Research on intestinal microbiota in PEDV-infected piglets

The jejunal microbiota of healthy and PEDV-infected piglets were analyzed post-vaccination using 16S rDNA sequencing. From 16 jejunal content samples, 430,992 high-quality sequences were obtained after quality control. Alpha diversity, measured using Chao, Ace, Shannon, and Simpson indices, was found to be significantly lower in PEDV-infected piglets compared to healthy controls. At the genus level, PEDV infection reduced the number of OTUs in the jejunum of piglets from 267 to 155. Distinct clustering of jejunal microbial communities between infected and healthy groups was revealed by PCoA, confirming structural alterations post-infection. A decrease in the abundance of Pseudomonadota, Fusobacteriota, and Actinomycetota was observed in the jejunum of PEDV-infected piglets, while Bacillota was identified as the dominant phylum. Significant shifts in jejunal microbial composition during infection were further validated through clustering and statistical analyses. Notably, genera such as Limosilactobacillus, Bacillus, and Weissella were markedly enriched in the jejunum of PEDV-infected piglets.