Page 650 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

gastrointestinal microbiota. Many members of the microbiota are
VetBooks.ir optimized to ferment oligosaccharides and thus generate energy-

rich short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The fatty acids in turn can be
used as energy sources by other, more specialized bacteria. It is

estimated that in an omnivore such as a human, as much as 10% of
daily energy needs are provided by colonic fermentation. This
figure is much higher for herbivores such as ruminants and horses.

FIG. 21.1 The importance of the microbiota to the proper
functioning of the animal body, some of the factors that modify its
composition, and the consequences of dysregulation.

It is now well accepted that the intestinal microbiota both
contribute to local host defenses and also have effects on the
immune system and metabolism that extend throughout the body.
Nutrients and microbial metabolites are continually released into

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