Effects of monolaurin on intestinal barrier, blood biochemical profile, immunity, and antioxidant function in porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infected piglets

This study aimed to investigate its role in blood biochemical profile, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant function and the expression of antiviral genes in piglets infected with PEDV. Thirty-two piglets were randomly divided into four groups: control group, ML group, PEDV group and ML + PEDV group. Piglets were orally administrated with ML at a dose of 100 mg/kg·BW for 7 days before PEDV infection. Results showed that PEDV infection significantly decreased D-xylose content, and increased iFABP content, indicating that PEDV infection destroyed intestinal barrier and absorption function. While it could be repaired by ML administration. Moreover, ML administration significantly decreased plasma BUN and TP content upon PEDV infection. These results suggested ML may increase protein utilization efficiency. ML administration significantly decreased the number of LUC and HGB, and increased the number of WBC and EOS in the blood of PEDV-infected piglets, indicating ML could improve the immune defense function of the body. In the presence of PEDV infection, ML administration significantly increased SOD and CAT activities in blood and colon, respectively, indicating ML could improve antioxidant capacity. Besides, ML administration reversed the expression of ISG15, IFIT3 and IL-29 throughout the small intestine and Mx1 in jejunum and ileum, indicating the body was in recovery from PEDV infection. This study suggests that ML could be used as a kind of feed additive to promote swin...
Source: The British Journal of Nutrition - Category: Nutrition Authors: Source Type: research