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Lin QY, Du JJ, Xu H, Lv MK, Xu L, Li J, Cao ZH. Effects of fecal microbial transplantation on police performance and transportation stress in Kunming police dogs. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:46. [PMID: 38183474 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12935-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. KEY POINTS: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Ye Lin
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Jing Du
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Hu Xu
- Kunming Police Dog Base of the Ministry of Public Security, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650204, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Kui Lv
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Xu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Li
- Kunming Police Dog Base of the Ministry of Public Security, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650204, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhen-Hui Cao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China.
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China.
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Patel KV, Hunt ABG, Castillo-Fernandez J, Abrams C, King T, Watson P, Amos GCA. Impact of acute stress on the canine gut microbiota. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18897. [PMID: 39143116 PMCID: PMC11324789 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66652-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that a relationship exists between mental and emotional wellbeing and the gut microbiota. Little is known regarding how the microbiota reacts to repeated acute stress events in dogs, and whether it is a predictor of stress response. In this study, we explored the impact on the gut microbiota and digestive health with two common events many pet dogs find stressful. Twenty healthy adult dogs, living within a colony, were exposed to either car travel or separation three times across eight-week intervals. Faecal samples were collected 24 h before, within 24 h, and 24-48 h after. Faecal quality and pH, and microbiota diversity and composition were analysed in context with wider published work on physiological stress measures. No significant changes were observed in faecal quality or pH with either stress event at any timepoint, indicating all pets remained in good digestive health. Microbiota analysis demonstrated no significant impact on alpha or beta diversity with either stressor. Microbial signatures previously linked to stress were not identified in these dogs and no changes were observed in the functional gut composition. Irrespective of whether the pet was considered "stressed" (i.e., exhibited an increase in serum cortisol), there was no effect on the microbiota and no taxa were predictive of stress response. Collectively, this work demonstrates, for this population, certain acute stress events have no meaningful impact on the canine gut microbiota, and it has no impact on the associated stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krusha V Patel
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK.
| | - Alysia B G Hunt
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Juan Castillo-Fernandez
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Christine Abrams
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Tammie King
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Phillip Watson
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Gregory C A Amos
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, UK
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Kiełbik P, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O. The Relationship between Canine Behavioral Disorders and Gut Microbiome and Future Therapeutic Perspectives. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2048. [PMID: 39061510 PMCID: PMC11273744 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Canine behavioral disorders have become one of the most common concerns and challenging issues among dog owners. Thus, there is a great demand for knowledge about various factors affecting dogs' emotions and well-being. Among them, the gut-brain axis seems to be particularly interesting, especially since in many instances the standard treatment or behavioral therapies insufficiently improve animal behavior. Therefore, to face this challenge, the search for novel therapeutic methods is highly required. Existing data show that mammals' gut microbiome, immune system, and nervous system are in continuous communication and influence animal physiology and behavior. This review aimed to summarize and discuss the most important scientific evidence on the relationship between mental disorders and gut microbiota in dogs, simultaneously presenting comparable outcomes in humans and rodent models. A comprehensive overview of crucial mechanisms of the gut-brain axis is included. This refers especially to the neurotransmitters crucial for animal behavior, which are regulated by the gut microbiome, and to the main microbial metabolites-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This review presents summarized data on gut dysbiosis in relation to the inflammation process within the organism, as well as the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. All of the above mechanisms are presented in this review in strict correlation with brain and/or behavioral changes in the animal. Additionally, according to human and laboratory animal studies, the gut microbiome appears to be altered in individuals with mental disorders; thus, various strategies to manipulate the gut microbiota are implemented. This refers also to the fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) method, based on transferring the fecal matter from a donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient in order to modulate the gut microbiota. In this review, the possible effects of the FMT procedure on animal behavioral disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Kiełbik
- Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
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Sacoor C, Marugg JD, Lima NR, Empadinhas N, Montezinho L. Gut-Brain Axis Impact on Canine Anxiety Disorders: New Challenges for Behavioral Veterinary Medicine. Vet Med Int 2024; 2024:2856759. [PMID: 38292207 PMCID: PMC10827376 DOI: 10.1155/2024/2856759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders in dogs are ever-growing and represent an important concern in the veterinary behavior field. These disorders are often disregarded in veterinary clinical practice, negatively impacting the animal's and owner's quality of life. Moreover, these anxiety disorders can potentially result in the abandonment or euthanasia of dogs. Growing evidence shows that the gut microbiota is a central player in the gut-brain axis. A variety of microorganisms inhabit the intestines of dogs, which are essential in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. These microbes can impact mental health through several mechanisms, including metabolic, neural, endocrine, and immune-mediated pathways. The disruption of a balanced composition of resident commensal communities, or dysbiosis, is implicated in several pathological conditions, including mental disorders such as anxiety. Studies carried out in rodent models and humans demonstrate that the intestinal microbiota can influence mental health through these mechanisms, including anxiety disorders. Furthermore, novel therapeutic strategies using prebiotics and probiotics have been shown to ameliorate anxiety-related symptoms. However, regarding the canine veterinary behavior field, there is still a lack of insightful research on this topic. In this review, we explore the few but relevant studies performed on canine anxiety disorders. We agree that innovative bacterial therapeutical approaches for canine anxiety disorders will become a promising field of investigation and certainly pave the way for new approaches to these behavioral conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Sacoor
- Vasco da Gama Research Center (CIVG), Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG), 3020–210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000–801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - John D. Marugg
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nuno R. Lima
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000–801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), 5000–801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Innovation in Health and Well-Being Research Unit (iHealth4Well-Being), Polytechnic Health Institute of North (IPSN-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Nuno Empadinhas
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Montezinho
- Vasco da Gama Research Center (CIVG), Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG), 3020–210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004–504 Coimbra, Portugal
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Flint HE, Hunt ABG, Logan DW, King T. Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skad414. [PMID: 38244994 PMCID: PMC10810271 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Dogs are routinely exposed to events that may elicit stress and result in negative emotional states which can impact pet dog welfare. One event many dogs living with people are routinely exposed to is car travel, with many dogs displaying behaviors, along with corresponding physiological responses, that are indicative of stress and anxiety. There are a range of management and treatment options that exist from behavior modification, drug therapy, and supplements, often with varying results. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether multiple doses of a tetrahydrocannabinol-free cannabidiol (CBD) distillate over a period of 6 mo could positively influence measures of stress in dogs. In a blinded, parallel design study, dogs (n = 19) underwent a series of short car journeys (test) where a range of physiological and behavioral measures were collected pre, during, and post-test. The car journeys elicited stress in this population of dogs, as indicated by significant changes (P < 0.05) in several stress-related measures (serum cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, whining, lip licking, yawning, and qualitative behavioral ratings) observed from baseline to test, which persisted over repeated car travel events. The mitigating effect of CBD treatment varied by measure, with cortisol, whining, lip licking, and qualitative behavioral ratings indicating a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in canine stress compared to the placebo group for at least one time point. Additional research investigating a range of dog populations and stressors is required to fully understand the complex effect of CBD on canine emotional wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Flint
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Alysia B G Hunt
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Darren W Logan
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Tammie King
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
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Yeh YM, Lye XY, Lin HY, Wong JY, Wu CC, Huang CL, Tsai YC, Wang LC. Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 on alleviating canine aggression and separation anxiety. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Overall KL. We need to stop being lost in translation and meet the needs of animals in our care. J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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