Prevotella-based probiotics influence gut microbiota composition in weaned piglets

To improve microbiota of piglets after weaning, a mixture of 5 different Prevotella species, Anaerovibrio lipolyticus and Mitsuokella multacida was tested as novel type of probiotics for weaned piglets. The mixture was provided orally on day of weaning. Microbiota composition at weaning and one week later was determined in rectal swabs of 14 control and 27experimental piglets by 16S rRNA sequencing. Piglets in the experimental group were treated orally with a single dose of Prevotella mixture on the day of weaning. Rectal swabs for microbiota analysis were collected from all piglets in both groups on day of weaning, before piglets in the experimental group were treated with Prevotella mixture. One week after weaning, rectal swabs from all piglets were collected again, although for technical reasons only 24 piglets treated with Prevotella were available. This means that altogether 79 samples were obtained and analysed for microbiota composition in this study.Eearly and uniform administration of the probiotics affected composition of gut microbiota of treated piglets one week after weaning. Representatives of Prevotella based probiotics thus represent a novel approach how to contribute to control of postweaning diarrhea in weaned piglets.