ena-STUDY-Nestle Purina PetCare Company-11-09-2017-19:41:30:468-179
Disentangling factors that shape the gut microbiome in German Shepherd dogs
This study explore the development of the gut microbiome in 30 German Shepherd bitches and their 168 puppies up to the age of 18 months, and effects of relatedness, maternal microbiome composition and living environment. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we assessed the effects of pre- and postnatal probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (La1)) and analysed whether administration of the probiotic strain influenced fecal microbiome composition. Serum IgA, total serum IgE, fecal IgA and IgG antibody responses against Canine Distemper Virus were analysed by ELISA in order to detect any immune stimulating effects of the probiotic strain. Analysis of the fecal microbiome composition showed that the predominant phyla were the same in puppies as in pregnant and lactating bitches and the diversity was similar in puppies and one year old dogs even if proportions among different bacteria varied.  Litter mates had a more similar fecal microbiome compared to unrelated dogs and 7 weeks old puppies were more similar to their mothers than to unrelated bitches at 7 weeks postpartum but not at partum. We observed a change in the relative abundance of different bacteria during lactation, and an increase in diversity from pregnancy to end of lactation. The microbial diversity was affected by living area. However, we were not able to demonstrate an effect by pre and postnatal exposure to Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (La1).Our findings provide a better understanding of the canine fecal microbiome in growing dogs as well as in pregnant and lactating bitches. This information forms a basis for further research on the connection between early gut colonization and immune function later in life.
This study explore the development of the gut microbiome in 30 German Shepherd bitches and their 168 puppies up to the age of 18 months, and effects of relatedness, maternal microbiome composition and living environment. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we assessed the effects of pre- and postnatal probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (La1)) and analysed whether administration of the probiotic strain influenced fecal microbiome composition. Serum IgA, total serum IgE, fecal IgA and IgG antibody responses against Canine Distemper Virus were analysed by ELISA in order to detect any immune stimulating effects of the probiotic strain. Analysis of the fecal microbiome composition showed that the predominant phyla were the same in puppies as in pregnant and lactating bitches and the diversity was similar in puppies and one year old dogs even if proportions among different bacteria varied.  Litter mates had a more similar fecal microbiome compared to unrelated dogs and 7 weeks old puppies were more similar to their mothers than to unrelated bitches at 7 weeks postpartum but not at partum. We observed a change in the relative abundance of different bacteria during lactation, and an increase in diversity from pregnancy to end of lactation. The microbial diversity was affected by living area. However, we were not able to demonstrate an effect by pre and postnatal exposure to Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (La1).Our findings provide a better understanding of the canine fecal microbiome in growing dogs as well as in pregnant and lactating bitches. This information forms a basis for further research on the connection between early gut colonization and immune function later in life.