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Wang W, Dong H, Chang X, Chen Q, Wang L, Chen S, Chen L, Wang R, Ge S, Wang P, Li Y, Liu S, Xiong W. Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum Enhance Immune Function and Antioxidant Capacity in Cats through Modulation of the Gut Microbiota. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:764. [PMID: 39061833 PMCID: PMC11273429 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13070764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) afflictions are prevalent among the feline population, wherein the intricacies of the gut microbiome exert a profound influence on their overall health. Alterations within this microbial consortium can precipitate a cascade of physiological changes, notably in immune function and antioxidant capacity. This research investigated the impact of Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) on cats' GI health, exploring the effects of probiotic supplementation on the intestinal ecosystem using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The findings demonstrated a significant improvement in gut barrier function by reducing plasma concentrations of D-lactate (D-LA) by 30.38% and diamine oxidase (DAO) by 22.68%, while increasing the population of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus. There was a notable 25% increase in immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, evidenced by increases of 19.13% in catalase (CAT), 23.94% in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 21.81% in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Further analysis revealed positive correlations between Lactobacillus abundance and IgA, CAT, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels. These correlations indicate that B. lactis and L. plantarum enhance feline immune and antioxidant functions by increasing the abundance of beneficial Lactobacillus in the GI tract. These findings provide a foundation for probiotic interventions aimed at enhancing health and disease resistance in feline populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Wang
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Hao Dong
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Xiaohan Chang
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Longjiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Shuxing Chen
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Lishui Chen
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Ran Wang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Shaoyang Ge
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Pengjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Yixuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (L.W.); (R.W.); (S.G.); (P.W.); (Y.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Wei Xiong
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, China; (W.W.); (H.D.); (X.C.); (Q.C.); (S.C.); (L.C.)
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McGrath AP, Motsinger LA, Brejda J, Hancock L. Prebiotic fiber blend supports growth and development and favorable digestive health in puppies. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1409394. [PMID: 38872806 PMCID: PMC11173085 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1409394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome has been shown to be essential for proper nutrient absorption and metabolism, maintenance of intestinal epithelial integrity and osmolarity, gut immunomodulation, and overall health. One of the most effective ways to promote a healthy GI microbiome is through dietary interventions, such as the addition of prebiotics. Prebiotics are substrates that are selectively utilized by the host GI microbiome through fermentation to confer a health benefit. However, research on prebiotics in companion animals is limited, especially in growing animals. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the effects of a novel prebiotic fiber blend on key parameters related to intestinal health and growth in puppies. Methods Twenty-two puppies at least 4 months of age but not older than 10 months were fed a commercially available dry food during a prefeed period, and then fed a similarly formulated test food with the addition of the prebiotic fiber blend for a minimum of 90 days. Serum and fecal samples were collected at the end of the prefeed period and throughout the test period. Results Puppies fed the test food grew as expected for puppies of this age. Complete blood count and serum chemistry analyses were clinically normal for all animals. Fecal score increased linearly, fecal moisture decreased linearly, and pH exhibited a cubic trend throughout the study duration. There was a linear increase in short-chain fatty acids throughout the study, which is associated with favorable digestive and overall health. The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-7 decreased linearly and interleukin-18 trended towards linear decrease. Conclusion This study showed that puppies continued to grow and develop normally, and experienced serum and stool characteristics indicative of improved GI health when fed a growth food fortified with a novel prebiotic fiber blend. Furthermore, these results contribute to the overall understanding of the effects of prebiotics on the GI health of growing companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Brejda
- Alpha Statistical Consulting, Lincoln, NE, United States
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Sung CH, Marsilio S, Pilla R, Wu YA, Cavasin JP, Hong MP, Suchodolski JS. Temporal Variability of the Dominant Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Adult Cats. Vet Sci 2024; 11:31. [PMID: 38250937 PMCID: PMC10819787 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010031] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While shifts in gut microbiota have been studied in diseased states, the temporal variability of the microbiome in cats has not been widely studied. This study investigated the temporal variability of the feline dysbiosis index (DI) and the abundance of core bacterial groups in healthy adult cats. The secondary aim was to evaluate the relationship between the fecal abundance of Clostridium hiranonis and the fecal concentrations of unconjugated bile acids. A total of 142 fecal samples collected from 17 healthy cats were prospectively included: nine cats with weekly collection over 3 weeks (at least four time points), five cats with monthly collection over 2 months (three time points), and three cats with additional collections for up to 10 months. The DI remained stable within the reference intervals over two months for all cats (Friedman test, p > 0.2), and 100% of the DI values (n = 142) collected throughout the study period remained within the RI. While some temporal individual variation was observed for individual taxa, the magnitude was minimal compared to cats with chronic enteropathy and antibiotic exposure. Additionally, the abundance of Clostridium hiranonis was significantly correlated with the percentage of fecal primary bile acids, supporting its role as a bile acid converter in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsuan Sung
