Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (9): 4461-4471.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.09.027

• Animal Nutrition and Feeds • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Dietary Bacillus subtilis Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Immunity and Antioxidant Function, Intestinal Morphology and Microorganisms of Piglets Challenged with Escherichia coli

RU Min1,2(), JIANG Xiaofeng3, LUO Guosheng3,*(), WU Yonghou1,*()   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    2. Sanyuan County Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Sanyuan 713800, China
    3. Hunan Pufik Biotechnology Co., LTD, Changsha 410201, China
  • Received:2024-09-27 Online:2025-09-23 Published:2025-09-30
  • Contact: LUO Guosheng, WU Yonghou E-mail:378360555@qq.com;lgs0921@163.com;wyh@nwafu.edu.cn

Abstract:

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis (BS) on growth performance, antioxidant and immune function, intestinal morphology and intestinal flora of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). A total of 24 Duroc × Landrace × Landrace piglets with a body weight of 8.30±0.15 kg at the age of 35 days were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group and 1 pig per replicate. Piglets in the NC group were fed a basal diet and 10 mL·kg-1 BW sterile culture medium, while piglets in the PC group were fed a basal diet and 10 mL·kg-1 BW ETCT (1×109 CFU·mL-1) bacterial solution. The piglets in the LBS and HBS groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 and 800 mg·kg-1 Bacillus subtilis, respectively, and both fed 10 mL·kg-1 BW ETCT (1×109 CFU·mL-1) bacterial solution. The pre-trial period lasted for 7 days, and the experimental period lasted for 14 days. The results were showed as follows:1) During the trial period from 1 to 7 days and from 1 to 14 days, diarrhea rate was significantly increased in PC group compared with NC group (DR), while DR in LBS group and HBS group were decreased compared with PC group; From 8 to 14 days, the average daily feed intake of PC group was significantly lower than that of NC group (P < 0.05), and the average daily gain of LBS group was significantly higher than those of PC group and HBS group (P < 0.05), the average daily feed intake of LBS group was significantly higher than that of HBS group (P < 0.05). 2) The activities of SOD and CAT in serum of piglets in PC group were significantly lower than those in NC group (P < 0.05), the content of PCO was significantly higher than that in the NC group, and the SOD in LBS group was significantly higher than that in PC group and HBS group (P < 0.05). 3) The serum IgA content of piglets in PC group was significantly lower than that in NC group (P < 0.05), and the serum IgG content in LBS group was significantly higher than that in PC group and HBS group (P < 0.05). 4) The villus height and crypt depth of jejunum in LBS group were significantly higher than those in PC and HBS groups (P < 0.05). Compared with PC group, crypt depth of colon of piglets in HBS group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).5) Lefse analysis showed that compared with the PC group, the abundance of Streptococcus in colon and Lactobacilales, Peptostreptococcus and Alkoprevotella in rectum were significantly increased in LBS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 500 mg·kg-1 Bacillus subtilis can affect intestinal morphology and microflora structure of piglets, improve their antioxidant and immune capabilities, and then improve the growth performance and diarrhea of ETEC challenged piglets.

Key words: Bacillus subtilis, ETEC, piglets, antioxidant and immune, intestinal microflora

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