Search Results (178)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pterostilbene (PTE) on the intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism, and microbial and metabolite homeostasis of suckling piglets via its action on breast milk. Findings indicate that PTE supplementation enhanced the antioxidant status of mature milk and strengthened intestinal barrier function in piglets. Specifically, PTE enhanced intestinal antioxidant status and fatty acid β-oxidation in piglets by regulating the PI3K-AKT and SIRT1-Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathways. 16S rDNA sequencing and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy (LC–MS) identified breast milk and gut microbiota and their metabolites, respectively. Results indicate that PTE significantly elevated levels of amino acid derivatives in colostrum (Glutathione Reducedform (GSH) and N-acetyl-L-glutamate (NAG)), whilst concurrently reducing levels of glycerophospholipid-related metabolites in both colostrum and mature milk (p < 0.05). Moreover, PTE supplementation markedly altered the composition of the colonic mucosal microbiota in piglets, with Faecalibacterium, Mucispirillum and Ruminococcus identified as key beneficial microbial markers of the colonic mucosa. Combined multi-omics revealed strong correlations in microbial community composition between mature milk and the colon, identifying glycerophospholipid metabolism as a key metabolic pathway that may be associated with the regulatory effects of PTE on milk and the piglet colon. In conclusion, the PTE supplement can improve the quality of breast milk and have a positive impact on the intestinal homeostasis of the offspring. Full article

This experiment evaluated the effects of pellet diameter on growth performance and intestinal health of piglets during the creep feeding stage. A total of 144 7-day-old suckling piglets (body weight of 2.2 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups and fed the same formula as meal feed and pellets of 2 mm, 4 mm, and 8 mm in diameter, respectively. Each treatment consisted of six replicates of six piglets. The trial was divided into two phases by weaning time: 7–21 days (breast milk + creep feed) and 21–35 days (creep feed only). After the feeding trial, piglets from the meal feed group and the 8 mm pellet group were selected for slaughter and sampling. The results showed that before weaning, average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased significantly with increasing pellet diameter (p < 0.001). Post-weaning, piglets fed 8 mm pellets presented significantly higher final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) than those in the meal group (p < 0.05). Apparent nutrient digestibility (ATTD) in pellet groups was significantly higher than that in the meal feed group and rose with increasing pellet diameter (p < 0.001). The organ indices of the stomach and large intestine in the 8 mm group of piglets were significantly lower than those of the meal group. The jejunal villus height (VH) in the 8 mm group showed a trend toward an increase (p = 0.066), and the ileal crypt depth (CD) was significantly lower (p = 0.004), with significantly higher digestive enzyme activities in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05). In the 8 mm group, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes in the jejunum and Actinobacteriota in the cecum and colon increased, while those of Pseudomonadota decreased; jejunal microbial relative richness increased significantly, while the ileal microbial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness decreased obviously. In conclusion, pellets improved the growth performance of creep feeding piglets. Compared with meal, 8 mm pellets can significantly enhance intestinal health level and nutrient digestion and absorption capacity by optimizing intestinal morphology, boosting digestive enzyme activities, and improving flora structure. Full article

Background: Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) is a highly contagious pathogen causing severe diarrhoea and high mortality in neonatal piglets. Methods: In this study, consensus sequences encoding the N-terminal domain of spike subunit 1 (S1-NTD) and nucleocapsid (N) protein of PEDV were cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector pJHL204 and transformed into an attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium strain JOL2500. Antigen expression was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. The recombinant strains were evaluated in vivo for safety, persistence, and immunogenicity. Immunogenicity was characterised by measuring antibody response, virus neutralising assays, cytokine profiling, and flow cytometric analysis of T cell subpopulation. Protective efficacy against salmonellosis in dams and passive transfer of neutralising antibodies to suckling mice were evaluated. Results: Vaccinated mice exhibited no adverse effects or bacterial persistence in major organs, confirming the vaccine’s safety. Immunisation elicited robust PEDV- and Salmonella-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Upon Salmonella challenge, vaccinated mice showed significantly reduced bacterial loads in splenic tissues. Furthermore, vaccinated dams and their offspring induced detectable anti-PEDV neutralising antibodies, indicating successful passive antibody transfer. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the designed vaccine constructs provide a promising platform for inducing multifaceted immuno-protectivity against PEDV and salmonellosis. Full article

