Impact of supplemental dietary fibre on performance and health status of Salmonella Typhimurium-challenged weaned pigs fed a diet containing high indigestible protein

The objective was to determine the effect of dietary fibre (DF) supplementation in Salmonella Typhimurium (ST)-challenged pigs fed a low indigestible dietary protein (LIDP) or high IDP (HIDP) diet. Thirty-two weaned pigs (7.3 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement (n=8 pigs/treatment) with IDP level and DF supplementation (DF- vs. DF+) as factors. After a 7-d pre-inoculation period, all pigs were orally inoculated with ST followed by a 7-day post-inoculation period. Inoculation with ST increased rectal temperature and inflammatory cytokines, worsened fecal consistency score, and altered acute-phase protein and redox biomarkers (P<0.05). Regardless of DF, HIDP decreased ADFI and ADG (P<0.05) in ST-inoculated pigs (P<0.10). High IDP worsened FCS and ST quantification in cecal digesta, regardless of DF (P<0.05). Regardless of IDP, DF+ reduced myeloperoxidase concentration in colonic digesta (P<0.05). High IDP increased ST translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, plasma d-Lactate, and alkaline phosphatase, and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.05), while DF+ increased plasma SOD and GSH (P<0.05). These results demonstrate the negative effects of HIDP on growth performance and health status of ST-challenged weaned pigs, while DF supplementation improved antioxidant and intestinal inflammatory status.