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Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition
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Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Pigs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 5325

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Guillermo Ramis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Production, University of Murcia, Avenida Teniente Flomesta 5, 30860 Murcia, Spain
Interests: pigs; intestinal disease; intestinal integrity; intestinal immune system; vaccine; nutrition additives; piglet management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Livia Mendonça Pascoal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escola de Vetérinaria, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiánia 74001-970, Brazil
Interests: intestinal disease; nutrition modelization; immune system activation; intestinal integrity; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Intestinal health has become a major concern for producers and swine practitioners. In recent decades, we have continuously lost the tools required to maintain intestinal health in piglets and pigs, which has resulted in worse health status and loss of performance in pig production. The lack of vaccines, the ban on antimicrobials or zinc oxide usage, for example, have greatly contributed to this situation. Therefore, it is critical to create of knowledge to improve intestinal integrity and digestive health and to help producers to maintain the health of animals and the profitability of agribusiness related to swine production. Intestinal integrity, nutrition (formulation, modelization), microbiome, nutritional additives, probiotics and prebiotics, and vaccines are some of the topics that will be addressed in this Special Issue of Animals.

The aim of the present Special Issue is to compile some of the most recent advances in intestinal integrity and digestive health into one publication.

Considering the success of our previous Special Issue, "Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs", we are pleased to launch “Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs – 2nd Edition”. We welcome the submission of research articles and literature reviews.

Prof. Dr. Guillermo Ramis
Dr. Livia Mendonça Pascoal
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • intestinal integrity
  • porcine enteric disease syndrome
  • tight junctions
  • vaccine
  • microbiome
  • nutrition

