Investigation on the growth of coprophagy-prevented rats with supplemented vitamin B12

The growth of coprophagy-prevented rats was compared under administration of normal levels of vitamin B12 and supplemented amounts. Two experiments in which supplemented amounts of vitamin B12 were administered were conducted under different conditions. Six rats per group were fed under coprophagy-allowed (conventional feeding) and coprophagy-prevented conditions respectively. In the first experiment, coprophagy-prevented rats were fed only feed containing recommended vitamin B12 level and forced fed hydrous faeces, vitamin B12 and folic acid respectively. In the second experiment, coprophagy-prevented rats were fed AIN-93G at the recommended vitamin B12 level (25 microg/kg diet), at 100 times the level and at 1000 times the level respectively. Body weight, feed consumption and amounts of each faeces type were determined in both experiments. In a comparison of body weight gain, we learned that coprophagy prevention reduced the values, but that there was no significant difference in the forced feeding group in the first experiment. Similar results were recognized in the second experiment. Vitamin B12 supplementation was not able to raise feed intake significantly and hence it obviously was not a severely limiting factor under the respective experimental condition which depressed feed intake.

Comparison of two treatments for preventing dogs eating their own faeces

Twenty-eight domestic dogs with the behavioural problem of eating their own faeces were treated in two ways. Half of them were treated with a citronella spray collar, and the others were treated with sound therapy. To assess the relative efficacy of the treatments their owners rated the severity of their dog's faeces eating for a week before the study began, during each of three weeks of treatment, and at the end of a fourth week during which they had not been treated. The owners reported a significantly lower incidence of the behavioural problem during the first week of both treatments, but in the dogs treated by sound therapy its incidence subsequently increased. The behavioural problem was reduced most effectively in the dogs treated with the spray collar, and continued to decrease during the period of treatment.

Amino acid, mineral and vitamin levels in hydrous faeces obtained from coprophagy-prevented rats

Amino acid, mineral and vitamin levels in hydrous faeces obtained from coprophagy-prevented rats were examined. Two experiments were conducted with rats of different age, 4 weeks and 10 weeks. Six rats each were fed under coprophagy-prevented and coprophagy-allowed (conventional feeding) conditions, respectively. In the first experiment using 4-week-old rats, amino acid values were determined for hydrous faeces and usual faeces obtained in the above-mentioned conditions. In the second experiment using 10-week-old rats, mineral values were determined for both types of faeces. Vitamin values were determined in both experiments. In a comparison of amino acid values and their patterns, specific kinds of amino acids in hydrous faeces were not recognized as growth factors. Sodium and potassium levels in hydrous faeces were significantly higher than those for usual faeces, but those levels were 1/(18-20) of those derived from feed. Although cyanocobalamin and folic acid levels in hydrous faeces were two to three times higher than those for usual faeces, folic acid supplements from coprophagy were 1/8 of those derived from feed. Cyanocobalamin supplements from hydrous faeces were five times larger than those from feed. Therefore, it appears that cyanocobalamin was supplied by the ingestion of hydrous faeces and that this cyanocobalamin supports conventional growth in rats.

Early weaning and culling eradicated Helicobacter hepaticus from an acetylcholinesterase knockout 129S6/SvEvTac mouse colony

The finding of Helicobacter hepaticus infection in our acetylcholinesterase (AChE) knockout mouse colony led to a search for a treatment. One-hundred percent of AChE +/+, 100% of AChE +/-, and 35% of AChE -/- mice tested positive. The lower infection rate in AChE -/- mice, who are routinely weaned on day 15, suggested that early weaning might be an effective eradication strategy. The AChE +/+ and +/- mice were weaned on days 13, 14, 15, or 16. Litters were placed in sterile, heated, isolator cages. Animals were fed liquid Ensure Fiber and 11% fat pelleted diet. Feces were tested for the presence of H. hepaticus by use of DNA amplification. Litters weaned on days 14, 15, or 16 had a high rate (68, 63, and 100%, respectively), whereas litters weaned on day 13 had a lower (8%) rate of infection. Uninfected animals have remained free of H. hepaticus through day 120. Pups weaned on day 13 lost body weight, beginning on day 14, but recovered by day 16. It is concluded that the non-coprophagic behavior of AChE -/- mice accounts for a low infection rate and that the combination of early weaning, routine testing, and culling provide an effective method for eradication of H. hepaticus.

Prevention of coprophagy modifies magnesium absorption in rats fed with fructo-oligosaccharides

We developed a new type of anal cup for prevention of coprophagy and determined whether the absorption of Ca and Mg and the stimulatory effects of feeding fructo-oligosaccharides (FO) on the absorption of Ca and Mg were altered by prevention of coprophagy in rats. Rats were fed on a FO-free diet or a diet containing 50 g FO/kg for 2 weeks with or without prevention of coprophagy. FO-feeding increased the apparent absorptive ratio of Ca and Mg in rats with or without prevention of coprophagy. However, in the FO-fed groups the absorptive ratio of Mg in rats with prevention of coprophagy was higher than in rats without prevention of coprophagy. The Ca content of the femur was higher in rats fed on the FO-diet than in rats fed on the FO-free diet both with and without coprophagy. In conclusion, FO-feeding increased the absorption of Ca and Mg in rats both with and without coprophagy. Moreover, prevention of coprophagy enhanced the absorption of Mg in rats fed with FO. Coprophagy has to be considered when the effects of luminal fermentation or mineral absorption are examined in rats.

