Source: TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE submitted to
ALTERNATIVE ANTIBIOTIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR WEANED PIGS
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0430784
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
3091-32000-033-03S
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 1, 2016
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
BEIER R C
Recipient Organization
TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE
112 JACK K WILLIAMS ADMIN
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
40%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
71235201100100%
Goals / Objectives
Test the effectiveness of two potential alternative antibiotic feed additive technologies (a pharmaceutically-designed thymol-impregnated high molecular weight carbohydrate and a natural seed product of Nigella sativa) on performance, immune function, gut health, and colonization of Campylobacter coli, Salmonella spp., and generic E. coli in weaned pigs.
Project Methods
The animals used in this research will be cared for and handled according to procedures approved by the USDA/ARS Plains Agricultural Research Center's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. USDA/ARS scientists will conduct a research trial with sixty (60)weaned pigs at the USDA Food & Feed Safety Research Unit's animal facility in College Station, TX. Blood samples and weight measurements will be obtained on all pigs prior to and after treatments. Anti-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines will be measured before and after treatment. Pigs will be challenged with Campylobacter and Salmonella 8 h before treatment if not shedding these bacteria. Feed containing different doses will be mixed and fed for a period of three weeks. The collected jejunal, cecal, and rectal contents will be serially diluted and the total anaerobes, Campylobacer, Salmonella, and E. coli will be determined. Portions of the samples will also be analyzed to determine effects of treatments on fermentation activity by measuring pH and accumulations of ammonia and volatile fatty acids. To assess the potential of the treatments to inadvertently co-select for antimicrobial resistance to important antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance profiles of random E. coli isolates from the beginning of the trials and at the end of the trials will be tested using NCCLS methods and nonfastidious Gram-negative plates.