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 272 KiB  
Article
Effects on Performance, Immunological Response and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profile in Feces of Nursery Piglets Fed with Organic Acids and Yeast Wall
by Cassio Antônio Ficagna, Aleksandro Schafer da Silva, Rafael Domingos Rofino, Emerson Zatti, Tatiane Esposito, Ana Carolina H. Xavier, Roger Wagner, Bianca Fagan Bissacotti, Ronaldo Barbieri Seghetto, Eduardo Mioto Ternus and Diovani Paiano
Animals 2025, 15(7), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071051 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 256
Abstract
The piglet nursery phase is one of the critical moments in production, especially in the first few weeks after weaning. Growth-promoting antibiotics have always been used in this phase, but the world is banning or limiting the use of antibiotics for this purpose, [...] Read more.
The piglet nursery phase is one of the critical moments in production, especially in the first few weeks after weaning. Growth-promoting antibiotics have always been used in this phase, but the world is banning or limiting the use of antibiotics for this purpose, which has led researchers to seek alternatives, with an emphasis on organic and natural ones. As a result, this study aimed to evaluate whether a combination of organic acids and their derivatives (ammonium formate, formic acid, ammonium propionate, and acetic acid) and yeast wall (mannan oligosaccharides and beta-glucans) in piglet feeding during the nursery phase has positive effects on the SCFA profile in feces and animal health reflected in greater weight gain. A 40-day experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design containing three treatments, each with nine replicates and three piglets per replicate: negative control (NC: without additives), and a combination of organic acids and yeast wall at doses of 1 and 2 kg/ton (AO+YW-1 and AO+YW-2, respectively). Animals received four diets: pre-starter 1 (d1–7), pre-starter 2 (d8–14), starter 1 (d15–25), and starter 2 (d26–40). The animals were weighed on the day of the diet change. Blood and feces were collected on days 14 and 40 of the experiment. Piglets from the AO+YW-1 group showed more significant weight gain than NC. Feed intake was higher in piglets from the AO+YW-1 group considering the first 25 days of the experiment compared to NC; there was no treatment effect on feed conversion. Piglets from NC had higher levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin, while AO+YW-2 had higher levels of interleukin 10 and lower levels of TNF-α. A greater quantity of SCFA was observed in the feces of piglets on d40, related to the changes in propionic, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids. Therefore, the combination of organic acids and yeast wall used at a dose of 1 kg/ton proved to be an additive option for the diet of piglets in the nursery phase to enhance weight gain and reduce the number of doses of injectable antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
17 pages, 2138 KiB  
Article
Fucoidan Alleviates Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus-Induced Intestinal Damage in Piglets by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Modulating Arginine Metabolism
by Qian Zhang, Maojing Wang, Zhonghua Li, Di Zhao, Yongqing Hou and Tao Wu
Animals 2025, 15(7), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071001 - 30 Mar 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe intestinal damage, posing significant threats to the swine industry. Fucoidan (FUC), a biologically active compound, exhibits antiviral activity against multiple viruses. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of FUC on PEDV-induced intestinal injury in [...] Read more.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe intestinal damage, posing significant threats to the swine industry. Fucoidan (FUC), a biologically active compound, exhibits antiviral activity against multiple viruses. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of FUC on PEDV-induced intestinal injury in piglets and explore its underlying mechanisms. A total of 28 healthy crossbred piglets were randomly allocated into four experimental groups using a 2 × 2 factorial design: (1) a control group, (2) an FUC group, (3) a PEDV group, and (4) an FUC+PEDV group. From day 4 to day 10, the piglets in the FUC and FUC+PEDV groups were orally administered fucoidan at a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) each day. On day 8, the piglets in the PEDV and FUC+PEDV groups were orally administered PEDV at a dose of 3 × 105.5 TCID50. The results show that FUC supplementation significantly decreased plasma DAO activity (p < 0.05) and increased the villus height, villus area, as well as the villus height/crypt depth (p < 0.05) in the intestine when compared to the PEDV-infected piglets. This indicates that FUC could alleviate the disruption of intestinal morphology and function caused by PEDV infection. FUC enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the piglets by increasing SOD and GSH-Px activity. Transcriptional profiling combined with quantitative analysis revealed that FUC regulates immune responses, substance transport, and arginine metabolism. Notably, FUC downregulated arginase 1 expression, which may redirect arginine toward nitric oxide synthesis, thereby establishing an antiviral state in the host. These findings highlight the potential application of FUC as a natural agent for mitigating PEDV-induced intestinal damage and improving gut health. Additionally, monitoring the health status of piglets is necessary when FUC is applied in practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1153 KiB  
Article
Dietary Glyceryl Polyethylene Glycol Ricinoleate as an Additive to Improve Intestinal Health in Post-Weaning Piglets
by Julieta M. Decundo, Susana N. Dieguez, Guadalupe Martínez, Fabián A. Amanto, María L. Maté, Juan P. Lirón, Denisa S. Pérez Gaudio, Carolina P. Bianchi, Aurélie Montagnon and Alejandro L. Soraci
Animals 2025, 15(7), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070983 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated [...] Read more.
Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated GPGR’s effects on intestinal health in weaned piglets in a commercial production farm. A total of 380 just weaned (21 days old) piglets were divided in two groups of 190 animals each (in four replicates) that received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet + 350 g/ton GPGR pharmaceutical formulation as top dress. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days, and intestinal sampling occurred 15 days post-weaning. Plasma cortisol, citrulline, intestinal morphology, mucus quality, enzymatic activity, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and cecal microbiota were analyzed. GPGR did not alter plasma cortisol but increased citrullinemia (P: 0.024), suggesting greater enterocyte functional mass. GPGR piglets showed improved intestinal morphology (greater villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio, and intestinal absorption area, p < 0.05) and higher enzymatic maltase activity (p ≤ 0.014). VFAs, bacterial adherence to mucus, and goblet cell counts were unaffected. Dietary GPGR increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P: 0.014 and P: 0.045, respectively) while reducing Proteobacteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary GPGR promotes intestinal health in weaned piglets by improving epithelial structure, digestive function, and microbiota balance, representing a promising strategy to support piglets in overcoming the early nursery phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 2700 KiB  
