Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T10:02:09.879Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of a blend of essential oils and an enzyme combination on nutrient digestibility, ileum histology and expression of inflammatory mediators in weaned piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2014

X. R. Jiang
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
A. Awati
Affiliation:
Danisco Animal Nutrition, DuPont Industrial Biosciences, Wiltshire SN8 1XN, Marlborough, UK
A. Agazzi
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
A. Ferrari
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
H. Bento
Affiliation:
Danisco Animal Nutrition, DuPont Industrial Biosciences, Wiltshire SN8 1XN, Marlborough, UK
M. Crestani
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 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
V. Bontempo*
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
*
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of an improved gut environment of post-weaning piglets when administered a blend of essential oils (EO; thymol and cinnamaldehyde) and an enzyme combination (xylanase and β-glucanase (XB)) either alone or in combination. To assess the effect of dietary treatments, faecal nutrient digestibility and microbial counts, as well as ileum histology and gene expression of inflammatory mediators were evaluated. One hundred and ninety-two weaned piglets were allocated into four experimental treatments, and fed the basal diet (CTRL) either without or with EO, XB or their combination (EO+XB) for a 42-day period. The experiment concerning digestibility was designed with two periods (period I: days 15 to 21; period II: days 29 to 35) and the faeces were collected on days 20, 21, 34 and 35. On day 42, six piglets from each treatment were slaughtered. It was found that EO, XB and EO+XB supplementation did not affect (P>0.05) the growth performance of the piglets from days 0 to 42. Moreover, no dietary effect on faecal score was observed. Faecal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ash, dietary fibre, lipid, CP and NDF were increased from period I to period II (P<0.01 to P=0.06), while no effect (P>0.05) of EO, XB or their combination on the faecal digestibility was observed at both periods. Compared with the CTRL diet, dietary XB reduced the faecal Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli counts but increased the Lactobacillus to Coliforms ratio on day 42 (P=0.02, 0.03 and 0.03, respectively), and all the additives supplementations decreased the counts of faecal Coliforms on day 42 (P<0.01). XB supplementation increased the villus to crypt ratio (P=0.04) and reduced the mucosal macrophages number (P<0.01) in the ileum compared with the CTRL group, and dietary EO or EO+XB decreased the number of lymphatic follicles (P=0.01 and P<0.01, respectively) and mucosal macrophages (P=0.02 and P<0.01, respectively). In addition, the interleukin (IL)-1α was downregulated in piglets treated with EO+XB compared with the EO group (P=0.02). In conclusion, the administration of EO, XB or their combination was effective in improving ileum histology, and EO+XB supplementation might benefit the modulation of the expression of ileum inflammatory cytokines in piglets.

