Fecal microbiota transplantation on necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm piglets

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a lethal neonatal disease affecting suvival status of preemies. We previously found rectal fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from full-term healthy piglets could distinctly prevent NEC incidence among preterm piglets while reshaping the host gut microbiota and immune response. In this study, we assessed the performance of FMT between two donors from 10-day-old healthy piglets but on different farms. Preterm piglets delivered by cesarean section at ~ 90% gestation, received rectal FMT using the two donors and sterile saline as control. The NEC severity, clinical response and gastrointestinal histology of recipient piglets were assessed. The microbial community of recipient colon and the two donors were profiled by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics.