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Animals
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Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production
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Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2021) | Viewed by 16926

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Aris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial alternatives; antimicrobial resistance; animal health; infectious disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elena Garcia-Fruitos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Torre Marimon, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial alternatives; antimicrobial resistance; animal health; infectious disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of the increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, new guidelines are being applied to animal health practices restricting the use of critical antibiotics in the human health system and limiting metaphylactic strategies in animal production. This situation pushes the scientific community to find novel alternatives to antibiotic use, either developing new antimicrobial molecules or implementing alternative management and nutritional practices in animal production.

Therefore, in the present context and considering the One Health approach, research providing information about how to substitute metaphylactic practices and preventive antibiotic administrations, or reduce the pool of antibiotic use for a more sustainable system, is highly relevant. Natural extracts, new antimicrobial biomolecules, bacteriocins, probiotics, prebiotics, and bacteriophages, among others, are emerging approaches to controlling infections and improving the immunocompetence of animals. Moreover, changing some practices in the production system could also be key to persisting without the use of antibiotics at critical points of the productive system.

We invite review and original research papers exploring the use of new biomolecules and/or natural components combined with the introduction of new management practices to reduce infections in situations where antibiotics are of relevant importance and totally implemented in the field. Thus, this Special Issue will support the development of future research and application.

Dr. Anna Aris
Dr. Elena Garcia-Fruitos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • New antimicrobials
  • Natural extracts
  • Probiotics
  • Prebiotics
  • Antibiotic use reduction
  • New management strategies

