Effect of cranberry on intestinal microbial and immune systems of nursery pigs

Megan M Stanley, Purdue University

Abstract

A major goal of the swine industry is to develop and implement alternatives to antibiotics in the control of pathogens. Cranberry-based additives have shown promise in human medicine by preventing or controlling urinary tract infections in humans, presumably by reducing adhesion of pathogenic bacteria such, as E. coli and Salmonella. The hypothesis of this study was that cranberry could reduce the effects of pathogenic bacteria in nursery pigs (i.e. Salmonella, E. coli). In this study, we examined whether cranberry-based additives (in feed or in water) can effectively reduce Salmonella, E. coli, and coliform colonization in nursery pigs. At weaning, 120 pigs were divided and administered 1 of 4 treatments. Four weeks post-weaning, pigs were subjected to a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium challenge. Samples were collected at 2, 3, and 4 wks post-weaning, and 24 h and 1 wk post-challenge. Performance data (ADFI, ADG and G:F) was also collected and analyzed to quantitate bacteria colonization. We found that cranberry does not consistently reduce Salmonella, E. coli, or coliform colonization in nursery pigs. Performance was also not consistently affected due to the cranberry treatments. In addition, the adherence of Salmonella to intestinal cells pre-treated with cranberry was also examined in-vitro. It was found that cranberry does have the potential to reduce the adherence of Salmonella to intestinal cells in-vitro.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Eber, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Animal sciences

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