AUTHOR=Chen Jian , Yu Xiaojun , Wang Guang , Jiang Ziyi , Kong Lingpeng , Zhang Huanle , Wang Lihua 

TITLE=Effects of cecropin antimicrobial peptides on growth and intestinal health in growing male minks

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1565580

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2025.1565580

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with cecropin antimicrobial peptides (CAD) on growth performance and intestinal health in growing male minks (Neovison vison). A cohort of 60 male minks (65 days old) were evenly divided into six groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with CAD at 0 (control), 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 mg/kg for 8 weeks. The findings revealed that the minks in 200 mg/kg CAD group had greater growth performance, with significantly higher final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG). Compared to the minks in the control (p < 0.05). Digestibility analyses at week 3 demonstrated that CAD supplementation enhanced ether extract (EE) digestibility (p < 0.05), while 200, 400, and 500 mg/kg CAD improved crude protein (CP) digestibility (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology assessments indicated that 200 mg/kg CAD significantly increased duodenal and jejunal villus height (both p < 0.05) and jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Serum immunological analyses revealed elevated levels of complement C4 and IgG in CAD-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). Notably, the 100 mg/kg CAD group exhibited the higher serum IgA, IgM, and complement C3, and less jejunal TNF-α levels (all p < 0.05). Microbiota profiling showed that CAD supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Mycoplasma, while 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg CAD decreased Peptostreptococcaceae populations (p < 0.05). The 100 mg/kg CAD group displayed optimal immune enhancement and microbiota modulation, whereas the 200 mg/kg group achieved the best growth performance and intestinal function. These results suggest that dietary CAD supplementation at 100–200 mg/kg effectively improves growth, nutrient utilization, and intestinal health in growing male minks.