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1295 KiB  
Article
Potential of Oral Nanoparticles Containing Cytokines as Intestinal Mucosal Immunostimulants in Pigs: A Pilot Study
by Adrià López-Cano, Alex Bach, Sergi López-Serrano, Virginia Aragon, Marta Blanch, Jose J. Pastor, Gemma Tedó, Sofia Morais, Elena Garcia-Fruitós and Anna Arís
Animals 2022, 12(9), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091075 - 21 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that is worryingly rising in the livestock sector. Among the proposed strategies, immunostimulant development appears an interesting approach to increase animal resilience at critical production points. The use of nanoparticles based on cytokine aggregates, called inclusion bodies [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that is worryingly rising in the livestock sector. Among the proposed strategies, immunostimulant development appears an interesting approach to increase animal resilience at critical production points. The use of nanoparticles based on cytokine aggregates, called inclusion bodies (IBs), has been demonstrated as a new source of immunostimulants in aquaculture. Aiming to go a step further, the objective of this study was to produce cytokine nanoparticles using a food-grade microorganism and to test their applicability to stimulate intestinal mucosa in swine. Four cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) involved in inflammatory response were produced recombinantly in Lactococcus lactis in the form of protein nanoparticles (IBs). They were able to stimulate inflammatory responses in a porcine enterocyte cell line (IPEC-J2) and alveolar macrophages, maintaining high stability at low pH and high temperature. In addition, an in vivo assay was conducted involving 20 piglets housed individually as a preliminary exploration of the potential effects of IL-1β nanoparticles in piglet intestinal mucosa after a 7 d oral administration. The treated animals tended to have greater levels of TNF-α in the blood, indicating that the tested dose of nanoparticles tended to generate an inflammatory response in the animals. Whether this response is sufficient to increase animal resilience needs further evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
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12 pages, 1337 KiB  
Article
The Potential of Metalloproteinase-9 Administration to Accelerate Mammary Involution and Boost the Immune System at Dry-Off
by Sílvia Parés, Olivia Cano-Garrido, Alex Bach, Neus Ferrer-Miralles, Antonio Villaverde, Elena Garcia-Fruitós and Anna Arís
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3415; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123415 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
The dry period is decisive for the milking performance of dairy cows. The promptness of mammary gland involution at dry-off affects not only the productivity in the next lactation, but also the risk of new intra-mammary infections since it is closely related with [...] Read more.
The dry period is decisive for the milking performance of dairy cows. The promptness of mammary gland involution at dry-off affects not only the productivity in the next lactation, but also the risk of new intra-mammary infections since it is closely related with the activity of the immune system. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme present in the mammary gland and has an active role during involution by disrupting the extracellular matrix, mediating cell survival and the recruitment of immune cells. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of exogenous administration of a soluble and recombinant version of a truncated MMP-9 (rtMMP-9) to accelerate mammary involution and boost the immune system at dry-off, avoiding the use of antibiotics. Twelve Holstein cows were dried abruptly, and two quarters of each cow received an intra-mammary infusion of either soluble rtMMP-9 or a positive control based on immunostimulant inclusion bodies (IBs). The contralateral quarters were infused with saline solution as negative control. Samples of mammary secretion were collected during the week following dry-off to determine SCC, metalloproteinase activity, bovine serum albumin, lactoferrin, sodium, and potassium concentrations. The soluble form of rtMMP-9 increased endogenous metalloproteinase activity in the mammary gland compared with saline quarters but did not accelerate either the immune response or involution in comparison with control quarters. The results demonstrated that the strategy to increase the mammary gland immunocompetence by recombinant infusion of rtMMP-9 was unsuccessful. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
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23 pages, 359 KiB  
Article
Potential of Grape Extract in Comparison with Therapeutic Dosage of Antibiotics in Weaning Piglets: Effects on Performance, Digestibility and Microbial Metabolites of the Ileum and Colon
by Emina Rajković, Christiane Schwarz, David Tischler, Karl Schedle, Nicole Reisinger, Caroline Emsenhuber, Vladimira Ocelova, Nataliya Roth, Dörte Frieten, Georg Dusel and Martin Gierus
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102771 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2303
Abstract
Enteric diseases in piglets, such as post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), often require antibiotic treatment of the entire litter. Grape polyphenols may help overcome PWD and thereby reduce the need for antibiotics. The potential of a grape extract (GE; continuous in-feed supplementation) on performance of [...] Read more.
Enteric diseases in piglets, such as post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), often require antibiotic treatment of the entire litter. Grape polyphenols may help overcome PWD and thereby reduce the need for antibiotics. The potential of a grape extract (GE; continuous in-feed supplementation) on performance of weaning piglets, compared with both negative (NC; corn-based diet) and positive control (PC; NC + in-feed antibiotic (amoxicillin) in a therapeutic dosage for day 1–day 5 post weaning) was assessed. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and microbial metabolites were also evaluated on two sampling points (day 27/28 and day 55/56). We assigned 180 weaning piglets (6.9 ± 0.1 kg body weight (BW)) to 6 male and 6 female pens per treatment with 5 piglets each. Animals from PC showed higher BW on day 13 compared with NC and GE, and a tendency for higher BW on day 56 (p = 0.080) compared to NC. Furthermore, PC increased the average daily feed intake in the starter phase (day 1–day 13), and the average daily gain in the early grower phase (day 14–day 24). Overall, GE improved the ATTD at the same level as PC (ash, acid-hydrolyzed ether extract), or at a higher level than PC (dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, crude protein, P). There were no effects on microbial metabolites apart from minor trends for lactic acid and ammonia. Dietary inclusion of GE may have beneficial effects compared to therapeutic antibiotics, as frequently used at weaning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
15 pages, 1118 KiB  
Article
Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum
by Miguel Rabelo-Ruiz, Juan José Ariza-Romero, María Jesús Zurita-González, Antonio Manuel Martín-Platero, Alberto Baños, Mercedes Maqueda, Eva Valdivia, Manuel Martínez-Bueno and Juan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
Animals 2021, 11(2), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020448 - 9 Feb 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3901
Abstract
Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic [...] Read more.
Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on the hosts. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
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22 pages, 4687 KiB  
Article
Effects of Zinc and Menthol-Based Diets on Co-Selection of Antibiotic Resistance among E. coli and Enterococcus spp. in Beef Cattle
by Sarah A. Murray, Raghavendra G. Amachawadi, Keri N. Norman, Sara D. Lawhon, Tiruvoor G. Nagaraja, James S. Drouillard and Harvey M. Scott
Animals 2021, 11(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020259 - 21 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2964
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance represents a growing crisis in both human and veterinary medicine. We evaluated the use of antibiotic alternatives—heavy metals and essential oils—in beef cattle feeding, and their effects on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this randomized controlled field trial, we measured the [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance represents a growing crisis in both human and veterinary medicine. We evaluated the use of antibiotic alternatives—heavy metals and essential oils—in beef cattle feeding, and their effects on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this randomized controlled field trial, we measured the impact of supplemental zinc and menthol on antibiotic resistance among commensal enteric bacteria of feeder cattle. Fecal suspensions were plated onto plain- and antibiotic-supplemented MacConkey and m-Enterococcus agar for quantification of total and antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., respectively. Temporal effects on overall E. coli growth were significant (p < 0.05), and menthol was associated with decreased growth on tetracycline-supplemented agar. Zinc was associated with significant increases in growth on erythromycin-supplemented m-Enterococcus agar. Cattle fed zinc exhibited significantly higher levels of macrolide resistance among fecal enterococci isolates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
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13 pages, 1839 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of an Extract of Lactobacillus casei-Infected Hermetia illucens Larvae Produced Using an Automatic Injection System
by Kyu-Shik Lee, Eun-Young Yun and Tae-Won Goo
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112121 - 16 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3061
Abstract
In the present study, we developed an automatic mass-injection system (AMIS) to produce an extract of infected H. illucens larvae (iHIL-E) and then evaluated antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expressions and assessed the antimicrobial activity of iHIL-E against various pathogens and Lactobacillus species. AMP gene [...] Read more.
In the present study, we developed an automatic mass-injection system (AMIS) to produce an extract of infected H. illucens larvae (iHIL-E) and then evaluated antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expressions and assessed the antimicrobial activity of iHIL-E against various pathogens and Lactobacillus species. AMP gene expressions were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the antimicrobial activities of iHIL-E were estimated using a radial diffusion assay and by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations. Results showed that the antimicrobial activity of HIL extract was effectively enhanced by L. casei infection and that the gene expressions of cecropin 3 and defensin 3 (antimicrobial peptides) were up-regulated. iHIL-E also prevented the growths of Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida vaginitis (MICs 200, 500, and 1000 µg/100 µL, respectively) and demonstrated high protease resistance. Moreover, the growths of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and AMP-resistant bacteria, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomons tolaasii were significantly suppressed by iHIL-E. In addition, although iHIL completely cleared Salmonella species at concentrations of >200 µg/100 µL, Lactobacillus species were unaffected by iHIL at concentrations of <1000 µg/100 µL. The present investigation shows that the devised automatic mass injection system is effective for the mass production of the extract of infected HIL and that this extract is a novel, natural, protease-resistant, antibiotic candidate with broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production)
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