Hui Yan

Coccidiosis, an intestinal disease caused by obligate intracellular parasites of the genus Eimeria, leads to huge economic losses in poultry production worldwide. As a plant-derived bioactive polysaccharide, arabinogalactan (AG) may regulate some physiological functions, including immunity, antioxidative capacity. This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing the suitable level of AG on growth performance and intestinal health of medium-growing yellow-feathered broilers under coccidia challenge. Firstly, four hundred eighty birds (one day old, approximately initial body weight 34.85 g) were randomly allocated into 4 groups (six replicates for each group, and 20 birds for each replicate) that were fed the diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg AG for 30 days. The administration of 50 mg/kg AG significantly reduced feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) (P < 0.05). Then, a total of 168 chicks (one day old, approximate initial body weight 31.52 g) were randomly allotted to 2 treatments (six replicates for each group, and 14 birds for each replicate) fed the diets with or without 50 mg/kg AG for 23 days. On day 15, half of the birds from these 2 groups were orally infused coccidia. Oral gavage of coccidia reduced average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P < 0.05), and increased F/G (P < 0.05) in broilers. Dietary AG supplementation might significantly improve F/G of birds (P < 0.05). Further tests found that, in the coccidia-challenged broilers, supplementing AG in the diet, to the different extents, decreased intestinal lesion scores and pathological changes, further increased the levels of immunoglobulins, complements and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and alleviated the negative effects on serum pro-inflammatory indices, jejunal morphology and the mRNA expression of inflammatory-related, barrier-related, antioxidant-related and apoptotic-related genes, and microbiota of cecal digesta. These results suggests that the administration of AG may ameliorate growth performance and intestinal health in the coccidia-challenged broilers, which could be associated with the improvement of immunity especially inflammation and microbiota.

This study evaluated the effects of conventional benzoic acid (BA), a benzoic acid formulation containing 97% benzoic acid and 3% Permeabilizing Complex™ (NBA), and a compound acidifier containing formic, acetic, propionic, and citric acids (CA) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, serum parameters, and fecal microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 128 piglets were assigned to four dietary treatments for 42 d: a basal diet without supplemental acidifier (CON), 0.5% BA, 0.3% NBA, or 0.3% CA. The acidifier products were evaluated at their respective manufacturer-recommended inclusion rates; therefore, the study represents a practical comparison of acidification strategies rather than an equal-benzoic-acid-dose comparison. BA increased final body weight (BW) compared with CON and increased average daily gain (ADG) during days 15–42 and 1–42 compared with CON and CA, while also increasing average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with all other treatments (p < 0.05). NBA also increased ADG compared with CON (p < 0.05), with a numerical response intermediate between CON and BA. CA increased the apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein, ash, and gross energy compared with CON, BA, and NBA (p < 0.05), and increased dry matter digestibility compared with BA and NBA but not CON; however, these improvements were not accompanied by greater final BW or ADG. NBA increased serum IgM, whereas CA increased IgM and total antioxidant capacity but decreased IgG relative to CON (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphological responses were segment-specific. NBA increased duodenal villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and reduced ileal crypt depth while increasing the ileal ratio, but also increased jejunal crypt depth and reduced the jejunal ratio (p < 0.05). NBA and CA reduced fecal microbial richness, while dietary treatment significantly affected fecal microbial community membership. In conclusion, conventional BA produced the clearest feed intake and growth response, whereas NBA increased ADG relative to CON and produced segment-specific effects on intestinal morphology, and CA primarily increased apparent nutrient digestibility.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin in green tea, possesses antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. We hypothesized that dietary EGCG supplementation before oxidative challenge would attenuate Diquat-induced redox disturbance and help maintain intestinal epithelial integrity and immune-related homeostasis in weaned pigs. To test this hypothesis, 32 weaned piglets were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements involving dietary EGCG supplementation (0 or 50 mg/kg) and saline or Diquat challenge (10 mg/kg body weight). Dietary EGCG increased serum superoxide dismutase activity and immunoglobulin A, G, and M concentrations and decreased serum IL-1β, whereas Diquat decreased superoxide dismutase activity and immunoglobulin concentrations and increased TNF-α (p < 0.05). A significant EGCG × Diquat interaction was detected for serum total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.020), which was increased by EGCG in Diquat-challenged pigs (Sidak-adjusted p = 0.001). Significant interactions were also observed for duodenal and jejunal ZO-1 immunoreactivity, jejunal sIgA immunoreactivity, and jejunal epithelial apoptosis (p < 0.05). Under Diquat challenge, EGCG increased ZO-1 and sIgA immunoreactivity and reduced TUNEL-positive staining (adjusted p < 0.05). Intestinal gene-expression responses were segment dependent: EGCG was associated with increased IL-10 and FOXP3 expression and with reduced expression of IL-17, IL-22, RORγT, STAT3, caspase-3, caspase-9, and BAX in several intestinal segments, particularly in Diquat-challenged pigs. Collectively, the observed findings indicate associations between dietary EGCG supplementation and systemic antioxidant and immune indices, epithelial barrier-related characteristics, immune-cell phenotypes, and mucosal transcriptional responses. Given the number of outcomes examined and the absence of a global multiplicity adjustment, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory and do not establish a specific protective mechanism.

