Preventative use of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product on postwean K88 and salmonella: Quantitative assessment of prevalence and severity

This case study examines a herd with a history of endemic K88 E. coli and Salmonella diarrhea post wean. Signs included acutely: diarrhea and dehydration; subacutely: acute signs plus gradual fat loss; and chronically: muscle loss and rough hair coat. Control is sporadic with both vaccination and medication attempts. Currently Neomycin therapy is used. In an effort to increase treatment efficacy, reduce dependence on antibiotics, and support health and performance of nursery pigs, a Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product (LAFP, SynGenX®; Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) was examined as preventative support to current control methods prior to typical onset of diarrhea. This product has been shown to alter enteric bacteria concentrations and the immune response; and therefore may assist pigs in coping with both E. coli and Salmonella before they cause disease.

Investigators monitored the impact of LAFP (1kg per MT) and Neomycin (22 mg/kg) in the water (1 week) on prevalence and severity of clinical signs compared to pigs receiving Neomycin alone. Five barns were enrolled. Severity was divided into the following categories: acute, subacute, chronic, or euthanize/cull. Clinical signs of Fallout, Respiratory, Diarrhea, Lameness, Neurologic, and Other were measured each week for both prevalence and severity of respective signs. Death loss, stools per pen, and injectable treatments were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s Exact test for proportions using MedCalc 15.11 (MedCalc Software, Ostend, Belgium).

Death loss on the treatment side was 56% less than the control (P=0.003). Number of necessary individual treatments was 40% less than control (P< 0.0001). Total fallouts were reduced at two weeks post entry when diarrhea is typically most severe. At 2 weeks post entry, acute fallouts were reduced post entry in 3/5 barns (B3NE P=0.016, B3NW P< 0.0001, B4NE P=0.031); subacute fallouts were reduced in 3/5 barns (B1N P=0.011, B3NW P< 0.001, B4NW P=0.041); chronic fallouts were reduced at 2 weeks post entry in 1/5 barns (B3NW P=0.002). Stools per pen were reduced in barns experiencing diarrhea at 2 weeks post entry (B3NE P< 0.001, B3NW P< 0.001, and B4SW P=0.004) and at 5 weeks post entry (B1N P< 0.001, B2NE P=0.009, B3NW P=0.035).

Preventative therapy with LAFP reduced death loss, number of pigs that needed individual treatment, reduced fallouts, and diarrhea in pigs. Additional studies for replacing antibiotic therapy completely are warranted. In this case, producer achieved his goal of using less antibiotic due to reduced injectable therapy needed in treatment groups.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.