A high molecular weight soluble fraction of tempeh protects against fluid losses in Escherichia coli-infected piglet small intestine

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is an important cause of diarrhoea in children and piglets. Infection of ETEC results in fluid secretion and electrolyte losses in the small intestine. In this study the effects of tempeh, a traditional fungal fermented soyabean product, on fluid losses induced by ETEC infection in piglets was investigated. Pairs of ETEC-infected and non-infected small intestinal segments of piglets were perfused simultaneously for 8 h with pre-digested tempeh, its supernatant and saline as an internal control. In saline perfused segments, ETEC infection reduced net fluid absorption by more than 500 ¿l/cm2, whereas this reduction was significantly less for pre-digested tempeh and its supernatant (75 and 282 ¿l/cm2, respectively). The supernatant of pre-digested tempeh was also compared with its permeate and retentate fractions. These fractions were created by ultra-filtration and contained respectively low and high molecular weight (>5 kDa) compounds. Again ETEC infection caused a significant reduction of net fluid absorption when perfused with saline (386 ¿l/cm2) and also with the permeate fraction (300 ¿l/cm2), but much less with the supernatant and the retentate fraction (125 and 140 ¿l/cm2, respectively). The reduction in net fluid absorption upon ETEC infection when perfused with supernatant of either undigested or pre-digested tempeh was not different. Therefore from this study it can be concluded that a high molecular weight soluble fraction of tempeh is able to protect against fluid losses induced by ETEC, suggesting that this could play a potential role in controlling ETEC-induced diarrhoea

Thirty minutes transport causes small intestinal acidosis in pigs

Long duration (>10 hours) transport has been described as having either adverse or no effects on porcine health. However, the effect of short duration transport on porcine health is unknown. In the present paper, pigs fed ad lib turn (n = 6) were transported for 30 minutes, anaesthetised, instrumented, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal parameters were measured. Non-transported pigs (n = 6) served as controls. No significant differences between groups were found concerning blood flow in the arteria mesenterica cranialis, heart rate, cardiac output, pulmonal blood pressure, haemoglobin content and haematocrit value. Systolic systemic blood pressure was higher (though not significant), and diastolic systemic blood pressure was significantly higher in the transported pigs than in the controls. Small intestinal pH was significantly lower in transported pigs than in control pigs. We conclude that a 30-minute transport of fed pigs results in small intestinal acidosis. As small intestinal acidosis predisposes to bacterial translocation, even short duration transport should be avoided when possibl

Oedema disease is associated with metabolic acidosis and small intestinal acidosis

Limited information is available about the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of oedema disease (OD). Oedema disease is caused by specific enterotoxemic Escherichia coli (SLTIIv-toxin producing) strains; however, the same strains are also found in non-afflicted pigs. Furthermore, it is unclear how the 80 kDa SLTIIv-toxin can pass the intestinal barrier. In the present paper, piglets showing signs of acute OD were anaesthetised, instrumented and cardiovascular and intestinal parameters were determined at 0, 1, 2 and 3 hours. Healthy piglets from the same herd were used as a control. Cardiac output, blood pH and bicarbonate, small intestinal intramucosal pH, and (pulmonary) blood pressure were significantly lower in OD-pigs than in control pigs. It is concluded that OD is associated with metabolic and intestinal acidosis. Intestinal acidosis is known to increase macromolecular permeability. This suggests that once OD has developed, influx of SLTIIv-toxin into the blood stream is facilitated, thus perpetuating the disease. Since intestinal permeability appears to be central in OD, it is argued that post-weaning events increase intestinal permeability and predispose individuals to O