Administration of Saccharomyces boulardii mafic-1701 improves feed conversion ratio, promotes antioxidant capacity, alleviates intestinal inflammation and modulates gut microbiota in weaned piglets
Wenxiu Zhang, Chengling Bao, Jian Wang, Jianjun Zang, Yunhe Cao
Abstract
Abstract Background Probiotics are used as a means to improve animal health and intestinal development. Saccharomyces boulardii is a well-known probiotic; however, few studies have examined the effects of S. boulardii on weaned piglet performance. Therefore, this 28-day study compared the effects of S. boulardii mafic-1701 and aureomycin in diets for weaned piglets on growth performance, antioxidant parameters, inflammation and intestinal microbiota. One hundred and eight piglets, weaned at 28 d of age (8.5 ± 1.1 kg), were randomly divided into the three dietary treatment groups with six pens and six piglets per pen (half male and half female). The dietary treatment groups were as follows: 1) basal diet (CON); 2) basal diet supplemented with 75 mg/kg aureomycin (ANT); 3) basal diet supplemented with 1 × 10 8 CFU/kg S. boulardii mafic-1701 (SB). Results Compared to CON group, SB group had higher feed efficiency ( P < 0.05) in the last 14 d and lower diarrhea rate ( P < 0.05) over the entire 28 d. Total superoxide dismutase in serum was markedly increased in SB group ( P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with CON group, SB group decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 ( P < 0.01) and Tumor necrosis factor-α ( P < 0.05) in jejunum. Supplementation of S. boulardii mafic-1701 increased the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG_009 and Turicibacter ( P < 0.05), whereas the abundance of unclassified _Clostridiaceae_4 was decreased ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, S. boulardii mafic-1701 administration increased cecal concentration of microbial metabolites, isobutyrate and valerate ( P < 0.05). Conclusions The improvement in feed conversion ratio, reduction in diarrhea rate in weaned piglets provided diets supplemented with S. boulardii mafic-1701 may be associated with enhanced antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory responses and improved intestinal microbial ecology.