Effects of a blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and a toxin-adsorbing mineral on diarrhea and gut microbiome of weanling pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic Escherichia coli.

This experiment aims to investigate an antimicrobial blend consisting of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and a toxin-adsorbing mineral on diarrhea, growth performance, and gut microbiome of newly weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic Escherichia coli (F18 E. coli). A total of 36 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments: (1) a complex control diet that met the nutrient requirement of weaned pigs; (2) supplementing 0.25% of the antimicrobial blend; and (3) 0.50% of the antimicrobial blend. The experiment lasted 28 d with 7 d adaptation and 21 d after the first F18 E. coli inoculation. Results of this experiment demonstrate that supplementation of this antimicrobial blend enhanced disease resistance of weaned pigs, as indicated by reduced frequency of diarrhea during the entire experimental period. An improved feed efficiency was also observed in pigs supplemented with antimicrobial blend at the last week of the experiment. In addition, feces collected on day 7 post-E. coli inoculation contained relatively more Lactobacillaceae but less Enterobacteriaceae when pigs were supplemented with this antimicrobial blend. In conclusion, supplementation of antimicrobial blend could reduce diarrhea of E. coli-infected pigs and modify fecal microbiome of weaned pigs during the peak of E. coli infection.