Supplemental glucose oxidase as an antibiotic substitute alleviates diarrhea and improves intestinal health in weaned piglets.

Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is a serious issue in pig production. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of glucose oxidase (GOD) as an antibiotic substitute to alleviate diarrhea and improve gut health in weaned piglets. According to a randomized complete block design, 250 piglets weaned around 21 d of age were allocated into 5 groups (5 replicates/group), which received a basal diet without or with supplemental 200 mg/kg antibiotic, 500, 1000 and 2000 U/kg GOD, respectively. Dietary treatments did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performance of piglets. However, supplemental all doses of GOD were equivalent or superior to antibiotic to reduce (p < 0.05) diarrhea as well as increase (p < 0.05) thymus index, hepatic and colonic antioxidant properties. GOD addition at 1000 and 2000 U/kg reduced (p < 0.05) cecal and rectal pH value, respectively. They also displayed similar or superior efficacy to antibiotic in improving (p < 0.05) duodenal and jejunal morphology along with certain tight junction proteins expression of jejunum and colon. Collectively, GOD represents an antibiotic alternative to reduce diarrhea of weaned piglets through associating with ameliorations of intestinal structure and functions.