Methods: On day 6 post-
infection, mice from the combination cohort displayed slightly lower pathogen loads in the duodenum, but neither in the stomach, ileum nor large intestine. Remarkably, the clinical outcome of C. jejuni induced acute
enterocolitis was significantly improved after combined organic
acid treatment when compared to the placebo control group. In support, the combinatory organic
acid treatment dampened both, macroscopic and microscopic inflammatory sequelae of C. jejuni
infection as indicated by less colonic shrinkage and less pronounced histopathological including apoptotic epithelial cell changes in the colon on day 6 post-
infection. Furthermore, mice from the combination as compared to placebo cohort exhibited lower numbers of innate and adaptive immune cells such as neutrophilic granulocytes, macrophages, monocytes, and T lymphocytes in their colonic mucosa and lamina propria, respectively, which also held true for pro-inflammatory
cytokine secretion in the large intestines and mesenteric lymph nodes. Notably, the anti-inflammatory effects were not restricted to the intestinal tract, but could also be observed systemically given pro-inflammatory mediator concentrations in C. jejuni infected mice from the combination organic
acid treatment that were comparable to basal values. In conclusion, our in vivo study provides first evidence that an oral application of distinct organic
acids in combination exhibits pronounced anti-inflammatory effects and hence, constitutes a promising novel
antibiotics-independent therapeutic strategy in the combat of acute
campylobacteriosis.