Environmental and maternal factors shaping tonsillar microbiota development in piglets

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Palatine tonsils are key to mucosal immunity, sampling antigens and bacteria.
• Tonsillar microbiota development and factors influencing disease-associated bacteria like Streptococcus suis remain poorly understood.
• This study investigates piglet tonsillar microbiota development and influencing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess piglet tonsillar microbiota development during the first five weeks of life.
• To determine the influence of maternal and environmental farm parameters on tonsillar microbiota.
• To evaluate the impact of sow vaccination against Streptococcus suis on offspring microbiota and colonization.

Main Methods:

• 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to analyze microbiota composition.
• Piglets were studied during the first five weeks of life.
• Maternal (parity, vaccination) and environmental (co-housing, litter) factors were assessed.

Main Results:

• A diverse tonsillar microbiota is established shortly after birth, with gradual changes over five weeks.
• Weaning had minimal impact on microbiota composition or diversity.
• Strong litter and co-housing effects were observed; sow parity and prepartum vaccination showed significant associations with Streptococcus species abundance.

Conclusions:

• Piglet tonsillar microbiota is established early and shaped by maternal and environmental factors, with limited influence from weaning.
• Pre-partum sow vaccination significantly affects piglet tonsillar microbiota composition.
• Findings offer new insights into the mechanisms governing tonsillar microbiota development.