Table 1 Experimental design of studies on faecal microbiota transplantation in pig production

1

Effect on gut bacterial community structure, gut barrier and growth performance

Control (saline)

6 litters; 9–10 pigs/litter

1

1.5 mL daily, from d 1 to d 11. Orally

The recipients’ resistance to disease was enhanced, diarrhea was reduced and weight gain was raised

Faeces from Jinhua adult pigs

6 litters; 9–10 pigs/litter

1.5 mL daily from d 1 to d 11. Orally

2

FMT regulates intestinal mucosal autophagy and anti-inflammatory ability

Control (phosphate-buffered saline)

6

1

1.5 mL daily, from d 1 to d 11. Orally

FMT triggered intestinal mucosal protective autophagy

Faeces from Jinhua adult pigs

6

1.5 mL daily from d 1 to d 11. Orally

3

Changes in the gut microbiota induced by FMT alter its metabolic function, which might regulate mucosal integrity and immune responses

Control (PBS)

6

1

1.5 mL every second day, from d 1 to d 14. Orally

FMT reduced susceptibility to LPS-induced destruction of epithelial integrity and severe inflammatory response

Control (PBS) (+ NaCl at slaughter)

6

1.5 mL every second day, from d 1 to d 14. Orally

Control (PBS) (+ LPS at slaughter)

6

1.5 mL every second day, from d 1 to d 14. Orally

Faeces from Jinhua adult pigs

6

1.5 mL every second day, from d 1 to d 14. Orally

Faeces from Jinhua adult pigs (+ LPS at slaughter)

6

1.5 mL every second day, from d 1 to d 14. Orally

4

Effects of early fecal microbiota transplantation on gut development in sucking piglets

Control (saline)

6

3

10 mL daily from d 1 to d 3; 10 mL every second day from d 4 to d 15; 20 mL every 5 days from d 16 to d 46. Intragastrically

FMT from the Yorkshire and Rongchang pigs to DLY piglets damaged the gut microbiota balance and thereby intestinal health

Faeces from 5 Tibetan pigs (12 weeks of age)

6

10 mL daily from d 1 to d 3; 10 mL every second day from d 4 to d 15; 20 mL every 5 days from d 16 to d 46. Intragastrically

Faeces from 5 Yorkshire pigs (12 weeks of age)

6

10 mL daily from d 1 to d 3; 10 mL every second day from d 4 to d 15; 20 mL every 5 days from d 16 to d 46. Intragastrically

Faeces from 5 Rongchang pigs (12 weeks of age)

6

10 mL daily from d 1 to d 3; 10 mL every second day from d 4 to d 15; 20 mL every 5 days from d 16 to d 46. Intragastrically

5

To identify and validate gut microbes associated with diarrhoea resistance

Control (none)

3

1 post-weaning

None

FMT reduced diarrhoea in recipients; FMT caused shifts in the microbiota of recipients towards that of donors

Control (saline)

3

2 mL every second day from d 10 to d 18. Orally

Faeces from Congjiang weaners (high dose)

3

2 mL every second day from d 10 to d 18. Orally

Faeces from Congjiang weaners (low dose)

3

2 mL every second day from d 10 to d 18. Orally

Oxytetracycline

3

2 mL at weaning. Intramuscular

6

The gastrointestinal microbiome could be strengthened or weakened by feeding maternal fecal microbiota or antibiotics

Control (saline)

5

1

3 mL every day from d 1 to d 6. Orally

FMT showed beneficial effects on GI-tract microbiota and the metabolic profiles of piglets on day 7, while less effect on day 21

Amoxicillin

3

3 mL every day from d 1 to d 6. Orally

Faeces from the dam

5

3 mL every day from d 1 to d 6. Orally

7

Whether FMT in sows and/or neonatal offspring with inocula from highly feed-efficient pigs could improve offspring feed efficiency

Control (saline)

18/12

d 70 of gestation

None

Reduced body weight, poorer absorptive capacity and intestinal health after FMT

Faeces from 4 finisher pigs with the lowest RFI to piglets at birth

18/12

8 mL at birth. Orally

Faeces from 4 finisher pigs with the lowest RFI to piglets at birth, 3, 7, and 28 d of age

18/12

8 mL at birth, 3, 7, and 28 days of age. Orally

Faeces from 4 finisher pigs with the lowest RFI to sows

18/12

200 mL d 70 and d 100 of gestation. Intragastrically

Faeces from 4 finisher pigs with the lowest RFI to sows, and piglets at birth

18/12

200 mL d 70 and d 100 of gestation. Intragastrically. 8 mL at birth to piglets. Orally

Faeces from 4 finisher pigs with the lowest RFI to sows, and piglets at birth, 3, 7, and 28 days of age

18/12

200 mL d 70 and d 100 of gestation. Intragastrically. 8 mL at birth, 3, 7, and 28 days of age. Orally

8

Microbiota from donors differing in composition can be established in recipient pigs

Colon digesta from growers (18 weeks old) fed a Control diet

20

28

20 mL on d 4 and d 18 post-weaning. Orally

Microbiota did not established in the recipients

Colon digesta from growers (18 weeks old) fed a Control diet added 170 ppm copper

20

20 mL on d 4 and d 18 post-weaning. Orally

Colon digesta from growers (18 weeks old) fed a Control diet added 40 ppm tylosin

20

20 mL on d 4 and d 18 post-weaning. Orally

Colon digesta from growers (18 weeks old) fed a Control diet added 1% benzoic acid

20

20 mL on d 4 and d 18 post-weaning. Orally

9

To assess the alleviation of epithelial injury in the Escherichia coli K88-infected piglets following FMT

Control

6

1

None

Epithelial injury was alleviated in the E. coli K88-infected piglets following FMT

Challenged E.coli K88 + PBS

6

100 mL K88 from d 15 to d 17+ 100 mL PBS on d 18 to d 20

Challenged E. coli K88 + faeces

6

100 mL K88 from d 15 to d 17+ 100 mL faeces on d 18 to d 20

10

FMT prior to co-infection with PRRSV and PCV-2 reduces clinical signs and pathology associated with PCVAD

Control (saline) + (PRRSV+PCV-2d)

10 (in 1 pen)

25

5 mL every day from d 1 to d 7 post-weaning

FMT decreases the severity of clinical signs following co-infection with PRRSV and PCV-2 by reducing the prevalence of PCVAD

Faeces from 2 sows (+PRRSV+PCV-2d)

10 (in 1 pen)

5 mL every day from d 1 to d 7 post-weaning