Table 2 Effects of antibiotics or the antimicrobial peptide cecropin on intestinal morphology and intestinal microflora of four week old weaned pigs after challenge with E. coli

Intestinal Morphology

 Duodenum

 Villus height, μm

418

439

431

10.7

0.53

 Crypt depth, μm

233

227

232

5.3

0.41

 Villus height to crypt depth ratio

1.83

1.96

1.89

0.24

0.18

 Jejunum

 Villus height, μm

401

448

420

18.4

0.37

 Crypt depth, μm

212^b

233^a

220^b

6.8

0.04

 Villus height to crypt depth ratio

1.89^b

1.97^a

1.91^ab

0.01

0.03

 Ileum

 Villus height, μm

357^b

396^a

384^a

12.4

0.04

 Crypt depth, μm

211

217

213

5.6

0.37

 Villus height to crypt depth ratio

1.74^b

1.85^a

1.82^ab

0.04

0.04

Intestinal Microflora (log ₁₀ CFU/g of digesta)

 Ileum

 E. coli

4.37

4.14

4.25

0.18

0.85

 Lactobacillus

9.38

10.00

9.62

0.20

0.42

 Total aerobes

6.69^a

6.60^ab

6.43^b

0.08

0.04

 Total anaerobes

9.36^b

9.87^ab

10.12^a

0.23

0.03

 Cecum

 E. coli

3.37^a

3.09^b

3.22^ab

0.12

0.04

 Lactobacillus

8.89^b

9.47^a

9.23^a

0.14

0.03

 Total aerobes

3.88

3.77

3.49

0.44

0.63

 Total anaerobes

8.79

9.37

9.26

0.28

0.38