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Phimister FD, Anderson RC, Thomas DG, Farquhar MJ, Maclean P, Jauregui R, Young W, Butowski CF, Bermingham EN. Using meta-analysis to understand the impacts of dietary protein and fat content on the composition of fecal microbiota of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): A pilot study. Microbiologyopen 2024; 13:e1404. [PMID: 38515236 PMCID: PMC10958101 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The interplay between diet and fecal microbiota composition is garnering increased interest across various host species, including domestic dogs. While the influence of dietary macronutrients and their associated microbial communities have been extensively reviewed, these reviews are descriptive and do not account for differences in microbial community analysis, nor do they standardize macronutrient content across studies. To address this, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the impact of dietary crude protein ("protein") and dietary crude fat ("fat") on the fecal microbiota composition in healthy dogs. Sixteen publications met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis, yielding a final data set of 314 dogs. Diets were classed as low, moderate, high, or supra in terms of protein or fat content. Sequence data from each publication were retrieved from public databases and reanalyzed using consistent bioinformatic pipelines. Analysis of community diversity indices and unsupervised clustering of the data with principal coordinate analysis revealed a small effect size and complete overlap between protein and fat levels at the overall community level. Supervised clustering through random forest analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis indicated alterations in the fecal microbiota composition at a more individual taxonomic level, corresponding to the levels of protein or fat. The Prevotellaceae Ga6A1 group and Enterococcus were associated with increasing levels of protein, while Allobaculum and Clostridium sensu stricto 13 were associated with increasing levels of fat. Interestingly, the random forest analyses revealed that Sharpea, despite its low relative abundance in the dog's fecal microbiome, was primarily responsible for the separation of the microbiome for both protein and fat. Future research should focus on validating and understanding the functional roles of these relatively low-abundant genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis D. Phimister
- AgResearch LtdManawatu‐WhanganuiNew Zealand
- School of Agricultural and EnvironmentMassey UniversityManawatu‐WhanganuiNew Zealand
| | | | - David G. Thomas
- School of Agricultural and EnvironmentMassey UniversityManawatu‐WhanganuiNew Zealand
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2
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Schmidt T, Meller S, Meyerhoff N, Twele F, Zanghi B, Volk HA. A six-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, dietary trial design to investigate the potential of psychobiotics on seizure semiology and comorbidities in canine epilepsy: study protocol. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:57. [PMID: 36864510 PMCID: PMC9983181 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03609-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease in dogs. More than two-thirds of these patients suffer from associated behavioural comorbidities. The latter could have their origin in partially overlapping pathomechanisms, with the intestinal microbiome as a potential key link between them. The current arsenal of drugs for epilepsy management remains limited. Most canine patients continue to have seizures despite treatment and the occurrence of comorbidities is not sufficiently addressed, limiting quality of life of affected dogs and owners. Therefore, novel additional epilepsy management options are urgently needed. The microbiome-gut-brain axis may serve as a new target for the development of innovative multimodal therapeutic approaches to overcome current shortcomings in epilepsy management. METHODS A six-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, dietary trial was designed to investigate the potential of the psychobiotic Bifidobacterium longum on behavioural comorbidities in canine epilepsy. Seizure semiology will be evaluated as a secondary outcome measure. Thirty-four privately owned dogs are planned to be included in the ongoing study meeting the following inclusion criteria: Dogs displaying increased anxiety/fear behaviour since the start of the idiopathic epilepsy. Tier II confidence level of the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force for the diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy, with a maximum seizure interval of 3 month and a minimum of three generalised seizures within that period and chronically treated with at least one antiseizure drug without improvement in seizure frequency Each dog will receive the allocated supplement (probiotic vs. placebo) alongside its normal diet for a 3-month period. After a three-week wash out period, the second phase starts by administering the respective other supplement for another 3 months. DISCUSSION The current study considers modern high-quality standards for epilepsy medication trials. Common biasing effects should be limited to a possible minimum (regression-to-the mean effect, placebo effect, observer effect), ensuring a high validity and accuracy of the acquired results, thus enabling a representative nature of the efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum as add-on supplement for dogs suffering from epilepsy and its comorbidities. This publication should provide a description of the study procedure and data acquisition methods, including prognosed statistical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Schmidt
