Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T18:18:05.129Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Administration of a novel plant extract product via drinking water to post-weaning piglets: effects on performance and gut health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2014

V. Bontempo*
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
X. R. Jiang
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
F. Cheli
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
L. Lo Verso
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
G. Mantovani
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
F. Vitari
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
C. Domeneghini
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
A. Agazzi
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
Get access

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of a novel plant extract (PE) product (GrazixTM) on the performance and gut health of weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. The PE was a standardised mixture of green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) and pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) obtained by using the LiveXtractTM process. A total of 144 piglets were weaned at 24 days and allocated to 8 for a 35-day experiment with a 2×2×2 factorial design comparing different treatments (water without product (CT) or 8 μl/kg per day PE in drinking water (PE)), feeding regimens (ad libitum (AD) or restricted (RE)) and oral E. coli challenges on day 9 (sham (−) or infected (+)). There were six pens per group with three piglets per pen. On day 35, 24 of the RE feeding piglets were slaughtered. It was found that PE supplementation increased the average daily gain (ADG) from day 28 to day 35 (P=0.03) and increased the gain to feed ratio (G : F) from day 7 to day 14 (P=0.02). RE feeding led to lower feed intake in piglets during the 1st week (P<0.01), 2nd week (P=0.06), 3rd week (P=0.05), and throughout the course of the overall study period (P=0.05). E. coli challenge decreased the ADG and G : F ratio from day 7 to day 14 (P=0.08 and <0.01, respectively) and increased the faecal score (higher values indicate more severe diarrhoea) on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 (P<0.01). PE supplementation decreased the faecal score in the challenged piglets during the 1st week post-challenge (P<0.01). E. coli challenge increased the faecal E. coli level on day 14 (P=0.03) and increased the Enterobacteriaceae level on day 35 (P<0.01). Reduced faecal E. coli was observed on days 14 and 35 (P=0.05 and 0.02, respectively), and reduced Enterobacteriaceae (P<0.01) was found on day 35 in the PE animals. RE feeding increased the faecal Lactobacillus, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli levels on day 35 (P=0.02, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively). These results suggest that PE supplementation may improve the gut health status of post-weaning piglets and counteract some of the negative effects that occur when piglets are challenged with E. coli.

