Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Aug;80(16):4879-86.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.00770-14. Epub 2014 Jun 6.

Lactulose and Lactobacillus plantarum, a potential complementary synbiotic to control postweaning colibacillosis in piglets

Affiliations

Lactulose and Lactobacillus plantarum, a potential complementary synbiotic to control postweaning colibacillosis in piglets

A A Guerra-Ordaz et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

The potential of a prebiotic oligosaccharide lactulose, a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus plantarum, or their synbiotic combination to control postweaning colibacillosis in pigs was evaluated using an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 oral challenge. Seventy-two weanlings were fed four diets: a control diet (CTR), that diet supplemented with L. plantarum (2 × 10(10) CFU · day(-1)) (LPN), that diet supplemented with 10 g · kg(-1) lactulose (LAC), or a combination of the two treatments (SYN). After 7 days, the pigs were orally challenged. Six pigs per treatment were euthanized on days 6 and 10 postchallenge (PC). Inclusion of lactulose improved the average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05) and increased lactobacilli (P < 0.05) and the percentage of butyric acid (P < 0.02) in the colon. An increase in the ileum villous height (P < 0.05) and a reduction of the pig major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) in serum (P < 0.01) were observed also. The inclusion of the probiotic increased numbers of L. plantarum bacteria in the ileum and colon (P < 0.05) and in the total lactobacilli in the colon and showed a trend to reduce diarrhea (P = 0.09). The concentrations of ammonia in ileal and colonic digesta were decreased (P < 0.05), and the villous height (P < 0.01) and number of ileal goblet cells (P < 0.05) increased, at day 10 PC. A decrease in plasmatic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.01) was also seen. The positive effects of the two additives were combined in the SYN treatment, resulting in a complementary synbiotic with potential to be used to control postweaning colibacillosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Percentage of piglets that presented diarrhea (fecal inconsistency) during the postchallenge (PC) period. Diets: CTR, control diet; LAC, control diet with 1% lactulose; LPN, control diet with a daily culture of L. plantarum, 109 CFU/ml, sprayed on top, 20 ml/pig; SYN, LAC plus LPN. PRE, main effect of the inclusion of lactulose in the diets; PRO, main effect of the inclusion of L. plantarum in the diets. The interaction P value was always >0.10.

References

    1. Heo JM, Opapeju FO, Pluske JR, Kim JC, Hampson DJ, Nyachoti CM. 2013. Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post-weaning diarrhoea without using in-feed antimicrobial compounds. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 97:207–237. 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01284.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Vanderpool C, Yan F, Polk DB. 2008. Mechanisms of probiotic action: implications for therapeutic applications in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 14:1585–1596. 10.1002/ibd.20525 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Yan F, Polk DB. 2010. Probiotics: progress toward novel therapies for intestinal diseases. Curr. Opin. Gastroenterol. 26:95–101. 10.1097/MOG.0b013e328335239a - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brown M. 2011. Modes of action of probiotics: recent developments. J. Anim. Vet. Adv. 10:1895–1900. 10.3923/javaa.2011.1895.1900 - DOI
    1. Roberfroid M, Gibson GR, Hoyles L, McCartney AL, Rastall R, Rowland I, Wolvers D, Watzl B, Szajewska H, Stahl B, Guarner F, Respondek F, Whelan K, Coxam V, Davicco MJ, Léotoing L, Wittrant Y, Delzenne NM, Cani PD, Neyrinck AM, Meheust A. 2010. Prebiotic effects: metabolic and health benefits. Br. J. Nutr. 104(Suppl 2):S1–S63. 10.1017/S0007114510003363 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources