The effect of feeding on serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, trypsin-like immunoreactivity, and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in dogs with signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown if serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), and canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) obtained postprandially are equivalent to measurements obtained after withholding food in dogs with suspected gastrointestinal disease. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Measurements of serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, cPLI, and cTLI postprandially will be equivalent to measurements after 12 hours of withholding food in dogs with signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease. Changes observed will not alter clinical interpretation. ANIMALS: 51 client-owned dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease. METHODS: Prospective single arm clinical trial. Serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, cPLI and cTLI 2, 4, and 8 hours postprandially were compared by equivalence testing to values after withholding food for 12 hours (baseline). RESULTS: Mean serum cobalamin concentrations 2 hours (498.1 ± 213.1 ng/L; P = 0.024) and 4 hours (501.9 ± 207.4 ng/L; P = 0.008) postprandial were equivalent to baseline (517.3 ± 211.5 ng/L). Mean serum cTLI 2 hours (31.3 ± 14 µg/L; P < 0.001) and 4 hours (29.6 ± 13.1 µg/L; P = 0.027) postprandial were equivalent to baseline (31.1 ± 15 µg/L). Mean serum folate concentration 2 hours postprandial (15 ± 7.7 µg/L) was equivalent to baseline (13.7 ± 8.3 µg/L; P < 0.001). Equivalence could not be assessed for cPLI due to results below the lower limit of quantification. Feeding altered the clinical interpretation in 27% (cobalamin), 35% (folate), 20% (cTLI), and 12% (cPLI) of dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The clinical interpretation for a substantial number of samples changed after feeding, therefore withholding food before sample collection is prudent.

Temporal Variability of the Dominant Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Adult Cats.

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.

Diagnosis of Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Brachyspira intermedia in hens and laying hens in the western region of Paraná through bacterial isolation and identification in qPCR / Diagnóstico de Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae e Brachyspira intermedia em aves de postura e matrizes de corte na região oeste do Paraná através do isolamento bacteriano e identificação na qPCR

Bacteria of the genus Brachyspira can cause enteric diseases in poultry causing a decrease in productivity. The occurrence of this disease in chickens has already been verified in countries such as Australia, Italy, and the United States, but in Brazil, until now, epidemiological studies about Brachyspira sp. frequency were only carried out on pig farms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of bacteria of the genus Brachyspira sp. through isolation and confirmation of the species Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Brachyspira intermedia using the qPCR technique. Samples from 110 hens aged from 35 to 82 weeks were collected, 40 were from commercial egg farms and 70 were from laying hens matrices. For the first evaluation, bacterial isolation was performed from the feces. Positive samples were submitted to qPCR to identify the three species proposed. Cecum fragments of the birds were collected and fixed in formaldehyde for histological evaluation and counting of goblet cells. Of the 110 samples, 48 characteristic isolates of Brachyspira (43.6%) were obtained and of these in qPCR 13 identified as B. hyodysenteriae (11.8%) and 5 all from the same farm as Brachyspira intermedia (4.5%), 2 samples were positive for both agents (1.8%) and 28 were not characterized by qPCR (25.5%). None histopathological lesions were observed in the chicken cecum and no significant statistical difference was noticed in the count of goblet cells of the positive hens. It can be evidenced by the occurrence of Brachyspira sp. in laying farms and hens in Brazil, with special relevance to Brachyspira intermedia that can be potentially pathogenic for these animals.(AU)

Bactérias do gênero Brachyspira podem ocasionar enfermidades entéricas em aves acarretando a queda de produtividade. A ocorrência desta enfermidade em galinhas já foi verificada em países como a Austrália, Itália e Estados Unidos, porém no Brasil, até o momento, trabalhos epidemiológicos sobre a frequencia de Brachyspira sp. só foram realizados em granjas de suínos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de bactérias do gênero Brachyspira sp. através do isolamento e confirmação das espécies Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae e Brachyspira intermedia utilizando a técnica de qPCR. Foram coletadas amostras de 110 aves com idade entre 35 e 82 semanas, sendo 40 de granjas de postura comercial e 70 de granjas de matrizes de corte. Para avaliação primeiramente procedeu-se o isolamento bacteriano a partir das fezes. As amostras positivas foram submetidas a qPCR para identificação das três espécies propostas. Fragmentos de ceco das aves foram coletados e fixados em formol para avaliação histológica e contagem de células caliciformes. Das 110 amostras foram obtidos 48 isolamentos característicos de Brachyspira (43,6%) e destes na qPCR 13 identificadas como B. hyodysenteriae (11,8%) e 5 sendo todas da mesma granja (4,5%) como B. intermedia, 2 amostras foram positivas para ambos os agentes (1,8%) e 28 não foram caracterizadas através da qPCR (25,5%). Não foram observadas alterações histopatológicas no ceco e diferença estatística significativa na contagem de células caliciformes das aves positivas. Conclui-se que a Brachyspira sp. é frequente em granjas de poedeiras e matrizes de corte no Brasil, com especial relevância para a B. intermedia que possui potência patogênico para estas aves.(AU)