{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:54:43Z","timestamp":1787025283429,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":1,"publisher":"Polish Academy of Sciences Chancellery","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study evaluated the effects of Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae full-fat meal and astaxanthin (AST) on large intestine histomorphometry, microbiota activity, and composition in pigs. Forty-eight pigs (8.7 kg) were divided into six groups: control (0HI), 2.5% HI (2.5HI), 5% HI (5HI), 2.5% HI + AST (2.5HI+AST), 5% HI + AST (5HI+AST), and AST alone (AST). The experiment lasted from 35 to 70 days of age. HI meal increased mucosal thickness (p&amp;lt;0.01), crypt depth (p&amp;lt;0.05), and width (p&amp;lt;0.05). Goblet cell counts increased in the 2.5HI (p&amp;lt;0.05), while enterocyte numbers decrease in the AST group (p&amp;lt;0.01). Dietary HI meal reduced concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), including butyrate (p&amp;lt;0.05), whereas AST increased acetic acid levels in multiple intestinal regions (p&amp;lt;0.05). Both additives modified microbial populations: AST increased total bacterial counts (p&amp;lt;0.001), while 2.5% HI meal reduced the abundance of the Bacteroides\u2013Prevotella cluster (p&amp;lt;0.001). Significant interactions were detected for Lactobacillus\/Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae (p&amp;lt;0.001). HI meal decreased p-cresol concentrations in the middle colon (p&amp;lt;0.05), whereas AST reduced phenol in the distal colon (p&amp;lt;0.05) and indole in the middle colon (p&amp;lt;0.05). AST increased ammonia levels in the proximal colon (p=0.001). These findings suggest that HI meal and AST modulate intestinal fermentation, exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, and regulate microbial populations, potentially reducing harmful metabolites and odor emissions. Their dietary combination may have positive implications for intestinal health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.24425\/pjvs.2026.158497","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,18]],"date-time":"2026-03-18T13:01:59Z","timestamp":1773838919000},"page":"17-17","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effects of Hermetia illucens larvae full-fat meal and astaxanthin on the microbiome and histomorphology of the large intestine in piglets"],"prefix":"10.24425","author":[{"given":"K.","family":"Szczepanik","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B.","family":"Kiero\u0144czyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition, Pozna\u0144 University of Life Sciences, Wo\u0142y\u0144ska 33, 60-637 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"P.","family":"Szymkowiak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition, Pozna\u0144 University of Life Sciences, Wo\u0142y\u0144ska 33, 60-637 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Taciak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Barszcz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jab\u0142onna, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A.","family":"Tu\u015bnio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jab\u0142onna, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"K.","family":"Gawin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jab\u0142onna, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"P.","family":"Dobrowolski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology, Maria Curie-Sk\u0142odowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"\u015awi\u0105tkiewicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"37468","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","unstructured":"AOAC, Association of Official Analytical Chemists (2009) Official methods of analysis of AOAC International, 18th ed. 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Fish Shellfish Immunol 122: 38-47."}],"container-title":["Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"pl","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.pan.pl\/Content\/138524\/2%20_%20Szczepanik.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,18]],"date-time":"2026-03-18T13:26:00Z","timestamp":1773840360000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.pan.pl\/dlibra\/publication\/158497\/edition\/138524\/content"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]]},"references-count":1,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.24425\/pjvs.2026.158497","relation":{},"ISSN":["1505-1773"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1505-1773","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]]}}}