Problems in estimating the extent of coprophagy in the rat

The quantity of re-ingested faeces was calculated by comparing faecal dry matter of unrestricted rats and coprophagy-restricted rats after correcting for differences in food intake. Due to high day-to-day variations of produced and re-ingested faeces it was not possible to calculate precisely the extent of coprophagy of an individual rat at a particular day with this difference method. Reliable quantitative estimates require at least two rats and a collection period of 7 d. When fed on a nutritionally complete diet, rats re-ingested 0-11% of their faeces. When fed on low-protein diets (66 g egg albumin/kg) or diets diluted with 200 g cellulose/kg, coprophagy was not significantly increased. A high re-ingestion rate (6-25%) was observed with thiamin and pantothenic acid deficiencies. After re-ingestion of faeces had been prevented for 1 week, the amount of faeces re-ingested during the subsequent week without tail-cups was increased twofold. It is concluded that rats are able to regulate the amount of faeces eaten precisely according to their requirements.

Effects of prevention of coprophagy on pregnant mice--is coprophagy beneficial on a balanced diet?

The effects of prevention of coprophagy on reproductive performance were examined in ICR mice. Females were treated with restrainers in order to prevent them from ingesting their feces from day 1 through day 17 of pregnancy. The restrained animals fed a commercial diet did not show any clear adverse effects. In contrast, restrained dams fed a purified diet deficient in vitamin B12 exhibited stillbirths (14%) and abortions (7%). Restrained dams fed a diet lacking in vitamin B12 and folic acid also experienced frequent abortions (27%). In addition, six out of 14 restrained dams (43%) aborted when fed a vitamin B complex-deficient diet. Sham-restrained animals, fed the vitamin B complex deficient-diet, but able to ingest their feces trapped by smaller-mesh floors, escaped these adverse effects. Sham-restrained animals fed the commercial diet, however, showed only a slight improvement in their reproductive performance. In conclusion, coprophagy has nutritional significance as long as the diet is lacking at least B vitamins, especially vitamin B12 and folic acid, whereas it almost entirely loses its nutritional significance when the mouse has access to a balanced diet such as the one made available to the laboratory mice in the present study.

A simple method for prevention of coprophagy in the mouse

A series of studies of coprophagy in mice has been conducted from the viewpoints of behaviour and nutrition. Since it was necessary to prevent coprophagy to investigate its significance, an attempt was made to devise a restrainer. A polyethylene bottle was cut and fixed to the mouse so as to prevent its head from reaching its anus when faeces were excreted. The animals were also housed in cages with floors of larger mesh size in order to let the faeces fall through.

Precluding coccidiosis with an anti-coprophagia drug

Floor-pen studies were conducted to ascertain whether coccidiosis could be prevented by using a drug added to the litter to preclude coprophagia and ingestion of infective oocysts. An experimental drug (1-pyrrolidinebutyramide, 2-methyl-alpha,alpha-diphenyl) was added to litter contaminated with sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts. Thereafter 7-day-old broiler chicks were reared on the litter for a nine-day period. Mortality, lesion scores and dropping scores were the criteria selected to determine efficacy. Treatment of the litter at the lowest level (2.3 g kg-1) did not reduce the incidence or severity of the disease, whereas treatment at two higher levels (11.5 and 23.0 g kg-1) significantly reduced both (incidence and severity). The highest level was the most efficacious; however, drug toxicity was also encountered at this level.

Appearance and reappearance of mutagens in urine from rats after oral administration of direct brown 95, due to coprophagy

Rats treated orally with direct brown 95, a benzidine-based dye, widely used in dyeing of textiles, plastics, paper and other materials, showed 2 peaks of excretion of mutagenic products in urine, one between 6 h and 18 h after administration and one about 30 h later. Prevention of coprophagy by fitting neck collars resulted in the disappearance of the second peak. Oral administration of carminic acid resulted in a biphasic excretion of this dye in the feces, due to coprophagy. The excretion pattern of mutagens in urine after administration of direct brown 95 corresponds with the excretion pattern in the feces of orally administered carminic acid.

Coprophagy in iron-deficient rats: II. 2 novel methods of prevention

2 novel methods of coprophagy prevention were used in iron-deficient rats to measure their effect on haemoglobin regeneration during the feeding of ferrous sulphate or several soya proteins. Neck collars produced considerable weight loss and depression in food intake compared to aluminium anal cups which were tolerated well. Both methods of coprophagy prevention reduced iron availability from a range of soya proteins and ferrous sulphate and it is suggested that the practice of coprophagy in iron-deficient and possibly iron-replete rats may overestimate iron (and possibly other mineral) absorption (retention) studies.

Coprophagy in iron-deficient rats

An attempt was made to prevent coprophagy in iron-deficient rats using plastic anal cups. Considerable damage to the anal cups occurred as a result of gnawing over periods up to 4 days. Haemoglobin iron determinations in rats with and without cups suggested that the cups had been partially successful in preventing recycling of dietary iron, and that coprophagy may be a significant factor in interpretation of haemoglobin regeneration studies on rodents.

A simplified metabolism cage and tail cup for young rats

A description is given of an inexpensive metabolism cage, in which powdered diets can be fed without measurable loss.

Coprophagy is completely eliminated in rats fitted with a new design of tail cup, and in this way total collections of faeces and urine are readily achieved. Cups of a similar design have been fitted both to young male and to adult female rats, and use over periods of several weeks has revealed no ill effects. Reproducible estimates of dietary protein quality have been obtained with collection periods as short as 48 to 96 hours, and growth rates are quite good in adequately and uniformly heated rooms.