Supplementing antibiotics or synbiotics improved the intestinal health of suckling piglets by altering blood indices, colonic microbiota composition, and metabolites levels

Maternal nutrients favor the healthy growth and development of suckling piglets and alter their gut microbiota which can in turn affect the piglets. The present study analyzed plasma biochemical parameters, oxidative/anti-oxidative indices, inflammatory cytokines, and ingestion-related factor levels, as well as colonic microbiota composition, metabolite levels, and mucosal mRNA expression of genes related to the intestinal barrier function of suckling piglets from sows fed antibiotic or symbiotic from pregnancy to lactation. These findings suggested that maternal antibiotic supplementation might affect the intestinal health and subsequent growth and development of the piglets by changing the colonic microbial structure and increasing the intestinal barrier permeability; whereas maternal synbiotic supplementation might reduce the oxidative stress level, improve the nutrient metabolism and intestinal health, and alter colonic microbial composition and their metabolite levels in suckling piglets.