title: The 'normalization' of germ-free guineapigs with host-specific caecal microflora.
abstract: Hysterectomy-derived germ-free guineapigs were given colonization-resistant caecal flora from mice (mCRF) or microflora obtained from the caecum of an antibiotic-decontaminated conventional guineapig (gpCRF) and compared with guineapigs raised conventionally with the sow. Body weight and the following intestinal parameters were determined for the groups: colonization resistance (CR) to Escherichia coli, relative caecal weight (RCW), beta-aspartylglycine (faeces), volatile fatty acids (caecum) and bile acids (faeces). mCRF guineapigs showed values quite different from control animals for CR and RCW, indicating the unsuitability of mouse CRF for normalizing guineapigs. In gpCRF guineapigs CR and RCW values were comparable with controls, indicating the suitability of the guineapig flora for normalizing guineapigs. mCRF guineapigs housed with gpCRF guineapigs, showed an improvement in CR and RCW, yielding values found in control animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Supply, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kruijt
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kennis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lankhorst
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Welling
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hectors
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D001835:Body Weight / Q000662:veterinary; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids