Search Results (467)

This experiment aimed to explore the effects of different doses of compound probiotics (a 1:1:1 mixture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bacillus subtilis) added to the diet on pregnant sows and weaned piglets. The experiment was carried out in two stages. Experiment with pregnant sows: thirty-six second-parity Large White sows at 80 d of late gestation were randomly divided into a control group, experimental group I, and experimental group II. The control group was fed a basal diet, while experimental groups I and II were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg and 3 g/kg of compound probiotics, respectively. The pre-experiment lasted 7 d, and the formal experiment continued until the end of lactation. The results showed that the numbers of live piglets per litter, healthy piglets per litter, litter birth weight and litter weaning weight in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Colostrum IgG concentration in experimental group I was significantly higher than that in the control group and experimental group II (p < 0.05). Compound probiotics significantly increased colostrum immunoglobulin levels (p < 0.05). The concentrations of ammonia, carbon dioxide and PM2.5 in the barns of the experimental groups all showed a decreasing trend. Experiment with weaned piglets: a total of 160 Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred weaned piglets at 30 d of age with an initial body weight of (8.01 ± 0.13) kg were randomly assigned to four groups. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the treatment groups were supplemented with 2, 3, and 4 g/kg of compound probiotics, respectively. The results indicated that average daily gain and average daily feed intake in experimental group III were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the feed-to-gain ratio and diarrhea rate were significantly lower (p < 0.05). The apparent digestibility of crude fiber was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), and serum IgA was significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 2 g/kg compound probiotics for sows in late gestation showed the optimal effect, improving reproductive performance, colostrum immune indices and reducing harmful gases in the barn. For weaned piglets, supplementation with 4 g/kg compound probiotics improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum immune indices. Full article

Porcine coronavirus is one of the prevalent enteric coronaviruses in pigs, causing watery diarrhea and even death in suckling piglets and resulting in giant losses to the pig industry. However, effective antiviral strategies against PDCoV remain limited. Notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1), a saponin extracted from Panax notoginseng, exhibits diverse bioactivities, but its antiviral potential has not been fully characterized. Herein, we systematically investigated the anti-PDCoV effect of NG-R1 and its underlying mechanism. NG-R1 showed no cytotoxic effect on LLC-PK1 cells and exerted antiviral ability against PDCoV infection through targeting the whole life cycle of the virus. In addition, network pharmacology analysis identified calcium signaling as a potentially relevant pathway involved in the antiviral activity of NG-R1. Further data demonstrated that PDCoV infection disrupted intracellular calcium homeostasis, whereas NG-R1 treatment partially restored calcium balance and attenuated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Moreover, NG-R1 modulated the expression of SERCA2, a key regulator of ER calcium transport. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of SERCA2, showed similar antiviral capacity to NG-R1. Collectively, our findings suggest that NG-R1 exerts antiviral activity against PDCoV, potentially through regulation of calcium homeostasis mediated by SERCA2. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel antiviral agents targeting calcium signaling pathways. Full article

