AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS IN PIG PRODUCTION.

A new study has shown that piectasin,could be an effective alternative to use of antibiotics in pig industry. Piectasin is an antimicrobial peptide: which can be isolated from a wide range of animals, plants, and bacterial species.They are small cationic molecules and Compared to conventional antibiotics, the antimicrobial peptides has a broader spectrum. The antimicrobial peptides have a more rapid killing action and highly selective toxicity. The researchers explained that growth performance effects have often been observed, and most importantly ,Bacteria have difficulty in developing resistance against these peptides due to their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes via non-specific electrostatic interactions with the membrane lipid components. This fact makes the antimicrobial peptides an alternative to antibiotics for use in livestock industry. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the recombinant piectasin on growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs.The scientists wrote: "In total, 24 four weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of four treatments, including a corn-soybean basal diet, the basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (60 mg/kg colistin sulfate), probiotics (Bacillus subtilis ≥109 CFU/g) and recombinant piectasin (60 mg/kg)." The results of the 21-day study showed that dietary supplementation with antibiotics and piectasin had positive effects on the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and body-weight gain (ADG). The scientists stated: "Compared with the corn-soybean basal diet, the ratio of feed to gain (feed conversion ratio, FCR) and diarrhoea rate in both groups were significantly reduced. Pigs fed the diets containing antibiotics and piectasin had a higher villus height and a higher disaccharidase activity in the small intestinal mucosa." The "Piectasin supplementation also significantly increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium in the ileum. Interestingly, piectasin elevated the absorption of xylose and the expression levels of tight junction protein CLDN1 and ZO-1 in the small intestinal mucosa. The results suggest piectasin may be an effective alternative to antibiotics for the pig industry." source; pig progress.