This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of chitosan (CHI) on sugarcane fermentation profile and losses, chemical composition, and in situ degradation. Treatments were: 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g of CHI/kg of dry matter (DM). Twenty experimental silos (PVC tubing with diameter 28 cm and height 25 cm) were used. Sand (2 kg) was placed at the bottom of each silo to evaluate effluent losses, and silos were weighed 60 d after ensiling to calculate gas losses. Samples were collected from the center of the silo mass to evaluate silage chemical composition, in situ degradation, fermentation profile, and mold and yeast count. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, and the treatment effect was decomposed using polynomial regression. Chitosan linearly increased acetic acid and NH3-N concentration, while yeast and mold count, and ethanol concentration decreased. Intermediary levels of CHI (from 4.47 to 6.34 g/kg DM) showed the lower values of effluent, gas, and total losses. There was a quadratic effect of CHI on the content of non-fiber carbohydrates, neutral and acid detergent, and in situ DM degradation. The lowest fiber content was observed with levels between 7.01 and 7.47 g/kg DM, whereas the highest non-fiber carbohydrate content and in situ DM degradation were found with 6.30 and 7.17 g/kg DM of CHI, respectively. Chitosan linearly increased acetic acid and NH3-N concentration, whereas it linearly reduced ethanol concentration and count of yeast and mold. Thus, intermediary levels of CHI, between 4.47 and 7.47 g/kg of DM, decrease fermentation losses and improve the nutritional value of sugarcane silage.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of chitosan-oligosaccharides(CHIOL) on hydrophobicity of pathogenic E coli including a field isolate from suckling piglet with diarrhea, E coli-0157:H7, and E coli-O149:K88ac. E coli field isolate appeared adhesion of 100% to n-hexadecne between 0.00125% and 0.05% CHIOL. E coli-O157:H7 occurred adhesion of 69% and 64% under the level of 0.00125% and 0.025% CHIOL, respectively. E coli-O149:K88ac showed adhesion of 100% in higher than 0.025% CHIOL. For cationic action, the adhesion of E coli isolate and E coli-O149:K88ac to n-hexadecane were inhibited at level of higher than 10mM Ca2+ but did not induce any difference among the concentrations used(p0.01). However,the adhesion of E coli-O157:H7 to n-hexadecane was inhibited at level of higher than 50mM Ca2+. In a field trial, control piglets showed average mortality of up to 58% during 3 days after the onset of diarrhea. In contrast, the prevalence of E coli-induced diarrhea in CHIOL-treated groups without mortality was dropped down to average 34% on the 1st day after the treatment of CHIOL, and average 2% on the 4th day. After then, piglets with diarrhea was not present. In conclusion, the low concentrations of CHIOL were most likely to associate with the enhancement of hydrophobicit to pathogenic E coli. Calcium inhibited the hydrophobicity of E coli by CHIOL. These results suggested that CHIOL could be played an efficient and reliable role in treating enteric colibacillosis of piglets.