Characterisation of Early Microbial Colonisers within the Spiral Colon of Pre- and Post-Natal Piglets.

ABSTRACT: Initial enteric microbial colonisation influences animal health and disease, hence an understanding of the first microbial colonisers within the piglet is important. The spiral colon of piglets that were stillborn (n = 20), born-alive (n = 10), and born alive and had sucked (n = 9) were collected from 28 sows to investigate whether initial microbial colonisation occurs pre- or post-partum and how it develops during the first 24 h post-partum. To examine this, DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA amplicon analysis was performed to allow analysis of microbial communities. The results indicate that microbial colonisation of the spiral colon had occurred in stillborn pigs, suggesting microbial exposure prior to birth. Alpha diversity metrics indicated that the number of taxa and

SUBMITTER: Nowland TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8066224 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature