The role of Helicobacter suis, Fusobacterium gastrosuis, and the pars oesophageal microbiota in gastric ulceration in slaughter pigs receiving meal or pelleted feed

• DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01274-1
• Publication Date: 2024-02-05T15:05:41Z
• Authors: Emily Taillieu; Steff Taelman; Sofie De Bruyckere; Evy Goossens; Ilias Chantziaras; Christophe Van St...; Peter Yde; Steven Hanssens; Dimitri De Meyer; Wim Van Criekinge; Michiel Stock; Dominiek Maes; Koen Chiers; Freddy Haesebrouck
• Keywords: Swine; Veterinary medicine; PROTECTIVE EFFICACY; Helicobacter heilmannii; DISEASE; Helicobacter Infections; STOMACH; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; SF600-1100; CAMPYLOBACTER SPP.; microbiota; Animals; Veterinary Sciences; Stomach Ulcer; Swine Diseases; gastric ulceration; Microbiota; PERFORMANCE; Fusobacterium; PARTICLE-SIZE; PREVALENCE; [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]; Sus scrofa domesticus; Helicobacter suis; Gastric Mucosa; Fusobacterium gastrosuis; Human medicine; stomach; Research Article

AbstractThis study investigated the role of causative infectious agents in ulceration of the non-glandular part of the porcine stomach (pars oesophagea). In total, 150 stomachs from slaughter pigs were included, 75 from pigs that received a meal feed, 75 from pigs that received an equivalent pelleted feed with a smaller particle size. The pars oesophagea was macroscopically examined after slaughter. (q)PCR assays for H. suis, F. gastrosuis and H. pylori-like organisms were performed, as well as 16S rRNA sequencing for pars oesophagea microbiome analyses. All 150 pig stomachs showed lesions. F. gastrosuis was detected in 115 cases (77%) and H. suis in 117 cases (78%), with 92 cases (61%) of co-infection; H. pylori-like organisms were detected in one case. Higher infectious loads of H. suis increased the odds of severe gastric lesions (OR = 1.14, p = 0.038), while the presence of H. suis infection in the pyloric gland zone increased the probability of pars oesophageal erosions [16.4% (95% CI 0.6–32.2%)]. The causal effect of H. suis was mediated by decreased pars oesophageal microbiome diversity [−1.9% (95% CI − 5.0–1.2%)], increased abundances of Veillonella and Campylobacter spp., and decreased abundances of Lactobacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Enterobacteriaceae spp. Higher infectious loads of F. gastrosuis in the pars oesophagea decreased the odds of severe gastric lesions (OR = 0.8, p = 0.0014). Feed pelleting had no significant impact on the prevalence of severe gastric lesions (OR = 1.72, p = 0.28). H. suis infections are a risk factor for ulceration of the porcine pars oesophagea, probably mediated through alterations in pars oesophageal microbiome diversity and composition.