Background/Objectives: Post-weaning diarrhea remains a major challenge in pig production worldwide. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) encoding fimbriae of the F4 type and producing the heat-stable enterotoxin, STb, are one of the important causes of this disease. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether vaccination of pregnant sows with a novel capsid virus-like particle (cVLP)-based vaccine against F4 and STb (cVLP-FaeG/cVLP-STb) could enhance performance in piglets born after such vaccinated sows. Methods: A field trial was conducted in a commercial sow-to-finisher pig herd. Thirty-five sows were vaccinated twice with the cVLP-FaeG/cVLP-STb vaccine prior to farrowing, while thirty-five control sows were vaccinated twice with commercial vaccines normally used in the herd. Piglets were followed until eight weeks post-weaning to assess antibody responses, diarrhea and treatment incidences, pathogen shedding, and growth performance. Results: Piglets born from immunized sows receiving the cVLP vaccine showed significantly higher serum antibody levels against ETEC F4 throughout the post-weaning period (p ≤ 0.021). The frequency of pathogen detection was similar between groups, while piglets in the cVLP group exhibited significantly lower diarrhea scores at week 6 (p = 0.047), showed a trend of requiring fewer treatments (p = 0.06) and had significantly higher final body weight (p = 0.048). In addition, the cVLP group showed a significantly greater average daily gain over the study period (p = 0.037). Conclusion: Sow immunization with the cVLP vaccine enhanced passive immune protection of piglets, resulting in reduced antimicrobial treatment 2 weeks post-weaning and improved growth performance. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), caused by the PED virus (PEDV), remains one of the most devastating diseases in the swine industry, with a mortality rate approaching 90–100% in suckling piglets due to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Passive immunization with egg yolk antibodies (IgY) represents a promising therapeutic strategy. In this study, we developed a novel recombinant adenovirus, rADM-IFN-G-ped, co-expressing selected antigenic regions of the PEDV S protein and chicken interferon-gamma (ChIFN-γ) as a molecular adjuvant. Laying hens were immunized with this construct to produce PEDV-specific IgY, which was subsequently purified from eggs using a polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) precipitation method. The induced IgY demonstrated potent neutralizing activity against PEDV in vitro, with a neutralization titer (NT₅₀) of 1:96, which was significantly higher than that of IgY derived from hens immunized with a commercial inactivated PEDV G2b vaccine (NT₅₀ = 1:52). In a passive immunization and challenge trial, piglets treated with the rADM-IFN-G-ped-derived IgY exhibited significantly reduced fecal viral RNA shedding following challenge with the virulent PEDV-NX-2022 strain, compared to control groups. Crucially, while all piglets in the challenge control group succumbed to infection within 72 h, a 50% survival rate was achieved in the IgY-treated group. Histopathological examination of intestinal tissues further confirmed the protective efficacy, showing that IgY treatment markedly alleviated villous atrophy, epithelial necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the small intestine. These findings demonstrate that vaccination of laying hens with the rADM-IFN-G-ped recombinant adenovirus elicits a robust immune response, enabling the production of protective IgY. This proof-of-concept study establishes the viability of the multi-epitope adenoviral IgY platform as a passive immunization strategy against PEDV. Full article

Under intensive farming conditions, a decline in feed intake after weaning in suckling piglets often results in reduced body weight or diarrhea. We hypothesized that a sow–piglet co-feeding strategy during the suckling period—in which piglets participate in the sow’s feeding process and consume both lactating sow feed and creep feed—could alleviate certain aspects of weaning stress. To test this hypothesis, 102 newborn piglets (Large White × Duroc × Min Pig) were selected and divided into a co-feeding group (CF) and a non-co-feeding group (NCF), based on whether they had access to the sow’s feed during lactation. The study investigated the effects of the two feeding strategies on piglet growth performance, diarrhea incidence, behavior, and post-weaning immune status, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that the CF group had significantly higher body weight at the end of the nursery period (p < 0.05) and a significantly lower post-weaning observed fecal staining rate (p < 0.05). At 16–17 days post-weaning, piglets in the CF group exhibited a significant increase in feeding behavior (p < 0.05). Compared with the NCF group, the CF group showed highly significant reductions in serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (p < 0.01), as well as significantly increased intestinal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05). In terms of intestinal morphology, the CF group had a highly significant increase in the villus-to-crypt ratio in the jejunum (p < 0.01) and a highly significant reduction in crypt depth (p < 0.05), while villus length did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). Overall, in the present study, sow–piglet co-feeding during the suckling period effectively alleviated weaning stress and reduced the incidence of diarrhea. These beneficial effects appear to be associated with reduced inflammatory responses, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and improved intestinal morphology. It should be noted that the relatively late weaning age used in this study likely facilitated the piglets’ ability to efficiently utilize solid feed and derive benefits from the co-feeding strategy. Therefore, caution should be exercised when extrapolating these findings to earlier weaning ages, at which the digestive tract is less mature. Full article

