Prevotella-Based Bacterial Mixture Influences Gut Microbiota Composition in Weaned Piglets

Based on previous knowledge on changes in the gut microbiota of weaned piglets, a mixture of five different <i>Prevotella</i> species, <i>Anaerovibrio lipolyticus</i>, and <i>Mitsuokella multacida</i> (a <i>Prevotella</i> mixture) was tested as potentially novel type of probiotics for weaned Large White piglets of mixed sexes. The mixture was provided orally on the day of weaning to piglets in the experimental group, and the microbiota composition at weaning and one week later was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing in rectal swabs of 14 control and 27 experimental piglets. <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Escherichia</i> significantly decreased, and <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Blautia</i>, or <i>Faecalibacterium</i> increased in the microbiota of both control and experimental piglets one week after weaning. Bacteria from the <i>Prevotella</i> mixture were detected in the gut microbiota of experimental piglets; however, the same bacteria of environmental origin were also recorded in control piglets. Despite this, early and uniform administration of the <i>Prevotella</i> mixture affected the composition of the gut microbiota of experimental piglets one week after weaning. The families Lactobacillaceae and Lachnospiraceae were more abundant in the gut microbiota of experimental piglets, while Pasteurellaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Bacteroidales RF16 group, and Methanobacteriaceae were more abundant in control piglets. The <i>Prevotella</i>-based bacterial mixture thus may represent a novel approach to modify gut microbiota and consequently gut health in weaned piglets.