Acid products adsorbed in diatomaceous earth beneficially influence the microbial environment in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets post-weaning

The effect of two acid products, CH01-141 and CH01-186 on the microbial ecosystem and on survival of the diarrhoea causing E. coli O149:K88 in the gastrointestinal tract of newly weaned four-week-old piglets was investigated. The results showed that piglets fed with the CH01-141 and CH01-186 products had a significantly lower pH and significantly higher concentration of lactic acid in the distal small intestine as compared with piglets fed the control diet without any acid product. The CH01-141 product also tended to increase the number of lactobacilli in the small intestine and decreased the number of yeasts throughout the gastrointestinal tract as compared with the control group. Besides this, the in vitro survival rate of E. coli O149:K88 tended to be lower in content from the distal small intestine of the CH01-141 fed piglets. In conclusion, the acid products, especially CH01-141, may have a beneficial effect on diminishing pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli O149:K88, and thus improving gut health of piglets around weaning.