81 Effects of NeutraPath™ on growth performance, diarrhea and fecal-hemolytic coliforms of weaned pigs challenged with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate NeutraPath’s effects on performance, diarrhea, and fecal β-hemolytic coliforms of weaned pigs infected with enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). NeutraPath, a blend of essential oils, fatty acids and toxin-adsorbing minerals has bacteriostatic/bactericidal effects. Thirty-six weanling pigs (21 d old; average BW 6.88 kg; 18 barrows, 18 gilts) blocked by weight and gender, were assigned to one of three dietary treatments in an RCB (1 pig/pen; 12 replicates/treatment). Treatments were control or dietary supplementation with 0.25% or 0.50% NeutraPath. This study lasted 28 d with 7 d before and 21 d after the first E. coli inoculation (d 0). All pigs were orally inoculated with 1010 cfu F18+ ETEC/3-mL dose for 3 consecutive d. Growth performance data was obtained on d 0, d 7, d 14 and d 21 post-inoculation (PI). On d 2 PI, fecal samples were obtained and plated on blood and MacConkey agars to determine total coliforms and β-hemolytic coliforms. Treatment effects were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or repeated measures ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. The 0.5% NeutraPath treatment resulted in a 12.7% and a 14.0% increase (P < 0.05) in BW (relative to initial BW at d 0 PI) at d 7 PI and d 21 PI, respectively. Pigs fed either NeutraPath dose had greater overall growth during the 28-d period (P< 0.05) producing improvements in feed efficiency during d 14-21 PI (P< 0.05). Feeding 0.25% NeutraPath improved (P < 0.05) diarrhea kinetics d 0-11 PI, Diarrhea score (DS) area under the curve for d 0-11 and d 0-21 PI, moderate (DS≥3) and severe (DS≥4) diarrhea incidence and tended (P=0.08) to lower the percentage of fecal β-hemolytic coliforms compared to control. In conclusion, NeutraPath supplementation can enhance growth performance and decrease incidence of severe diarrhea in weaned pigs challenged with F18+ ETEC.