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Sina Marsilio
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Yu-An Wu
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Joao Pedro Cavasin
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Min-Pyo Hong
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Jan S. Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
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Miller J, Żebrowska-Różańska P, Czajkowska A, Szponar B, Kumala-Ćwikła A, Chmielarz M, Łaczmański Ł. Faecal microbiota and fatty acids in feline chronic enteropathy. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:281. [PMID: 38124157 PMCID: PMC10731866 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03824-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Feline chronic enteropathy is a set of disorders defined as the presence of clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease for at least three weeks. The most common final diagnoses are inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary small cell lymphoma. The etiopathogenesis of these diseases is incompletely understood; however, it is hypothesised that they involve a combination of factors, including altered composition and/or functionality of the intestinal microbiome. An important factor in the interplay of the microbiome and host is the production of short- and branched-chain fatty acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible differences in faecal microbiota diversity, composition and fatty acid production between cats suffering from chronic enteropathy and healthy cats. Sixteen cats suffering from chronic enteropathy and fourteen healthy control cats were enrolled in the study. The microbiota compositions of faecal samples were analysed by using next-generation amplicon sequencing of the V3V4 fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. Fatty acids were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Both the alpha and beta diversities were significantly lower in samples obtained from cats with chronic enteropathy. The relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, orders Lactobacillales and Enterobacterales, family Enteriobacteriaceae and genus Escherichia Shigella were higher in diseased cats, whereas the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota and order Peptococcales were higher in control cats. The faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were higher in cats with chronic enteropathy, with lower propionate proportions and higher butyrate proportions. CONCLUSION The study revealed alterations in microbiota compositions and short-chain fatty acid concentration in cats suffering from chronic enteropathy, which is an important finding both for research on the pathogenesis of the disease and for potential therapeutic interventions in the form of faecal microbiota transplantation and/or probiotic supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Miller
- Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, Wroclaw, 50-375, Poland.
| | - Paulina Żebrowska-Różańska
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Czajkowska
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bogumiła Szponar
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kumala-Ćwikła
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Łukasz Łaczmański
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
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He S, Yang K, Wen J, Kuang T, Cao Z, Zhang L, Han S, Jian S, Chen X, Zhang L, Deng J, Deng B. Antimicrobial Peptides Relieve Transportation Stress in Ragdoll Cats by Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030326. [PMID: 36984766 PMCID: PMC10057407 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Transportation is common in cats and often causes stress and intestinal disorders. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, and they may have the capacity for antioxidant and immune regulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with AMPs on stress response, gut microbiota and metabolites of cats that have undergone transport stress. A total of 14 Ragdoll cats were randomly allocated into 2 treatments: basal diet (CON) and a basal diet supplemented with 0.3% AMPs. After a 6-week feeding period, all cats were transported for 3 h and, then, fed for another week. The results show that the diarrhea rate of cats was markedly reduced by supplementation with AMPs throughout the trial period (p < 0.05). In addition, AMPs significantly reduced serum cortisol and serum amyloid A (p < 0.05) and increased apolipoprotein 1 after transportation (p < 0.05). Moreover, AMPs reduced the level of inflammatory factors in the serum caused by transportation stress, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (p < 0.05). The AMPs enhanced the activities of glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cats fed AMPs had higher levels of branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) and a relative abundance of Blautia and a lower relative abundance of Negativibacillus after transportation (p < 0.05). The serum metabolome analysis further revealed that AMPs markedly regulated lipid metabolism by upregulating cholic acid expression. In conclusion, AMP supplementation alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response in transportation by regulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, thereby relieving stress-induced diarrhea and supporting gut and host health in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shansong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Kang Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiawei Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Tao Kuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhihao Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lingna Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Sufang Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shiyan Jian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xin Chen
- School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Limeng Zhang
- Research Center of Pet Nutrition, Guangzhou Qingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jinping Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Baichuan Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (B.D.)