Klebsiella pneumoniae is commonly known to cause a vast range of community-acquired or nosocomial infections. The isolation of K. pneumoniae has also been noted in diseased food-producing animals, including swine. The main goals of this study were to document clinical manifestation of a septicaemia outbreak in suckling piglets due to K. pneumoniae ST25 and provide molecular characterisation of the isolates. For the purpose of this investigation, 13 dead suckling piglets with cyanosis were selected. All the isolates obtained from affected lungs were susceptible to apramycin, ceftiofur, gentamycin, neomycin, and spectinomycin, presented intermediate susceptibility to florfenicol, and were resistant to other tested antibiotics. Histopathological examination of lungs, kidneys, and livers revealed lesions typical of septicaemia. MLST analysis of the isolates demonstrated a complex metabolic profile of the bacteria with genes attributable to the hypervirulent phenotype. To the best of our knowledge, we documented the first outbreak of K. pneumoniae septicaemia in suckling piglets reared in Poland. Full article

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of fermented compound Chinese herbal medicine (FCHM, Vaccaria segetali, Tetrapanax papyriferus, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort and Rhaponticum uniflorum) on the reproductive performance of Ningxiang sows. A total of 30 Ningxiang sows were randomly assigned to the control group (CON), CHM group, and FCHM group. The results indicated that dietary CHMs and FCHM supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.05) the milk production, feed intake, reproductive performance protein content, and lactose content in the milk of sows and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the number of somatic cells in colostrum and in the number of low-birthweight piglets. Dietary FCHM supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.05) the number of healthy piglets, birth litter weight, colostrum fat content, and feed intake. Moreover, malondialdehyde, porcine interleukin-1α, and porcine interleukin-6 in sow serum were decreased (p < 0.05), and the activity of superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, immunoglobulin, prolactin and progesterone levels (p < 0.05) were increased, with FCHM supplementation. The colostrum metabolomics analyses showed that FCHM significantly enriched the oxytocin signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and pathways associated with milk composition synthesis. In conclusion, supplementing with FCHM improved the reproductive performance and milk metabolic biomarkers of sows and may serve as an effective feed additive to improve productivity. Full article

This study evaluated the protective effects of naringin (NG) against intestinal injury in 7-day-old piglets infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Eighteen piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large, body weight = 2.58 ± 0.05 kg) were divided into three treatment groups based on similar body weights and equal numbers of males and females: the blank control group (CON group), the PEDV infection group (PEDV group), and the NG intervention + PEDV infection group (NG + PEDV group) (n = 6 per group). The experiment lasted for 11 days, comprising a pre-feeding period from days 0 to 3 and a formal experimental period from days 4 to 10. On days 4–10 of the experiment, piglets in the NG + PEDV group were orally administered NG (10 mg/kg). On Day 8 of the experiment, piglets in the PEDV and NG + PEDV groups were inoculated with PEDV (3 mL, 10⁶ 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID₅₀) per milliliter). On day 11 of the experiment, piglets were euthanized for sample collection. PEDV infection caused significant intestinal damage, including a decreased (p < 0.05) villus height in the duodenum and ileum and an increased (p < 0.05) crypt depth in all intestinal segments. This intestinal damage was accompanied by an impaired absorptive function, as indicated by reduced (p < 0.05) serum D-xylose. Further results showed that PEDV compromised the intestinal antioxidant capacity by decreasing (p < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, and it stimulated the intestinal inflammatory response by upregulating (p < 0.05) the expression of key inflammatory genes, including regenerating family member 3 gamma (REG3G; duodenum, jejunum, colon), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9; ileum, colon), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β; ileum, colon), and S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8; colon). PEDV also suppressed the intestinal lipid metabolism pathway by downregulating (p < 0.05) the ileal expression of Solute Carrier Family 27 Member 4 (SLC27A4), Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTTP), Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4), Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3), Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), and Cytochrome P450 Family 2 Subfamily J Member 34 (CYP2J34). Moreover, PEDV suppressed the intestinal antiviral ability by downregulating (p < 0.05) interferon (IFN) signaling pathway genes, including MX dynamin like GTPase 1 (MX1) and ISG15 ubiquitin like modifier (ISG15) in the duodenum; weakened intestinal water and ion transport by downregulating (p < 0.05) aquaporin 10 (AQP10) and potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 13 (KCNJ13) in the duodenum, aquaporin 7 (AQP7) and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 6 (TRPV6) in the ileum, and TRPV6 and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 6 (TRPM6) in the colon; and inhibited intestinal digestive and absorptive function by downregulating (p < 0.05) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) in the duodenum and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) in the ileum. Notably, NG effectively counteracted these detrimental effects. Moreover, NG activated the IFN signaling pathway in the jejunum and suppressed PEDV replication in the colon. In conclusion, NG alleviates PEDV-induced intestinal injury by enhancing the antioxidant capacity, suppressing inflammation, normalizing the expression of metabolic and transport genes, and improving the antiviral ability. Full article

Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome (SINS) is a highly prevalent, predominantly endogenous condition that compromises tissue integrity and animal welfare across different life stages in pigs. Increasing evidence suggests that early-life SINS lesions may predispose pigs to tail damage later in life; however, longitudinal data remain scarce. This study investigated the association between SINS-related clinical signs in suckling piglets and weaners and subsequent tail integrity during fattening and at slaughter. In a longitudinal study, 352 piglets from two Italian farms producing Parma ham were followed from the suckling phase to slaughter. Although SINS signs were generally mild, pigs affected during the weaner phase showed a 3.5-fold increased risk of developing short tails during fattening. Furthermore, the probability of reduced tail length at slaughter increased from 33.5% to 65.8% in pigs with a history of SINS. Early-life SINS was significantly associated with impaired tail integrity both at the onset of fattening and at slaughter. These new findings highlight endogenous inflammation and necrosis in early life as important yet underrecognized welfare risk factors and suggest that SINS can be utilised as a point of care and early preventive strategies may substantially improve tail integrity and welfare outcomes at slaughter. Full article

Background: Giardia duodenalis is one of the most prevalent protozoan pathogens, commonly infecting a wide range of hosts including humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife globally. The Bamaxiang pig (Sus scrofa domesticus), a native livestock variety from China’s Guangxi region, holds significant importance in Bama Yao Autonomous County. This breed not only supports regional meat production systems but also fulfills dual roles as human companions and valuable subjects for biomedical investigations. The aim of present study was to investigate the prevalence of G. duodenalis and assess its genetic characteristics. A total of 311 fresh fecal samples were collected from three farms in Bama Yao Autonomous County. The presence and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis were determined by nested PCR and sequence analysis of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), β-giardin (bg) and triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. Results: The total occurrence rate of G. duodenalis in Bamaxiang Pigs was 17.36% (54/311). Among different age groups, suckling piglets exhibited the highest infection rate at 24.29% (17/70). The infection rates in the sows, fattening pigs, and weaned piglets were 20.88% (19/91), 14.10% (11/78), and 9.72% (7/72), respectively (p < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis of sequences from three genetic loci identified two G.duodenalis genetic assemblages, namely assemblages A and E. Among them, assemblage A (n = 31) was the predominant genotype across the three farms, followed by the assemblage E (n = 21) and mixed assemblage A/E (n = 2) infections. Conclusions: This study represents the first report demonstrating that G. duodenalis infection is prevalent in Bamaxiang pigs, with variable positivity rates across different growth stages. The zoonotic assemblage A was the predominant assemblage, suggesting a potential risk of transmission to humans through close contact with this specific pig breed. The results provide basic data for controlling infections in Bamaxiang pigs. Full article

Vitamin D has been shown to influence growth in both fetuses and piglets. Pigs housed indoors rely solely on their feed as a source of vitamin D since they are never exposed to natural sunlight. UVB light is effective in improving the vitamin D status in sows and piglets housed indoors. This study aimed to investigate an innovative method for UVB lighting to enhance the vitamin D status of gestating sows to a level that could positively impact the growth of both fetuses and suckling piglets. A total of 386 sows were included at the time of insemination. Of these, 197 were exposed to a daily dose of UVB light, and 189 sows served as a control group. Both sows and piglets in the UVB group had significantly higher vitamin D levels in serum samples at the time of farrowing than sows and piglets from the control group. No statistically significant differences in litter weight or the number of liveborn or stillborn piglets were observed between groups. UVB light installed in an electronic sow feeder was successful, but, unfortunately, the lamp used in the study was unable to induce the production of vitamin D to the desired level in the sows. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of higher doses of UVB light. Full article

