Publication
Title
Intestinal immune cell quantification and gram type classification of the adherent microbiota in conventionally and artificially reared, normal and low birth weight piglets
Author
Abstract
To be able to raise larger litters, the influences of alternative rearing strategies on piglets are currently assessed. This study compared the predominant Gram type of the adherent intestinal microbiota between conventionally and artificially reared piglets and quantified their major mucosal immune cell populations. In addition, the potential influence of the piglets' birth weights was examined. To this purpose, 40 neonatal piglets consisting of 20 normal birth weight (NBW) and 20 low birth weight (LBW) piglets suckled the sow for three days after which 20 piglets (10 NBW and 10 LBW) continued to suckle the sow and 20 piglets (10 NBW and 10 LBW) were transferred to brooders and raised on milk formula. At the age of 10 or 28 days, five piglets of each group (birth weight×rearing strategy) were euthanized and the jejunum was sampled. The presence of adherent Gram+ and Gram− bacteria was scored and the volume densities of CD8+ cells, CD4+ cells and CD172a+ myloid cells were determined. Irrespective of birth weight, sow-fed piglets possessed a predominant Gram+ microbiome at 10 days of age, whereas formula-fed animals had more Gram- microbiota. With increasing age, however, Gram+ microbiota took the upper hand in these animals. The volume densities of CD8+ and CD4+ cells rose with increasing age and were consistently lower in LBW piglets. Both rearing strategies had a similar influence on the volume densities of these cell populations. In contrast, the volume densities of CD172a+ myloid cells did not differ significantly between the birth weight, rearing strategy and age groups. Three observations allow to conclude that artificial rearing could be a valuable alternative for suckling the sow. First, within each birth weight category, the mean weight of the 28-day-old piglets was similar for both rearing groups. Secondly, the effect of milk formula on the composition of the intestinal microbiome was only temporary since formula-fed piglets restored the more beneficial Gram+ microbiome by the end of the artificial rearing period. Finally, artificial rearing did not influence, either positively or negatively, the volume densities of CD8+, CD4+ and CD172a+ immune cells when compared to conventional rearing.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Livestock science. - Amsterdam, 2006, currens
Publication
Amsterdam : 2016
ISSN
1871-1413
DOI
10.1016/J.LIVSCI.2016.01.004
Volume/pages
185 (2016) , p. 1-7
ISI
000371549400001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 22.01.2016
Last edited 09.10.2023
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