Intensive antibiotic treatment of sows alters the composition of the nasal microbiota of their offspring

Nasal microbiota plays an important role in animal health and the use of antibiotics is one of the major factors that influence its composition. Here, we study the consequences on the nasal microbiota of piglets when an intensive antibiotic treatment was applied to sows and/or their piglets. Four pregnant sows received a treatment of ceftiofur and tulathromycin (CTsows) while two other sows received only crystalline ceftiofur (Csows). Half of the piglets born to CTsows were treated at birth with ceftiofur (Cpiglets). Nasal swabs were taken from piglets at three weeks of age and the nasal microbiota composition was defined by 16s rRNA gene.