Selective translocation of coliform bacteria adhering to caecal epithelium of rats during catabolic stress

Adult conventional rats were starved for 48 h with or without haemorrhage at 24 h, and translocation of caecal coliforms to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) was measured. Translocation was detected in three of 11 rats without haemorrhage, in 6 of 11 starved and sham-operated rats and in 12 of 22 rats after haemorrhage. In contrast, only one of 13 non-instrumented and fed control rats showed translocation. Translocation was associated with more coliforms adhering to caecal epithelium in rats. Coliform isolates from caecum, caecal epithelium and MLNs were characterised and grouped into different biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) by a biochemical fingerprinting method. Of 291 BPTs detected in the caecum of all rats, 108 were also found on caecal epithelium; 36 BPTs were detected in MLNs, of which 17 were not detected either in the caecum or on the caecal epithelium of the corresponding rats. One isolate from each of these 36 BPTs was selected and compared to the others. Four common (C) BPTs (i.e., C1-C4) were identified among them. Strains of C1 formed the majority of isolates from the caecum (79%), caecal epithelium (71%) and MLNs (91%). In contrast, C2-C4 had a significantly lower incidence both in the caecum and on the caecal epithelium, but not in the MLNs. These findings indicate that not all caecal coliforms adhere to the epithelium during catabolic stress and that for translocation to occur, other bacterial properties besides adhesion are needed. It is also concluded that coliforms with a low incidence in the caecum can translocate with the same efficiency as those with a high incidence.