TY - JOUR

T1 - Post-weaning diarrhea in pigs from a single Danish production herd was not associated with the pre-weaning fecal microbiota composition and diversity

AU - Rydal, Martin Peter

AU - Gambino, Michela

AU - Castro-Mejia, Josue L.

AU - Poulsen, Louise Ladefoged

AU - Jørgensen, Claus Bøttcher

AU - Nielsen, Jens Peter

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Rydal, Gambino, Castro-Mejia, Poulsen, Jørgensen and Nielsen.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Introduction: The association between the porcine pre-weaning gut microbiota composition and diversity, and subsequent post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) susceptibility is currently being studied. In this longitudinal study, we examined the association between pre-weaning fecal microbiome composition and diversity, and PWD development in a Danish sow herd. Methods: Forty-five pigs were followed from birth until 7 days after weaning (post-natal day (PND) 33). At PND 33, the pigs were categorized as PWD cases or healthy controls based on fecal consistency. We compared their fecal microbiomes at PND 8, late lactation (PND 27) and 7 days post weaning (PND 33) using 16S rRNA V3 region high-throughput sequencing. At PND 27 and 33, we also weighed the pigs, assessed fecal shedding of hemolytic Escherichia coli by culture and characterized hemolytic isolates by ETEC virulence factors with PCR and by whole genome sequencing. Results: A total of 25 out of 45 pigs developed PWD and one Enterotoxigenic E. coli strain with F18:LT:EAST1 virotype was isolated from most pigs. At PND 33, we found differences in beta diversity between PWD and healthy pigs (R2 = 0.027, p = 0.009) and that body weight was associated with both alpha and beta diversity. Pre-weaning fecal microbiome diversity did not differ between PWD and healthy pigs and we found no significant, differentially abundant bacteria between them. Conclusion: In the production herd under study, pre-weaning fecal microbiome diversity and composition were not useful indicators of PWD susceptibility.

AB - Introduction: The association between the porcine pre-weaning gut microbiota composition and diversity, and subsequent post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) susceptibility is currently being studied. In this longitudinal study, we examined the association between pre-weaning fecal microbiome composition and diversity, and PWD development in a Danish sow herd. Methods: Forty-five pigs were followed from birth until 7 days after weaning (post-natal day (PND) 33). At PND 33, the pigs were categorized as PWD cases or healthy controls based on fecal consistency. We compared their fecal microbiomes at PND 8, late lactation (PND 27) and 7 days post weaning (PND 33) using 16S rRNA V3 region high-throughput sequencing. At PND 27 and 33, we also weighed the pigs, assessed fecal shedding of hemolytic Escherichia coli by culture and characterized hemolytic isolates by ETEC virulence factors with PCR and by whole genome sequencing. Results: A total of 25 out of 45 pigs developed PWD and one Enterotoxigenic E. coli strain with F18:LT:EAST1 virotype was isolated from most pigs. At PND 33, we found differences in beta diversity between PWD and healthy pigs (R2 = 0.027, p = 0.009) and that body weight was associated with both alpha and beta diversity. Pre-weaning fecal microbiome diversity did not differ between PWD and healthy pigs and we found no significant, differentially abundant bacteria between them. Conclusion: In the production herd under study, pre-weaning fecal microbiome diversity and composition were not useful indicators of PWD susceptibility.

KW - diarrhea

KW - enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

KW - F18 fimbriae

KW - gastrointestinal microbiome

KW - genetic marker

KW - high-throughput sequencing

KW - piglet

KW - post-weaning

U2 - 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108197

DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108197

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36922976

AN - SCOPUS:85149944892

VL - 14

JO - Frontiers in Microbiology

JF - Frontiers in Microbiology

SN - 1664-302X

M1 - 1108197

ER -