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González F, Carelli A, Komarcheuski A, Uana M, do Prado RM, Rossoni D, Gomes M, Vasconcellos R. Yeast Cell Wall Compounds on The Formation of Fermentation Products and Fecal Microbiota in Cats: An In Vivo and In Vitro Approach. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:637. [PMID: 36830424 PMCID: PMC9951743 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of yeast cell wall compounds (YCWs) being added to cat food on hindgut fermentation metabolites and fecal microbiota were assessed in in vivo Experiment 1 (Exp. 1) and in vitro Experiments 2 and 3 (Exp. 2 and 3). In Exp. 1, the cats' diets were supplemented with two dietary concentrations (46.2 and 92.4 ppm) of YCWs (YCW-15 and YCW-30, respectively), and a negative control diet with no compound in three groups (six cats per group) was used to assess the fecal score, pH, digestibility, fermentation products, and microbiota. In Exp. 2, feces from the cats that were not supplemented with YCWs (control) were used as an inoculum. A blend of pectin, amino acids, and cellulose was used as a substrate, and the YCW compound was added at two levels (5 and 10 mg). In Exp. 3, feces from cats fed YCWs were used as an inoculum to test three different substrates (pectin, amino acids, and cellulose). In Exp. 2 and 3, the gas production, pH, and fermentation products (ammonia, SCFAs, and BCFAs) were assessed. YCW-30 resulted in a higher digestibility coefficient of the crude protein, organic matter (OM) (p < 0.05), and energy of the diet (p < 0.10). Regarding the fermentation products, YCW-15 showed a trend toward higher concentrations of propionate, acetate, lactate, ammonia, isobutyrate, and valerate, while YCW-30 showed a trend (p < 0.10) toward higher levels of butyrate and pH values. The bacteroidia class and the genus Prevotella were increased by using YCW-30 and the control. At the gender level, decreased (p < 0.01) Megasphaera was observed with YCW inclusion. The microbiota differed (p < 0.01) among the groups in their Shannon indexes. For beta diversity, YCW-30 showed higher indexes (p = 0.008) than the control. The microbiota metabolic profile differed in the pathway CENTFERM-PWY; it was more expressed in YCW-30 compared to the control. In Exp. 2, the YCWs showed a higher ratio (p = 0.006) of the fermentation products in the treatments with additives with a trend towards a high dose of the additive (10 mg). In Exp. 3, the effects of the substrates (p < 0.001), but not of the YCWs, on the fermentation products were observed, perhaps due to the low dietary concentrations we used. However, the marked responses of the fermentation products to the substrates validated the methodology. We could conclude that the YCWs, even at low dietary concentrations, affected fecal SCFA production, reduced the fecal pH, and modulated the fecal microbiota in the cats. These responses were more pronounced under in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP)—São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo 13690-970, Brazil
| | - Amanda Carelli
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Alina Komarcheuski
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Mayara Uana
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Rodolpho Martin do Prado
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Diogo Rossoni
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Márcia Gomes
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP)—São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo 13690-970, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Vasconcellos
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil
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Nealon NJ, Wood A, Rudinsky AJ, Klein H, Salerno M, Parker VJ, Quimby JM, Howard J, Winston JA. Fecal identification markers impact the feline fecal microbiota. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1039931. [PMID: 36846255 PMCID: PMC9946173 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1039931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fecal diagnostics are a mainstay of feline medicine, and fecal identification markers help to distinguish individuals in a multi-cat environment. However, the impact of identification markers on the fecal microbiota are unknown. Given the increased interest in using microbiota endpoints to inform diagnosis and treatment, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of orally supplemented glitter and crayon shavings on the feline fecal microbiota (amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene V4 region). Fecal samples were collected daily from six adult cats that were randomized to receive oral supplementation with either glitter or crayon for two weeks, with a two-week washout before receiving the second marker. No adverse effects in response to marker supplementation were seen for any cat, and both markers were readily identifiable in the feces. Microbiota analysis revealed idiosyncratic responses to fecal markers, where changes in community structure in response to glitter or crayon could not be readily discerned. Given these findings, it is not recommended to administered glitter or crayon shavings as a fecal marker when microbiome endpoints are used, however their clinical use with other diagnostics should still be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Jean Nealon
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Alexandra Wood
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Adam J. Rudinsky
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Hannah Klein
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Matthew Salerno
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Valerie J. Parker
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jessica M. Quimby
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - James Howard
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jenessa A. Winston
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Jenessa A. Winston ✉
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Opetz DL, Oba PM, Swanson KS. Effects of overfeeding on the digestive efficiency, voluntary physical activity levels, and fecal characteristics and microbiota of adult cats. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad338. [PMID: 37772600 PMCID: PMC10590176 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad338] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of feline obesity continues to rise despite it being a preventable disease. There are many risks and health perturbations associated with obesity, with several of those impacting a pet's quality of life, wellness, and longevity. Feline obesity is commonly studied, but most research has been focused on weight loss rather than weight gain. To our knowledge, feline studies have not examined the implications of overfeeding and weight gain on gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) nor the association it has with the fecal microbiota. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of overfeeding and weight gain on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), GTT, blood hormones, serum metabolites, hematology, fecal microbiota populations, and voluntary physical activity of cats. Eleven lean adult spayed female cats [body weight (BW) = 4.11 ± 0.43 kg; body condition score = 5.41 ± 0.3; age = 5.22 ± 0.03 y] were used in a longitudinal weight gain study. After a 2-wk baseline phase, cats were allowed to overeat for 18 wk. A commercially available complete and balanced diet was fed during the baseline phase to identify the intake needed to maintain BW. Cats were then fed the same diet ad libitum to induce weight gain. Fecal samples, blood samples, and voluntary physical activity data were collected at baseline (week 0) and 6, 12, and 18 wk after weight gain. Fecal samples were collected for microbiota analysis, determination of ATTD, and GTT measurement while blood samples were collected for serum chemistry, hematology, and insulin and leptin measurements. Microbiota data were evaluated using QIIME2. All other measures were evaluated statistically using the mixed models procedure of SAS using repeated measures analysis, with time effects being the focus. A P < 0.05 was considered significant. The ATTD of dry matter (P = 0.0061), organic matter (P = 0.0130), crude protein (P < 0.0001), fat (P = 0.0002), and gross energy (P = 0.0002), and GTT (P = 0.0418) decreased with overfeeding and weight gain. Fecal bacterial alpha diversity measures were unchanged, but fecal bacterial beta diversity was impacted (P < 0.05) with overfeeding and weight gain. The relative abundances of 16 bacterial genera, including Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Erysipelatoclostridium were affected (P < 0.05) by overfeeding and weight gain. In conclusion, overfeeding and subsequent weight gain reduced ATTD, reduced GTT, and caused changes to the fecal microbial community of adult cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L Opetz
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Patricia M Oba
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kelly S Swanson
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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9
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Sung CH, Marsilio S, Chow B, Zornow KA, Slovak JE, Pilla R, Lidbury JA, Steiner JM, Park SY, Hong MP, Hill SL, Suchodolski JS. Dysbiosis index to evaluate the fecal microbiota in healthy cats and cats with chronic enteropathies. J Feline Med Surg 2022; 24:e1-e12. [PMID: 35266809 PMCID: PMC9160961 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x221077876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have identified various bacterial taxa that are altered in cats with chronic enteropathies (CE) vs healthy cats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a targeted quantitative molecular method to evaluate the fecal microbiota of cats. METHODS Fecal samples from 80 client-owned healthy cats and 68 cats with CE were retrospectively evaluated. A panel of quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays was used to measure the fecal abundance of total bacteria and seven bacterial taxa: Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium hiranonis, Escherichia coli, Faecalibacterium, Streptococcus and Turicibacter. The nearest centroid classifier algorithm was used to calculate a dysbiosis index (DI) based on these qPCR abundances. RESULTS The abundances of total bacteria, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, C hiranonis, Faecalibacterium and Turicibacter were significantly decreased, while those of E coli and Streptococcus were significantly increased in cats with CE (P <0.027 for all). The DI in cats with CE was significantly higher compared with healthy cats (P <0.001). When the cut-off value of the DI was set at 0, it provided 77% (95% confidence interval [CI] 66-85) sensitivity and 96% (95% CI 89-99) specificity to differentiate the microbiota of cats with CE from those of healthy cats. Fifty-two of 68 cats with CE had a DI >0. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE A qPCR-based DI for assessing the fecal microbiota of cats was established. The results showed that a large proportion of cats with CE had an altered fecal microbiota as evidenced by an increased DI. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the utility of this assay for clinical assessment of feline CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsuan Sung
