Two of the most common species of toxin-producing Fusarium contaminating small cereal grains are Fusarium graminearum and F. poae; with both elaborating diverse toxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), respectively. The objective of our work during the 2012–2014 growing seasons was to screen crops for the most commonly isolated Fusarium species and to quantify DON and NIV toxins in natural malting-barley samples from different producing areas of Argentina. We identified 1180 Fusarium isolates in the 119 samples analyzed, with 51.2% being F. graminearum, 26.2% F. poae and 22.6% other species. We found high concentrations of mycotoxins, at maximum values of 12 μg/g of DON and 7.71 μg/g of NIV. Of the samples, 23% exhibited DON at an average of 2.36 μg/g, with 44% exceeding the maximum limits (average of 5.24 μg/g); 29% contained NIV at an average of 2.36 μg/g; 7% contained both DON and NIV; and 55% were without DON or NIV. Finally, we report the mycotoxin contamination of the grain samples produced by F. graminearum and F. poae, those being the most frequent Fusarium species present. We identified the main Fusarium species affecting natural malting-barley grains in Argentina and documented the presence of many samples with elevated concentrations of DON and NIV. To our knowledge, the investigation reported here was the first to quantify the contamination by Fusarium and its toxins in natural samples of malting barley in Argentina.

Water hardness is a critical factor that affects oxytetracycline dissolution by chelation with cations. These interactions may lead to impaired dosing and consequently decrease absorption. Moreover, feed present in gastrointestinal tract may interact with antibiotic and alter pharmacokinetic parameters. In the present study, dissolution profiles of an oxytetracycline veterinary formulation were assessed in purified, soft and hard water. Furthermore, oxytetracycline absolute bioavailability, after oral administration of the drug dissolved in soft or hard water, was evaluated in fed and fasted piglets. A maximum dissolution of 86% and 80% was obtained in soft and hard water, respectively, while in purified water dissolution was complete. Results from in vivo study reconfirmed oxytetracycline's very low oral bioavailability. The greatest values were attained when antibiotic was dissolved in soft water and in fasted animals. Statistically significant lower absolute bioavailability was achieved when hard water was used and/or animals were fed. Moreover, Cmax attained in all treatments was lower than MIC90 of most important swine pathogens. For these reasons, the oral use of OTC formulations, that have demonstrated low oral bioavailability, should be avoided to treat systemic diseases in pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe citrullinemia profiles during the weaning transition and correlate citrulline production with stress and growth in a commercial pig farm. ANIMALS: 240 healthy piglets of homogenous weight, weaned from second and third parity sows, were selected at weaning and subjected to the farm’s routine management practices in May to July 2020 and May to July 2021. PROCEDURES: Piglets were weighed at weaning, then 15 and 49 days later in order to calculate daily weight gain during the first 15 and 49 days after weaning. Blood samples were collected from each piglet to determine citrulline and cortisol profiles during the early postweaning period. RESULTS: Citrullinemia decreased dramatically during the first week postweaning and then increased progressively to reach preweaning values by 15 days postweaning. Citrulline production during the first 2 weeks postweaning was negatively correlated with cortisol production (r: –0.2949) and positively correlated with mean daily weight gain during the first 15 (ρ: 0.5450) and 49 (ρ: 0.6603) days postweaning. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Citrullinemia profile of piglets during the early postweaning period showed a temporal negative impact of stress (assessed by plasmatic cortisol levels) on intestinal enterocytes’ mass and function, which resulted in a lower average daily weight gain. We demonstrated that a single biomarker, plasmatic citrulline, is useful to describe intestinal metabolism during the early postweaning period and that the greater the citrulline production during the first days after weaning, the higher the weight gain during the entire postweaning period.

The incorporation of natural essential oils to the pigsʼ diet in intensive production systems is a potential tool to improve gut health and prevent infections without using antibiotics. Nevertheless, different products, even containing the same compounds, coming from the same botanical species, may exert dissimilar biological effects due differences in the technological processes by which they are produced and preserved. For this reason, suitability of a given product based on natural extracts, intended for swine production must be thoroughly evaluated. In the present study, we assessed the effects of three additives containing oregano (Lippia origanoides) essential oil, alone or in combination with clover (Eugenia caryophillata) essential oil, with or without being microencapsulated, on gastrointestinal health and on some performance parameters in a commercial pig production farm. Recently weaned piglets were randomly divided in four groups, and basal diet or essential oil-supplemented diet (OCE; MOCE; MOE) was randomly assigned to each of the groups from weaning to finishing. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days after weaning. Intestinal sampling took place at 42 and 72 days of age. Pigs consuming the supplemented diets showed higher intestinal metabolic activity during the post-weaning period, decreasing the impact of weaning stress on enterocytesʼ metabolism. Intestinal barrier function was not affected in pigs consuming microencapsulated products. All treated groups showed improved intestinal architecture, increased digestive enzymes activity and caecal VFA concentrations. The incorporation of the dietary essential oils products brought beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health that were reflected in improved performance parameters.

Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated GPGR’s effects on intestinal health in weaned piglets in a commercial production farm. A total of 380 just weaned (21 days old) piglets were divided in two groups of 190 animals each (in four replicates) that received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet + 350 g/ton GPGR pharmaceutical formulation as top dress. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days, and intestinal sampling occurred 15 days post-weaning. Plasma cortisol, citrulline, intestinal morphology, mucus quality, enzymatic activity, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and cecal microbiota were analyzed. GPGR did not alter plasma cortisol but increased citrullinemia (P: 0.024), suggesting greater enterocyte functional mass. GPGR piglets showed improved intestinal morphology (greater villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio, and intestinal absorption area, p < 0.05) and higher enzymatic maltase activity (p ≤ 0.014). VFAs, bacterial adherence to mucus, and goblet cell counts were unaffected. Dietary GPGR increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P: 0.014 and P: 0.045, respectively) while reducing Proteobacteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary GPGR promotes intestinal health in weaned piglets by improving epithelial structure, digestive function, and microbiota balance, representing a promising strategy to support piglets in overcoming the early nursery phase.