Substrate degradation and postbiotic analysis of alternative fiber ingredients fermented using an in vitro canine fecal inoculum model

Many fiber ingredients are used by the pet food industry; however, little data are available regarding the fermentation characteristics of alternative fibers currently being used. The objectives of this study were to determine organic matter disappearance (OMD) and postbiotic production from various fruit and vegetable fiber sources using an in vitro dog fecal inoculum model. Apple pomace (AP), blueberry pomace (BP), cranberry pomace (CP), tomato pomace (TP), and pea fiber (PF) were used as experimental treatments. Inoculum was prepared using freshly voided feces under anaerobic conditions. Predigested fibers were inoculated and incubated for 1, 3, 6, and 12 h at 39ºC. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), total volatile fatty acids (VFA), and OMD were determined for each fiber source and time point in triplicate. After 12 h or incubation, OMD was similar (P>0.05; average of 18.5%) among treatments. Proportionally, acetate was greater for BP and AP (P<0.05; average of 80.1%) than for the other treatments (68.3 to 71.2%). Molar proportions of propionate was greatest (P<0.05) for CP (26.8%) compared to the remaining treatments (13.6 to 20.7%). Butyrate was proportionally greater for PF (7.7%; P<0.05) than for BP and CP (average of 4.8%) and was lowest for AP (3.8%); however, TP was not different from PF (P>0.05; average of 7.25%). Total VFA concentration was highest for AP (P<0.05) followed by TP (1.17 and 0.75 mmol*g -1 of substrate, respectively). Both BP and PF were similar (average of 0.48 mmol*g -1 of substrate) and lower than for TP, with CP having the lowest VFA concentration (0.21 mmol*g -1 of substrate) among all treatments. Additionally, when comparing molar concentrations, AP and TP (average of 0.0476 mmol*g -1 of substrate) had greater butyrate concentrations than did PF (0.0344 mmol*g -1 of substrate). The AP, BP, and TP treatments had both linear and quadratic relationships (Table 7; P<0.05) for acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations across time. Cranberry pomace only demonstrated a linear relationship for propionate (P<0.05), whereas acetate and butyrate had quadratic relationships with time. Pea fiber only demonstrated quadratic relationships between acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations and time (P<0.05). Overall, the fiber substrates evaluated were marginally to moderately fermentable when incubated for up to 12 h with canine fecal inoculum.

Use of Accelerometer Activity Monitors to Detect Changes in Pruritic Behaviors: Interim Clinical Data on 6 Dogs

Veterinarians and pet owners have limited ability to assess pruritic behaviors in dogs. This pilot study assessed the capacity of the Vetrax® triaxial accelerometer to measure these behaviors in six dogs with pruritus likely due to environmental allergens. Dogs wore the activity monitor for two weeks while consuming their usual pet food (baseline), then for eight weeks while consuming a veterinary-exclusive pet food for dogs with suspected non-food-related skin conditions (Hill's Prescription Diet® Derm DefenseTM Canine dry food). Veterinarians and owners completed questionnaires during baseline, phase 1 (days 1-28) and phase 2 (days 29-56) without knowledge of the activity data. Continuous 3-axis accelerometer data was processed using proprietary behavior recognition algorithms and analyzed using general linear mixed models with false discovery rate-adjusted p values. Veterinarian-assessed overall clinical signs of pruritus were significantly predicted by scratching (β 0.176, p = 0.008), head shaking (β 0.197, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (β -0.154, p < 0.001), while owner-assessed quality of life was significantly predicted by scratching (β -0.103, p = 0.013) and head shaking (β -0.146, p < 0.001). Among dogs exhibiting pruritus signs eating the veterinary-exclusive food, the Vetrax® sensor provided an objective assessment of clinically relevant pruritic behaviors that agreed with owner and veterinarian reports.

Malaria parasitemia and childhood diarrhea in a peri-urban area of Guinea-Bissau

To examine the association between diarrhea in early childhood and malaria parasitemia, we conducted a nested case-control study in Guinea-Bissau of 297 children with diarrhea and a similar number of children without diarrhea matched for age, season, and residential area. There were no associations between diarrhea and parasite rate, parasite density, or clinical malaria. However, anti-malarials were easily available and frequently used, which was reflected by a 0.7% prevalence of children with a parasite density > 100/200 leukocytes. Thus, the findings do not preclude that diarrhea may be a sign of clinical malaria or high-parasite density in endemic areas with lower use of antimalarials.

High mortality despite good care-seeking behaviour: a community study of childhood deaths in Guinea-Bissau

The care-seeking behaviour of mothers of 125 children deceased aged 1-30 months was investigated by verbal autopsy in an urban area of Guinea-Bissau. A total of 93% of the children were seen at a health centre or hospital during the 2 weeks before death. In a previous survey covering the period 1987-90 we found that 78% of the children who died had presented for consultation (8); despite this increase in care seeking, infant mortality had not decreased. Comparison of elapsed time from disease onset to first consultation between children who died and matched surviving controls indicated that the interval was shorter for children who died than for those who survived (odds ratio (OR) = 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5-0.99). Of the 125 terminally ill children, 56 were hospitalized. A total of 20 children died on the way to hospital or while waiting in the outpatient clinic. Lack of hospital beds resulted in 15 mothers being refused hospitalization for their child. Of hospitalized children, 42% were discharged as improved or recovered during the 30 days preceding death. These results reveal a need for improved hospital admission criteria, improved recognition of the symptoms of serious illness, better discharge criteria, and the implementation of quality assurance systems for health services.