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Sina Marsilio
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Betty Chow
- Veterinary Specialty Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan A Lidbury
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jörg M Steiner
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - So Young Park
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Min-Pyo Hong
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Steve L Hill
- Veterinary Specialty Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Flagstaff Veterinary Internal Medicine Consulting, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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10
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Tay DD, Siew SW, Shamzir Kamal S, Razali MN, Ahmad HF. ITS1 amplicon sequencing of feline gut mycobiome of Malaysian local breeds using Nanopore Flongle. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:314. [PMID: 35545729 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02929-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The gut mycobiome exhibits major influence on the gastrointestinal health and disease but received less attention due to low abundance. This study characterizes the fungal community and compares the microbial diversity between indoor and outdoor cats. Genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced by targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region using Flongle flow cell on MinION™ sequencing platform. Results show the phylum Ascomycota and genus Peniophorella were numerous in indoor cats, whereas the Basidiomycota and Pichia were abundant in outdoor cats. Peniophorella formed the core mycobiome in both feline populations. Furthermore, alpha (p value = 0.0207) and beta diversities (p value = 0.009) results showed significant differences between the two groups. Overall, indoor cats have greater amounts of Peniophorella, whereas outdoor cats have higher Trichosporon and unclassified Sordariaceae. The study also suggests that keeping a cat indoors or left as a stray will affect their respective gut mycobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Dean Tay
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Shing Wei Siew
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Shamrulazhar Shamzir Kamal
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Najib Razali
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia.,MNR Multitech Sdn. Bhd, UMP Holdings Complex, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Hajar Fauzan Ahmad
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia. .,Centre for Research in Advanced Tropical Bioscience (Biotropic Centre), Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia.
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11
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Yu YY, Liang L, Xiao HB. Comparative study on fecal flora and blood biochemical indexes in normal and diarrhea British Shorthair cats. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:257. [PMID: 35416536 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02805-0] [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: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequencing has been widely developed. In the present study, we investigated the changes of fecal flora analyzed by sequencing of 16S rDNA and the alteration of blood biochemical indexes in cats during diarrhea. Seven normal fecal samples and seven fecal samples of British Shorthair cats with bacterial diarrhea about 6 months old were collected. The 16S rDNA V3 region of the bacteria was amplified for high-throughput sequencing. Finally, species analysis at various levels was performed. At the same time, samples of blood were taken to examine the changes of biochemical indexes in cats with diarrhea. The abundance and diversity of microflora in the healthy group were greater than those in the diarrhea group. The normal floras in the feces of healthy cats were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. The content of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes varied greatly in diarrheal cats. In addition, the number of white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and globulin were increased in cats with diarrhea, whereas albumin level was decreased in diarrheal cats. In conclusion, the present study suggests 16SrDNA technology showed that the intestinal Proteus was abundant, and the content of Firmicutes was scarce in cats with diarrhea. Escherichia-Shigella was the main pathogens in this sample. Rapid blood biochemical tests may help clinicians to assess the severity and prognosis of cats with diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Furong District, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Lin Liang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Furong District, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Hong-Bo Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Furong District, Changsha, 410128, China.
