Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400425
Research Project: Analysis of Genetic Factors that Increase Foodborne Pathogen Fitness, Virulence, and Antimicrobial Resistance Transfer, to Identify Interventions against Salmonella and Campylobacter in Food Animals

Location: Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research

Title: Effects of ß-glucan on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium swine colonization and microbiota alterations

Author
item Bearson, Shawn
item Trachsel, Julian
item Bearson, Bradley - Brad
item Loving, Crystal
item Kerr, Brian
item Shippy, Daniel
item KIROS, TADELE - Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: With the elimination of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion of food animals by the 2017 Veterinary Feed Directive, nutritional supplements to enhance animal health and reduce pathogen colonization are sought after by food animal producers. ß(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucan (ß-glucan) is a soluble fiber with prebiotic characteristics that has been shown to modulate immune and intestinal functions when administered in the diets of growing pigs. In the current study, the effects of a ß-glucan product on gut microbial community structure as well as Salmonella shedding and intestinal colonization was evaluated. Material and Methods: Five-week-old pigs were fed a ß-glucan amended diet at 500g/ton (n=13) or a non-amended control diet (n=14) for three weeks, followed by inoculation of the 27 pigs with 1 × 109 colony forming units of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain UK1. Fecal samples were collected at 2, 4, 7, and 16 days post-inoculation (dpi) for enumeration of Salmonella. Cecal contents and the Peyer’s patches region of the ileum were obtained for Salmonella quantitation at necropsy on 16 dpi. Results: While remaining on the respective diets, fecal samples collected at respective time points were similar for Salmonella shedding counts between the two diets. At 16 dpi, Salmonella counts were significantly lower in the cecal contents of the ß-glucan-fed pigs (P=0.0339) and a trend towards a reduction was observed in the Peyer’s patches (P=0.0790) compared to the control pigs. Pigs fed ß-glucan for three weeks exhibited an increase in members of the Clostridia class in their fecal microbial communities, and after inoculation with Salmonella, several potentially beneficial microorganisms were enriched in the microbiota of ß-glucan-fed pigs (Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, Veillonellaceae, Bifidobacterium and Olsenella). Conclusion: ß-glucan diet supplementation altered the swine gut microbiome and reduced Salmonella colonization in the cecal contents.