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Title:   Author  item
                                            Carroll, Jeffery

                                                         - *Jeff Carroll*
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2003
                                    Publication  Date: 10/22/2003
                                    Citation: Carroll, J.A. 2003. Enhancing neonatal swine performance: a multidisciplinary perspective [abstract]. Invited presentation at the University of Missouri.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: The information to be presented includes our efforts over the last several years to identify nutritional supplements which can be utilized to enhance the immune system of young pigs.  Additionally, information on our more recent research activities evaluating the acute-phase immune response in pigs challenged with live bacteria, and our efforts in elucidating the appetite regulatory response in weaned pigs will be presented.

Our research efforts on nutritional modulation of the immune system have focused primarily on the use of spray-dried animal plasma and fish oil as nutritional supplements which could provide immunological protection. We have demonstrated that the enhanced growth performance observed with the inclusion of spray-dried plasma in the diet of weaned pigs appears to be associated with immunological protection at the level of the intestinal mucosa. Providing this protection allows nutrients to be diverted away from maintenance of the immune system and towards growth, thus enhancing the overall productivity of the pig. With regard to the use of fish oil in the diets of weaned pigs, our data clearly demonstrate that fish oil supplementation reduces the secretion of various hormones and cytokines associated with the acute-phase immune response when pigs are challenged with an endotoxin. Therefore, these pigs appear to be better equipped to combat the detrimental effects associated with an endotoxin challenge.  Collectively, the data from our studies provide evidence that nutritional supplements can be effectively used to enhance the immune capabilities of the young pig. 

Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes gastrointestinal disease in many species; however, the associated immune response has not been well defined.  To address this issue, 22 crossbred pigs were assigned to blood collection (n=10) or rectal temperature measurement (n=12) groups.  Blood-collection pigs were non-surgically cannulated one day prior to blood collection.  At 0 h, all pigs received a 10 mL oral dose of 240 million colony-forming units of E. coli K88 via a nasogastric tube.  Blood collection and rectal temperature monitoring occurred hourly from -1 to 5 h, every 30 minutes from 5 to 8 h, and at 24 h post-E. coli dosing.  Serum concentrations of cortisol (CS), interferon-gamma (IFN), tumor necrosis factor-alpha  (TNF), interleukin-1beta (IL-1), IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HG), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased (P < 0.0007) after E. coli administration.  Serum concentrations of IL-4 and IL-8 did not change and serum concentrations of TNF were undetectable.  While TNF was not associated with increased rectal temperature, positive correlations existed between rectal temperature and CS (r = 0.49; P < 0.0001), IFN (r = 0.29; P < 0.0009), IL-1 (r = 0.45; 0.0001), IL-6 (r = 0.31; P < 0.0003), IL-10 (r = 0.35; P < 0.0001), and LPS (r = 0.29; P < 0.0009).  These data indicate that circulating TNF does not play an integral role in the febrile response in pigs challenged with E. coli; however, CS, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN may play an important role in initiating and controlling fever.

Low feed intake by pigs during weaning leads to a suppression of weight gain and may also increase susceptibility to diseases.  Our objective was to characterize the hormonal changes that take place during a feed-deprivation period similar to that commonly observed during weaning in pigs.  In Experiment 1, eight barrows were either fed on a continual basis (CON; n = 4) or were feed deprived for 24 h and then re-fed until 30 h (FD; n = 4).  Relative serum concentrations of ghrelin tended to be lower in FD pigs at 12 h (P = 0.08) when compared to CON pigs, but greater than CON pigs at 24 and 30 h (P < 0.01).  Serum IGF-I was lower in FD pigs from 12 to 30 h as compared to CON pigs (P < 0.05) and increased follow


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