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12
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Short- and long-term effects of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or doxycycline on the gastrointestinal microbiome of growing cats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253031. [PMID: 34910719 PMCID: PMC8673677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic treatment in early life influences gastrointestinal (GI) microbial composition and function. In humans, the resultant intestinal dysbiosis is associated with an increased risk for certain diseases later in life. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal effects of antibiotic treatment on the GI microbiome of young cats. Fecal samples were collected from cats randomly allocated to receive either amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (20 mg/kg q12h) for 20 days (AMC group; 15 cats) or doxycycline (10 mg/kg q24h) for 28 days (DOX group;15 cats) as part of the standard treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, feces were collected from healthy control cats (CON group;15 cats). All cats were approximately two months of age at enrolment. Samples were collected on days 0 (baseline), 20 or 28 (AMC and DOX, respectively; last day of treatment), 60, 120, and 300. DNA was extracted and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and qPCR assays were performed. Fecal microbial composition was different on the last day of treatment for AMC cats, and 1 month after the end of antibiotic treatment for DOX cats, compared to CON cats. Species richness was significantly greater in DOX cats compared to CON cats on the last day of treatment. Abundance of Enterobacteriales was increased, and that of Erysipelotrichi was decreased in cats of the AMC group on the last day of treatment compared to CON cats. The abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria was increased in cats of the DOX group on days 60 and 120 compared to cats of the CON group. Only minor differences in abundances between the treatment groups and the control group were present on day 300. Both antibiotics appear to delay the developmental progression of the microbiome, and this effect is more profound during treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and one month after treatment with doxycycline. Future studies are required to determine if these changes influence microbiome function and whether they have possible effects on disease susceptibility in cats.
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13
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Di Cesare A, Colombo M, Traversa D. Canine and Feline Parasitology: Analogies, Differences, and Relevance for Human Health. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021; 34:e0026620. [PMID: 34378954 PMCID: PMC8404700 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00266-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cats and dogs are treated as family members by most pet owners. Therefore, a high quality of veterinary care and preventive medicine is imperative for animal health and welfare and for the protection of humans from zoonotic pathogens. There is a general perception of cats being treated as "small dogs," especially in the field of clinical parasitology. As a result, several important differences between the two animal species are not taken into proper consideration and are often overlooked. Dogs and cats are profoundly different under evolutionary, biological, ethological, behavioral, and immunological standpoints. These differences impact clinical features, diagnosis, and control of canine and feline parasites and transmission risk for humans. This review outlines the most common parasitoses and vector-borne diseases of dogs and cats, with a focus on major convergences and divergences, and discusses parasites that have (i) evolved based on different preys for dogs and cats, (ii) adapted due to different immunological or behavioral animal profiles, and (iii) developed more similarities than differences in canine and feline infections and associated diseases. Differences, similarities, and peculiarities of canine and feline parasitology are herein reviewed in three macrosections: (i) carnivorism, vegetarianism, anatomy, genetics, and parasites, (ii) evolutionary adaptation of nematodes, including veterinary reconsideration and zoonotic importance, and (iii) behavior and immune system driving ectoparasites and transmitted diseases. Emphasis is given to provide further steps toward a more accurate evaluation of canine and feline parasitology in a changing world in terms of public health relevance and One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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14
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Wang C, Yan D, Huang J, Li Y. Impacts of changes in intestinal flora on the metabolism of Sprague-Dawley rats. Bioengineered 2021; 12:10603-10611. [PMID: 34852718 PMCID: PMC8809924 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2000242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in intestinal flora affect the health and cause metabolic diseases of the host. The extent to which the impact of different changes in intestinal flora would have on the metabolism of an individual has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of different changes in intestinal flora on the metabolism of Sprague-Dawley (SD) normal rats' individuals. Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (8 rats per group), which were treated with normal saline, probiotics, nonpathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, gentamicin, and magnesium sulfate, respectively. After 7 days, the ileum of each group of rats was collected and real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the composition of intestinal flora. And gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyze plasma metabolic profile. The results revealed that the decrease in alanine content in the probiotics group was statistically significant, while the alanine content in the nonpathogenic Escherichia group increased significantly. Alanine, leucine, isoleucine, and serine decreased significantly in the Salmonella group. Proline and butyric acid decreased significantly in the gentamicin group. The principal component analysis showed significant differences in the Salmonella group compared with other test groups. Overall, the most significant metabolic changes were observed in SD rats in the Salmonella group, while a great similarity was observed in the probiotics, Escherichia group, and gentamicin groups compared with the normal group. Changes in intestinal flora had a certain impact on the metabolism in SD rats, especially on amino acid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengfei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiang Province, China