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Oxidative stress is a major challenge in weaned piglet production because it impairs intestinal health, nutrient utilization, and growth performance; however, the effects of dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on intestinal dysfunction under oxidative stress conditions have not been fully elucidated. This study examined whether dietary EGCG supplementation could improve intestinal function in weaned pigs subjected to Diquat-induced oxidative stress. Thirty-two weaned piglets were allocated to four treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement involving dietary EGCG supplementation (0 or 50 mg/kg) and exposure to saline or Diquat (50 mg/kg body weight). Diquat exposure impaired intestinal morphology and antioxidant status and altered the transcription of genes associated with epithelial barrier integrity and redox regulation. Dietary EGCG supplementation partially attenuated these alterations, as reflected by improvements in villus architecture, intestinal antioxidant indices, and the mRNA expression of barrier- and antioxidant-related genes. These findings indicate that dietary EGCG supplementation was associated with improved intestinal function in weaned pigs exposed to oxidative stress. These beneficial effects may be related, at least in part, to changes in redox status, inflammatory responses, epithelial barrier-related gene expression, and selected gut microbial populations. This study supports EGCG as a potential bioactive dietary factor for maintaining intestinal health under oxidative stress conditions.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 is a major cause of post-weaning diarrhea in piglets, leading to growth impairment and economic loss. This study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of dietary mulberry leaf (ML) powder on intestinal resilience in ETEC K88-challenged piglets and validated partial mechanism using IPEC-J2 cells in vitro. Forty 21-day-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets (n = 8) were assigned to: (1) unchallenged control (CON); (2) ETEC-challenged control (ETEC); and (3–5) ETEC-challenged groups fed diets containing 1%, 3%, or 5% ML. All challenged groups received a single oral dose of ETEC K88 on day 21 and were euthanized on day 24 of the trial. Results demonstrated that ML supplementation at 1% and 3% alleviated ETEC-induced intestinal injury without affecting growth performance; 5% ML reduced average daily gain (P < 0.05). Notably, 1% ML lowered diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05), enhanced antioxidant capacity evidenced by increased serum and ileal total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P < 0.05), and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6; P < 0.05), as well as upregulated expressions of tight-junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1). In vitro, mulberry leaf extract activated the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in ETEC-challenged IPEC-J2 cells, reducing oxidative damage and preserving barrier integrity. Furthermore, ML reshaped the gut microbiota, particularly enriching Lactobacillus and suppressing Escherichia-Shigella, and promoted the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, which enhanced intestinal barrier function, suppressed inflammation, and alleviated oxidative stress. In conclusion, 1% dietary mulberry leaf powder effectively alleviates ETEC K88-induced diarrhea and intestinal injury in weaned piglets through synergistic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, barrier-strengthening, and microbiota-modulating actions—without adverse effects on growth performance.

