Effects of Tremella fuciformis extract on growth performance, biochemical and immunological parameters of weaned piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide

Context: In-feed antibiotics are commonly used to improve growth and gut health of weaning pigs. Due to anti-microbial resistance by extensively using antibiotics, however, in-feed antibiotics have been banned in Europe and China. Tremella fuciformis is a traditional edible fungus in China. Recent studies have found that Tremella fuciformis extract (TFE) has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immune-modulatory functions. Therefore, there is the potential to develop Tremella fuciformis as an alternative to antibiotics. Aims: The study was performed to explore the effects of TFE on growth performance, and biochemical and immunological parameters of weaned piglets under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Methods: Forty-eight weaned piglets were assigned into two groups with six pens (four piglets per-pen), receiving a control diet or a control diet with 400 mg/kg TFE (TFE), respectively. After 28 days of the trial, two piglets per pen were selected to be injected with LPS (50 mu g/kg of BW) or an equivalent amount of sterile saline. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 3 h after LPS challenge. Key results: The results showed that TFE supplementation significantly increased the average daily gain (P < 0.05) and decreased the faecal score (P < 0.05) during the first week, improved the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) and BWt gain (P < 0.05) during the whole period. Piglets fed the TFE diet had higher plasma levels of white blood cells (P < 0.05) than that of piglets fed the control diet diet before the LPS challenge. Regardless of the dietary treatment, the LPS challenge significantly decreased the level of white blood cells, and increased the levels of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, total protein, interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (all P < 0.05). Regardless of the LPS challenge, however, the concentrations of total protein, interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were decreased (all P < 0.05) in the plasma of piglets fed the TFE diet compared with the control diet diet. Conclusions: In summary, the supplementation of TFE in the weaning diet could improve the growth performance and immunity of piglets.