Mannan oligosaccharides – modes of action and possibilities for usage

Abstract

Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) are prebiotics that may prevent bacterial adhesion to mucosal surfaces and neutralize their toxins without causing tissue damage. For that reason, they have been used as feed additives for more than 20 years. They exert positive influence on animals by selective stimulation of growth and/or activity of one or limited number of non pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract. Systemic positive effects of MOS may be attributed to absorption of bacterial fermentation products and by improving hosts health status. Addition of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) to cow's colostrum (5 g/L) resulted in significant enhancement of IgG concentration in neonatal calf’s sera. Calves were fed colostrum, supplemented with Bio-Mos (5g/L), three times during the first 24 hrs of life and Ig G concentration was determined at 6, 12, 24 and 48h following birth. Same phenomenon was documented in numerous experiments on piglets which were allowed to suckle free, followingper oral application of MOS suspension. Piglets were orally dosed with 10 mL of a 75g/L mannanoligosaccharide suspension in saline water at parturition and 12 hrs after birth. In the piglet’s trial, blood samples were collected only 48h after birth. In our trials, IgG concentration was measured by radial immunodiffusion (anti-bovine and anti-pig IgG RID plates, INEP, Zemun). In treated, calves and piglets, a significant improvement in IgG sera concentration was achieved. Titersof the antiBHV-1 antibodies in the calvessera 24 hrs after birth and after 7 days, were higher in the Bio-Mosfed group and differences were statistically significant when compared to the control group. Improvement of passive immunological transfer significantly reduced calves mortality rate on the farm. We have also investigated possibilities for therapy of sows, suffering from puerperal endometritis by intra uterine application of sterile MOS suspension. We have used MOS-based product (Yeast Call Wall, Alltech, Fermin, Senta) in the amounts of 5, 10 and 20g (I, II and III group) suspended in 100 mL of saline. In groups II and III we noted significant clinical improvement in treated sows and moreover higher body weight gain in piglets.