Looking for Possible Benefits of Combining Short-Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (scFOS) with <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Sc 47 on Weaned Pigs Orally Challenged with <i>Escherichia coli</i> F4⁺

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplementing short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) combined or not with live yeast <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Sc 47 on weanling pigs challenged with <i>Escherichia coli</i> F4⁺. We allocated ninety-six piglets to four experimental diets: control (CTR); supplemented with scFOS (5 g/kg Profeed^® P95) (scFOS); <i>S. cerevisiae</i> Sc 47 (1 g/kg Actisaf^® Sc 47 HR +) (YEA); or both (SYN). Parameters included: performance; <i>E. coli</i> F4⁺ detection; fermentation activity; inflammatory biomarkers; and ileal histomorphology. Our results showed that supplementing scFOS was able to reduce the incidence of diarrhea, and both supplements were able to lower counts of EHEC along the gut. Supplementing scFOS was mostly associated with changes in the gut ecosystem and increases in the lactobacilli population, while <i>S. cerevisiae</i> Sc 47 registered increases in the numbers of ileal intraepithelial lymphocytes. The synbiotic mixture showed the lowest diarrhea incidence and fecal scores, benefiting from complementary modes of action and possible synergistic effects due to a hypothesized yeast–LAB cross-feeding phenomenon in the foregut. In conclusion, our results evidence that supplementing scFOS or <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Sc 47 is efficacious to fight post-weaning colibacillosis, and combining both could be beneficial in high-risk scenarios.