Dietary Pectic Oligosaccharide Administration Improves Growth Performance and Immunity in Weaned Pigs Infected by...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Rotavirus infection is a major cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in young animals.
• Porcine rotavirus (PRV) significantly impairs growth performance and immune status in weaned pigs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dietary pectic oligosaccharide (POS) supplementation on growth performance and immunity in PRV-infected weaned pigs.
• To evaluate POS as a potential dietary intervention for rotavirus challenges.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight weaned pigs were randomly assigned to receive a basal diet with or without POS for 18 days.
• Pigs were challenged with PRV on day 15.
• Growth performance, diarrhea incidence, serum biochemical parameters, antibody levels, and mucosal immune factors were assessed.

Main Results:

• PRV infection impaired growth, induced diarrhea, and altered immune responses (increased urea nitrogen, MDA, IgA, IgG, rotavirus antibodies; decreased digestive enzymes, sIgA, IL-4, IFN-γ, T-AOC).
• POS supplementation improved growth performance, enhanced serum IgA, digestive enzyme activities, and mucosal sIgA, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels.
• In PRV-challenged pigs, POS alleviated diarrhea, improved growth, increased rotavirus antibody levels, and modulated immune parameters (serum T-AOC, IgG, MDA, jejunal/ileal enzyme activities, and mucosal sIgA, IL-4, IFN-γ).

Conclusions:

• Dietary POS supplementation can enhance growth performance and immune function in weaned pigs, particularly under PRV challenge.
• POS may improve nutrient utilization and immune responses, offering a promising dietary strategy to mitigate the negative effects of rotavirus in piglets.