Donor age and body weight determine the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on growth performance, and fecal microbiota development in recipient pigs.

BACKGROUND: The application of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to improve swine growth performance has been sporadically studied. Most of these studies used a single microbiota source and thus the effect of donor characteristics on recipient pigs' fecal microbiota development and growth performance is largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we collected feces from six donors with heavy (H) or light (L) body weight and different ages (d 42, nursery; d 96, growing; and d 170, finisher) to evaluate their effects on the growth performance and fecal microbiota development of recipient pigs. Generally, recipients that received two doses of FMT from nursery and finisher stages donor at weaning (21 ± 2 days of age) inherited the donor's growth pattern, while the pigs gavaged with grower stage material exerted a numerically greater weight gain than the control pigs regardless of donor BW. FMT from heavier donors (NH, GH, and FH) led to the recipients to have numerically increased growth compared to their lighter counterparts (NL, GL, and FL, respectively) throughout the growing and most finishing stages. This benefit could be attributed to the enrichment of ASV25 Faecalibacterium, ASV61 Faecalibacterium, ASV438 Coriobacteriaceae_unclassified, ASV144 Bulleidia, and ASV129 Oribacterium and decrease of ASV13 Escherichia during nursery stage. Fecal microbiota transplantation from growing and finishing donors influenced the microbial community significantly in recipient pigs during the nursery stage. FMT of older donors' gut microbiota expedited recipients' microbiota maturity on d 35 and 49, indicated by increased estimated microbiota ages. The age-associated bacterial taxa included ASV206 Ruminococcaceae, ASV211 Butyrivibrio, ASV416 Bacteroides, ASV2 Streptococcus, and ASV291 Veillonellaceae. The body weight differences between GL and GH pigs on d 104 were associated with the increased synthesis of the essential amino acid, lysine and methionine, mixed acid fermentation, expedited glycolysis, and sucrose/galactose degradation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study provided insights into how donor age and body weight affect FMT outcomes regarding growth performance, microbiota community shifts, and lower GI tract metabolic potentials. This study also provided guidance to select qualified donors for future fecal microbiota transplantation.

Comprehensive Cultivation of the Swine Gut Microbiome Reveals High Bacterial Diversity and Guides Bacterial Isolation in Pigs.

Despite the substantial progress made in human gut culturomics, little is known about the culturability of the swine gut microbiota. In this study, we cultured swine gut microbiota using 53 bacterial cultivation methods with different medium and gas combinations from three pigs at four different growth stages. Both culture-dependent (CD; colony mixtures from each method) and culture-independent (CI; original fecal suspensions) samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Increasing microbial diversities were observed in both CI and CD samples from successive growth stages. While a total of 378, 482, 565, and 555 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were observed in the CI samples, higher microbial diversities (415, 675, 808, and 823 observed ASVs) were detected using the CD methods at the lactation, nursery, growing, and finishing stages, respectively. We constructed reference culture maps showing the preferred cultivation conditions for specific bacterial taxa and examined the effects of culturing factors such as oxygen, medium, donor pig age, antibiotics, and blood culture preincubation on swine gut microbiota cultivation. We focused on a wide range of beneficial bacteria, chose 1,299 colonies based on the reference map, and Sanger sequenced their 16S rRNA genes. These isolates clustered into 148 different bacterial taxa covering 28 genera. We observed 11, 19, 33, and 25 pairs of cooccurring ASVs in both CD and CI samples at four successive growth stages. This study provides guidance in culturing the swine gut microbiota of interest, which is critical when characterizing their functions in this important animal species. IMPORTANCE The swine gut microbiome has been the focus of many investigations due to the fact that pigs serve as both an excellent biomedical model for human diseases and an important protein source. Substantial progress has been made in swine gut microbiome studies using next-generation sequencing-based culture-independent approaches, but little is known about the culturability of the swine gut microbiota. To understand their roles in swine production, it is critical to culture bacterial strains of interest. In this study, we cultured the gut microbiota from pigs at different growth stages using 53 bacterial cultivation methods with different medium and gas combinations. This study provides evidence that the swine gut microbiota is much more diverse based on a culture-dependent approach than previously known. It provides preliminary guidance for isolating certain bacteria of interest from pigs, which is critical in establishing causal relationships between the gut microbiota and the health status of pigs.

