A Combination of Formic Acid and Monolaurin Attenuates Enterotoxigenic Induced Intestinal Inflammation in Piglets by Inhibiting the NF-κB/MAPK Pathways with Modulation of Gut Microbiota.

This study determined the potential of formic acid plus monolaurin (FA + ML) as an alternative to antibiotics in diet when piglets are challenged with ETEC. Piglets fed the FA + ML diet had lower fecal score and rectal temperature after the ETEC challenge. In addition, FA + ML supplementation induced lower plasma TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β concentration postchallenge, downregulated the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TLR4 in the ileum and TLR4 and CFTR in the jejunum. Phosphorylation levels of NF-κB p65 and MAPK p38 were reduced in the ileum of piglets fed FA + ML diet. Supplementation of FA + ML increased the relative abundance of genera especially species and decreased the genus abundances of , , . Collectively, the combination of formic acid and monolaurin in diets have the potential to be an antibiotic alternative to mitigate inflammatory response in piglets challenged with ETEC.