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Meller
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nina Meyerhoff
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brian Zanghi
- Research and Development, Nestlé Purina PetCare, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Holger Andreas Volk
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany. .,Centre for Systems Neuroscience, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
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3
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Sahoo DK, Allenspach K, Mochel JP, Parker V, Rudinsky AJ, Winston JA, Bourgois-Mochel A, Ackermann M, Heilmann RM, Köller G, Yuan L, Stewart T, Morgan S, Scheunemann KR, Iennarella-Servantez CA, Gabriel V, Zdyrski C, Pilla R, Suchodolski JS, Jergens AE. Synbiotic-IgY Therapy Modulates the Mucosal Microbiome and Inflammatory Indices in Dogs with Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Vet Sci 2022; 10:vetsci10010025. [PMID: 36669027 PMCID: PMC9867299 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CE) is a common cause of persistent gastrointestinal signs and intestinal inflammation in dogs. Since evidence links dysbiosis to mucosal inflammation, probiotics, prebiotics, or their combination (synbiotics) may reduce intestinal inflammation and ameliorate dysbiosis in affected dogs. This study's aim was to investigate the effects of the synbiotic-IgY supplement on clinical signs, inflammatory indices, and mucosal microbiota in dogs with CE. Dogs with CE were enrolled in a randomized prospective trial. Twenty-four client-owned dogs were fed a hydrolyzed diet and administered supplement or placebo (diet) for 6 weeks. Dogs were evaluated at diagnosis and 2- and 6-week post-treatment. Outcome measures included clinical activity, endoscopic and histologic scores, inflammatory markers (fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein), and composition of the mucosal microbiota via FISH. Eleven supplement- and nine placebo-treated dogs completed the trial. After 6 weeks of therapy, clinical activity and endoscopic scores decreased in both groups. Compared to placebo-treated dogs, dogs administered supplement showed decreased calprotectin at 2-week post-treatment, decreased CRP at 2- and 6-week post-treatment increased mucosal Clostridia and Bacteroides and decreased Enterobacteriaceae in colonic biopsies at trial completion. Results suggest a beneficial effect of diet and supplements on host responses and mucosal microbiota in dogs with CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipak Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Correspondence: or (D.K.S.); (A.E.J.)
| | - Karin Allenspach
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Mochel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Valerie Parker
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Adam Joseph Rudinsky
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jenessa A. Winston
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Agnes Bourgois-Mochel
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Mark Ackermann
- National Animal Disease Center USDA, ARS, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| | - Romy M. Heilmann
- Department for Small Animals, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, DE-04103 Leipzig, SN, Germany
| | - Gabor Köller
- Department for Large Animals, University of Leipzig, DE-04103 Leipzig, SN, Germany
| | - Lingnan Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Tracey Stewart
- Roy J. Carver High Resolution Microscopy Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Shannon Morgan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Kaitlyn R Scheunemann
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | | | - Vojtech Gabriel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Christopher Zdyrski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Albert E. Jergens
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Correspondence: or (D.K.S.); (A.E.J.)
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Abstract
Over the last decade, chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) in dogs have received great attention in the basic and clinical research arena. The 2010 ACVIM Consensus Statement, including guidelines for the diagnostic criteria for canine and feline CIE, was an important milestone to a more standardized approach to patients suspected of a CIE diagnosis. Great strides have been made since understanding the pathogenesis and classification of CIE in dogs, and novel diagnostic and treatment options have evolved. New concepts in the microbiome-host-interaction, metabolic pathways, crosstalk within the mucosal immune system, and extension to the gut-brain axis have emerged. Novel diagnostics have been developed, the clinical utility of which remains to be critically evaluated in the next coming years. New directions are also expected to lead to a larger spectrum of treatment options tailored to the individual patient. This review offers insights into emerging concepts and future directions proposed for further CIE research in dogs for the next decade to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert E. Jergens
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Albert E. Jergens
| | - Romy M. Heilmann
- Department for Small Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, SN, Germany
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5