Effect of Lactylate and Bacillus subtilis on Growth Performance, Peripheral Blood Cell Profile, and Gut Microbiota of Nursery Pigs.

To evaluate the effects of lactylate and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, complete blood cell count, and microbial changes, 264 weaning pigs were assigned to four treatments (1) control (Con) basal diets that met the nutrient requirement for each phase, (2) 0.2% lactylate (LA), (3) 0.05% Bacillus subtilis strains mixtures (BM), or (4) the combination of LA and BM (LA+BM) added to the control basal diet at their respective inclusion rates in each of the three phases. Dietary lactylate tended to increase weight gain, significantly increased feed intake, and reduced fecal total E. coli and enterotoxigenic E. coli counts during Phase 1. Pigs fed Bacillus subtilis had a greater gain to feed ratio (G:F) during Phases 1 and 2. Pigs fed lactylate had an increased peripheral absolute neutrophil count on D14 but a decreased eosinophil percentage. Pigs fed Bacillus subtilis had an elevated peripheral total white blood cell count at study completion. The addition of lactylate increased microbiota richness, reduced E. coli, and increased Prevotella, Christensenellaceae, and Succinivibrio. Bacillus subtilis supplementation-enriched f_Ruminococcaceae_unclassified and S24-7_ unclassified had positive relationships with feed efficiency. Collectively, these findings suggested that lactylate can be added to diets to balance gut microbiota and improve growth performance during the early postweaning period. The combination of lactylate and Bacillus subtilis strains exerted a synergic effect on the growth performance of nursery pigs.

Dietary Organic Acids Modulate Gut Microbiota and Improve Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs.

Feed additives have been suggested to improve animal growth performance through modulating the gut microbiota. The hypothesis of this study was that the combination of two organic acids would exert synergistic effects on the growth performance and gut microbiota of weaning pigs. To test this hypothesis, we followed 398 weaning pigs from two university experiment stations (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of Arkansas (UA)) to determine the effects of increasing levels (0%, 0.035%, 0.070%, and 0.105%) of sodium butyrate combined with 0.5% benzoic acid on the growth performance of nursery pigs. At the UA, an additional negative control diet was included and the gut microbiota analysis was carried out. At both universities, increasing levels of sodium butyrate in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance, which reached a plateau in the pigs fed 0.035% (SBA0.035) or 0.070% (SBA0.070) butyrate. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that pigs fed the SBA0.035 diet had more diverse microbiota and contained more potentially beneficial bacteria such as Oscillospira, Blautia, and Turicibacter and reduced levels of Veillonella and Sarcina. Results of the present study indicated that the inclusion of sodium butyrate at moderate levels in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance of weaning pigs and established potential health benefits on gut microbiota.

A cooperative study assessing reproductive performance in sows fed diets supplemented with organic or inorganic sources of trace minerals.

Sows from three university research facilities (n = 245) were stratified by parity and initial body weight (BW), and within outcome groups, randomly assigned to fortified corn- and soybean meal-based control or organic trace mineral-supplemented, gestation (3,339 kcal/kg ME; 0.62% standradized ileal digestible [SID] lysine), and lactation (3,374 kcal/kg ME; 0.97% SID lysine) diets. Control gestation and lactation diets were supplemented with inorganic trace minerals (120 ppm Zn from ZnO, 30 ppm Cu from CuSO4, and 50 ppm Mn from MnSO4), and the experimental diets contained the same total level of minerals but complexed organic trace minerals replaced 50% of the inorganic trace minerals. Sows were fed to condition during gestation and on an ad libitum basis during lactation. Sow BW (breeding, d 110 of gestation, 48 h post-farrowing, and weaning) and feed consumed were recorded. During gestation, control sows tended to gain less weight (60.4 vs. 64.6 kg, P = 0.06) and consumed less feed (263.5 vs. 264.8 kg, P = 0.05), and had poorer Gain:Feed (G:F) (0.27 vs. 0.29, P = 0.04) than sows fed the organic trace minerals. Sow average daily feed intake (ADFI) during lactation was similar (P = 0.28) between groups (4.93 vs. 4.74 kg for control and treated sows, respectively). Number of pigs born alive (11.4 vs. 10.9, P = 0.24) and weaned (10.2 vs. 9.8, P = 0.18), and pig pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) (0.27 vs. 0.27 kg/d, P = 0.77) and mortality (13.1 vs. 12.9%, P = 0.92) were similar for control and treated sows, respectively. Results of the current study demonstrate that sows fed diets supplemented with organic trace minerals displayed similar reproductive performance, but improved weight gain and G:F during gestation compared with sows fed inorganic trace minerals.

