. 2024 May 22;18:154–165. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.04.015

Table 4.

Effects of API supplementation on the morphology of the small intestine of ETEC-challenged piglets.

Item	Treatments¹					SEM	P-value
Item	CON	ECON	EANT	E750API	E1500API	SEM	P₁²	P₂³
Duodenum
VH, μm	420.88	357.22^b	452.21^a	434.34^a	447.85^a	14.351	0.17	0.04
CD, μm	332.82	414.61	368.25	292.33	311.49	21.927	0.30	0.18
VH/CD	1.33	0.98^b	1.29^ab	1.55^a	1.48^a	0.078	0.13	0.02
Jejunum
VH, μm	317.34	333.99^b	450.21^a	398.00^ab	370.40^b	14.795	0.61	0.02
CD, μm	259.61	307.58∗^a	331.44^a	257.81^b	261.48^b	10.331	0.02	<0.01
VH/CD	1.28	1.18	1.43	1.61	1.49	0.061	0.48	0.08
Ileum
VH, μm	265.05	251.90	285.98	336.89	297.65	14.825	0.74	0.25
CD, μm	254.73	287.69	220.59	241.55	192.82	14.730	0.42	0.13
VH/CD	1.16	0.94^b	1.44^a	1.53^a	1.66^a	0.082	0.21	<0.01

API = artificial parasin I protein; ETEC = enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; VH = villus height; CD = crypt depth; VH/CD = the ratio of villus height to crypt depth.

Mean and total SEM are listed in separate columns (n = 4).

CON = basal diet; ECON = basal diet + ETEC; EANT = basal diet + antibiotics + ETEC; E750API = basal diet + 750 mg/kg API + ETEC; E1500API = basal diet + 1500 mg/kg API + ETEC.

P₁ is the t-test P-value between CON and ECON group (∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01).

P₂ is the ANOVA P-value among the ETEC-challenged groups (ECON vs. EANT vs. E750API vs. E1500API). Values with different lowercase letter superscripts within a row mean significant differences (P < 0.05).