2026-04-14T07:15:46Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12327/47592025-10-22T11:19:19Zcom_2072_4428com_2072_4427col_2072_487898

Spray-dried porcine plasma improves piglets’ performance and modulates gut immune-related genes in the first week postweaning Ng'ang'a, Zacharia Waithaka Tous, Núria Hussain, Muzahir Ballester Devis, Maria Polo, Javier Beltrán-Debón, Raúl Tarradas, Joan Torrallardona, David Producció Animal Genètica i Millora Animal Nutrició Animal Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in pre-starter feed of piglets on performance, fecal consistency, gut integrity biomarkers, and gene expression patterns related to intestinal function. Methods: Ninety piglets (18 pens; 5 pigs/pen; 8.16±1.29 kg initial body weight) were offered pre-starter feed with either soy protein concentrate (control) or SDPP for 14 d postweaning, and a common commercial starter feed between 14 and 35 d. Pigs’ performance was recorded at 0, 7, 14 and 35 d of trial and their fecal consistency was assessed on the first 2 weeks. At 7 d, one piglet per pen (18 in total) was sampled for blood, intestinal mucosa, and bile. Blood serum calprotectin and citrulline and bile sIgA were quantified with ELISA, and gene expression in the mucosa from ileum, jejunum, and caecum was analyzed with high-throughput microfluidic technology. Results: Relative to control, SDPP improved feed intake (215 vs 280 g/d; p<0.05), weight gain (133 vs. 205 g/d; p<0.05) and gain-to-feed ratio (0.61 vs. 0.74; p<0.05) between d 0 to 7. Serum calprotectin and citrulline, and bile sIgA at d 7 were not affected. Piglets fed SDPP had higher expressions of IL-1β (p = 0.033) in jejunal mucosa, and of IL-1β (p = 0.018), IL-8/CXCL8 (p = 0.010), GBP1 (p = 0.014) and TGF-β1 (p = 0.015) in ileal mucosa, at 7 d post-weaning. No effects on fecal scores were observed. Conclusion: It is concluded that the administration of SDPP during the pre-starter phase improves piglet’s performance during the first week post-weaning. These SDPP associated benefits appear to have been achieved through the modulation of gut homeostasis, potentially involving the regulation of inflammatory factors in the small intestinal mucosa. 2025-10-22T11:19:19Z 2025-10-22T11:19:19Z 2025-10-22T11:19:19Z 2025-06-10 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Ng’ang’a, Zacharia Waithaka, Núria Tous, Muzahir Hussain, Maria Ballester, Javier Polo, Raúl Beltrán-Debón, Joan Tarradas, and David Torrallardona. 2025. “Spray-dried Porcine Plasma Improves Piglets’ Performance and Modulates Gut Immune-related Genes in the First Week Post-weaning.” Animal Bioscience, June. doi: 10.5713/ab.25.0185 2765-0189 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/4759 https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.25.0185 eng Animal Bioscience EC/H2020/945413/EU/Martí i Franquès Doctoral Programme Plus/MFP Plus http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Attribution 4.0 International Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies