The Early Life Microbiota Is Not a Major Factor Underlying the Susceptibility to Postweaning Diarrhea in Piglets
Résumé
Postweaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets impair welfare, induce economic losses
and lead to overuse of antibiotics. The early life gut microbiota was proposed to contribute
to the susceptibility to PWD. The objective of our study was to evaluate in a large cohort
of 116 piglets raised in 2 separate farms whether the gut microbiota composition and
functions during the suckling period were associated with the later development of PWD.
The fecal microbiota and metabolome were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon
sequencing and nuclear magnetic based resonance at postnatal day 13 in male and
female piglets. The later development of PWD was recorded for the same animals from
weaning (day 21) to day 54. The gut microbiota structure and
a-diversity during the suck-
ling period were not associated with the later development of PWD. There was no signifi-
cant difference in the relative abundances of bacterial taxa in suckling piglets that later
developed PWD. The predicted functionality of the gut microbiota and the fecal metabo-
lome signature during the suckling period were not linked to the later development of
PWD. Trimethylamine was the bacterial metabolite which fecal concentration during the
suckling period was the most strongly associated with the later development of PWD.
However, experiments in piglet colon organoids showed that trimethylamine did not
disrupt epithelial homeostasis and is thus not likely to predispose to PWD through this
mechanism. In conclusion, our data suggest that the early life microbiota is not a major
factor underlying the susceptibility to PWD in piglets.
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Licence : CC BY - Paternité
Licence : CC BY - Paternité