Low-molecular-weight chitosan relieves enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced growth retardation in weaned pigs.
Int Immunopharmacol
; 78: 105798, 2020 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31784403
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) on the growth performance, immune responses and intestinal health of weaned pigs challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). A total of 32 weaned pigs were randomly allocated to four treatments: non-challenged (fed with basal diet), ETEC-challenged (fed with basal diet) and ETEC-challenged plus 50 or 100 mg/kg LMWC supplementation, respectively. After 11â¯days feeding, the non-challenged pigs were infused with sterilised Luria-Bertani culture, while the remaining pigs were infused with 2.6â¯×â¯1011 colony-forming units of ETEC. At 3â¯days post-challenge, all pigs were administered d-xylose at 0.1â¯g/kg body weight. One hour later, blood samples were obtained, and the pigs then euthanised to collect intestinal samples. Data showed that only 100â¯mg/kg LMWC supplementation attenuated (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) the average daily gain reduction caused by ETEC. Furthermore, besides the decreased (P < 0.05) serum tumour necrosis factor-α and immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentrations detected in ETEC-challenged pigs supplemented with LMWC at 50 or 100 mg/kg, the higher dose (100 mg/kg) also decreased (P < 0.05) the serum IgM concentration and increased (P < 0.05) the villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in both the jejunum and ileum, and the sucrase activity in the ileal mucosa. Moreover, LMWC supplementation (50 or 100 mg/kg) in ETEC-challenged pigs elevated (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) the mRNA levels of jejunal mucosal peptide transporter 1 and ileal mucosal peptide transporter 1, divalent metal transporter 1 and zinc transporter 1, and decreased (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) the ileal and caecal E. coli abundances, while 100 mg/kg LMWC additionally elevated (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) the ileal Bacillus abundance, and caecal and colonic Bifidobacterium abundances. These results suggest that LMWC helps alleviate ETEC-induced growth retardation in weaned pigs, which could be associated with the inhibition of the immune responses and improved intestinal health.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Dietary Supplements
/
Chitosan
/
Escherichia coli Infections
/
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
/
Growth Disorders
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
Int Immunopharmacol
Year:
2020
Type:
Article