Effect of dietary purine and pyrimidine bases on the intestinal microflora in weaned pigs

Abstract

Twelve weaned pigs were canmdated in the terminal ileum. The pigs were assigned to two groups: the basal diet of the treated animals was supplemented with uracil and guanine bases, while the animals of the control group were given no supplementation. Ileal digesta samples were collected on d 1, 7, 14, and 21 and assayed for pH, lactobacilli, streptococci, coliforms and total E. coli. The pH values were between 5.9 and 7.0, no significant difference being demonstrated between the individual samplings or between the groups. The germ counts expressed in log10 values/g digesta were the following: 5.7-6.9 lactobacilli, 5.5-6.5 streptococci, 6.0-6.9 coliforms and 5.6-6.5 E. coli. The number of lactobacilli and streptococci rose in both groups as the experimental period progressed. The number of coliforms and E. coli showed a slight decrease in the treated group, while it did not change in the control animals.