Potential Cause of Diarrhea in Piglets at Weaning in Hawai‘i

It has been observed on a particular farm that the zebra dove (Geopelia striata), also known as the “barred ground dove,” often frequents the feeding troughs in the weanling piglets pens. It was hypothesized that the birds contributed to incidences of diarrhea in the piglets. A simple study was initiated to examine the microbial population present in feed that had been exposed to the zebra doves. The treatments tested (n= 3 samples for each) were a) commercial piglet feed out of a sealed bag (control, C); b) commercial piglet feed exposed to air at the feed trough level with a net screen (air exposure, AE); and c) commercial piglet feed exposed to zebra doves (birds ate from the trough, BE). To simulate eating and digestion, 10g samples of feed were mixed with with 90 ml of 1% peptone water, placed in a sterile bag, and subjected to 1 minute of blending in a Stomacher food processor at 260 rpm. The pH of the mixture was then lowered to 3.0–3.5 with hydrochloric acid to mimic the environment of the stomach. A sample of the mixture (the supernatant) was then plated on plate count agar and incubated for 24h at 350C. Cultures grown were then subjected to laboratory procedures leading to DNA sequencing. The results showed the presence of Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Acetobacter indonesiensis in all BE samples and Leuconostoc mesenteriodes in one BE sample. This paper discusses the potential role of these bacteria in piglet health and their impact on public health.