Effect of Preventing Coprophagy on Colonisation by Segmented Filamentous Bacteria in the Small Bowel of Mice

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Abstract
Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFBs) are present in the small intestine of mice and rats. It is not clear whether this presence is due to a stable colonisation or to reinfection by coprophagy. To answer this question the effect of preventing coprophagy on SFBs was studied in mice. Two parameters were determined as general indicators for a normal micro-ecological state of the small intestine: the relative caecal weight and the percentage of caecal fusiform shaped bacteria. Prevention of coprophagy executed by means of a polyethylene 'restrainer' and a wire mesh resulted in a slight increase in the colonisation of SFBs (significant in small intestine section 8; p < 0·012). The number of SFBs per 100 bacteria showed an increase in section 8 compared to mice with a restrainer, but which were housed on sawdust (p < 0032). No effects were seen on the relative caecal weight and the percentage of fusiform shaped bacteria in the caecum.