Fecal microbiota transplantation to support gut colonization and to prevent infection and antimicrobial resistance in newborn pigs

DFF-Forskningsprojekt2/DFF-Research Project 2
The Danish pig production suffers from high neonatal morbidity, mainly due to
enteritis and infections. Antibiotics are widely used but antimicrobial resistance is a
serious concern. Rectal fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective against
C.difficile infection in adults but has not been tested in newborns. Using preterm
pigs as a model of sensitive newborn pigs, we have shown that prophylactic oral
antibiotics (OAB) prevent gut inflammation and infection. We have also shown
several gut protective effects of FMT. However, the effects of combined OAB
treatment followed by FMT remain unknown. In this project, we study the novel
FMT treatment, with or without short-term OAB in newborn preterm and term pigs
both in the laboratory and in commercial herds. FMT after short-term delayed
colonization by OAB is expected to establish a diverse gut microbiota (bacteria and
bacteriophages) and protect against gut inflammation and infection without
increased antimicrobial resistance.