title: Changes in the bacterial population of the caecum and stomach of the rabbit in response to addition of dietary caprylic acid.
abstract: The effect of caprylic acid, either in its pure form, or as Akomed R, on the microbial community of the stomach and caecum of farmed rabbits was investigated. This fatty acid, which is often added to the diet of farmed rabbits to reduce mortality rates was shown to reduce the number of coliforms isolated from both the stomach and the caecum. Moreover, it led to a reduction in the total number of anaerobic bacteria isolated from the caecum, but not for those isolated from the stomach. Its mode of action remains unclear, but here it is shown by use of both DGGE and TRFLP analysis that these changes are not confined to one specific group of bacteria, but rather affects a number of species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401, Prague, Czech Republic. skrivanova.eva@vuzv.cz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skrivanová
authors.forename: Hilary J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Worgan
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinloche
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marounek
authors.forename: C Jamie
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Newbold
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: McEwan
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D011817:Rabbits; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; C031492:octanoic acid