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Isidori M, Corbee RJ, Trabalza-Marinucci M. Nonpharmacological Treatment Strategies for the Management of Canine Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy—A Narrative Review. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020037. [PMID: 35202290 PMCID: PMC8878421 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) refers to a heterogeneous group of idiopathic diseases of the dog characterised by persistent gastrointestinal (GI) clinical signs. If conventional dietary treatment alone would be unsuccessful, management of CIE is traditionally attained by the use of pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs. While being rather effective, however, these drugs are endowed with side effects, which may impact negatively on the animal’s quality of life. Therefore, novel, safe and effective therapies for CIE are highly sought after. As gut microbiota imbalances are often associated with GI disorders, a compelling rationale exists for the use of nonpharmacological methods of microbial manipulation in CIE, such as faecal microbiota transplantation and administration of pre-, pro-, syn- and postbiotics. In addition to providing direct health benefits to the host via a gentle modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition and function, these treatments may also possess immunomodulatory and epithelial barrier-enhancing actions. Likewise, intestinal barrier integrity, along with mucosal inflammation, are deemed to be two chief therapeutic targets of mesenchymal stem cells and selected vegetable-derived bioactive compounds. Although pioneering studies have revealed encouraging findings regarding the use of novel treatment agents in CIE, a larger body of research is needed to address fully their mode of action, efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Isidori
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ronald Jan Corbee
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands;
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6
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Félix AP, Souza CMM, de Oliveira SG. Biomarkers of gastrointestinal functionality in dogs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2022; 283:115183. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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7
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Hanifeh M, Spillmann T, Huhtinen M, Sclivagnotis YS, Grönthal T, Hynönen U. Ex-Vivo Adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium to the Intestinal Mucosa of Healthy Beagles. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113283. [PMID: 34828014 PMCID: PMC8614307 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Some Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium strains are used as probiotics or feed additives. Adherence to the intestinal mucosa is considered a crucial step for intestinal bacteria to colonize and further interact with the host epithelium and the immune system. In dogs, there are no studies investigating the adhesion of E. faecalis and E. faecium to paraffin-embedded intestinal mucosa. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the adhesion of E. faecalis and E. faecium to the intestinal mucosa of six healthy beagles using bacteria derived from dogs and chickens. In addition, we aimed to validate a method to test the adhesion of Alexa Fluor-labeled bacteria to paraffin-embedded canine intestinal mucosa. The results of our study show that both canine- and chicken-derived E. faecalis strains adhered significantly better than E. faecium to the duodenal mucosa of healthy beagles (p = 0.002). In addition, canine E. faecalis and E. faecium adhered in higher numbers to canine duodenal mucosa, compared to chicken-derived strains of the same species (p = 0.015 for E. faecalis and p = 0.002 for E. faecium). The determination of the hydrophobicity of bacteria revealed that canine E. faecalis had the highest hydrophobicity level (36.6%), followed by chicken E. faecalis (20.4%), while canine E. faecium (5.7%) and chicken E. faecium (4.5%) had the lowest levels. Our results suggest that both the bacterial species and the host origin of the strain may influence mucosal adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Hanifeh
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.S.); (T.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas Spillmann
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Mirja Huhtinen
- Orion Corporation, Orion Pharma, R&D, 02200 Espoo, Finland; (M.H.); (Y.S.S.)
| | | | - Thomas Grönthal
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Ulla Hynönen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Veterinary Microbiology and Epidemiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
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8
