a chicken faeces diet on the gut microbiota composition of grass carp reared in an integrated farming system in China. Gut microbiota compositions of grass carps fed chicken faeces, a commercial diet, and grass were compared based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The major intestinal phyla in grass carps fed chicken faeces were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. The untreated chicken faeces diet altered the gut microbiota composition and increased the number of potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut to varying degrees. To reduce the risk of diseases, it is necessary to remove residual antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chicken faeces by fermentation or other techniques, before it can be used as a fish feed for grass carp.

Ursolic acid improves the bacterial community mapping of the intestinal tract in liver fibrosis mice.

Liver fibrosis often appears in chronic liver disease, with extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition as the main feature. Due to the presence of the liver-gut axis, the destruction of intestinal homeostasis is often accompanied by the development of liver fibrosis. The inconsistent ecological environment of different intestinal sites may lead to differences in the microbiota. The traditional Chinese medicine ursolic acid (UA) has been proven to protect the liver from fibrosis. We investigated the changes in the microbiota of different parts of the intestine during liver fibrosis and the effect of UA on these changes based on high-throughput sequencing technology. Sequencing results suggest that the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbiota decline and the composition of the microbiota is disordered, the potentially beneficial Firmicutes bacteria are reduced, and the pathways for functional prediction are changed in the ilea and anal faeces of liver fibrosis mice compared with normal mice. However, in UA-treated liver fibrosis mice, these disorders improved. It is worth noting that the bacterial changes in the ilea and anal faeces are not consistent. In conclusion, in liver fibrosis, the microbiota of different parts of the intestines have different degrees of disorder, and UA can improve this disorder. This may be a potential mechanism for UA to achieve anti-fibrosis. This study provides theoretical guidance for the UA targeting of intestinal microbiota for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

[Investigating effect of Faeces Bombycis on intestinal microflora in rats with syndrome of damp retention in middle-jiao by high-throughput sequencing].

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of Faeces Bombycis(FB) on the intestinal microflora in rats with syndrome of damp retention in middle-jiao, and to explore its mechanism in regulating intestinal microflora from the perspective of microorganisms contained in FB. The contents of antidiuretic hormone(ADH) and C-reactive protein(CRP) in serum and aquaporin 3(AQP3) in jejunum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Illumina Miseq platform was used for high-throughput sequencing of the rat feces and FB. The ELISA results showed that as compared with the normal control group, the contents of ADH and CRP in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the content of AQP3 was significantly decreased(P<0.05). After drug administration, the ADH, CRP and AQP3 contents were recovered. Sequencing of rat feces showed that the ACE, Chao1 and Shannon indexes of the intestinal microflora were the lowest in the model group. As compared with the normal control group, the levels from phylum to genus were all significantly changed in model group, and Proteobacteria, Acinetobacter, Anaerobacter, Pseudomonas, and Parabacteroides levels were significantly increased(P<0.05), while Marvinbryantia level was significantly decreased(P<0.05). As compared with the model group, Proteobacteria was significantly decreased in the FB low and high dose groups(P<0.05), and Acinetobacter, Anaerobacter, Pseudomonas, Parabacteroides levels were significantly decreased in the low, medium and high dose groups(P<0.05), while Lachnoanaerobaculum, Intestinimonas and Marvinbryantia were increased significantly in the high dose group(P<0.05). Sequencing analysis of FB showed that the relative abundance of Leclercia, Pantoea, Brachybacterium, Shimwellia, Hartmannibacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, Aurantimonas, Paenibacillus and Bacillus was high in the FB, but they were basically not present or little in the rat feces. In conclusion, FB may play a role in the treatment of "syndrome of damp retention in middle-jiao" by balancing the intestinal microflora, and this effect may be related to the metabolites of microorganisms in the FB.

Effects of dietary alpha-ketoglutarate on bacteria profiles in the faeces of lactating sows and their suckling piglets.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on the faecal bacteria composition of suckling piglets after supplementation of AKG to the diet of lactating sows. After farrowing, the sows were assigned to either a normal lactation diet (control group, n = 12) or a diet supplemented with 0.25% AKG (AKG group, n = 12) based on body weight (BW) and parity. During the 21-d suckling period, BW and diarrhoea occurrences of piglets were recorded daily, while faeces were sampled weekly from sows and piglets. The levels of pH, ammonia, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate in the faeces of piglets were determined. In particular, bacteria profiles in faeces of sows and their suckling piglets were examined by Illumina sequencing. The results showed that the AKG diet altered the faecal bacteria composition in sows during the 21-d lactation period, leading to increases (p < 0.05) in the abundances of genera Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and Methanobrevibacter, but decreases (p < 0.05) in the abundances of genera Oscillospira and Dorea. AKG supplement to the sows during lactation indirectly enhanced (p < 0.05) bacterial richness and SCFA levels (especially, acetate) in the faeces of piglets during the 21-d suckling period. It is suggested that maternal AKG supplementation alters the composition of faecal bacteria in the sows, and increases the faecal bacteria richness and acetate levels in the piglets, which might be associated with an enhanced growth performance of piglets.

Dietary composition and yeast/microalgae combination supplementation modulate the microbial ecosystem in the caecum, colon and faeces of horses.

