Mice intestinal contents Metagenome

Introduction: Diarrhea is an intestinal disease prevalent worldwide, which has a major negative impact on both human and animals. However, there has been no report on the efficacy of Dracocephalum rupestre Hance (Yan-Qinglan; YQL) and Berberidis Radix (San-Kezhen; SKZ) in the treatment of diarrhea in lamb.Methods: Here, Escherichia coli strains were isolated from Tibetan lamb fecal samples, and used to construct a diarrhea mouse model. The therapeutic efficacy of the YQL-SKZ compound was investigated in the mouse model by oral gavage of different concentrations of the compound.Results: We found that the levels of inflammatory factors, such as IL-6, IL-8, TNF, and sIgA, were significantly decreased, while the expression of mucosal repair-related genes were elevated upon compound treatment. Furthermore, the examination of intestinal microbiota revealed significant differences in microbial composition and diversity among groups. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis showed distinct alterations across groups, with the acetic acid level being the highest in the positive group. The levels of isovaleric acid, valeric acid, propionic acid, and isobutyric acid were elevated in the middle- and high-concentration groups compared with other groups. We also observed interactions between microbial genera and these SCFAs, underscoring the importance of SCFAs in mediating gut health.Conclusion: Our findings showed that the YQL-SKZ compound is effective in treating E. coli-induced diarrhea in lamb. Our study sets the stage for future studies aimed at developing innovative therapies for lamb diarrhea, which could enhance the effectiveness of animal husbandry practices.