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Microflora of Intestinal Contents and Feces of Pigs Fed Different Diets Including Pigs Showing Parakeratosis

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Abstract

Selective media were employed to enumerate fecal flora of pigs fed four diets. Average bacterial counts obtained were coliform, 10¹⁰; enterococci, 10⁸; lactobacilli, 10⁸; yeasts, 10⁴; molds, 10⁴; proteus spp., 10⁴; clostridia, none. However, clostridia may be present, as indicated by preliminary work by Dr. Helen R. White. The range of variation encountered was consistently less than 10², except for yeasts, and this fact was considered to be a reasonable criterion for judging treatment effects.

Selective media were also used to estimate the number of viable organisms in the contents of the intestinal tract of pigs. The site of greatest microbial activity appeared to be the large intestine. The site of least activity appeared to be the stomach but evidence is presented to contradict the traditional concept of sterility or a "germicidal barrier" in the stomach.

Molds were present in the feed and in the contents of the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and feces in nearly the same numbers and are probably there principally as inert transient forms.

Efforts were made to determine the cause of the depression of coliforms and enterococci noted in the fecal flora of pigs fed diets which induce parakeratosis. Zinc, calcium and 5% alfalfa meal were considered as variables but none appeared to be responsible for the floral alteration. In some instances individual variation exceeded the 10² limit previously found to describe the "normal" range.

¹ Present address: Department of Animal Husbandry, University of West Virginia, Morgantown.