Gastrointestinal ecosystem and immunological responses in E. coli challenged pigs after weaning fed liquid diets containing whey permeate fermented with different lactic acid bacteria

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2015-09, Vol.207, p.278-282
• Main Authors: Sugiharto, S., Lauridsen, C., Jensen, B.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dysbiosis; E. coli F4; Fermented whey permeate; Intestinal microbiota; Lactic acid bacteria; Mucosal immunity
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.06.019

•Pigs were fed with whey permeate (WP) fermented with different lactic acid bacteria.•Weissella viridescens-fermented WP improved gut health of E. coli inoculated pig.•Weissella viridescens-fermented WP did not significantly reduce the frequency of diarrhoea in piglets post weaning. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding liquid feed containing whey permeate (WP) fermented with different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the microbiota and mucosal immune responses of Escherichia coli F4 inoculated piglets post weaning. The study consisted of 52 weaned piglets allotted to 6 treatments: (1) no infection and no WP (INF−WP−); (2) infection and no WP (INF+WP−); (3) infection and non-fermented WP (INF+WP+); (4) infection and WP fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (INF+WP+LAB1); (5) infection and WP fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (INF+WP+LAB2); and (6) infection and WP fermented with Weissella viridescens (INF+WP+LAB3). Piglets in groups 2 to 6 were inoculated with E. coli F4 on day 2 and 3 after weaning. Faeces were collected on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 and the pigs were sacrificed on day 11. Digesta and mucosa were collected from the GIT segments. Lactic acid concentration was higher (P