| | - Dong Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianrong Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiang Province, China
| | - Yongtao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, HangzhouZhejiang Province, China
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15
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de Oliveira Matheus LF, Risolia LW, Ernandes MC, de Souza JM, Oba PM, Vendramini THA, Pedrinelli V, Henríquez LBF, de Oliveira Massoco C, Pontieri CFF, Brunetto MA. Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall addition on feed digestibility, fecal fermentation and microbiota and immunological parameters in adult cats. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:351. [PMID: 34784923 PMCID: PMC8596940 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03049-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing dosages of a commercial product composed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (YAM), with active metabolites, which are beta glucans, nucleotides, organic acids, polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins and minerals (Original XPCtm, Diamond V, IOWA, USA) added to a commercially available dry cat food. Apparent digestibility of dietary nutrients, fecal microbiota, fecal fermentation products and immunological parameters were evaluated. Twenty-seven healthy cats of mixed sexes, with a mean body weight of 4.19 ± 0.83 kg and a mean age of 9.44 ± 5.35 years were distributed by age in an unbalanced randomized block design, consisting of three experimental treatments: CD (control diet), YAM 0.3 (control diet with 0.3% yeast with active metabolites) and YAM 0.6 (control diet with 0.6% yeast with active metabolites). Results The inclusion of the additive elevated the apparent digestibility of crude fiber (p = 0.013) and ash (p < 0.001) without interfering feed consumption, fecal production and fecal characteristics. Regarding fermentation products present in the feces, prebiotic inclusion increased lactic acid concentration (p = 0.004) while reducing isovaleric acid (p = 0.014), only in the treatment YAM 0.3. No differences were noticed on biogenic amines (BA), fecal pH, ammonia concentration, total and individuals short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and total and individuals branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) (except isovaleric acid in YAM 0.3). As regards to fecal microbiota, prebiotic inclusion has resulted in the reduction of Clostridium perfringens (p = 0.023). No differences were found in the immunological parameters evaluated. Conclusion It can be concluded that the additive, at the levels of inclusion assessed shows prebiotic potential and it has effects on fecal fermentation products and microbiota without interfering on crude protein and dry matter digestibility. More studies evaluating grater inclusion levels of the prebiotic are necessary to determine optimal concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fantucci de Oliveira Matheus
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Larissa Wunsche Risolia
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Mariane Ceschin Ernandes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Johnny Maciel de Souza
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Massae Oba
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 120, 7 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Vivian Pedrinelli
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Lucas Ben Fiuza Henríquez
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil
| | | | - Marcio Antonio Brunetto
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, 87, Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508270, Brazil.
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16
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Suchodolski JS. Analysis of the gut microbiome in dogs and cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2021; 50 Suppl 1:6-17. [PMID: 34514619 PMCID: PMC9292158 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiome is an important immune and metabolic organ. Intestinal bacteria produce various metabolites that influence the health of the intestine and other organ systems, including kidney, brain, and heart. Changes in the microbiome in diseased states are termed dysbiosis. The concept of dysbiosis is constantly evolving and includes changes in microbiome diversity and/or structure and functional changes (eg, altered production of bacterial metabolites). Molecular tools are now the standard for microbiome analysis. Sequencing of microbial genes provides information about the bacteria present and their functional potential but lacks standardization and analytical validation of methods and consistency in the reporting of results. This makes it difficult to compare results across studies or for individual clinical patients. The Dysbiosis Index (DI) is a validated quantitative PCR assay for canine fecal samples that measures the abundance of seven important bacterial taxa and summarizes the results as one single number. Reference intervals are established for dogs, and the DI can be used to assess the microbiome in clinical patients over time and in response to therapy (eg, fecal microbiota transplantation). In situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry allows the identification of mucosa‐adherent and intracellular bacteria in animals with intestinal disease, especially granulomatous colitis. Future directions include the measurement of bacterial metabolites in feces or serum as markers for the appropriate function of the microbiome. This article summarizes different approaches to the analysis of gut microbiota and how they might be applicable to research studies and clinical practice in dogs and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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17
