Injuries in post-weaning pig organs, induced by the E. coli lipopolysaccharide

Objective. To evaluate the effects of the intake of several levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from E. coli on clinical manifestations and injuries in organs of newly weaned pigs. Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted at the San Pablo Production Center of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 52 weaned pigs at 21 days of age were used. The animals were fed a basal diet composed of milk and some of its derivatives, and an addition of four LPS levels (0, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 ?g / mg of feed) during 10 days. The pigs were sequentially sacrificed on days 1, 5, 7, and 10 after weaning, and samples of the small intestine, stomach, liver, pancreas, heart, lungs, kidney and spleen were extracted. Clinical and laboratory monitoring was performed daily during the investigation. To determine weight gain, the animals were weighed on weaning day, and on slaughter day. Results: There were statistical differences (p<0.01) in organ weights and weight gain, where animals that consumed the highest levels of LPS showed the lowest values, reaching the lowest level on day 10 post?weaning. The variables: macroscopic lesions, diarrhea, and rectal temperature increased with the increase in LPS levels in the diet, reaching their peaks on day 10 post?weaning (p<0.01). Conclusions: E. coli LPS causes inhibition of the studied body and organ growth parameters, and a high incidence of post?weaning diarrhea.