Effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on intestinal barrier function and growth performance in weaned piglets challenged by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

作者：Jiahao Liu, Simona De Blasio, Kunhong Xie, Xiang Li, Yuheng Luo, Ping Zheng, Xiangbing Mao, Hui Yan, Quyuan Wang, Liam Good, Ludovic Pelligand, Jun He · 发表于：BMC Veterinary Research · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1186/s12917-026-05815-y · 研究领域：Animal Nutrition and Physiology、Aquaculture disease management and microbiota、Escherichia coli research studies

Abstract Background Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) is an important zoonotic pathogen that disrupts intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and induces excessive inflammatory responses, leading to impaired growth performance and intestinal injury. EHEC is also an important cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children and older adults. In pig production, chitosan is considered a promising alternative to antibiotics due to its bioadhesive and antimicrobial properties, but the effects and underlying mechanisms of chitosan (COS) under pathogenic challenge remain to be elucidated. Results One hundred and eight pigs were randomly divided into three treatment groups: an unchallenged control (CON), an EHEC-challenged control (ECON), and an EHEC-challenged group supplemented with 100 mg/kg COS (ECOS). Results show that EHEC challenge increased the feed conversion ratio (FCR), increased inflammatory cytokine levels, disrupted intestinal morphology, and downregulated tight junction and nutrient transporter gene expression ( P < 0.05). Dietary COS supplementation decreased FCR during days 6–14 ( P < 0.05) and tended to improve average daily gain (ADG) over the same period (0.05 < P < 0.10). Moreover, COS tended to decrease faecal shedding of total E. coli ( P = 0.085) and EHEC, attenuated systemic inflammation by decreasing serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and enhanced humoral immunity as indicated by increased IgA and IgM concentrations ( P < 0.05). Imp...