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Ciaravolo S, Martínez-López LM, Allcock RJN, Woodward AP, Mansfield C. Longitudinal Survey of Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Dogs Administered a Commercial Probiotic. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:664318. [PMID: 34235200 PMCID: PMC8255976 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.664318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this longitudinal microbiome study was to investigate the effects of a commercially available veterinary synbiotic product (Blackmore's® Paw DigestiCare 60™) on the fecal microbiome of healthy dogs using 16S rRNA gene microbial profiling. Fifteen healthy, privately-owned dogs participated in a 2-week trial administration of the product. Fecal samples were collected at different time points, including baseline (prior to treatment), during administration and after discontinuation of product. Large intra- and inter-individual variation was observed throughout the study, but microbiome composition at higher phylogenetic levels, alpha and beta diversity were not significantly altered after 2 weeks of probiotic administration, suggesting an absence of probiotic impact on microbial diversity. Administration of the synbiotic preparation did, however, result in transient increases in probiotic species from Enterococacceae and Streptococacceae families as well as an increase in Fusobacteria; with the fecal microbiota partially reverting to its baseline state 3-weeks after cessation of probiotic administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Ciaravolo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia.,Peninsula Vet, Emergency and Referral Hospital, Mornington, VIC, Australia
| | - Lina María Martínez-López
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard J N Allcock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Andrew P Woodward
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
| | - Caroline Mansfield
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
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9
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Tanprasertsuk J, Jha AR, Shmalberg J, Jones RB, Perry LM, Maughan H, Honaker RW. The microbiota of healthy dogs demonstrates individualized responses to synbiotic supplementation in a randomized controlled trial. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:36. [PMID: 33971985 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Probiotics have been demonstrated to ameliorate clinical signs of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs in various studies. However, the effect of probiotics in a healthy population, as well as factors contributing individualized responses, remain largely unknown. This trial examined gut microbiota (GM) and health outcomes in household dogs after synbiotic (SN) supplementation containing probiotics and inulin (a prebiotic). Healthy dogs were randomized to receive SN (50 mg/d inulin and 20 billion total CFU/d of L. reuteri, P. acidilactici, E. faecium, L. acidophilus, B. animalis, L. fermentum, L. rhamnosus) or placebo (PL) for 4 weeks. Owners completed a health survey and collected stool samples for GM profiling (shotgun metagenomic sequencing) at baseline and week 4 in both groups, and at week 6 in the SN group. Results A significant shift (p < 0.001) in β-diversity was observed in the SN (n = 24), but not PL group (n = 19), at week 4 relative to baseline. Forty-five bacterial species, 43 (96%) of which were Lactobacillales, showed an increase in the relative abundances (≥2 fold change, adjusted p < 0.05) in the SN group at week 4. E. coli also decreased at week 4 in the SN group (2.8-fold, adjusted p < 0.01). The altered taxa largely returned to baseline at week 6. The degree of changes in β-diversity was associated with GM at baseline. Specifically, dogs with higher Proteobacteria and lower Lactobacillales responded more robustly to supplementation in terms of the change in β-diversity. Dogs fed SN tended to have lower diarrhea incidence (0% vs 16%, p = 0.08). Conclusions SN supplement had a short-term impact on the gut microbiota in healthy household dogs as characterized by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Findings warrant further investigation with longer duration and populations at risk of gastrointestinal diseases. The magnitude of response to the supplement was associated with microbial profile at baseline. To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting such association and may provide a basis for personalized nutrition in companion dogs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-021-00098-0.
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10
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Abstract
Probiotics/or synbiotics products for small animals do not fulfill the criteria required to qualify as a probiotic. Studies explaining modes of action are lacking. Outcome measures are inconsistent, with some trials assessing only nonspecific routine diagnostic parameters or fecal scores. Preliminary evidence shows that specific preparations are beneficial in parvovirus infections and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome in dogs and in Tritrichomonas fetus infection in cats. In dogs, inflammatory bowel disease specific probiotics can decrease clinical severity. More studies focusing on functional outcomes in dogs and cats with well-defined diseases to allow evidence-based clinical use of probiotics and synbiotics are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Salavati Schmitz
- Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
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11
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Abstract
The gut microbiome is a functional organ, and responds metabolically to the nutrient composition within the diet. Fiber, starch, and protein content have strong effects on the microbiome composition, and changes in these nutrient profiles can induce rapid shifts. Due to functional redundancy of bacteria within microbial communities, important metabolites for health can be produced by different bacteria. Microbiome alterations associated with disease are of greater magnitude than those seen in healthy dogs on different diets. Dietary changes, addition of prebiotics, and probiotics, can be beneficial to improve microbial diversity and to normalize metabolite production in diseased dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA.