ZnO Modulates Swine Gut Microbiota and Improves Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs When Combined with Peptide Cocktail.

Zinc has been very efficacious in reducing post-weaning diarrhea, whereas animal-derived peptides are suggested to improve the growth performance of weaned piglets. However, the combined effect of zinc and peptides on swine production and swine gut microbiota is still largely unknown. In this study, we followed 288 nursery pigs from the age of d30 to d60 to evaluate the growth performance and gut microbiota of weanling pigs subjected to different levels of a fish-porcine-microbial peptide cocktail (0.05%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) with or without the pharmaceutical level of zinc oxide (ZnO) (2500 ppm) supplementation in a nutrient-deficient diet. Rectal swab samples were collected from pigs with body weight (BW) approach average at each pen on d30, d42, and d60 to determine gut microbiota. Average daily gain (ADG) and BW in piglets fed high zinc (HZ) increased with increasing levels of peptide. The microbiota of the HZ group also diverged from those of the standard zinc (SZ) group from d30 to d60. Adding peptide did not alter community structure regardless of zinc supplementation. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the pharmaceutical level of zinc as ZnO conditioned the gut community to the point where peptide could effectively restore growth performance in nursery pigs fed nutrient-deficient diets.

Longitudinal investigation of the swine gut microbiome from birth to market reveals stage and growth performance associated bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in the understanding of the swine gut microbiome at different growth stages, a comprehensive longitudinal study of the lifetime (birth to market) dynamics of the swine gut microbiome is lacking. RESULTS: To fill in this gap of knowledge, we repeatedly collected a total of 273 rectal swabs from 18 pigs during lactation (day (d) 0, 11, 20), nursery (d 27, 33, 41, 50, 61), growing (d 76, 90, 104, 116), and finishing (d 130, 146, 159, 174) stages. DNA was extracted and subjected to sequencing with an Illumina Miseq sequencer targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequences were analyzed with the Deblur algorithm in the QIIME2 package. A total of 19 phyla were detected in the lifetime pig gut microbiome with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes being the most abundant. Alpha diversity including community richness (e.g., number of observed features) and diversity (e.g., Shannon index) showed an overall increasing trend. Distinct shifts in microbiome structure along different growth stages were observed. LEfSe analysis revealed 91 bacterial features that are stage-specific. To validate these discoveries, we performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) by inoculating weanling pigs with mature fecal microbiota from a growing stage pig. Similar stage-specific patterns in microbiome diversity and structures were also observed in both the FMT pigs and their littermates. Although FMT remarkably increased growth performance, it did not change the overall swine gut microbiome. Only a few taxa including those associated with Streptococcus and Clostridiaceae were enriched in the FMT pigs. These data, together with several other lines of evidence, indicate potential roles these taxa play in promoting animal growth performance. Diet, especially crude fiber from corn, was a major factor shaping the swine gut microbiome. The priority effect, i.e., the order and timing of species arrival, was more evident in the solid feed stages. CONCLUSIONS: The distinct stage-associated swine gut microbiome may be determined by the differences in diet and/or gut physiology at different growth stages. Our study provides insight into mechanisms governing gut microbiome succession and also underscores the importance of optimizing stage-specific probiotics aimed at improving animal health and production.

Influence of a whole yeast product (Pichia guilliermondii) fed throughout gestation and lactation on performance and immune parameters of the sow and litter.