The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in 10 fishmeal (FM) samples were evaluated in weaned barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) using two experiments. In Experiment 1, 11 piglets (18.87 ± 0.10 kg) fitted with T-cannulas were randomly allocated to an 11 × 6 Latin-square design with 11 diets (1 nitrogen-free diet and 10 assay diets) and six periods. The AID and SID of all amino acids (AAs) except proline showed significant differences among all FM (p < 0.05). Importantly, the SID of amino acids was positively correlated with key antioxidant markers and immune parameters, and it was negatively correlated with oxidative stress markers (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2 and IL-6). In Experiment 2, 11 piglets (18.05 ± 1.15 kg) were assigned to an 11 × 5 Latin-square design with 11 diets (a 96.35% corn diet and 10 assay diets) and five consecutive periods. Significant variations were observed in the DE, ME, and ATTD of dry matter among different FM samples (p < 0.05). Moreover, predictive equations for estimating the SID of lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan, as well as DE and ME, were established using stepwise regression analysis based on the chemical composition of the FM. These findings demonstrate that the nutritional value of FM in nursery pig diets has been underestimated, and this study provides precise data and predictive methods for evaluating the nutritional quality of FM in precision nutrition.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary nano-copper supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, inflammatory response, and intestinal barrier function in weanling pigs under heat stress conditions. Forty 20-day-old weaned weanling pigs (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) weighing 6.49 ± 0.08 kg were randomly divided into five treatments with eight replicates each. The pre-feeding period was 2 days, followed by a 22-day experimental period. All groups were exposed to high heat conditions at 35 ± 1 °C. The control group received a basal diet, while the low copper sulfate (LC) group received a diet with 50 mg/kg of copper sulfate, the high copper sulfate (HC) group received a diet with 150 mg/kg of copper sulfate, the low nano-copper (LNC) group received a diet with 50 mg/kg of nano-copper oxide, and the high nano-copper (HNC) group received a diet with 150 mg/kg of nano-copper oxide. Compared to the basal group, pigs supplemented with copper (either CuSO₄ or nano-CuO) exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.048) and feed intake (ADFI, p = 0.005), with the 50 mg/kg nano-copper group showing improved nutrient digestibility (p < 0.05) and intestinal morphology. Nano-copper supplementation significantly enhanced mucosal SOD activity (p < 0.05), reduced MDA levels (p < 0.05), and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 (p < 0.05). Notably, 50 mg/kg of nano-copper increased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of copper to 30.29%, significantly higher than the 16.55% observed in the 150 mg/kg CuSO₄ group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, fecal copper concentration was significantly reduced by 20.7% in the 50 mg/kg nano-copper group compared to copper sulfate (p < 0.001). In conclusion, nano-copper appears to be a promising alternative to copper sulfate for improving growth performance and reducing fecal copper concentrations in weanling pigs under heat stress conditions.

Sialyllactose (SL), a bioactive trisaccharide abundant in porcine colostrum, demonstrates multifunctional properties including antimicrobial activity, immune regulation, and apoptosis inhibition. This research uncovers the mechanisms by which SL mitigates enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-mediated damage to intestinal barrier integrity, employing IPEC-J2 porcine epithelial models. SL pre-treatment effectively blocked pathogen adhesion by competitively binding to cellular receptors, concurrently mitigating inflammation through significant suppression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression (p < 0.05). Notably, SL exhibited functional parallels to the NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082, jointly enhancing tight junction integrity via ZO-1 protein stabilization and inhibiting pro-inflammatory signaling through coordinated suppression of IκB-α/NF-κB phosphorylation cascades. The dual-action mechanism combines molecular interception of microbial attachment with intracellular modulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, effectively resolving both pathogenic colonization and inflammatory amplification. These findings position SL as a potential therapeutic application nutraceutical for livestock, with the capacity to address post-weaning porcine enteritis through functional feed formulations that synergistically enhance intestinal barrier resilience while curbing ETEC-mediated inflammatory pathogenesis.

Fat not only has a high effective energy value and extra energy effects but is also an ideal energy source. As one of the most commonly used feed oils at present, soybean oil has a high cost despite its good application effect on weaned piglets. In contrast, the cost of palm oil is lower. In order to explore the effect of palm oil-dominated fat combination on intestinal health of weaned piglets, we conducted a 28-day trial, randomly dividing 72 pigs into three groups: The SO group (fed with a basal diet containing 2% soybean oil), the PRFO group (replacing soybean oil with 2% fish palm rice oil mixture), and the PRCO group (replacing soybean oil with 2% coconut palm rice oil mixture), with eight replicate pens per group (3 pigs per pen) and intestinal chyme was collected on day 29. We observed a significant increase in the concentration of propionic acid (PA) in cecal digesta of the PRFO group (895.49 mmol/L p < 0.05) compared to the SO group (626.32 mmol/L). Meanwhile, the concentration of cecal PA, butyric acid (BA), valerate and colonic valeric acid were significantly increased in the PRCO group (p < 0.05). Moreover, piglets in the PRFO group had a higher abundance of Firmicutes in the cecum and colon, but a lower abundance of Actinomyces in the cecum than those in the SO group. These results indicate that replacing soybean oil with PRFO and PRCO in weaning diet can improve intestinal microflora structure and thus improve intestinal health of piglets.