Preweaning piglet diarrhea not only compromises animal health but also causes significant economic losses to the swine industry; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we use a preweaning piglet model to systematically explore the underlying risk features of pre-weaning diarrhea risk through multi-omics integration analysis. We identified thousands of differentially expressed genes, proteins, and metabolites. Key findings include: (1) activation of the complement cascade but downregulation of complement receptors; (2) increased chemokine production with reduced receptor expression; (3) overexpression of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) and NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NDUF), suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction; (4) aberrant activation of neuroactive ligand–receptor pathways; and (5) accumulation of undigested polypeptides in the jejunum due to reduced peptidase activity and amino acid transporter expression, indicating disrupted protein digestion and absorption. These findings provide critical insights and a valuable resource for addressing the underlying mechanisms of preweaning disease challenges in newborns. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major viral pathogen responsible for severe diarrhea and substantial economic losses in the swine industry. Characterized by its high infectivity, pathogenicity and mortality rates in neonatal piglets, PEDV has caused devastating epidemics globally over the past decade. Therefore, development of rapid, sensitive, and specific serological tests is therefore critical for effective disease surveillance and immunity evaluation. In this study, we developed and validated an indirect ELISA using the immunodominant S1^0AB region of the PEDV spike protein. The assay exhibited acceptable sensitivity, strong reproducibility (CV < 10%) and excellent specificity with no cross-reactivity against other common swine viruses. The test results also exhibited high concordance with virus neutralization tests (AUC = 0.913; kappa = 0.797). In addition, the ELISA was utilized to analyze 1629 field serum samples collected from southwestern China. The results indicated significant regional differences occur regarding PEDV seroprevalence and proved its potential for large-scale seroepidemiological studies. In conclusion, the S1^0AB-based indirect ELISA developed in the present study provides a reliable, specific, and practical tool for PEDV serodiagnosis and control. Full article

Weaning disrupts intestinal structure and function in piglets and frequently results in post-weaning diarrhea, highlighting the need for effective nutritional alternatives to medicinal feed additives. This study evaluated non-fermented field peas and diets containing different inclusion levels of a fermented pea–wheat ingredient as substitutes for soybean meal in restricted liquid diets for weaned piglets. Fifty-six piglets were assigned to four dietary treatments for 14 days after weaning: non-fermented soybean meal, non-fermented peas, partial inclusion of the fermented pea–wheat ingredient, or full inclusion of the fermented pea–wheat ingredient. Fecal consistency, plasma inflammatory cytokines, small-intestinal morphology, crypt cell proliferation, and intestinal microbiota composition were assessed. Plasma interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α remained low and did not differ among treatments, indicating no measurable systemic inflammatory response. Diets containing the fermented pea–wheat ingredient were associated with differences in early intestinal morphology, particularly villus height on day 4 after weaning. Treatment- and segment-specific variation was also observed in crypt cell proliferation. Microbiota analysis showed differences in community composition among treatments, with diets containing the fermented pea–wheat ingredient associated with a higher relative abundance of lactic acid-producing genera. At the pen level, full inclusion of the fermented pea–wheat ingredient was consistently associated with low fecal scores, whereas partial inclusion was associated with higher fecal scores throughout the study period. Overall, these findings suggest that, under the controlled conditions of this study, diets containing the full inclusion level of the fermented pea–wheat ingredient were associated with indicators of intestinal adaptation and consistently low pen-level fecal scores. Further studies with replicated pen designs, longer-term performance evaluation, and functional analyses are needed before practical recommendations can be made. Full article

