PhD student Antonia Vania Adji, M.Sc., is part of the Nutrition pillar of the PIG-PARADIGM project. Her research focuses on the influence of dietary fiber on post-weaning diarrhea and gut health in piglets. Specifically, she investigates how soluble and insoluble fibers affect the mucosa, microbiota composition and activity, and nutrient digestibility in the gut of weaned piglets, as well as the progression of diarrhea.

Antonia has already presented some of her findings at the PIG-PARADIGM annual meeting in 2024, held in Wageningen. She has completed two experiments to date. The first experiment, conducted from October to December 2023, was a challenge experiment involving the oral infection of piglets with enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) F18.

This experiment included four groups: a low fiber diet control group, a low fiber diet group challenged with ETEC (Control-ETEC), a high fiber diet group with 5% lignocellulose challenged with ETEC (Ligno-ETEC), and a high fiber diet group with 5% alginate challenged with ETEC (Algi-ETEC). The piglets were challenged with ETEC F18 on days 3 and 4 post-weaning and were reared for 22 days post-weaning.

Half of the piglets were processed on day 8, and the remaining half on day 22. During the experimental period, fecal and blood samples were collected, and tissue and digesta samples were obtained.

The second experiment, conducted from September to November 2024, was a non-challenge feeding trial. This experiment included three groups: a low fiber diet control group, a high fiber diet group with 5% lignocellulose (Ligno), and a high fiber diet group with 5% alginate (Algi). The piglets were reared for 22-23 days post-weaning, with half slaughtered on day 22 and the rest on day 23.

Fecal samples were collected during the experimental period, and tissue and digesta samples were obtained. All the piglets were weaned around 28 days old.

Antonia is currently working on two papers related to the first experiment, focusing on writing and data analysis. Some samples from the experiments are still being analyzed.

Reflecting on her research journey, Antonia notes that planning and coordinating the first experiment was challenging because it took her some times to get used to the established routines of the staff at Foulum (University of Aarhus). However, the experience gained from the first experiment made the second experiment easier to manage.

Her research is highly relevant to feed companies and the broader research field, as it contributes valuable knowledge on how different fiber types influence gut health. This information can help in making informed decisions about which fiber types to include in the diets of newly weaned piglets to minimize post-weaning diarrhea.

Antonia expects to submit her PhD thesis by February 14, 2026.