Towards Zero Zinc Oxide: Feeding Strategies to Manage Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Piglets

Zinc oxide (ZnO) at pharmacological doses is extensively employed in the pig industry as an effective tool to manage post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), a condition that causes huge economic losses because of its impact on the most pivotal phase of a piglet's production cycle. In a multifactorial way,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2021-02, Vol.11 (3), p.642
Main Authors: Bonetti, Andrea, Tugnoli, Benedetta, Piva, Andrea, Grilli, Ester
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibacterial activity
Antiinfectives and antibacterials
Antimicrobial agents
Antioxidants
Bacteria
Cytokines
Developing countries
Diarrhea
E coli
Economic impact
Enzymes
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli F4
ETEC
Feces
Feeds
Gastrointestinal system
Gastrointestinal tract
Hogs
Immune system
Impact analysis
Infections
Intestine
K88
LDCs
Mode of action
Nutrition
Organic acids
Pharmacology
piglet
post-weaning diarrhea
Probiotics
Review
Secretions
Sustainability
Swine
Weaning
Zinc oxide
Zinc oxides
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Summary:Zinc oxide (ZnO) at pharmacological doses is extensively employed in the pig industry as an effective tool to manage post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), a condition that causes huge economic losses because of its impact on the most pivotal phase of a piglet's production cycle. In a multifactorial way, ZnO exerts a variety of positive effects along the entire gastrointestinal tract by targeting intestinal architecture, digestive secretions, antioxidant systems, and immune cells. ZnO also has a moderate antibacterial effect against F4 (K88), the main causative agent of PWD. However, the environmental impact of ZnO and new emerging threats are posing serious questions to the sustainability of its extensive utilization. To work towards a future free from pharmacological ZnO, novel nutritional approaches are necessary, and many strategies have been investigated. This review article provides a comprehensive framework for ZnO utilization and its broad mode of action. Moreover, all the risks related to pharmacological ZnO levels are presented; we focus on European institutions' decisions subsequently. The identification of a novel, complete solution against PWD should be accompanied by the adoption of holistic strategies, thereby combining good management practices to feeding approaches capable of mitigating F4 (K88) infections and/or lowering ZnO utilization. Promising results can be obtained by adjusting diet composition or employing organic acids, natural identical compounds, polyphenol-rich extracts, prebiotics, and probiotics.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani11030642