Weanling piglets, with immature immune system and physiological functions, often experience post-weaning diarrhea. This study investigated the effects of combined supplementation of live yeast and yeast postbiotics on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of weaned piglets. A total of 224 weaned piglets (22 days old) were randomly assigned to four groups: a basal diet (CON) or the same diet supplemented with 1600 ppm zinc oxide (ZnO), high-dose live yeast and yeast postbiotics (LYYP-H), or low-dose live yeast and yeast postbiotics (LYYP-L). The trial lasted 28 days, with diets divided into 2 phases. The results showed that dietary combined supplementation with live yeast and yeast postbiotics did not significantly affect the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), or the diarrhea rate (p > 0.05). However, dietary combined supplementation with live yeast and yeast postbiotics significantly enhanced fecal consistency in piglets (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary combined supplementation with live yeast and yeast postbiotics significantly improved representative antioxidant indices, notably superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and strengthened immune capabilities; additionally, a marked improvement in intestinal morphology was observed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of live yeast and yeast postbiotics can improve antioxidant capacity and intestinal health and show the potential to replace high doses of ZnO during the first two weeks post-weaning. Full article

The prevalence of piglet diarrhea poses a significant challenge to the development of pig farming, with disruptions in the intestinal flora recognized as a primary contributing factor. A comprehensive understanding of the intestinal flora composition in piglets is crucial for developing effective preventive strategies to reduce the incidence of diarrhea. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing and untargeted metabolomics via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to investigate the differences in intestinal flora and their metabolites between healthy and diarrheal piglets. In this study, we found that Lactobacillus and Enterococcus were the predominant bacterial genera in healthy piglets. Amino acids, bioactive sesquiterpenoids, and triterpenoids were highly expressed in the intestines of healthy piglets. The association analysis between the microbiota and metabolites indicated that these metabolites showed a significant positive correlation with Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. Those results imply that Lactobacillus and Enterococcus might exert the functions of maintaining intestinal health and preventing diarrhea in piglets through these metabolites. Full article

Under intensive farming systems, weaned piglets often face welfare challenges including food neophobia, reduced feed intake, and diarrhea. To address these issues, this study leverages the sow’s natural feeding behavior to guide piglets, enhancing their ability to learn to eat solid feed during lactation and improving digestive function. A total of 12 sows and 99 piglets were assigned to two groups: a Sow-Learning group (SL, n = 6), where piglets observed and learned feeding behavior from sows, and a Separate-Feeding group (SF, n = 6), where sows and piglets fed independently. Results showed that the SL group’s feed intake at 36–39 days of age was significantly higher than that of the SF group (p < 0.05). For weaned piglets, the diarrhea rate of the SL group was significantly lower than that of the SF group (p < 0.05). The SL group’s manipulation behavior (towards feed) during suckling and weaning was significantly higher than that of the SF group (p < 0.05). Compared with the SF group, weaned piglets in the SL group demonstrated stronger immune capacity, longer jejunal villi, a higher villus-to-crypt ratio, shallower crypt depth, and greater antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). In summary, learning feeding behavior from sows improved piglet welfare and promoted jejunal development. Full article

This study assessed the impact of cocrystal essential oil (CEO) inclusion on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant status in weaned piglets. Ninety-six weaned piglets were assigned to four groups (n = 8, three piglets per pen). The piglets in the four groups were fed basal diets added with 0, 120, 180, or 240 mg/kg of CEO, respectively, over a 28-day trial period. Results showed that during weeks 1–2, piglets in the 240 mg/kg CEO group exhibited a lower diarrhea rate and diarrhea index compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In weeks 3–4, the 180 and 240 mg/kg CEO groups demonstrated a reduced diarrhea rate and diarrhea index compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Relative to the control group, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter was elevated in piglets fed diets added with 120, 180, or 240 mg/kg CEO at both day 14 and day 28 (p < 0.05). Additionally, the ATTD of crude protein was elevated in the 120 mg/kg CEO group at day 14 and in the 180 mg/kg CEO group at day 28 (p < 0.05). Regarding intestinal morphology, supplementation with 180 or 240 mg/kg CEO increased jejunal villus height (VH) and the villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) ratio compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 240 mg/kg CEO supplementation augmented the ileal VH/CD ratio relative to the control group (p < 0.05). For antioxidant status, 180 mg/kg CEO supplementation elevated serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in piglets relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Importantly, no differences were found between the 180 mg/kg and 240 mg/kg CEO groups across all measured parameters (p > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion with 180 mg/kg CEO is recommended for weaned piglets, given its comprehensive benefits in alleviating diarrhea, improving nutrient digestibility, enhancing intestinal morphology, and bolstering antioxidant status. Full article

