Impact of Helminth Infections and Nutritional Constraints on the Small Intestine Microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Helminth infections and nutrition can independently alter the composition and abundance of the gastrointestinal microbiota, however, their combined effect is poorly understood. Here, we used the T. retortaeformis-rabbit system to examine how the helminth infection and host restriction from coprophagy/ready-to-absorb nutrients affected the duodenal microbiota, and how these changes related to the acquired immune response at the site of infection. A factorial experiment was performed where the bacterial community, its functionality and the immune response were examined in four treatments (Infect, Infect+Collar, Control+Collar and Control). Helminths reduced the diversity and abundance of the microbiota while the combination of parasites and coprophagic restriction led to a more diversified a

SUBMITTER: Cattadori IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4954658 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature