In vitro fermentation of Cucumis sativus fructus extract by canine gut microbiota in combination with two probiotic strains

There is a growing public interest in the use of fibre, probiotics and combinations of both of them to potentially improve the gut microbiota composition and the digestive health of dogs; however, there are limited studies on the effects of these supplements in companion animals. Using 24 h in vitro fermentation, the effects of probiotic strains, Lactobacillus paracasei JCM8130 and Lactobacillus acidophilus C8.1, and the fructus extract of Cucumis sativus on modulation and activities of healthy dogs’ microbiota were investigated, either individually or in combination, to evaluate their possible synergism. Real-Time PCR was performed for enumeration of the selected bacterial groups. Gas chromatographic analysis was conducted to quantify short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. The studied supplements showed some prebiotic-like effects especially the ability to promote a significant increase of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. counts and also the production of acetic, propionic and butyric acids

Probiotic characterization of Lactobacillus isolates from canine faeces

Aims There is interest in using probiotics such as Lactobacillus species to control canine intestinal infections. The bacterial species should be of canine intestinal origin exhibiting host specificity. Bacterial strains were isolated from dog faecal samples and characterized to select specific probiotics as dietary supplements in feed, promoting health status. Methods and Results Bacterial strains have been screened for their probiotic properties including survival to gastric and pancreatic juices and bile salts, resistance to antibiotics, anti‐pathogenicity. Five out of 14 isolated Lactobacillus strains were tolerant to gastric stress. They were also resistant to clindamycin and with a significant antimicrobial capacity towards the pathogenic strains tested, variable according to the strain. They were identified by morphological and molecular characterization comparing the 16S rRNA gene sequence with the BLAST database. Three strains were identified as Lactobacillus reuteri and two as Lactobacillus johnsonii. Sugar fermentation profiles and adhesion to HT29 epithelial cells have been in vitro verified on L. reuteri AI, chosen as probiotic candidate. Resistance to freeze‐drying, production and subsequent in vivo administration evaluating strain permanence, were also performed. No loss of vitality has been recorded due to the freeze‐drying process. The average value of recovery percentage of L. reuteri AI at the end of the administration period and after 1 week of follow‐up was respectively 26.7% and 17.4% of the total Lactobacillus spp. Conclusions Among several selected probiotic strains, L. reuteri AI proved to be the best probiotic candidate to use as a supplement for dogs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Significance and Impact of the Study Control of intestinal pathogenic microorganisms in dogs is a growing concern and the selection of autochthonous probiotic bacterial strains to overcome some of the gut problems associated with the modern domestication of animals is a valuable tool

The Erythrocyte Membrane Lipidomeof Healthy Dogs: Creating a Benchmark of Fatty Acid Distribution and Interval Values

Molecular-based approaches are rapidly developing in medicine for the evaluation of physiological and pathological conditions and discovery of new biomarkers in prevention and therapy. Fatty acid diversity and roles in health and disease in humans are topical subjects of lipidomics. In particular, membrane fatty acid-based lipidomics provides molecular data of relevance in the study of human chronic diseases, connecting metabolic, and nutritional aspects to health conditions. In veterinarymedicine,membrane lipidomics, and fatty acid profiles have not been developed yet in nutritional approaches to health and in disease conditions. Using a protocol widely tested in human profiling, in the present study erythrocyte membrane lipidome was examined in 68 clinically healthy dogs, with different ages, sex, and sizes. In particular, a cluster composed of 10 fatty acids, present in membrane glycerophospholipids and representative of structural and functional properties of cell membrane, was chosen, and quantitatively analyzed. The interval values and distribution for each fatty acid of the cluster were determined, providing the first panel describing the healthy dog lipidomic membrane profile, with interesting correlation to bodyweight increases. This molecular information can be advantageously developed as benchmark in veterinarymedicine for the evaluation of metabolic and nutritional status in healthy and diseased dogs