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Bacterial localization in the caecum of the rabbit
J A Ross1, A Scott, I C Gardner
1Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Great Britain.
Microbios
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Rabbit caecal microflora was analyzed using electron microscopy. Diverse bacterial forms, including spiral and fusiform shapes, were identified within the caecum and epithelial cells, with no host reaction observed.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Microbial Ecology
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- The rabbit caecum harbors a complex indigenous microflora crucial for host physiology.
- Understanding the spatial distribution and morphology of these microbes is essential for comprehending their ecological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the indigenous microflora of the rabbit caecum and its microenvironments.
- To identify and describe the morphology of dominant bacterial forms using transmission electron microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to examine the rabbit caecum.
- Samples from the caecal lumen, epithelial surfaces, and crypts were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Predominant bacterial forms in the caecal lumen and on epithelial surfaces included rods and cocci.
- A curved, flagellate rod-like form resembling spirochaetes was observed.
- Caecal crypts contained a homogeneous population of a monotypic spiral form.
- Fusiform bacteria were identified within the apical region of intact epithelial cells.
- No host inflammatory response was evident, and bacterial resting spore formation was suggested.
Conclusions:
- The rabbit caecum hosts a diverse microbial community with distinct morphologies and spatial distributions.
- Specific bacterial forms, including spiral and fusiform types, inhabit specialized niches within the caecum.
- The absence of host reaction suggests a commensal or symbiotic relationship between the rabbit and its indigenous microflora.