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA
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12
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Cartwright JA, Pérez-Accino J, Timothy C, Simpson KW, Salavati Schmitz S. Acute Ulcerative Enterocolitis With Severe Protein Loss Due to Mucosal Invasion With Enterococcus spp. in a Dog With Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: A Case Report. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:577642. [PMID: 33195581 PMCID: PMC7644445 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.577642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe an unusual case of severe acute protein-losing enteropathy in a dog, which presented with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This dog's condition could not be categorized as any well-known canine intestinal condition. Instead, components of several enteropathies like acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS), chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE), and ulcerative and granulomatous colitis were present. Thorough investigations identified concurrent exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and hypocobalaminemia. On histopathology, marked diffuse chronic-active ileitis and ulcerative colitis with fibroplasia and neovascularization were present. Intestinal biopsy cultures identified E.coli and multiresistant Enterococcus spp. The latter was identified as mucosally invasive using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Protracted clinical signs following the acute presentation required intensive care including enteral and parenteral feeding for a successful outcome, but eventually stabilized with antibiotics and immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids. This case highlights a potentially previously unrecognized condition, suspected to be a form of CIE manifesting acutely after bacterial mucosal invasion. In this case, this might have been facilitated by EPI-induced dysbiosis. The use of FISH and mucosal culture in this context provided important clinical information and should be considered more frequently in CIE and non-responsive AHDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Cartwright
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge Pérez-Accino
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Timothy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Kenneth W Simpson
- Simpson Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Silke Salavati Schmitz
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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13
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Alessandri G, Argentini C, Milani C, Turroni F, Cristina Ossiprandi M, van Sinderen D, Ventura M. Catching a glimpse of the bacterial gut community of companion animals: a canine and feline perspective. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:1708-1732. [PMID: 32864871 PMCID: PMC7533323 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs and cats have gained a special position in human society by becoming our principal companion animals. In this context, efforts to ensure their health and welfare have increased exponentially, with in recent times a growing interest in assessing the impact of the gut microbiota on canine and feline health. Recent technological advances have generated new tools to not only examine the intestinal microbial composition of dogs and cats, but also to scrutinize the genetic repertoire and associated metabolic functions of this microbial community. The application of high-throughput sequencing techniques to canine and feline faecal samples revealed similarities in their bacterial composition, with Fusobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes as the most prevalent and abundant phyla, followed by Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Although key bacterial members were consistently present in their gut microbiota, the taxonomic composition and the metabolic repertoire of the intestinal microbial population may be influenced by several factors, including diet, age and anthropogenic aspects, as well as intestinal dysbiosis. The current review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the multitude of factors which play a role in the modulation of the canine and feline gut microbiota and that of their human owners with whom they share the same environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Alessandri
- Department of Veterinary Medical ScienceUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - Chiara Argentini
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental SustainabilityUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - Christian Milani
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental SustainabilityUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
- Microbiome Research HubUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - Francesca Turroni
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental SustainabilityUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
- Microbiome Research HubUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - Maria Cristina Ossiprandi
- Department of Veterinary Medical ScienceUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
- Microbiome Research HubUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- APC Microbiome Institute and School of Microbiology, Bioscience InstituteNational University of IrelandCorkIreland
| | - Marco Ventura
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental SustainabilityUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
- Microbiome Research HubUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
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14
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Wang X, Zhang M, Wang W, Lv H, Zhang H, Liu Y, Tan Z. The in vitro Effects of the Probiotic Strain, Lactobacillus casei ZX633 on Gut Microbiota Composition in Infants With Diarrhea. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:576185. [PMID: 33072628 PMCID: PMC7533593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.576185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the in vitro effects of Lactobacillus casei ZX633 on gut microorganism composition in infants with diarrhea. For this purpose, 103 feces samples from healthy infants (healthy group) and 300 diarrhea samples from infants (diarrhea group) were collected, and diarrhea feces were treated with L. casei ZX633, which was previously isolated from healthy infant feces (treatment group). We used microbial dilution plate methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-throughput sequencing approaches to analyze viable main microorganism counts, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and intestinal microbiota composition in feces, respectively. Our data showed that L. casei ZX633 supplementation increased the numbers of Escherichia coli, yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and aerobic-bacteria, raised propionic acid levels but reduced four other SCFAs, which are close to the healthy group. Alpha diversity results indicated that microbial diversity and richness decreased in treatment group. Bacterial community analyses revealed that microbial structures of the treatment group tended toward the healthy group; i.e., Escherichia-Shigella and Clostridioides abundance increased, and there was a reduction in the abundance of Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Enterococcus and Veillonella. In conclusion, L. casei ZX633 isolated from healthy infant feces, may be effective in improving infant diarrhea microbiota, potentially providing a new probiotic strain to reduce the incidence of diarrhea associated with bacterial disease in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-Beam Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-Beam Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- The Third Affiliated Hospital Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Haoxin Lv