C. difficile is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and hospital-acquired infections, although increasing community-acquired cases suggest alternative transmission routes. Livestock, particularly pigs, have been proposed as potential reservoirs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of zoonotic ribotypes in piglets from Tenerife (Spain) and to assess their pathogenic potential by detecting toxin genes. A total of 140 samples were analyzed, including 58 fecal samples from slaughtered piglets (4–8 weeks old) and 82 rectal swabs from piglets aged 2–25 days. Samples were cultured, identified by MALDI-TOF MS, and characterized by PCR ribotyping and toxin gene detection. No isolates were obtained from fecal samples collected at slaughter, whereas 14 (17%) rectal swabs were positive. Colonization was strongly age-dependent, with the highest prevalence at 2 days of age (100%), decreasing by day 9 (10.7%), and absent after 21 days (p < 0.05). All isolates were ribotype RT033 with a tcdA⁺/tcdB⁻/cdtA⁺/cdtB⁺ profile. The exclusive detection of RT033, a clade V lineage linked to animal reservoirs and occasional human infections, suggests a potential zoonotic risk, especially for farm workers. These findings reinforce the need for integrated C. difficile surveillance under a One Health framework to monitor emerging ribotypes and their role in community-acquired infections. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes lethal enteritis in neonatal piglets, yet the mechanisms underlying rapid intestinal injury remain unclear. In particular, it is unknown whether different regulated cell death pathways act separately or cooperatively to worsen mucosal damage. To address this question, we performed multi-omics analyses of infected intestinal tissues and found concurrent activation of pyroptosis and ferroptosis during PEDV infection. PEDV infection activated the Caspa-se-1/GSDMD pathway in the duodenum and jejunum, as shown by generation of the Caspase-1 p20 fragment and cleavage of GSDMD into its active N-terminal form, indicating pyroptosis. At the same time, infected tissues displayed key features of ferroptosis, including weakened antioxidant defenses, increased lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, lipid remodeling, and dysregulated ACSL4 and GPX4 expression. These two processes were closely linked and together contributed to tight junction disruption and barrier instability. Molecular docking further suggested that PEDV NSP1 and S proteins may interact with Caspase-1, providing a possible explanation for pyroptosis induction. Correlation analysis also showed strong associations between pyroptosis-related genes and ferroptosis-associated metabolites. Overall, our findings indicate that pyroptosis and ferroptosis cooperate to drive PEDV-induced intestinal inflammation and barrier damage, highlighting their joint inhibition as a potential strategy to reduce PEDV pathogenicity. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of including spray-dried porcine plasma (SDP) in nursery diets and enzymatically hydrolyzed plasma (EHP) in drinking water on piglet growth performance and post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). Four treatments were tested: CONTROL (soy protein concentrate, SPC), P1SDP (5% SDP in phase 1), P1 + P2SDP (5% SDP and 2% SDP in phases 1 and 2), and EHP (0.88% in water during phases 1 and 2). No significant differences among treatments were observed during phase 1. During phase 2 (14–28 days) pigs fed SDP or pigs provided EHP in water had higher average daily gain (ADG; p = 0.001) and feed conversion (GFR; p = 0.013) versus the other groups. Pigs fed SDP in the first two phases had an average d-42 body weight that was 1.54 kg heavier than controls. Post-weaning diarrhea was not observed at any time during the study. These results support the use of SDP and EHP as effective nutritional strategies to enhance the growth and resilience of pigs during the post-weaning period. Both ingredients contribute to sustainable pig production by improving efficiency and promoting circular economy practices through the valorization of animal by-products. Full article