A study was conducted using 3 groups of gestating gilts and sows (n = 98) to determine the effects of Pichia guilliermondii (Pg), a whole cell-inactivated yeast product (CitriStim; ADM Alliance Nutrition), on performance and immune parameters of dams and litters. Within 24 h of breeding, gilts and sows were allotted to 1 of 3 treatments consisting of a control (SC) diet or SC diet supplemented with 0.1 (S1) or 0.2% (S2) Pg. Dietary treatments were maintained through lactation. Colostrum and milk (day 14) samples were collected for IgA, IgG, and IgM analysis. Blood samples were collected from sows on day 110 of gestation (group 3 only), while at weaning for all 3 groups, and from piglets at 14 d of age for peripheral white blood cell counts and serum IgA, IgG, and IgM analysis. Inclusion of Pg resulted in an increase in number born alive as the level of Pg increased (12.49, 13.33, and 13.43 born alive per litter for SC, S1, and S2, respectively; linear effect [LS], P = 0.003). Additionally, the percentage of piglets weighing less than 0.9 kg at birth was reduced in sows provided Pg at 0.1% or 0.2% compared with control (LS, P = 0.006). Sows receiving Pg during gestation and lactation also weaned a greater number of piglets (10.31, 10.55, and 10.60 weaned per litter in control, 0.1% and 0.2% Pg, respectively; LS, P = 0.02). However, percent preweaning mortality was 17.58%, 19.38%, and 19.61% for control, 0.1%, and 0.2% Pg, respectively (LS, P = 0.02). There were no differences in gestation BW gain, farrowing (days 110 to 48 h postfarrowing) or lactation (day 110 to weaning) BW loss, number of mummies or stillborn, or piglets' individual birth or weaning weight. On day 110 of gestation, the neutrophil concentration (quadratic effect [QS], P = 0.03) and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (QS, P = 0.04) in peripheral blood were greater in S1 than SC, with S2 being intermediate. At weaning there was a linear increase in neutrophil concentration (P = 0.03), neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.01), and percentage of neutrophils in the leukocyte population (P = 0.01) as level of Pg increased in sow diets. In conclusion, Pg inclusion in sow diets linearly increased total number born alive and weaned, with no change in average birth or weaning weight, and decreased the number of lightweight pigs at birth. However, inclusion of Pg had no effect on immune parameters measured in milk, colostrum, or day 14 piglet serum, but increased the peripheral blood neutrophil concentration of gilts and sows.

Isolated Rearing at Lactation Increases Gut Microbial Diversity and Post-weaning Performance in Pigs.

Environment and diet are two major factors affecting the human gut microbiome. In this study, we used a pig model to determine the impact of these two factors during lactation on the gut microbiome, immune system, and growth performance. We assigned 80 4-day-old pigs from 20 sows to two rearing strategies at lactation: conventional rearing on sow's milk (SR) or isolated rearing on milk replacer supplemented with solid feed starting on day 10 (IR). At weaning (day 21), SR and IR piglets were co-mingled (10 pens of 4 piglets/pen) and fed the same corn-soybean meal-dried distiller grain with solubles- and antibiotic-free diets for eight feeding phase regimes. Fecal samples were collected on day 21, 62, and 78 for next-generation sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results indicate that IR significantly increased swine microbial diversity and changed the microbiome structure at day 21. Such changes diminished after the two piglet groups were co-mingled and fed the same diet. Post-weaning growth performance also improved in IR piglets. Toward the end of the nursery period (NP), IR piglets had greater average daily gain (0.49 vs. 0.41 kg/d; P < 0.01) and average daily feed intake (0.61 vs. 0.59 kg/d; P < 0.01) but lower feed efficiency (0.64 vs. 0.68; P = 0.05). Consequently, IR piglets were heavier by 2.9 kg (P < 0.01) at the end of NP, and by 4.1 kg (P = 0.08) at market age compared to SR piglets. Interestingly, pigs from the two groups had similar lean tissue percentage. Random forest analysis showed that members of Leuconostoc and Lactococcus best differentiated the IR and SR piglets at weaning (day 21), were negatively correlated with levels of Foxp3 regulatory T cell populations on day 20, and positively correlated with post-weaning growth performance. Our results suggest that rearing strategies may be managed so as to accelerate early-life establishment of the swine gut microbiome to enhance growth performance in piglets.

Disequilibrium of fire-prone forests sets the stage for a rapid decline in conifer dominance during the 21st century.

