Control of post weaning diarrhoea syndrome of piglets by in-feed application of Origanum essential oils

摘要

At the time of weaning, young pigs are submitted to many stressors such as the separation from the sow, mixing with other pigs, end of the lactational immunity, and changes in their environment and diet. Weaned piglets usually show a malabsorption syndrome known as non-infectious diarrhoea which is characterised by increased excretion of fatty acids and carbohydrates in the faeces, watery stools and degenerative changes in villi of the small intestine. In the majority of these cases, opportunisticpathogens particularly enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains (ETEC), and rotavirus take advantage of the presence of this diarrhoea and cause the post weaning diarrhoea syndrome (PWDS). The essential oils derived from the plant Origanum were proved tohave in vitro antimicrobial activities against various bacteria, including E. coli. The present study was designed to determine the possible effect of two different dosage in-feed applications of 5 percent of ethenc oils of flower and leaf of Origanum (Ecodiar powder / Kela Laboratoria -Ecopharm Hellas) on the control of post weaning colibacillosis in piglets. In this study, particular emphasis was also given to the commencement post weaning of the medication period since there is an increase in intestinal E. coli flora at 5 to 7 days post weaning leading to PWDS.