Type
Research Article
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

Aho, AD, McNulty, AM and Coussens, PM 2003. Enhanced expression of interleukin-1α and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 in ileal tissues of cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis . Infection and Immunity 71, 64796486.Google Scholar
AOAC 2005. Official methods of analysis, 18th edition. Association Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Bedford, MR and Schulze, H 1998. Exogenous enzymes for pigs and poultry. Nutrition Research Reviews 11, 91114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bontempo, V, Jiang, XR, Cheli, F, Lo Verso, L, Mantovani, G, Vitari, F, Domeneghini, C and Agazzi, A 2014. Administration of a novel plant extract product via drinking water to post-weaning piglets: effects on performance and gut health. Animal 8, 721730.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burt, S 2004. Essential oils: their antibacterial properties and potential applications in foods – a review. International Journal of Food Microbiology 94, 223253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castillo, M, Martín-Orúe, SM, Roca, M, Manzanilla, EG, Badiola, I, Perez, JF and Gasa, J 2006. The response of gastrointestinal microbiota to avilamycin, butyrate, and plant extracts in early-weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 84, 27252734.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Decreto Ministeriale 1999. Approvazione dei metodi di analisi per il controllo ufficiale degli alimenti per animali e soppressione di altri metodi inerenti al controllo del medesimo settore merceologico. Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana 31, 4164.Google Scholar
de Lange, CFM, Pluske, J, Gong, J and Nyachoti, CM 2010. Strategic use of feed ingredients and feed additives to stimulate gut health and development in young pigs. Livestock Science 134, 124134.Google Scholar
Diebold, G, Mosenthin, R, Piepho, HP and Sauer, WC 2004. Effect of supplementation of xylanase and phospholipase to a wheat-based diet for weanling pigs on nutrient digestibility and concentrations of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta and faeces. Journal of Animal Science 82, 26472656.Google Scholar
Dierick, N and Decuypere, J 1996. Mode of action of exogenous enzymes in growing pig nutrition. Pig News and Information 17, 4148.Google Scholar
Dorman, HJD and Deans, SG 2000. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. Journal of Applied Microbiology 88, 308316.Google Scholar
Emiola, IA, Opapeju, FO, Slominski, BA and Nyachoti, CM 2009. Growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs fed wheat distillers dried grains with solubles-based diets supplemented with a multicarbohydrase enzyme. Journal of Animal Science 87, 23152322.Google Scholar
Fan, CL, Han, XY, Xu, ZR, Wang, LJ and Shi, LR 2009. Effects of β-glucanase and xylanase supplementation on gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activities of weaned piglets fed a barley-based diet. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 93, 271276.Google Scholar
Graham, H, Hesselman, K, Jonsson, E and Aman, P 1986. Influence of beta-glucanase supplementation on digestion of a barley-based diet in the pig gastrointestinal tract. Nutrition Reports International 34, 10891096.Google Scholar
Hardy, B 2002. The issue of antibiotic use in the livestock industry: what have we learned? Animal Biotechnology 13, 129147.Google Scholar
He, J, Yin, J, Wang, L, Yu, B and Chen, DW 2010. Functional characterisation of a recombinant xylanase from pichia pastoris and effect of the enzyme on nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs. British Journal of Nutrition 103, 15071513.Google Scholar
Kemme, PA, Radcliffe, JS, Jongbloed, AW and Mroz, Z 1997. Factors affecting phosphorus and calcium digestibility in diets for growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 75, 21392146.Google Scholar
Kiarie, E, Nyachoti, CM, Slominski, BA and Blank, G 2007. Growth performance, gastrointestinal microbial activity, and nutrient digestibility in early-weaned pigs fed diets containing flaxseed and carbohydrase enzyme. Journal of Animal Science 85, 29822993.Google Scholar
Lambert, RJW, Skandamis, PN, Coote, PJ and Nychas, GJE 2001. A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol. Journal of Applied Microbiology 91, 453462.Google Scholar
Levast, B, De Monte, M, Melo, S, Chevaleyre, C, Berri, M, Salmon, H and Meurens, F 2010. Differences in transcriptomic profile and IgA repertoire between jejunal and ileal Peyer’s patches. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 34, 102106.Google Scholar
Lindemann, MD, Cornelius, SG, el Kandelgy, SM, Moser, RL and Pettigrew, JE 1986. Effect of age, weaning and diet on digestive enzyme levels in the piglet. Journal of Animal Science 62, 12981307.Google Scholar
Maenner, K, Vahjen, W and Simon, O 2011. Studies on the effects of essential-oil-based feed additives on performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, and selected bacterial groups in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets. Journal of Animal Science 89, 21062112.Google Scholar
Mancini-Filho, J, Van-Koiij, A, Mancini, DA, Cozzolino, FF and Torres, RP 1998. Antioxidant activity of cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Breyne) extracts. Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico 137, 443447.Google ScholarPubMed
Mathlouthi, N, Lallès, JP, Lepercq, P, Juste, C and Larbier, M 2002. Xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation improve conjugated bile acid fraction in intestinal contents and increase villus size of small intestine wall in broiler chickens fed a rye-based diet. Journal of Animal Science 80, 27732779.Google Scholar
Montagne, L, Pluske, JR and Hampson, DJ 2003. A review of interactions between dietary fibre the intestinal mucosa, and their consequences on digestive health in young non-ruminant animals. Animal Feed Science and Technology 108, 95117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mosser, DM 2003. The many faces of macrophage activation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 73, 209212.Google Scholar
Muhl, A and Liebert, F 2007. Growth and parameters of microflora in intestinal and faecal samples of piglets due to application of a phytogenic feed additive. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 91, 411418.Google Scholar
Nathan, CF 1987. Secretory products of macrophages. Journal of Clinical Investigation 79, 319326.Google Scholar
NRC 1998. Nutrient Requirements of Swine, 10th edition. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Omogbenigun, FO, Nyachoti, CM and Slominski, BA 2004. Dietary supplementation with multienzyme preparations improves nutrient utilization and growth performance in weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 82, 10531061.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Owusu-Asiedu, A, Simmins, PH, Brufau, J, Lizardo, R and Péron, A 2010. Effect of xylanase and β-glucanase on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in piglets fed wheat-barley-based diets. Livestock Science 134, 7678.Google Scholar
Pié, S, Lalles, JP, Blazy, F, Laffitte, J, Seve, B and Oswald, IP 2004. Weaning is associatedwith an upregulation of expression of inflammatory cytokines in the intestine of piglets. The Journal of Nutrition 134, 641647.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.Google Scholar
Pluske, JR, Thompson, MJ, Atwood, CS, Bird, PH, Williams, LH and Hartmann, PE 1996. Maintenance of villus height and crypt depth, and enhancement of disaccharide digestion and monosaccharide absorption, in piglets fed on cows’ whole milk after weaning. British Journal of Nutrition 76, 409422.Google Scholar
Wehner, S, Behrendt, FF, Lyutenski, BN, Lysson, M, Bauer, AJ, Hirner, A and Kalff, JC 2007. Inhibition of macrophage function prevents intestinal inflammation and postoperative ileus in rodents. Gut 56, 176185.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.Google Scholar
Woyengo, TA, Cowieson, AJ, Adeola, O and Nyachoti, CM 2008. Ileal digestibility and endogenous flow of minerals and amino acids: responses to dietary phytic acid in piglets. British Journal of Nutrition 102, 428433.Google Scholar
Zijlstra, RT, Owusu-Asiedu, A and Simmins, PH 2010. Future of NSP-degrading enzymes to improve nutrient utilization of co-products and gut health in pigs. Livestock Science 134, 255257.Google Scholar