- School of Food Science and Technology, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-Beam Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Food and Biological Engineering, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-Beam Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhongfang Tan
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-Beam Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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15
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Pilla R, Gaschen FP, Barr JW, Olson E, Honneffer J, Guard BC, Blake AB, Villanueva D, Khattab MR, AlShawaqfeh MK, Lidbury JA, Steiner JM, Suchodolski JS. Effects of metronidazole on the fecal microbiome and metabolome in healthy dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2020; 34:1853-1866. [PMID: 32856349 PMCID: PMC7517498 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metronidazole has a substantial impact on the gut microbiome. However, the recovery of the microbiome after discontinuation of administration, and the metabolic consequences of such alterations have not been investigated to date. Objectives To describe the impact of 14‐day metronidazole administration, alone or in combination with a hydrolyzed protein diet, on fecal microbiome, metabolome, bile acids (BAs), and lactate production, and on serum metabolome in healthy dogs. Animals Twenty‐four healthy pet dogs. Methods Prospective, nonrandomized controlled study. Dogs fed various commercial diets were divided in 3 groups: control group (no intervention, G1); group receiving hydrolyzed protein diet, followed by metronidazole administration (G2); and group receiving metronidazole only (G3). Microbiome composition was evaluated with sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)‐based dysbiosis index. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of fecal and serum samples was performed, followed by targeted assays for fecal BAs and lactate. Results No changes were observed in G1, or G2 during diet change. Metronidazole significantly changed microbiome composition in G2 and G3, including decreases in richness (P < .001) and in key bacteria such as Fusobacteria (q < 0.001) that did not fully resolve 4 weeks after metronidazole discontinuation. Fecal dysbiosis index was significantly increased (P < .001). Those changes were accompanied by increased fecal total lactate (P < .001), and decreased secondary BAs deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid (P < .001). Conclusion and Clinical Importance Our results indicate a minimum 4‐week effect of metronidazole on fecal microbiome and metabolome, supporting a cautious approach to prescription of metronidazole in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Frederic P Gaschen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - James W Barr
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Erin Olson
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Julia Honneffer
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Blake C Guard
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Amanda B Blake
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Dean Villanueva
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Mohammad R Khattab
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Mustafa K AlShawaqfeh
- School of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, German-Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jonathan A Lidbury
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jörg M Steiner
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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16
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Wernimont SM, Radosevich J, Jackson MI, Ephraim E, Badri DV, MacLeay JM, Jewell DE, Suchodolski JS. The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1266. [PMID: 32670224 PMCID: PMC7329990 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome of cats and dogs is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ inextricably linked to pet health. Food serves as a substrate for the GI microbiome of cats and dogs and plays a significant role in defining the composition and metabolism of the GI microbiome. The microbiome, in turn, facilitates the host's nutrient digestion and the production of postbiotics, which are bacterially derived compounds that can influence pet health. Consequently, pet owners have a role in shaping the microbiome of cats and dogs through the food they choose to provide. Yet, a clear understanding of the impact these food choices have on the microbiome, and thus on the overall health of the pet, is lacking. Pet foods are formulated to contain the typical nutritional building blocks of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, but increasingly include microbiome-targeted ingredients, such as prebiotics and probiotics. Each of these categories, as well as their relative proportions in food, can affect the composition and/or function of the microbiome. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary components may impact not only GI disease, but also allergies, oral health, weight management, diabetes, and kidney disease through changes in the GI microbiome. Until recently, the focus of microbiome research was to characterize alterations in microbiome composition in disease states, while less research effort has been devoted to understanding how changes in nutrition can influence pet health by modifying the microbiome function. This review summarizes the impact of pet food nutritional components on the composition and function of the microbiome and examines evidence for the role of nutrition in impacting host health through the microbiome in a variety of disease states. Understanding how nutrition can modulate GI microbiome composition and function may reveal new avenues for enhancing the health and resilience of cats and dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eden Ephraim
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, United States
| | | | | | - Dennis E. Jewell
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Jan S. Suchodolski
- Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
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17