The impacts of climatic changes on forests may appear gradually on time scales of years to centuries due to the long generation times of trees. Consequently, current forest extent may not reflect current climatic patterns. In contrast with these lagged responses, abrupt transitions in forests under climate change may occur in environments where alternative vegetation states are influenced by disturbances, such as fire. The Klamath forest landscape (northern California and southwest Oregon, USA) is currently dominated by high biomass, biodiverse temperate coniferous forests, but climate change could disrupt the mechanisms promoting forest stability (e.g. growth, regeneration and fire tolerance). Using a landscape simulation model, we estimate that about one-third of the Klamath forest landscape (500,000 ha) could transition from conifer-dominated forest to shrub/hardwood chaparral, triggered by increased fire activity coupled with lower post-fire conifer establishment. Such shifts were widespread under the warmer climate change scenarios (RCP 8.5) but were surprisingly prevalent under the climate of 1949-2010, reflecting the joint influences of recent warming trends and the legacy of fire suppression that may have enhanced conifer dominance. Our results demonstrate that major forest ecosystem shifts should be expected when climate change disrupts key stabilizing feedbacks that maintain the dominance of long-lived, slowly regenerating trees.

Early exposure to agricultural soil accelerates the maturation of the early-life pig gut microbiota.

Reduced microbial exposure in early childhood is postulated to be associated with subsequent immune deficiencies and associated health conditions. This corollary to the "hygiene hypothesis" has grown of popularity in the medical field, but can only be really tested with animal models. Based on previous observation that access to outdoor environment improves piglets' growth performance, we simulated early microbial exposure by providing pigs with topsoil during the lactation phase. Specifically, pigs from 20 litters were assigned to either control treatments (C) or soil treatments (S): pigs exposed to topsoil from day 4 postpartum to the end of lactation. At weaning, five unisex littermates of 10 sows from each treatment were penned together and grew up in the same conditions. Fecal samples were collected at on d 13 (Lactation: L), 21 (Weaning: WT), 35 (Mid-nursery, MNT), 56 (End of Nursery: EONT) and 96 (End of Growth: EGT) for 16s rRNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing. Overall, common trends of gut microbiota maturation, associated with diet switch from maternal milk to plant-based diet, were observed. Bacteroides, Clostridium XIVa and Enterobacteriaceae were most abundant during lactation, while Prevotella, Megasphaera and Blautia became abundant after weaning. Remarkably, exposure to soil resulted in a faster maturation of the piglets gut microbiota at weaning, while a completely distinct phase was observed at day 35 for control piglets. Soil-exposed piglets tened to harbor a more diverse gut microbiota at weaning and day35, however the more significant changes were at those time points in terms of composition. Prevotella, and a wide range of Firmicutes members were significantly enriched in soil-exposed piglets from the lactation to the end of nursery phase. It can be hypothesized that those taxa were either directly transmitted from the soil or stimulated by the presence of plant material in the soil. Those changes were accompanied by depletion in several potentially harmful taxa, as well as improved growth performance between weaning and the end of nursery phase. Our findings suggest that early exposure to soil strongly influences the maturation of the early-life piglets, probably allows for a better adaptation to the plant-based diet, and possibly improves overall health.

Effects of phytase supplementation on reproductive performance, apparent total tract digestibility of Ca and P and bone characteristics in gestating and lactating sows / Efectos de la suplementación con fitasa sobre el comportamiento reproductivo, la digestibilidad aparente en tracto total de Ca y P y las características óseas en cerdas gestantes y lactantes / Efeitos da suplementação com fitasse sobre o desempenho reprodutivo, digestibilidade aparente no trato digestivo total de Ca e P e características ósseas em porcas gestantes e lactantes

