The effect of oral pancreatic enzymes on the intestinal flora of protein-deficient vervet monkeys challenged with Vibrio cholerae.

Jejunal bacterial flora in 11 protein deficient vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and four controls was studied. These were the same animals from an investigation previously reported in which it was shown that pancreatic extract modified the course of cholera infection in protein-deficient monkeys. The present study reports in addition that these animals the fluid in the upper jejunum contained significantly increased numbers of bacteria including Enterobacteriaceae compared to its predietary state and to that of the controls. After challenge to these animals with Vibrio cholerae, the jejunal bacterial flora in the protein-deficient animals given placebo remained unchanged, whereas pancreatic extract-treated animals showed a quantitative and qualitative recovery of their jejunal bacterial flora. Pancreatic extract hastened the return of altered intestinal flora to predietary levels.