Milk sources directly influence digestion, absorption, and overall nutrient utilization during early infant nutrition. Goat milk features a nutritional composition and digestive properties that are more similar to human breast milk. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different milk sources on the immunity, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, and intestinal microbiota in neonatal piglets. Sixteen 7-day-old suckling piglets were randomly allocated into two groups (eight replicates/group, one piglet/replicate) and fed with standard formula milk powder (CON) and goat milk formula powder (GMF). The formal experiment lasted for 14 days. Results showed that compared with the CON group, the GMF group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the final weight, the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, IgM and C-reactive protein (CRP4), and intestinal trypsin content. Additionally, the GMF group had higher (p < 0.05) serum essential and non-essential amino acid and fatty acid levels, and had trends toward upregulation (0.05 < p < 0.1) in hepatic mRNA expression of spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), duodenal peptide transporter 1 (PePT1), and jejunal cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1). Microbiome sequencing revealed that GMF enhanced intestinal microbial richness and diversity and increased concentrations of acetic and propionic acids (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GMF suggests a potential improvement in the growth performance by enhancing immunity, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism and optimizing intestinal microbiota composition in neonatal piglets. These findings further support the favorable nutritional properties and tolerability of GMF in early-life nutrition. Full article

Despite lower birth weight, Meishan piglets exhibit a notably higher pre-weaning survival rate compared to Western commercial breeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low birth weight (LBW) on intestinal barrier function in Meishan neonates. Six pairs of neonatal piglets (one normal birth weight, NBW: 0.85 ± 0.06 kg; one LBW: 0.65 ± 0.02 kg) from the same sow were euthanized at birth prior to suckling. Morphological parameters, goblet cell density, antioxidant enzyme activities, cytokine gene expression, and tight junction protein levels in the small intestine (SI) were assessed. Results showed that LBW piglets had a significantly higher SI length-to-body weight ratio (p < 0.05), along with reduced villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01). Notably, microvillus structure remained intact despite the presence of mitochondrial swelling. LBW piglets also exhibited decreased goblet cell numbers, lower antioxidant capacity, dysregulated expression of cytokines (CD8, IFNγ, IL4, IL2), and reduced levels of mucin 2, ZO-1, and occludin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although LBW Meishan piglets showed impairments in multiple aspects of intestinal barrier function, the structural integrity of the microvillus was preserved, which may contribute to their higher survival rate and represents a key adaptive advantage over commercial pig breeds. Full article

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe, often fatal, diarrhea in suckling piglets and has zoonotic potential. Its nonstructural protein 12 (Nsp12), functioning as the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is a central component of the viral replication–transcription complex and a critical target for host antiviral mechanisms. Here, we identified eukaryotic elongation factor 1 gamma (eEF1G) as a host interactor of PDCoV Nsp12 by immunoprecipitation-coupled mass spectrometry in IPEC-J2 cells. This interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, and confocal microscopy. Functional analyses involving siRNA knockdown and overexpression of eEF1G, combined with viral titration, strand-specific real-time quantitative PCR, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, demonstrated that eEF1G directly binds to Nsp12. Knockdown of eEF1G significantly enhanced viral replication and increased negative-stranded RNA synthesis, whereas overexpression did not affect viral proliferation. Furthermore, eEF1G was found to bind PDCoV genomic RNA and competitively disrupt the interaction between Nsp12 and viral RNA, thereby impairing RdRp activity. Our results indicate that eEF1G acts as a novel host restriction factor that inhibits PDCoV replication by competing with Nsp12 for genomic RNA binding, ultimately blocking negative-stranded RNA synthesis. This study unveils a new antiviral mechanism and highlights a potential target for developing interventions against PDCoV. Full article

Animal-based measures, such as detecting inflammation in areas like the tail, ears, teats, coronary band, heels and claws (Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome, SINS), are used to monitor animal health and welfare. When parameters deviate from the established range, these measures enable prompt action to adjust husbandry practices, feeding regimens and management strategies. In addition to environmental factors, genetics have been shown to play a key role in inflammation and necrosis processes, and selection can reduce the severity of the disease. This study examined whether different breeds of AI boar exhibit different signs of SINS and how these signs are associated with SINS in their offspring when they are suckling piglets and weaners. Initially, 286 AI boars of 7 breeds from a German artificial insemination center were evaluated for SINS. The following parameters were assessed: tail base, tail tip, ears, skin, scrotum, coronary bands, heels and claws. Subsequently, 23 Pietrain and Duroc boars were used in combination with a Topigs DL sow line. The progeny of the AI boars was evaluated as suckling and weaned piglets, with the assessment framework encompassing SINS traits. The results revealed significant differences between the breeds and lines, as well as a strong correlation between the SINS phenotypes of the AI boars and the SINS scores of their offspring. The offspring of the 25% most extreme boars exhibited a 17% variation in SINS scores. This association was particularly evident when comparing the boars’ tail base. However, the development of the boars’ heels and claws was found to be significantly influenced by mechanical environmental factors and not associated with the piglets’ scores. These findings imply that heritable, endogenous processes, as proposed for SINS, also visibly impact the phenotype of the AI boar. This study’s fundamental premise suggests that pre-selecting AI boars could mitigate the occurrence of SINS and enhance piglet health and welfare. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) emulsions enriched with hemp-derived phytocannabinoids, with or without monolaurin, on neonatal piglet growth, health, and behavior. Trial 1 used an augmented factorial design with 75 sows and 1063 piglets to compare a baseline MCT emulsion (MCTE) with a phytocannabinoid-supplemented emulsion (MCTE-P) at low or high doses against toltrazuril control. All MCT emulsions improved key performance indicators such as weight gain and survival rates compared to the control group. In particular, live-born piglets at 24 h in the MCTE-P groups showed significantly greater body weight gain and colostrum intake compared with controls (p < 0.05). While overall pre-weaning mortality rates were similar across groups, the incidence of diarrhea- and starvation-related deaths was significantly lower in MCTE-P piglets (p < 0.05). Based on these results, Trial 2 involved 36 sows and 509 piglets assigned to three groups: low-dose MCTE-P (the optimal regimen from Trial 1), low-dose MCTE-P supplemented with monolaurin (MCTE-PM), and a toltrazuril control. Both MCTE-P and MCTE-PM improved average daily gain at weaning relative to the control group. MCTE-PM showed the lowest pre-weaning mortality (14.3%) and diarrhea-related deaths (0.86%), compared with 29.4% and 10.4% in controls, respectively (p < 0.05). Hematological analyses indicated that eosinophil percentages were lowest in the MCTE-PM group (p < 0.05), while serum total protein and globulin concentrations remained elevated in emulsion-treated piglets (p < 0.001). Behavioral assessments of 108 low-birth-weight piglets showed prolonged latency to first suckling in emulsion-treated groups, while teat competition and facial lesion scores, reflecting aggressive interactions, were reduced compared with controls. Overall, these findings demonstrate that MCT emulsions supplemented with phytocannabinoids and monolaurin improved growth and survival in neonatal piglets, especially those of low to medium birth weight, and highlight their potential as nutraceutical alternatives to antibiotic prophylaxis in swine production. Full article

Maternal nutrition during gestation and lactation influences offspring development and metabolic health. Lecithin, a crucial phospholipid commonly used in animal diets to improve lipid absorption and energy metabolism, is a viable approach to optimize this synergy and improve neonatal resilience. This study aimed to investigate the regulation mechanism of maternal lecithin supplementation during late gestation and lactation on the growth performance and hepatic glycolipid metabolism of offspring. Twenty-four multiparous sows were randomly allocated to receive either a control (CON) diet or a lecithin-supplemented diet (2 kg/t lecithin) on day 95 of gestation until weaning (day 21 postpartum). Blood samples were collected from sows during late gestation and on day 21 of lactation, as well as from umbilical cords and weaned piglets at 21 days. Results showed that suckling piglets from lecithin group had faster growth rate, especially during 1–7 d of suckling period. Lecithin supplement reduced the serum cholesterol of pregnant sows, while not affected it in serum of umbilical cord. In contrast, both the serum cholesterol and glucose level presented upward trend in lactating sows in the lecithin group. Accordingly, maternal lecithin supplement increased the serum glucose level, as well as the levels of hepatic lipid and glucose levels, accompanied by decreasing the hepatic levels of certain long-chain fatty acids of 21-day-old piglets compared with the CON group. Furthermore, maternal lecithin supplement activated hepatic glycolipid metabolism via regulating the mRNA level of hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid synthesis in 21-day-old piglets. In short, this study demonstrated that maternal lecithin supplementation improved hepatic energy homeostasis in offspring by activating gluconeogenesis and optimizing lipid storage, thereby enhancing neonatal growth performance and metabolic resilience for weaning challenges. Full article