Background: phytase supplementation to sow diets may improve digestibility of P and Ca and bone integrity of suckling piglets. Objective: two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of phytase supplementation to gestation and lactation diets on reproductive performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P, Ca, and N in sows and bone characteristics in sows and piglets. Methods: in Experiment 1, a multistate study involving 204 sows was conducted at 3 cooperating research stations. Sows were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments at breeding: 1) negative control [low Ca and available P (aP) diet], 2) Treatment 1 plus 300 FTU of supplemental phytase/kg of diet, 3) Treatment 1 plus 600 FTU of supplemental phytase/kg of diet, and 4) positive control (normal Ca and aP diet). In Experiment 2, a total of 16 sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; average parity, 2.3) were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 treatments based on body weight (BW) and parity at d 34 to 52 of gestation. Treatments were: 1) low Ca and aP diet, 2) low Ca and aP diet with 500 FTU of supplemental phytase/kg of diet, and 3) normal Ca and aP diet. Results: in Experiment 1, the number of total born (p<0.05), live born (p=0.05), litter weight of live born (p<0.01) and weaning pigs (p<0.05) were increased in a quadratic manner by increasing phytase supplementation level up to 300 FTU/kg. There was a linear increase in piglet weaning weight (p<0.05) by increasing supplemental phytase levels. There were no differences in reproductive performance in Experiment 2 (p>0.10). In gestation the ATTD of P was lower for the low Ca and aP without phytase group than the normal Ca and aP (p<0.01) and phytase-supplemented (p<0.05) groups. The ATTD of Ca in the normal Ca and aP group was higher than that in low Ca and aP without phytase group (p<0.05). In lactation, the phytase-supplemented group had higher ATTD of P compared with the other groups (p<0.05) whereas the ATTD of Ca in phytase-supplemented group was higher than that in low Ca and aP without phytase group (p<0.10). When the digestibility data was pooled for both gestation and lactation periods, the ATTD of P in the phytase-supplemented group was the highest among dietary treatments (p<0.05). There were no phytase effects on sow bone ash content at weaning, and piglet bone strength and ash content at birth. However, piglets from the phytase-supplemented sows had higher bone strength (p<0.10) and ash content (p<0.05) at weaning compared with those from non-phytase sows. There were positive correlations at birth between piglet BW and bone strength (p<0.01) and between bone strength and ash content (p<0.001). Additionally, at weaning positive correlations between piglet BW and bone ash content (p<0.05), between piglet BW and bone strength (p<0.001), and between bone strength and ash content (p<0.05) were observed. Conclusion: phytase supplementation from mid-gestation through lactation increased the ATTD of P and Ca both for gestating and lactating sows, improved bone integrity of their progeny, and had potential to increase litter size and performance but did not affect bone characteristics of sows and newborn pigs.

Antecedentes: la adición de fitasa a la dieta de cerdas puede mejorar la digestibilidad del P y Ca, así como la integridad ósea de los cerdos lactantes. Objetivo: se realizaron dos experimentos para investigar el efecto de la suplementación con fitasa en dietas de gestación y lactancia sobre el rendimiento reproductivo, la digestibilidad aparente de tracto total (ATTD) del P, Ca y N en cerdas, y las características óseas de cerdas y lechones. Métodos: el Experimento 1 involucró 204 cerdas evaluadas en 3 centros de investigación norteamericanos. Las cerdas fueron asignadas a 1 de 4 tratamientos al momento del servicio: 1) Control negativo [dieta baja en Ca y P disponible (aP)], 2) Tratamiento 1 más 300 unidades de fitasa (FTU)/kg de dieta, 3) Tratamiento 1 más 600 FTU/kg de dieta, y 4) Control positivo (dieta con contenido normal de Ca y aP). En el Experimento 2, un total de 16 cerdas (Landrace × Yorkshire, de 2,3 partos en promedio) se asignaron al azar a 1 de 3 tratamientos en el d 34 a 52 de gestación, con base en su peso corporal (BW) y número de partos. Los tratamientos fueron: 1) dieta baja en Ca y aP, 2) dieta baja Ca y aP con 500 FTU de fitasa/kg de dieta, y 3) dieta con normal contenido de Ca y aP. Resultados: en el Experimento 1, el número de nacidos totales (p<0,05), nacidos vivos (p=0,05), peso de la camada de los nacidos vivos (p<0,01), y cerdos destetados (p<0.05) se incrementó cuadráticamente con la adición creciente de fitasa hasta el nivel de 300 FTU/kg. Hubo un aumento lineal en el peso al destete de los lechones (p<0,05) al incrementar el nivel de fitasa. En el Experimento 2 no hubo diferencias en rendimiento reproductivo (p>0,10). En gestación, la ATTD del P fue menor en el grupo de bajo Ca y aP sin fitasa que en el de normal Ca y aP (p<0,01) y que en los grupos suplementados con fitasa (p<0,05). La ATTD del Ca en el grupo de normal Ca y aP fue mayor que en el grupo de bajo Ca y aP sin fitasa (p<0,05). En lactancia, el grupo suplementado con fitasa tuvo una mayor ATTD del P en comparación con los otros grupos (p<0,05), mientras que la ATTD del Ca en el grupo suplementado con fitasa fue mayor que en el de bajo Ca y aP sin fitasa (p<0,10). Cuando los datos de digestibilidad se agruparon para los períodos de gestación y lactancia, la ATTD del P en el grupo con fitasa fue la más alta entre los tratamientos dietarios (p<0,05). No hubo efecto de la fitasa en el contenido de cenizas en hueso de las cerdas al destete ni en la resistencia ósea de los lechones o en las cenizas óseas al nacimiento. Sin embargo, los lechones de las cerdas suplementadas con fitasa tuvieron al destete mayor resistencia ósea (p<0,10) y contenido de cenizas (p<0,05) en comparación con los de las cerdas no suplementadas. Hubo correlaciones positivas al nacimiento entre el peso (BW) del lechón y su resistencia ósea (p<0,01), y entre la resistencia ósea y su contenido de cenizas (p<0,001). Además, se observaron correlaciones positivas al destete entre el BW del lechón y su contenido de ceniza en hueso (p<0,05), entre el BW del lechón y su resistencia ósea (p<0,001), y entre la resistencia y el contenido de cenizas óseas (p<0,05). Conclusión: la suplementación con fitasa desde la mitad de la gestación y durante la lactancia aumentó la ATTD del P y Ca, en cerdas tanto gestantes como lactantes, mejoró la integridad ósea de la progenie, y mostró potencial para aumentar el tamaño y rendimiento de la camada, pero no afectó las características óseas de las cerdas ni de los recién nacidos.

