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Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Murine Fecal Isolation and Microbiota Transplantation
Published on: May 26, 2023
The effect of fecal microbial transplant on intestinal microbial composition in short-bowel neonatal piglets
Tierah Hinchliffe1, Mirielle L Pauline1, Pamela R Wizzard1
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) in neonatal short-bowel syndrome (SBS) piglets is safe and induces temporary changes in the gut microbiota. These alterations did not lead to increased sepsis or mortality, suggesting potential for future therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Neonatal short-bowel syndrome (SBS) is linked to gut microbial dysbiosis.
- Dysbiosis in SBS may contribute to sepsis and liver disease, major causes of mortality.
- Investigating fecal microbial transplant (FMT) as a potential intervention for SBS-associated dysbiosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and feasibility of FMT in neonatal piglets with SBS.
- To evaluate the impact of FMT on intestinal microbial composition in SBS piglets.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal piglets underwent 75% distal small-intestinal resection to induce SBS.
- Piglets were randomized to receive either saline (SAL) or FMT via gastric tube.
- Microbial composition was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of stool samples.
Main Results:
- FMT treatment was safe, with no increase in sepsis or mortality in SBS piglets.
- FMT induced transient alterations in gut microbiota composition and diversity shortly after administration.
- These microbial changes were not sustained long-term.
Conclusions:
- Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) is a safe intervention in neonatal piglets with short-bowel syndrome (SBS).
- FMT can transiently modulate the intestinal microbiota in SBS piglets.
- The observed microbial changes were temporary and did not persist.
Background:
Short-bowel syndrome (SBS) in neonates is associated with microbial dysbiosis due to intestinal surgery, prolonged hospitalization, enteral nutrition, and repeated antibiotic exposure. Sepsis and liver disease, leading causes of morbidity and mortality in SBS, may relate to such intestinal dysbiosis. We investigated the safety and feasibility of fecal microbial transplant (FMT) to alter intestinal microbial composition in SBS piglets.
Methods:
Following a 75% distal small-intestinal resection, piglets were fed parenteral nutrition with an elemental diet and randomized to saline (SAL; n = 12) or FMT (n = 12) treatments delivered by gastric tube on day 2 (d2). The FMT donor was a healthy adult pig. Comparisons were also made to healthy sow-fed littermate controls (SOW; n = 6). Stool samples were collected daily, and tissue samples were collected at baseline and termination. Microbial DNA was extracted from stool and analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.
Results:
All piglets survived to the end point. On d2-d4, FMT piglets had some differences in microbiota composition compared with SAL, SOW, and donor counterparts. Between base and term, there were transitory changes to alpha and beta diversity in FMT and SAL.
Conclusion:
FMT treatment in postsurgical neonatal piglets with SBS appears safe, with no increase in sepsis and no mortality. In SBS piglets, FMT induced transient changes to the intestinal microbiota. However, these changes did not persist long-term.
