ASSESSING THE MICROBIOME AS A TOOL FOR THE MITIGATION OF VIRAL DISEASE IN NURSERY PIGS

Project goals are centered on investigating microbiome modulation as a potential tool for mitigating the effects of polymicrobial respiratory disease on growing pigs. The major outcome of this project is to understand what gut microbes provide improved outcomes in pigs using a model of porcine respiratory disease complex. Overall, project outcomes include identifying gut microbes for improving the health and welfare of pigs with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and a potential alternative tool for mitigating the effects of respiratory disease in swine. Objectives include determining the effects of microbiome modulation on outcome of pigs following co-infection with PRRS virus and porcine circovirus type 2. We will compare clinical disease, mortality, virus replication, growth performance, pathology, antibody production, cytokine expression, and microbiome characteristics with unmodulated co-infected controls. Gut microbes associated with beneficial outcomes will be identified.