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Page 14 of 19 Son et al. Microbiome Res Rep. 2025;4:29 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2025.14

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Table 5. Changes in jejunal morphology in nursery pigs challenged with F18 E. coli
1
Change (Δ%)
Ref. Inoculation BW (kg) Inoculation age (d) Days post inoculation (d)
VH CD VH:CD Ki-67 +
Duarte and Kim [23] NA 28 21 –12.1 * 7.2 –17.7 * 7.8
[27] * *
Garavito-Duarte et al. 6.3 28 21 –13.2 –7.3 –6.1 25.0
[28] * *
Gormley et al. 6.4 28 21 –11.5 8.1 –18.5 3.8
Deng et al. [31] 6.6 28 18 –3.8 –9.7 * 14.3 * 2.3
[9] * *
Duarte et al. 6.9 28 21 –25.2 3.3 –28.8 –9.0
[30] * *
Xu et al. 7.1 28 21 –16.3 8.0 –22.4 30.5
Liu et al. [26] 7.1 25 5 –5.0 * 4.9 –16.3 * -
* *
11 –4.9 11.3 –14.6 -
[25]
He et al. 7.1 28 7 –2.6 2.6 0.9 -
Jang et al. [29] 7.2 28 21 –9.9 7.5 –15.0 * 44.0 *
[34]
Wong et al. 7.4 28 5 –14.5 –2.5 –12.4 -
21 –12.1 –6.7 –5.9 -
Kim et al. [32] 7.9 NA 5 –19.1 * –8.9 –11.5 -
11 –8.9 –6.3 –5.3 -
[36] * * *
Duarte et al. 8.2 28 13 –11.8 11.5 –20.3 16.5
Duarte et al. [37] 8.2 NA 21 –2.2 0 –2.3 24.4 *
[19] * *
Sun et al. 8.3 34 12 –8.2 –7.9 –0.6 -
3
Number of studies 2 Average change (Δ%)
VH CD VH:CD Ki-67 + VH CD VH:CD Ki-67 +
17 17 17 9 –10.2 0.9 –10.7 35.4
1
Percentage changes in jejunal morphology were calculated by comparing the positive control (E. coli challenged group) to the negative control
2 3
(non-challenged group). The number of studies included in the average calculation for each morphological parameter. Averages were calculated
*
as arithmetic means. P < 0.05. E. coli: Escherichia coli; BW: body weight; VH: villus height; CD: crypt depth; VH:CD: villus height-to-crypt depth
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ratio; Ki-67 : proportion of Ki-67 proliferative cells in the crypt, indicating cell proliferation; NA: not available.
E. coli challenge increases diarrhea incidence by 28.3% and fecal score by 0.7 points (on a 1 to 5 scale),
leading to reductions in ADG (24.1%), ADFI (12.5%), and G:F (14.9%).

These productivity losses are not solely attributable to diarrhea, but also to the broader negative impacts on
intestinal health. F18 E. coli alters the composition of the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota by reducing
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populations of beneficial bacteria and increasing harmful ones. This shift triggers an immune response in
the intestinal epithelium, leading to inflammation and oxidative stress. These responses damage epithelial
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cells and induce morphological changes. Specifically, F18 E. coli challenge has been associated with
decreased RA of beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and increased RA of harmful
genera including Helicobacter and Prevotella. The challenge also elevated levels of TNF-α (14.9%), IL-8
(10.9%), IgA (9.2%), IgG (19.7%), MDA (50.7%), and protein carbonyl (32.3%). These immune and
oxidative responses compromise jejunal morphology, evidenced by reductions in VH (10.2%) and VH:CD
(10.7%) and an increase in Ki-67 proliferative cells (35.4%). Collectively, these changes contribute to
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impaired growth performance in nursery pigs.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
Conceptualization of the manuscript: Kim SW, Son J