1 research outputs found
Feeding of the probiotic bacterium Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 differentially affects shedding of enteric viruses in pigs
Effects of probiotic bacteria on viral infections have been described
previously. Here, two groups of sows and their piglets were fed with or
without feed supplementation of the probiotic bacterium Enterococcus faecium
NCIMB 10415. Shedding of enteric viruses naturally occurring in these pigs was
analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. No differences between the groups
were recorded for hepatitis E virus, encephalomyocarditis virus and norovirus.
In contrast, astrovirus was exclusively detected in the non-supplemented
control group. Rotavirus was shedded later and with lower amounts in the
probiotic piglet group (p < 0.05); rotavirus-shedding piglets gained less
weight than non-infected animals (p < 0.05). Serum titres of anti-rotavirus
IgA and IgG antibodies were higher in piglets from the control group, whereas
no difference was detected between sow groups. Phenotype analysis of immune
cell antigens revealed significant differences of the CD4 and CD8β (p < 0.05)
as well as CD8α and CD25 (p < 0.1) T cell populations of the probiotic
supplemented group compared to the non-supplemented control group. In
addition, differences were evident for CD21/MHCII-positive (p < 0.05) and IgM-
positive (p < 0.1) B cell populations. The results indicate that probiotic
bacteria could have effects on virus shedding in naturally infected pigs,
which depend on the virus type. These effects seem to be caused by
immunological changes; however, the distinct mechanism of action remains to be
elucidated