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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

The Effects of Bacillus subtilis QST713 and β-mannanase on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and the gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

  • 2023-01-01
  • Journal of animal science 101
    • Junchen Liu
    • Xiangyuan Ma
    • Yong Zhuo
    • Shengyu Xu
    • Lun Hua
    • Jian Li
    • Bin Feng
    • Zhengfeng Fang
    • Xuemei Jiang
    • Lianqiang Che
    • Zeyuan Zhu
    • Yan Lin
    • De Wu
    • De Wu

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
320 healthy piglets
Methods
randomly assigned to four groups: control group (basal diet), BS100 group (basal diet plus 100 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713), BS200 group (basal diet plus 200 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713), and BS100XT group (basal diet plus 100 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713 and 150 mg/kg β-mannanase)
Duration
42 d
  • Animal Study
We investigated the effects of different Bacillus subtilis QST713 doses and a B. subtilis QST713 and β-mannanase mix on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. In total, 320 healthy piglets were randomly assigned to four groups: 1) control group (basal diet), 2) BS100 group (basal diet plus 100 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713), 3) BS200 group (basal diet plus 200 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713), and 4) a BS100XT group (basal diet plus 100 mg/kg B. subtilis QST713 and 150 mg/kg β-mannanase). The study duration was 42 d. We showed that feed intake in weaned piglets on days 1 to 21 was increased in group BS100 (P < 0.05), and that the feed conversion ratio in group BS100XT animals decreased throughout the study (P < 0.05). In terms of microbial counts, the BS100XT group showed reduced Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens numbers on day 21 (P < 0.05). Moreover, no significant α-diversity differences were observed across all groups during the study (P > 0.05). However, principal coordinates analysis indicated clear separations in bacterial community structures across groups (analysis of similarities: P < 0.05) on days 21 and 42. Additionally, E-cadherin, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression in piglet feces increased (P < 0.05) by adding B. subtilis QST713 and β-mannanase to diets. Notably, this addition decreased short-chain fatty acid concentrations. In conclusion, B. subtilis QST713 addition or combined B. subtilis QST713 plus β-mannanase effectively improved growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and microbial balance in weaned piglets.

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