Short-chain fatty acids improve clinical, pathologic, and microbiologic features of experimental shigellosis

Because of the metabolic and antibacterial actions of short-chain fatty aci ds (SCFA), their roles in modifying the clinicopathologic features of shige llosis were evaluated in a rabbit model of shigellosis, Acute colitis was i nduced in adult rabbits by intracolonic administration of Shigella flexneri 2a, After 24 h, rabbits were given 6-h colonic infusions of SCFA (acetate, propionate, n-butyrate; 60:30:40 mM) or SCFA-free solution (control); grou ps of rabbits were killed in batches of 2 or 3 animals at 24, 48, 72, and 9 6 h after treatment, for histologic and bacteriologic assessment. SCFA sign ificantly reduced fecal blood and mucus and improved clinical symptoms. His tologically, SCFA significantly (P < .01) reduced mucosal congestion, cellu lar infiltration, and necrotic changes. SCFA also significantly (P < .05) r educed the number of shigellae in the colon. No such improvements occurred in the control group. SCFA may be useful agents in improving clinicopatholo gic features of shigellosis and should be clinically evaluated.