Abstract
Selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), a high-quality organic source of selenium, enhances antioxidant activity and intestinal health in swine. This study aims to evaluate the effects of varying dietary SeY levels on intestinal morphology, epithelial mucus production, antioxidant activity, and colonic bacterial communities in growing-finishing pigs. Thirty 90-day-old Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire growing-finishing pigs (average body weight of 54.37±2.13 kg) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, while the other four groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with SeY at 0.3, 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg, respectively, for an 80-day of feeding trial. The results showed that the addition of SeY at 0.3 mg/kg increased villus height, villus height/crypt ratio, and mucus production in the ileum, as evidenced by the increase in goblet cell number and mucus thickness (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 0.3 mg/kg SeY up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of the MUC-1, claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 genes (P < 0.05). In contrast, high-dose SeY at 5 mg/kg resulting in damage to mucosal morphology. Ileal antioxidant activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and jejunal mRNA expression of GPX-1 and GPX-4, were higher in response to SeY (P < 0.05). Faecal Se excretion increased in SeY groups in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). SeY led to a significant difference in beta diversity among treatment groups (P = 0.002) and led to a significant decrease in the concentrations of isobutyric and isovaleric acids when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids were positively correlated with the biomarker genera Agathobacter (SeY at 0.3mg/kg), while isobutyrate and isovalerate were negatively correlated with biomarker genera Lactobacillus (SeY at 0.3mg/kg) (P < 0.05). Faecal accumulation of Se was positively correlated with the biomarker genera Alloprevotella (SeY at 3mg/kg) and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 (SeY at 5mg/kg) and was negatively correlated with biomarker genera Agathobacter (SeY at 0.3mg/kg), Bacteroides (CON), and Faecalibacterium (CON) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, SeY doses of 0.3 mg/kg have beneficial effects on intestinal health, whereas prolonged SeY doses up to 5 mg/kg may compromise the intestinal mucus function in growing-finishing pigs.