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Hashimoto-Hill S, Alenghat T. Inflammation-Associated Microbiota Composition Across Domestic Animals. Front Genet 2021; 12:649599. [PMID: 34239536 PMCID: PMC8257562 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.649599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic animals represent important resources for understanding shared mechanisms underlying complex natural diseases that arise due to both genetic and environmental factors. Intestinal inflammation, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a significant health challenge in humans and domestic animals. While the etiology of IBD is multifactorial, imbalance of symbiotic gut microbiota has been hypothesized to play a central role in disease pathophysiology. Advances in genomic sequencing and analytical pipelines have enabled researchers to decipher the composition of the intestinal microbiota during health and in the context of naturally occurring diseases. This review compiles microbiome genomic data across domestic species and highlights a common occurrence of gut microbiome dysbiosis during idiopathic intestinal inflammation in multiple species, including dogs, cats, horses, cows, and pigs. Current microbiome data obtained from animals with intestinal inflammation are mostly limited to taxonomical analyses in association with broad clinical phenotype. In general, a pathogen or pathosymbiont were not detected. Rather, functional potential of the altered microbiota has been suggested to be one of the key etiologic factors. Among the domestic species studied, canine analyses are currently the most advanced with incorporation of functional profiling of microbiota. Canine IBD parallels features of the disease in humans, thus canines represent a strong natural model for human IBD. While deeper analyses of metagenomic data, coupled with host molecular analyses are needed, comparative studies across domestic species can reveal shared microbial alterations and regulatory mechanisms that will improve our understanding of intestinal inflammation in both animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theresa Alenghat
- Division of Immunobiology and Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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18
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Chen R, Song J, Lin L, Liu J, Yang C, Wang W. Visualizing the Growth and Division of Rat Gut Bacteria by D-Amino Acid-Based in vivo Labeling and FISH Staining. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:681938. [PMID: 34124162 PMCID: PMC8193097 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.681938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rat is a widely used mammalian model for gut microbiota research. However, due to the difficulties of individual in vitro culture of many of the gut bacteria, much information about the microbial behaviors in the rat gut remains largely unknown. Here, to characterize the in situ growth and division of rat gut bacteria, we apply a chemical strategy that integrates the use of sequential tagging with D-amino acid-based metabolic probes (STAMP) with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to rat gut microbiota. Following sequential gavages of two different fluorescent D-amino acid probes to rats, the resulting dually labeled gut bacteria provides chronological information of their in situ cell wall synthesis. After taxonomical labeling with FISH probes, most of which are newly designed in this study, we successfully identify the growth patterns of 15 bacterial species, including two that have not been cultured separately in the laboratory. Furthermore, using our labeling protocol, we record Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens cells growing at different growth stages of a complete cell division cycle, which offers a new scope for understanding basic microbial activities in the gut of mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Chen
- Department of Digestive Diseases of Huashan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Song
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liyuan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Digestive Diseases of Huashan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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19
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Jarett JK, Kingsbury DD, Dahlhausen KE, Ganz HH. Best Practices for Microbiome Study Design in Companion Animal Research. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:644836. [PMID: 33898544 PMCID: PMC8062777 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.644836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is a community of microorganisms that inhabits an animal host's gastrointestinal tract, with important effects on animal health that are shaped by multiple environmental, dietary, and host-associated factors. Clinical and dietary trials in companion animals are increasingly including assessment of the microbiome, but interpretation of these results is often hampered by suboptimal choices in study design. Here, we review best practices for conducting feeding trials or clinical trials that intend to study the effects of an intervention on the microbiota. Choices for experimental design, including a review of basic designs, controls, and comparison groups, are discussed in the context of special considerations necessary for microbiome studies. Diet is one of the strongest influences on the composition of gut microbiota, so applications specific to nutritional interventions are discussed in detail. Lastly, we provide specific advice for successful recruitment of colony animals and household pets into an intervention study. This review is intended to serve as a resource to academic and industry researchers, clinicians, and veterinarians alike, for studies that test many different types of interventions.
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20
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Abstract
Host-associated microbiomes contribute in many ways to the homeostasis of the metaorganism. The microbiome's contributions range from helping to provide nutrition and aiding growth, development, and behavior to protecting against pathogens and toxic compounds. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the diversity and importance of the microbiome to animals, using representative examples of wild and domesticated species. We demonstrate how the beneficial ecological roles of animal-associated microbiomes can be generally grouped into well-defined main categories and how microbe-based alternative treatments can be applied to mitigate problems for both economic and conservation purposes and to provide crucial knowledge about host-microbiota symbiotic interactions. We suggest a Customized Combination of Microbial-Based Therapies to promote animal health and contribute to the practice of sustainable husbandry. We also discuss the ecological connections and threats associated with animal biodiversity loss, microorganism extinction, and emerging diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel S Peixoto
- Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; .,Current affiliation: Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900 Saudia Arabia;
| | - Derek M Harkins
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA; ,
| | - Karen E Nelson
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA; ,
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