Rabbit coprophagous behavior and the gut microbiota

Rabbit early life coprophagia effect on the ileum. Coprophagia in suckling rabbits is observed in the first 14 days after birth. This behavior stimulates the maturation of the ceacal microbiota and strongly reduces mortality after weaning (Combes et al., 2014; doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6394). In the current study, we hypothesized that this beneficial effect of coprophagia is immune-mediated at the ileal level. Experimental design encompassed three groups : the NF group: ingestion of maternal feces in the nest was prevented (No access to Feces), the FF group: pup feces ingestion was enhanced removing the maternal feces from the nest and replacing them with feces from unrelated does (coprophagia), the FFab group: pup feces ingestion was enhanced removing the maternal feces from the nest and replacing them with feces from unrelated antibiotic treated does (coprophagia with antibiotic feces).