<i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Prevents Diarrhea Incidence in Weaned Piglets Induced by <i>Escherichia coli</i> K88 through Rectal Bacteria–Host Metabolic Cross-Talk

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) on the prevention of the diarrhea rates and growth performances of weaned piglets induced by Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88). Twenty-four weaned piglets (6.92 ± 0.11 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for a period of 21 days. Each group consisted of eight pigs, with each pig being housed in an individual pen. Group I received the control diet along with normal saline, Group II received the control diet along with E. coli K88, and Group III received the control diet supplemented with 5 × 108 CFU/kg of C. butyricum and E. coli K88. We examined alterations in rectal microbiota and metabolites, analyzed the incidence of diarrhea, and investigated the interactions between microbiota and metabolites through the application of Illumina MiSeq sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that, from days 14 to 21, the diarrhea incidence in Group III decreased significantly by 83.29% compared to Group II (p p p E. coli K88 orally can elevate the relative abundance of Megasphaera (p C. butyricum in the diet reduced the relative abundance of Megasphaera (p Lachnospiraceae (p C. butyricum in the feed significantly altered the amino acids and fatty acids of the piglets infected with E. coli K88 (p p p Prevotella_1 exhibited a negative correlation with octadecanoic acid (p Prevotellaceae_UCG-005 showed a negative correlation with (5-hydroxyindol-3-YL) acetic acid (p < 0.05). The findings from this research study aid in probiotic development and the enhancement of healthy growth in weaned piglets.

Keywords

• <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>
• diarrhea incidence
• rectal microbiota
• rectal metabolites
• weaned piglet
• <i>Escherichia coli</i> K88