Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40423261›Full record

ArticleJournal of animal science2025

Digestive parameters and gut microbiota load and composition along the in vivo piglet gastrointestinal tract.

Chloë Rotsaert, Yorick Minnebo, Cindy Duysburgh, LinShu Liu, Karley K Mahalak, Jenni Firrman, Lisa M Mattei, Ahmed M Moustafa, Kyle Bittinger, Weiming Hu and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of animal science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Chloë RotsaertProDigest BV, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
Yorick MinneboCenter for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1980-7117
Cindy DuysburghProDigest BV, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
LinShu LiuDairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038.
Karley K MahalakDairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038.
Jenni FirrmanDairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038.
Lisa M MatteiDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Ahmed M MoustafaDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Kyle BittingerDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Weiming HuDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Massimo MarzoratiProDigest BV, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
Joris MichielsFaculty of Bioscience Engineering - Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, University of Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Tom Van de WieleCenter for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.

Funding

United States Department of Agriculture In-House Project 8072-41000-108-00-D
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The increased attention toward the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease for both animals and humans has fueled the demand for more relevant and accurate research models. In this study, we present an overview of biochemical and microbial parameters measured throughout the digestive tract of ten TopigsNorsvin × German Piétrain piglets to better understand the in vivo dynamics of digestive and fermentative processes in different gastrointestinal segments, as pigs are suggested to be a representative animal model for the human gastrointestinal tract. Our key findings include region-specific and significantly differing (P < 0.001) pH profiles, with the stomach having the lowest pH (3.36 ± 0.72) and the ileum the highest (7.24 ± 0.18). Dry matter content also varied significantly (P < 0.001), with the stomach having the highest (27.8 ± 2.4%) and the duodenum the lowest (10.6 ± 0.7%). The average total transit time was 12 hr and 45 min ± 1 h and 42 min. Enzyme activities (pepsin, trypsin, amylase) showed interindividual differences. Amino acid levels varied among piglets, with total concentrations averaging 7.04 × 102 ± 2.29 × 102 µg mL-1 in the duodenum, 1.19 × 103 ± 2.69 × 102 µg mL-1 in the jejunum and 9.39 × 102 ± 2.54 × 102 µg mL-1 in the ileum. Bile acid concentrations varied strongly between piglets, with high levels in the gall bladder and varying levels throughout the digestive tract. Short-chain fatty acid concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.001) along the digestive tract, with the highest levels in the large intestine. The microbial load increased consistently (P < 0.001) along the digestive tract, with the highest loads in the rectum (6.82 × 1010 ± 2.88 × 1010 cells mL-1). The highest microbial diversity was observed in the lower intestine (i.e., caecum, colon and rectum), with significant shifts in microbial community composition, especially from the ileum to the caecum. This study provides valuable insights into the digestive and microbiological parameters of the porcine gut, confirming the pig's relevance as a model for gastrointestinal research. The findings can inform the development of in vitro or ex vivo models, reducing ethical constraints of animal studies and aiding in the assessment of dietary interventions on gut health.

Indexed as

DigestionGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGastrointestinal TractAnimalsFemaleMaleSwinebile acidsdigestiongut microbiomenutritionpiglettransit time

Identifiers

PMID40423261
PMCPMC12371118

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.