Small intestine lactobacilli growth promotion and immunomodulation in weaner pigs fed Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast high inclusion diet and exposed to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4⁺: O149

1 Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4⁺: O149 is a causative agent for the development of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in pigs that contributes to production losses. Yeast cell wall components used as a feed additive can modulate gut immunity and help protect animals from enteric infections. This work investigated how a novel yeast diet with high inclusion of yeast proteins (40% of crude protein) affected the course of ETEC mediated diarrhoea in weaner piglets from a farm with or without a history of post-weaning diarrhoea. We found that immune response to F4ab ETEC infection and appetite of the animals were altered by high inclusion C. jadinii yeast. The results indicate that the novel diet can support the diseased animals either directly through the effect of yeast beta-glucans and mannans or indirectly through the promotion of small intestine lactobacilli or both.