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Garcia-Mazcorro JF, Minamoto Y, Kawas JR, Suchodolski JS, de Vos WM. Akkermansia and Microbial Degradation of Mucus in Cats and Dogs: Implications to the Growing Worldwide Epidemic of Pet Obesity. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7020044. [PMID: 32326394 PMCID: PMC7355976 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that has shown the potential to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects in mouse and man. We here focus on companion animals, specifically cats and dogs, and evaluate the microbial degradation of mucus and its health impact in the context of the worldwide epidemic of pet obesity. A literature survey revealed that the two presently known Akkermansia spp., A. muciniphila and A. glycaniphila, as well as other members of the phylum of Verrucomicrobia seem to be neither very prevalent nor abundant in the digestive tract of cats and dog. While this may be due to methodological aspects, it suggests that bacteria related to Akkermansia are not the major mucus degraders in these pets and hence other mucus-utilizing taxa may deserve attention. Hence, we will discuss the potential of these endogenous mucus utilizers and dietary interventions to boost these as well as the use of Akkermansia spp. related bacteria or their components as strategies to target feline and canine obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose F. Garcia-Mazcorro
- Research and Development, MNA de Mexico, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon 66477, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-81-8850-5204
| | | | - Jorge R. Kawas
- Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, General Escobedo, Nuevo Leon 66050, Mexico;
| | - 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 77843-4474, USA;
| | - Willem M. de Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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18
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Pilla R, Suchodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Front Vet Sci 2020; 6:498. [PMID: 31993446 PMCID: PMC6971114 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome contributes to host metabolism, protects against pathogens, educates the immune system, and, through these basic functions, affects directly or indirectly most physiologic functions of its host. Molecular techniques have allowed us to expand our knowledge by unveiling a wide range of unculturable bacteria that were previously unknown. Most bacterial sequences identified in the canine gastrointestinal (GI) tract fall into five phyla: Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. While there are variations in the microbiome composition along the GI tract, most clinical studies concentrate on fecal microbiota. Age, diet, and many other environmental factors may play a significant role in the maintenance of a healthy microbiome, however, the alterations they cause pale in comparison with the alterations found in diseased animals. GI dysfunctions are the most obvious association with gut dysbiosis. In dogs, intestinal inflammation, whether chronic or acute, is associated with significant differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Gut dysbiosis happens when such alterations result in functional changes in the microbial transcriptome, proteome, or metabolome. Commonly affected metabolites include short-chain fatty acids, and amino acids, including tryptophan and its catabolites. A recently developed PCR-based algorithm termed “Dysbiosis Index” is a tool that allows veterinarians to quantify gut dysbiosis and can be used to monitor disease progression and response to treatment. Alterations or imbalances in the microbiota affect immune function, and strategies to manipulate the gut microbiome may be useful for GI related diseases. Antibiotic usage induces a rapid and significant drop in taxonomic richness, diversity, and evenness. For that reason, a renewed interest has been put on probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Although probiotics are typically unable to colonize the gut, the metabolites they produce during their transit through the GI tract can ameliorate clinical signs and modify microbiome composition. Another interesting development is FMT, which may be a promising tool to aid recovery from dysbiosis, but further studies are needed to evaluate its potential and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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19
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Blake AB, Guard BC, Honneffer JB, Lidbury JA, Steiner JM, Suchodolski JS. Altered microbiota, fecal lactate, and fecal bile acids in dogs with gastrointestinal disease. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224454. [PMID: 31671166 PMCID: PMC6822739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in health and disease and produces, through fermentative reactions, several metabolic products, such as lactate, that can affect the host. The microbiota also interacts with and metabolizes compounds produced by the host, such as primary bile acids. Lactate and bile acids (BA) are of particular interest in gastrointestinal diseases because they have been associated with metabolic acidosis and bile acid diarrhea, respectively. The objectives of this study were to validate an enzymatic assay to quantify D-, L-, and total lactate in canine feces, and to characterize fecal lactate and BA concentrations as well as bacterial abundances in healthy dogs and dogs with gastrointestinal diseases. Fecal samples were collected from 34 healthy dogs, 15 dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE), and 36 dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Lactate was quantified with an enzymatic assay, BA with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 11 bacterial groups with qPCR. A fecal lactate reference interval was established from 34 healthy dogs and was 0.7–1.4 mM, 0.3–6.0 mM, and 1.0–7.0 mM for D-, L-, and total lactate, respectively. The assay to measure D-, L-, and total lactate in canine fecal samples was linear, accurate, precise, and reproducible. Significant increases in fecal lactate and decreases in secondary BA concentrations were observed in dogs with CE and dogs with EPI. Dogs with EPI had an increased abundance of Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium; a decreased abundance of Fusobacterium and Clostridium hiranonis; and a higher Dysbiosis Index when compared to healthy dogs. Further studies are necessary to determine the clinical utility of lactate and BA quantification in canine feces. These metabolites suggest functional alterations of intestinal dysbiosis and may become promising targets for further elucidating the role of the microbiota in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Blake
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
| | - Blake C. Guard
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
| | - Julia B. Honneffer
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A. Lidbury
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jörg M. Steiner
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jan S. Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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