Type
Full Paper
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Archana, S and Abraham, J 2011. Comparative analysis of antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts from fresh green tea, commercial green tea and black tea on pathogens. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 1, 149152.Google Scholar
Bhandari, SK, Xu, B, Nyachoti, CM, Giesting, DW and Krause, DO 2008. Evaluation of alternatives to antibiotics using an Escherichia coli K88+ model of piglet diarrhea: effects on gut microbial ecology. Journal of Animal Science 86, 836847.Google Scholar
Bosi, P, Casini, L, Finamore, A, Gremokolini, C, Merialdi, G, Trevisi, P, Nobili, F and Mengheri, E 2004. Spray-dried plasma improves growth performance and reduces inflammatory status of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88. Journal of Animal Science 82, 17641772.Google Scholar
Burt, S 2004. Essential oils: their antibacterial properties and potential applications in food – a review. International Journal of Food Microbiology 94, 223253.Google Scholar
Cutler, SA, Lonergan, SM, Cornick, N, Johnson, AK and Stahl, CH 2007. Dietary inclusion of colicin E1 is effective in preventing post-weaning diarrhea caused by F18-positive Escherichia coli in pigs. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 51, 38303835.Google Scholar
Daza, A, Rodríguez, I, Ovejero, I and López Bote, CJ 2003. Effect on pig performance of feed restriction during the growth period. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 1, 38.Google Scholar
Fang, J, Yan, FY, Kong, XF, Ruan, Z, Liu, ZQ, Huang, RL, Li, TJ, Geng, MM, Yang, F, Zhang, YZ, Li, P, Gong, J, Wu, GY, Fan, MZ, Liu, YL, Hou, YQ and Yin, YL 2009. Dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract enhances gut health in weanling piglets. Livestock Science 123, 268275.Google Scholar
Gidenne, T and Feugier, A 2009. Feed restriction strategy in the growing rabbit. 1. Impact on digestion, rate of passage and microbial activity. Animal 3, 501508.Google Scholar
Gidenne, T, Combes, S, Feugier, A, Jehl, N, Arveux, P, Boisot, P, Briens, C, Corrent, E, Fortune, H, Montessuy, S and Verdelhan, S 2009. Feed restriction strategy in the growing rabbit. 2. Impact on digestive health, growth and carcass characteristics. Animal 3, 509515.Google Scholar
Goto, K, Kanaya, S, Ishigami, T and Hara, Y 1999. Effects of tea polyphenols on fecal conditions, part 2. The effects of tea catechins on fecal conditions of elderly residents in a long-term care facility. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 45, 135141.Google Scholar
Hagmüller, W, Jugl-Chizzola, M, Zitterl-Eglseer, K, Gabler, C, Spergser, J, Chizzola, R and Franz, C 2006. The use of Thymi herba as feed additive (0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%) in weanling piglets with assessment of the shedding of haemolysing E. coli and the detection of thymol in the blood plasma. Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift 119, 5054.Google Scholar
Jin, Z, Yang, YX, Choi, JY, Shinde, PL, Yoon, SY, Hahn, TW, Lim, HT, Park, Y, Hahm, KS, Joo, JW and Chae, BJ 2008. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Gogu valley) protein as a novel antimicrobial agent in weanling pigs. Journal of Animal Science 86, 15621572.Google Scholar
Kiarie, E, Bhandari, S, Scott, M, Krause, DO and Nyachoti, CM 2011. Growth performance and gastrointestinal microbial ecology responses of piglets receiving Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products after an oral challenge with Escherichia coli (K88). Journal of Animal Science 89, 10621078.Google Scholar
Kim, IH, Hong, JW, Kwon, OS, Min, BJ, Lee, WB and Shon, KS 2004. Influences of plant extract supplementation on performance and blood characteristics in weaned pigs. Asian-Australian Journal of Animal Science 17, 374378.Google Scholar
Lázaro, R, Latorre, MA, Medel, P, Gracia, M and Mateos, GG 2004. Feeding regimen and enzyme supplementation to rye-based diets for broilers. Poultry Science 83, 152160.Google Scholar
Lien, TF, Horng, YM and Wu, CP 2007. Feasibility of replacing antibiotic feed promoters with the Chinese traditional herbal medicine Bazhen in weaned piglets. Livestock Science 107, 97102.Google Scholar
Liu, P, Piao, XS, Thacker, PA, Zeng, ZK, Li, PF, Wang, D and Kim, SW 2010. Chito-oligosaccharide reduces diarrhea incidence and attenuates the immune response of weaned pigs challenged with Escherichia coli K-88. Journal of Animal Science 88, 38713879.Google Scholar
Liu, Y, Song, M, Che, TM, Almeida, JAS, Lee, JJ, Bravo, D, Maddox, CW and Pettigrew, JE 2013. Dietary plant extracts alleviate diarrhea and alter immune responses of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic Escherichia coli . Journal of Animal Science 91, 52945306.Google Scholar
Lovatto, PA, Sauvant, D, Noblet, J, Dubois, S and van Milgen, J 2006. Effects of feed restriction and subsequent refeeding on energy utilization in growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 84, 33293336.Google Scholar
Manzanilla, EG, Nofrarías, M, Anguita, M, Castillo, M, Perez, JF, Martín-Orúe, SM, Kamel, C and Gasa, J 2006. Effects of butyrate, avilamycin, and a plant extract combination on the intestinal equilibrium of early-weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 84, 27432751.Google Scholar
Nofrarías, M, Manzanilla, EG, Pujols, J, Gibert, X, Majó, N, Segalés, J and Gasa, J 2006. Effects of spray-dried porcine plasma and plant extracts on intestinal morphology and on leukocyte cell subsets of weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 84, 27352742.Google Scholar
NRC 1998. Nutrient requirements of swine. 10th edition. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Nyachoti, CM, Kiarie, E, Bhandari, SK, Zhang, G and Krause, DO 2011. Weaned pig responses to Escherichia coli K88 oral challenge when receiving a lysozyme supplement. Journal of Animal Science 90, 252260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Özer, H, Sökmen, M, Güllüce, M, Adigüzel, A, Sahin, F, Sökmen, A, Kilic, H and Baris, Ö 2007. Chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract of Hippomarathum microcarpum (Bieb.) from Turkey. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 55, 937942.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pastorelli, H, Le Floc’h, N, Merlot, E, Meunier-Salaün, MC, van Milgen, J and Montagne, L 2012. Feed restriction applied after weaning has different effects on pig performance and health depending on the sanitary conditions. Journal of Animal Science 90, 48664875.Google Scholar
Pluske, JR, Hampson, DJ and Williams, IH 1997. Factors influencing the structure and function of the small intestine in the weaned pig: a review. Livestock Production Science 51, 215236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluske, JR, Pethick, DW, Hopwood, DE and Hampson, DJ 2002. Nutritional influences on some major enteric bacterial diseases of pigs. Nutrition Research Reviews 15, 333371.Google Scholar
Rantzer, D, Svendsen, J and Westrom, B 1996. Effects of a strategic feed restriction on pig performance and health during the post-weaning period. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 46, 219226.Google Scholar
Risley, CR, Kornegay, ET, Lindemann, MD, Wood, CM and Eigel, WN 1992. Effect of feeding organic acids on selected intestinal content measurements at varying times postweaning in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 70, 196206.Google Scholar
Sakanaka, S, Juneja, LR and Taniguchi, M 2000. Antimicrobial effects of green tea polyphenols on thermophilic spore-forming bacteria. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering 90, 8185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sehm, J, Lindermayer, H, Dummer, C, Treutter, D and Pfaffl, MW 2007. The influence of polyphenol rich apple pomace or red-wine pomace diet on the gut morphology in weaning piglets. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 91, 289296.Google Scholar
Song, M, Liu, Y, Soares, JA, Che, TM, Osuna, O, Maddox, CW and Pettigrew, JE 2012. Dietary clays alleviate diarrhea of weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 90, 345360.Google Scholar
Steadman, R, Topley, N, Jenner, DE, Davies, TM and Williams, JD 1988. Type 1 fimbriate Escherichia coli stimulates a unique pattern of degranulation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Infection and Immunity 56, 815822.Google Scholar
Su, P, Henriksson, A, Nilsson, C and Mitchell, H 2008. Synergistic effect of green tea extract and probiotics on the pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 24, 18371842.Google Scholar
Ultee, A, Bennik, MH and Moezelaar, R 2002. The phenolic hydroxyl group of carvacrol is essential for action against the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68, 15611568.Google Scholar
Windisch, W, Schedle, K, Plitzner, C and Kroismayr, A 2008. Use of phytogenic products as feed additives for swine and poultry. Journal of Animal Science 86, E140E148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wu, CC and Wu, G 2012. A novel plant extract mix, GrazixTM, is capable of binding endotoxin. Proceedings of 4th International Feed Safety Conference, 11–13 September, Beijing, China, 29pp.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: Image

Bontempo et al. supplementary material

Supplementary figure 1

Download Bontempo et al. supplementary material(Image)
Image 2.1 MB
Supplementary material: Image

Bontempo et al. supplementary material

Supplementary figure 2

Download Bontempo et al. supplementary material(Image)
Image 2 MB