Antecedentes: a adição de fitasse na dieta de porcas pode melhorar a digestibilidade do P e Ca, assim como a integridade óssea dos leitões. Objetivo: realizaram-se dois pesquisas para conferir o efeito da suplementação da fitasse em dietas para os períodos de gestação e lactação sobre o desempenho reprodutivo, a digestibilidade aparente no trato digestivo total (ATTD) de P, Ca e N em porcas, e as características ósseas de porcas e leitões. Métodos: o experimento 1 envolveu 204 porcas avaliadas em 3 centros de pesquisa dos Estados Unidos. As porcas foram designadas para um de quatro tratamentos no momento do serviço: 1) controle negativo [dieta baixa em Ca e P disponível (aP)], 2) Tratamento 1 mais de 300 unidades de fitasse (FTU) / kg de ração, 3) Tratamento 2, mais de 600 FTU / kg de ração, e 4) controle positivo (dieta com teor normal de Ca e aP). No Experimento 2, um total de 16 matrizes suínas (Landrace × Yorkshire, de 2,3 nascimentos em média) foram randomizados para 1 de 3 tratamentos nos dias 34-52 de gestação, com base no peso corporal (PC) e número de partos. Os tratamentos foram: 1) dieta pobre em Ca e Pd, 2) dieta pobre em Ca e aP com 500 FTU de fitasse / kg de ração, e 3) dieta com teor normal de Ca e aP. Resultados: no Experimento 1, o número de nascimentos totais (p<0,05), nascidos vivos (p=0,05), peso da leitegada de nascidos vivos (p<0,01) e leitões desmamados (p<0,05) aumentou quadraticamente com a adição crescente de fitasse no nível de 300 FTU / kg. Houve um aumento linear do peso ao desmame de leitões (p<0,05) com os níveis crescentes de fitasse. No experimento 2, não houve diferença no desempenho reprodutivo (p>0,10). Na gravidez, o ATTD de P foi menor no grupo de baixo Ca e aP sem fitasse do que no grupo Ca normal e aP (p<0,01) e nos grupos de fitasse suplementado (p<0,05). O ATTD de Ca no grupo normal de Ca e aP foi maior do que no grupo de baixo Ca e aP sem fitasse (p<0,05). Na lactação, no grupo suplementado com fitasse apresentou um ATTD de P maior em relação aos outros grupos (p<0,05), enquanto o ATTD de Ca do grupo suplementado com fitasse foi maior do que no grupo baixo de Ca e Pd e sem fitasse (p<0,10). Quando os dados de digestibilidade foram agrupados para os períodos de gestação e lactação, a ATTD de P no grupo com fitasse foi maior entre os tratamentos dietéticos (p<0,05). Não houve efeito da fitasse no teor de cinzas de osso de porcas ao desmame ou a força dos ossos ou cinzas ósseas dos leitões ao nascimento. No entanto, os leitões de porcas suplementadas com fitasse tiveram uma maior resistência óssea ao desmame (p<0,10), e cinzas (p<0,05) em comparação com as porcas não suplementadas. Houve correlação positiva entre peso (BW) ao nascimento do leitão e a resistência óssea (p<0,01) e entre a força dos ossos e cinzas (p<0,001). Além disso, foi observada uma correlação positiva entre o desmame dos leitões BW e teor de cinzas ósseas (p<0,05), entre BW dos leitões e a resistência óssea (p<0,001), e entre a resistência óssea e os conteúdos e cinza nos ossos (p<0,05). Conclusão: a suplementação com fitasse na etapa media da gestação e durante a lactação aumentou a ATTD de P e Ca, tanto em porcas gestantes quanto lactantes, melhorou muito a integridade óssea da progênie, e mostrou potencial para aumentar o tamanho e desempenho da leitegada, mas não afetou as características ósseas das porcas nem dos leitões recém nascidos.

