Why are young animals more susceptible to pathogens (bad bacteria) than adult animals?
The role of the gut microflora can be exhibited by the example of germfree animals being more readily colonised and infected by gastrointestinal tract pathogens than conventional animals. The newly born animal shows greater susceptibility than the adult to oral infection by food-poisoning pathogens such as salmonellas. This can be attributed to the virtual absence of intestinal microflora.
