An Early Fecal Microbiota Transfer Improves the Intestinal Conditions on Microflora and Immunoglobulin and Antimicrobial Peptides in Piglets

The
goal of this study was to investigate the effects of early
fecal microbial transfer (FMT) on the microflora of recipient piglets,
where Yorkshire newborn piglets and Min sows (an indigenous pig breed
in China) were used as the fecal recipients and donors, respectively,
to reveal the changes in immunity and development-related functions
of the intestinal mucosa driven by FMT. The recipient group was inoculated
with fecal microbial fluids from days 1 to 10. On day 21, the relative
abundance of the Proteobacteria was reduced; the
concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG)
in the jejunal mucosa, and that of IgG in the ileal mucosa of the
recipient group, were increased (P < 0.05). On
day 40, the relative abundance of the Firmicutes
in the recipient group was increased, while that of Bacteroides was decreased. The concentrations of IgG and IgM in the ileal mucosa
of the recipient group were increased. FMT protected the intestine
by modulating the antimicrobial peptides of the intestinal mucosa
(P < 0.05). The results of this study revealed
that early FMT can improve the gut microbiota, intestinal mucosal
immunity, and intestinal development-related functions of Yorkshire
piglets.