World health organization perspective on implementation of International Health Regulations.

In 2005, the International Health Regulations were adopted at the 58th World Health Assembly; in June 2007, they were entered into force for most countries. In 2012, the world is approaching a major 5-year milestone in the global commitment to ensure national capacities to identify, investigate, assess, and respond to public health events. In the past 5 years, existing programs have been boosted and some new activities relating to International Health Regulations provisions have been successfully established. The lessons and experience of the past 5 years need to be drawn upon to provide improved direction for the future.

Occurrence of heterotrophic and coliform bacteria in liquid hand soaps from bulk refillable dispensers in public facilities.

The goal of the study discussed in this article was to determine the occurrence of heterotrophic and coliform bacteria in liquid soap from bulk refillable dispensers, obtained from restrooms in a variety of public facilities. A total of 541 samples was collected from five U.S. cities. Liquid soap from dispensers in public areas was found to contain heterotrophic and coliform bacterial numbers averaging more than 106 CFU/mL in 24.8% of the dispensers.

Emergency medical services-based community stroke education: pilot results from a novel approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although previous studies using mass media have demonstrated successful public stroke awareness campaigns, they may have been too costly for smaller communities to implement. The goal of this study was to investigate if a novel emergency medical services (EMS) -sponsored community awareness campaign could increase public stroke awareness. METHODS: This was a pre- and postintervention study with 2 phases conducted between August 2005 and July 2007. During Phase I, strategic placement of stroke education media by EMS personnel was implemented in one county over a 2-year period. Five random-digit, standardized phone surveys measuring stroke awareness were conducted with county residents to assess the campaign's impact. In Phase II, EMS interventions and random-digit measurements were conducted in 4 additional counties with 4 counties randomly selected as controls. RESULTS: A pattern of increasing stroke knowledge after exposure to the EMS intervention followed by declines in the absence of the intervention was observed during Phase I. EMS interventions also demonstrated a positive effect on the stroke knowledge of residents who lived in counties exposed to the intervention during Phase II with a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase observed in the proportion of respondents that named 2 stroke risk factors and 3 symptoms in comparison to either no changes or declines in the control counties. No evidence of a positive impact on knowledge of calling 911 for stroke was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that the public's knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms was increased using communitywide EMS-based programs. Additional studies are needed to determine optimal methods for educating the public regarding the need to call 911 for stroke and to confirm these results in other locales.

Endotoxin decreases 51CrCl3 uptake in early weaned pigs.

Endotoxin, a product of bacterial infections, was used to investigate the effects acute infections on chromium (Cr) uptake in early weaned (14 d of age) pigs. At d 18, pigs were anesthetized, and a 2-mm silastic jugular catheter was inserted and passed subcutaneously to a dorsal position behind the ear. At d 21, pigs were deprived of food for 7 h and injected intraperitoneally with saline or 25 microg endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli serotype 0111:B4) per kg body wt suspended in 9 g/L saline. One hour after dosing, an oral dose of 0.7 mCi of 51CrCl3 was given by micropipet. Blood was sampled from the catheter at intervals until necropsy at 8 h after the 51CrCl3 dose. Blood and tissue samples were counted in a gamma counter. 51Cr in blood was significantly lower at 3, 4, 5, 6, and at 8 h after dosing in endotoxin-injected pigs compared to controls. Eight hours after 51CrCl3 dosing, 51Cr retention was significantly lower in the liver, heart, and kidney in endotoxin-treated pigs and tended to be lower in spleen (p<0.06) and in urine (p<0.16) with endotoxin treatment. These data suggest that during acute infection, there might be decreased Cr uptake and retention.