Article
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Ameliorated Morphological Damage and Barrier Dysfunction and Reduced Apoptosis and Ferroptosis in the Jejunum of Oxidatively Stressed Piglets
by Yu Liu, Junmeng Yuan, Wenshuo Xi, Zhisheng Wang, Huawei Liu, Kai Zhang, Jinshan Zhao and Yang Wang
Animals 2024, 14(22), 3335; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223335 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1000
Abstract
Oxidative stress induces apoptosis and ferroptosis, leading to intestinal injury of piglets. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P8 (P8) has antioxidant capacity, but its roles in intestinal apoptosis and ferroptosis remain unclear. Here, 24 weaned piglets were assigned to three treatments: control (Con), diquat injection (DQ), [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress induces apoptosis and ferroptosis, leading to intestinal injury of piglets. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P8 (P8) has antioxidant capacity, but its roles in intestinal apoptosis and ferroptosis remain unclear. Here, 24 weaned piglets were assigned to three treatments: control (Con), diquat injection (DQ), and P8 supplementation + DQ injection (DQ + P8). The results showed that the increased jejunal oxidative stress, jejunal morphology impairment, and barrier dysfunction in the DQ-treated piglets were decreased by P8 supplementation. TUNEL and apoptosis-related gene expressions showed increased jejunal apoptosis of DQ-treated piglets; however, reduced apoptosis was observed in the DQ + P8 group. In addition, the mitochondrial morphology and ferroptosis-related gene expressions indicated elevated jejunal ferroptosis in the DQ-treated piglets, and the DQ + P8 treatment attenuated the ferroptosis. Transcriptome identified various differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different treatments. KEGG analysis indicated that the DEGs were enriched in the PI3K-AKT, NF-κB, and apoptosis pathways. The expressions of key DEGs and key proteins in the PI3K-AKT and NF-κB pathways were further verified. In summary, our results indicate that P8 supplementation ameliorated jejunal oxidative stress, morphological damage, barrier dysfunction, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in the DQ-treated piglets. Moreover, the beneficial effect of P8 may be related to the regulation of PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 5605 KiB  
Article
Medium- and Long-Term Immune Responses in the Small Intestine in Piglets from Oral Vaccination against Escherichia coli
by Aida Miralles, Guillermo Ramis, Francisco J. Pallarés, Ester Párraga-Ros and Juan Seva
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192779 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1335
Abstract
Post-weaning stress, together with Escherichia coli, are two of the key factors in the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhea. There are different commercial vaccines that induce immunity at the local or systemic level, improving farm health and avoiding economic losses in the pork [...] Read more.
Post-weaning stress, together with Escherichia coli, are two of the key factors in the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhea. There are different commercial vaccines that induce immunity at the local or systemic level, improving farm health and avoiding economic losses in the pork industry. That is why the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an oral enterotoxigenic E. coli F4/F18 vaccine on immunity and intestinal integrity in the middle and long term after inoculation. The gene expression of the biomarkers indicative of cellular infiltration (calprotectin, CAL), tight junction proteins (occludin, OCL; zonulin, ZON; and claudin, CLA) and a panel of proinflammatory (interleukins, IL: IL1α, IL1β, IL6, IL8, IL12p35 and IL12p40; interferons, IFN: IFNα and IFNγ; and tumoral necrosis factor, TNF: TNFα) and anti-inflammatory mediator cytokines (TGFβ and IL10) were analyzed, as well as histomorphology in jejunum and ileum, the cell density of goblet cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and IgA-producing cells. Differences were observed in ZON, CLA and CAL, with greater gene expression in observed in vaccinated piglets at 42 days post vaccination (dpv) in the ileum. Regarding the expression of cytokines, the vaccinated animals showed significant differences in IL1α, IL6, IL12p35, IL12p40, IFNα, IFNγ, TNFα and TGFβ at 42 dpv in the jejunum or ileum. The villi showed greater height in the vaccinated piglets and the ratio between villus height and crypt depth was significantly greater in the vaccinated group in the jejunum at 84 dpv. The count of IgA-producing cells shows higher values for the unvaccinated group in the ileum, while intraepithelial lymphocytes show a significant increase in both jejunum and ileum in vaccinated piglets. We can conclude that oral vaccination against E. coli produces an evident effect, which manifests itself even in the middle and long term after the challenge, including immune response, decrease in antimicrobials usage, better histological structure in intestine and the improvement of performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2911 KiB  
Article
Effects of Luteolin in an In Vitro Model of Porcine Intestinal Infections
by Dóra Kovács, Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa, Alma Virág Móritz, Ákos Jerzsele and Orsolya Farkas
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1952; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131952 - 2 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1324
Abstract
Intestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica pose a huge economic burden on the swine industry that is exacerbated by the development of antimicrobial resistance in these pathogens, thus raising the need for alternative prevention and treatment methods. Our aim was [...] Read more.
Intestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica pose a huge economic burden on the swine industry that is exacerbated by the development of antimicrobial resistance in these pathogens, thus raising the need for alternative prevention and treatment methods. Our aim was to test the beneficial effects of the flavonoid luteolin in an in vitro model of porcine intestinal infections. We infected the porcine intestinal epithelial cell line IPEC-J2 with E. coli and S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (106 CFU/mL) with or without previous, concurrent, or subsequent treatment with luteolin (25 or 50 µg/mL), and measured the changes in the reactive oxygen species and interleukin-6 and -8 levels of cells. We also tested the ability of luteolin to inhibit the adhesion of bacteria to the cell layer, and to counteract the barrier integrity damage caused by the pathogens. Luteolin was able to alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation, and barrier integrity damage, but it could not inhibit the adhesion of bacteria to IPEC-J2 cells. Luteolin is a promising candidate to be used in intestinal infections of pigs, however, further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy. The use of luteolin in the future could ultimately lead to a reduced need for antibiotics in pig production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Tract Health in Pigs—2nd Edition)
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