Continuing Education
January 9, 2018
Gut Microbiome
Nutramax Veterinary Sciences Inc.Sponsored by:
Jan S. Suchodolski, MedVet, DrVetMed, PhD, AGAF, DACVM
Our research is focused on gastrointestinal function testing, gastrointestinal pathogens, and intestinal microbial ecology with an emphasis on probiotics and prebiotics and how intestinal pathogens lead to disturbances in the intestinal microbiome of companion animals.
Using high throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, metagenomic, and metabolomics approaches, we are characterizing the gastrointestinal microbiome, metagenome, and metabolome of several veterinary species (e.g., dogs, cats, frogs, parrots, horses, mice, dolphins) in health and acute and chronic diarrhea. We are also studying the effects of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation and dietary interventions on the dog and cat metagenome and metabolome, including bile acid metabolism, for diagnostic and therapeutic application in animals with IBD, obesity, and Diabetes Mellitus. Our results suggest that microbiome manipulations via probiotics may be useful in the management of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs and cats.
Using high throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, metagenomic, and metabolomics approaches, we are characterizing the gastrointestinal microbiome, metagenome, and metabolome of several veterinary species (e.g., dogs, cats, frogs, parrots, horses, mice, dolphins) in health and acute and chronic diarrhea. We are also studying the effects of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation and dietary interventions on the dog and cat metagenome and metabolome, including bile acid metabolism, for diagnostic and therapeutic application in animals with IBD, obesity, and Diabetes Mellitus. Our results suggest that microbiome manipulations via probiotics may be useful in the management of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs and cats.
A recent area of research is the microbiome changes after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in dogs and cats. We have developed a rapid test for assessment of canine microbiota, the Canine Dysbiosis Index. This test can be used for screening donors and also monitor the fecal microbiota before and after FMT.