Starchy diets can induce hindgut dysbiosis in horses. The present study evaluated the impact of a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and microalgae (Aurantiochytrium limacinum) supplementation on caecal, colonic and faecal microbial ecosystem and on blood inflammatory parameters of horses fed high-fibre or high-starch diets. Six fistulated geldings in a 2 × 2 Latin-square design were alternatively supplemented and received during each period 100 % hay (4 weeks) followed by a 56/44 hay/barley diet (3 weeks). Caecal, colonic and faecal samples were collected 4 h after the morning meal three times per diet, at 5-d intervals, to measure bacterial composition and microbial end products. Blood was simultaneously collected for measuring inflammatory markers. The starchy diet clearly modified the microbial ecosystem in the three digestive segments, with an increase of the amylolytic function and a decrease of the fibrolytic one. However, no effect of the diet was observed on the blood parameters. When horses were supplemented, no significant change was found in lipopolysaccharides, PG-E2, serum amyloid A concentrations and complete blood count neither in cellulose-utilising, starch-utilising and lactate-utilising bacteria concentrations nor in the volatile fatty acids and lactate concentrations and pH. Under supplementation, relative abundance of Family XIII Clostridiales increased in caecum and faeces irrespective of diet and relative abundance of Veillonellaceae was higher during the hay/barley diet in colon and faeces. Most variations of faecal bacterial taxa under supplementation were not observed in the hindgut. However, all variations suggested that supplementation could increase fibrolytic function whatever the diet and limit dysbiosis when the horses' diet changed from high fibre to high starch.

In vitro evaluation of the effects of Yucca schidigera and inulin on the fermentation potential of the faecal microbiota of dogs fed diets with low or high protein concentrations.

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of Yucca schidigera powder (YSP) and inulin (IN) on protein fermentation metabolites (short-chain fatty acids [SCFA] and branched-chain fatty acids, phenolic and indolic compounds, biogenic amines, ammonia and pH) by using faecal inocula from dogs fed either a low (L) or a high (H) protein diet (crude protein 201 or 377 g/kg as fed). Four treatments for each diet were evaluated in an in vitro batch culture system over 24 h: (1) control with no addition of substrates; (2) 4 g YSP/l; (3) 5 g IN/l; (4) 4 g YSP/l in combination with 5 g IN/l of faecal culture of dogs fed Diet L or H. Several changes in fermentation metabolites were analysed. Samples incubated with the faecal inocula of dogs fed Diet L produced higher concentrations of total SCFA, propionate (p = 0.001), acetate (p ≤ 0.001), d-lactate (p = 0.041) and indole (p = 0.003), whereas pH (p = 0.004) was decreased. Supplementation of IN increased the content of putrescine, d- and l-lactate, total SCFA, acetate, propionate, n-butyrate (p ≤ 0.001) and n-valerate (p = 0.003), while i-valerate, indole and pH (p ≤ 0.001) were reduced. Ammonia was lower (p = 0.013) in samples with faecal inocula from dogs fed Diet H and further reduced by the addition of IN (p ≤ 0.001). Samples with faecal inocula from dogs fed Diet L had a fewer quotient of ammonia and total SCFA (p = 0.040). Supplementation of YSP (p = 0.021), IN (p ≤ 0.001) and YSP in combination with IN (p = 0.047) led to a higher reduction of the quotient of ammonia and total SCFA. In conclusion, dietary protein concentration and the supplementation of IN resulted in a stimulation of fermentation while YSP appeared to have only minor effects.

Effect of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on the composition of the faecal microbiota of foals.

Effects of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota of foals are yet insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (DSM 7133) and Enterococcus faecium (DSM 7134) influences the bacterial composition of the faecal microbiota of foals. A total of 34 newborn foals were randomly assigned to the placebo group (PG, n = 16) and the treatment group (TG, n = 18). From day 1 to day 14 of life, foals orally received 3 ml of either a probiotic preparation (1.05 × 109 CFU E. faecium and 4.50 × 108 CFU L. rhamnosus) or placebo (carrier) once a day. Faeces were collected directly from the rectum immediately after birth (meconium) and at day 14 and day 56 of life. Samples of 12 foals per group were selected for microbiological analysis. DNA was extracted and used for polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative PCR. No DNA or amplicons were obtained from meconium. There were no differences in richness of bands and Shannon index of diversity regarding the Clostridium cluster XIVa between groups. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis of DGGE data showed a clear effect of age. Band-based similarity of bacterial clusters (Dice coefficient) decreased from day 14 to day 56 of life (p < 0.001) in PG foals only resulting in lower similarity in PG versus TG foals when 2 month old (p < 0.01). Five of thirty re-amplified bands were identified on species level. Others were assigned either to family (mainly Lachnospiraceae) or genus level (Akkermansia). The bands related to Akkermansia muciniphila or Akkermansia spp. appeared almost in all DGGE profiles. Two-week supplementation of the probiotic preparation to foals had no significant impact on the composition of the faecal microbiota but it appears to have prevented the reduction of bacterial similarity between 2 and 8 weeks of age observed in not treated foals.

Hydrothermal carbonization of dry toilet residues as an added-value strategy - Investigation of process parameters.

Human faeces from a dry toilet are converted via hydrothermal carbonization to obtain a sterilized carbonaceous material. During this process the original material undergoes consecutively hydrolysis, water elimination and polymerization reactions. Consequently, the oxygen content is reduced, leading to a material with a better dewaterability and an attractive higher heating value (HHV = 22-28 MJ kg-1). The influence of pH-value, set by the addition of citric acid, the reaction time and the reaction temperature are investigated. By thermogravimetric analysis it is shown that especially higher acid concentration as well as higher reaction temperatures and longer reaction times are necessary to fully convert the feedstock into a stable carbon-rich material. As pathogens are destroyed by hydrothermal carbonization, nutrient recovery becomes a relevant aspect. The analysis shows that alkali salts such as sodium and potassium are dissolved in the aqueous phase, but an important proportion of the phosphorus and nitrogen remain in the hydrochar. This finding is the basis for phosphorus recycling or to produce an organic fertilizer.