Fecal Microbiota and Its Correlation With Fatty Acids and Free Amino Acids Metabolism in Piglets After a Lactobacillus Strain Oral Administration

In conclusion, L. reuteri ZLR003 influenced the fecal microbiota composition of piglets, and its effects were related to the metabolism of SCFAs, LCFAs, and FAAs. Our findings will help facilitate the application of Lactobacillus strains in pig production. Introduction Lactobacillus, an essential member of the normal microbiota, can improve the intestinal microbial balance with beneficial effects when administered in adequate amounts (Bogovic et al., 2016; Simpson et al., 2018). Lactobacillus has been widely employed as a supplement in foods as well as in farming and medicine (Hill et al., 2014). In fact, the Lactobacillus market has maintained a growth rate of 15–18% in recent years in China1. There is increased acceptance of the application of Lactobacillus strains in animal feeds to maintain health, and animal studies have shown the beneficial probiotic effects. However, the mechanism of action of Lactobacillus remains to be elucidated. During the weaning period, piglets are subjected to sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes, and the microbiota are sharply changed, generally resulting in a decrease in bacteria of the Lactobacillus group and an increase in pathogenic bacteria, mainly leading to colibacillosis resulting in diarrhea, poor appetite, lower feed intake, and growth retardation (Isaacson and Kim, 2012; Schokker et al., 2015). Previous studies on the microbiota in weaning piglets suggested that there was a large reduction in alpha divers...
Source: Frontiers in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research