Longitudinal evaluation of fecal microbiota transplantation for ameliorating calf diarrhea and improving growth performance

Abstract

Calf diarrhea is associated with enteric infections, and also provokes the overuse of antibiotics. Therefore, proper treatment of diarrhea represents a therapeutic challenge in livestock production and public health concerns. Here, we describe the ability of a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), to ameliorate diarrhea and restore gut microbial composition in 57 growing calves. We conduct multi-omics analysis of 450 longitudinally collected fecal samples and find that FMT-induced alterations in the gut microbiota (an increase in the family Porphyromonadaceae) and metabolomic profile (a reduction in fecal amino acid concentration) strongly correlate with the remission of diarrhea. During the continuous follow-up study over 24 months, we find that FMT improves the growth performance of the cattle. This first FMT trial in ruminants suggest that FMT is capable of ameliorating diarrhea in pre-weaning calves with alterations in their gut microbiota, and that FMT may have a potential role in the improvement of growth performance.

Early Life Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Neonatal Dairy Calves Promotes Growth Performance and Alleviates Inflammation and Oxidative Stress during Weaning

“…Interestingly, the alpha diversity of the microbial communities increased from pre- (week 1) to post-FMT (week 5) in the feces of calves that received FMT. Similar improvements in alpha diversity in microbial communities have been observed in studies that performed FMT in beef growing calves [ 51 ] and infants diagnosed with recurrent CD infection [ 21 ]. Gut dysbiosis has been exemplified by an abnormal increase in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, which can trigger an inflammatory response [ 60 ].…”

“…We speculate that a distinct set of FMT-mediated gut microbes and metabolites derived from the host-FMT interaction might be associated with improving growth performance in the recipient calves. Similar to these findings in growth performance, Kim, et al [ 51 ] reported an increase in the overall body mass of beef calves at 12 month-old that received FMT. This study suggested that the microbial abundance in the gut of FMT recipients was associated with the calf overall growth rate.…”

Microbiome Clusters Disclose Physiologic Variances in Dairy Cows Challenged by Calving and Lipopolysaccharides

“…To confirm this connection between bifidobacterial strains and Bifidobacterium -promoting and/or derived metabolites, a study up to a minimum of 7 days postpartum should be conducted to examine both calves and dams. Bifidobacteria are the first settlers in the calf’s intestine and produce bacteriocins ( 44 ), which may protect against an explosive or adverse establishment of pathogenic bacteria, which bear the risk of diarrhea, the most common cause of early deaths in calf husbandry ( 45 , 46 ). Bifidobacteria may instead allow a controlled settlement of this bare and sensitive niche in newborns.…”

Sodium Humate And Glutamine Combined Supplementation Alleviate Diarrhea of Weaned Calves Via Alter Intestinal Microbiota And Metabolites

“…It is well known that intestinal microbiota plays an important role in nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology and immunity [33][34][35]. To clarify the mechanism of bene cial effects of HNa and Gln supplementation in weaned calves, the 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted LC − MS metabolomics analysis were performed.…”