The underlying microbial mechanism of epizootic rabbit enteropathy triggered by a low fiber diet

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Animal Nutrition
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE) is a significant enteric disease affecting rabbits.
• Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health and microbial balance in rabbits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the microbial variations in the digestive tract of rabbits with experimentally induced Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE).
• To understand the relationship between dietary fiber, gut microbiota composition, and the incidence of ERE.

Main Methods:

• Experimental induction of ERE using a low-fibre diet in rabbits.
• High-throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for microbial analysis of stomach, small intestine, and caecum.
• Correlation analysis between microbial abundance, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and ERE incidence.

Main Results:

• Low-fibre diet disturbed gut microbial evenness and decreased richness in ERE rabbits.
• Significant shifts in bacterial phyla: decreased Firmicutes, increased Proteobacteria (stomach/caecum), increased Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia (small intestine).
• Reduced caecal total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and butyrate linked to decreased fibrolytic and butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Eubacterium).

Conclusions:

• ERE pathogenesis involves an overgrowth of specific bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium perfringens) and inhibition of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium spp.).
• Reduced butyrate yield due to microbial dysbiosis contributes to ERE development.
• Dietary fibre manipulation presents a potential strategy for managing and preventing ERE in rabbits.