Levo in fimo test : A simple test for fecal microbial reconstituted mice

Abstract

Here we report the first method for rapid on-site monitoring of germfree C57BL/6 mice colonized with feces from conventionally raised mice. The method, named levo in fimo test, readily distinguishes feces from germfree mice and conventionalized germfree mice based on its properties to float or sink in Trumps fixative solution. We validated the test using feces from conventionally raised mice, germfree mice and conventionalized germfree mice, and cross-validated using multiple indicators of microbial presence in feces. Levo in fimo test is a simple, cost-effective, instant yet robust method for on-site monitoring of gut microbial reconstitution in germfree mice.