Establishment of normal gut microbiota is compromised under excessive hygiene conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early gut colonization events are purported to have a major impact on the incidence of infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in later life. Hence, factors which influence this process may have important implications for both human and animal health. Previously, we demonstrated strong influences of early-life environment on gut microbiota composition in adult pigs. Here, we sought to further investigate the impact of limiting microbial exposure during early life on the development of the pig gut microbiota.

Methodology/principal findings

Outdoor- and indoor-reared animals, exposed to the microbiota in their natural rearing environment for the first two days of life, were transferred to an isolator facility and adult gut microbial diversity was analyzed b

SUBMITTER: Schmidt B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3229561 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature