Os métodos de tratamento para a obesidade em cães e gatos focam na restrição calórica, seja restringindo a ingestão de alimento ou alimentando o animal com dietas hipocalóricas. Entretanto, esses métodos frequentemente falham, sendo necessárias estratégias alternativas para promover a perda de peso. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar as diferenças na microbiota fecal entre animais magros e obesos e determinar se a castração e/ou a perda de peso estão associadas com mudanças na população microbiana. No primeiro experimento, a composição da microbiota fecal foi avaliada nos gatos magros inteiros, magros castrados e obesos castrados, antes e depois da perda de peso. Os gatos obesos foram submetidos a seis semanas de restrição energética e apresentaram redução na massa gorda após a perda de peso (P<0,001), embora o peso corporal não tenha mudado (P>0,05). Firmicutes, seguido de Bacteroidetes foram os filos predominantes em todos os grupos. O grupo dos magros castrados tiveram o perfil de bactérias que era esperado para os obesos, com maior abundância de Firmicutes e menor de Bacteroidetes (P<0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos magros inteiros e obesos castrados. A população microbiana dos gatos obesos mostrou poucas alterações com a perda de peso. No segundo experimento, o teste foi realizado quando os cães estavam magros, após consumo ad libitum para promover o ganho de peso e após a perda de peso. As seguintes concentrações séricas foram analisadas: glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos, albumina, creatinina, fosfatase alcalina (FA), alanina aminotransferase (ALT), proteínas totais (PT), insulina e leptina. As amostras de fezes foram analisadas para determinar a abundância de Bacteroidetes e Firmicutes. As concentrações de triglicerídeos, colesterol, albumina, FA, ALT e PT foram maiores (P<0,05) nos cães obesos quando comparados aos magros. Bacteroidetes foi mais abundante (P<0,001) nos magros e Firmicutes não diferiu entre os grupos (P>0,05). Após a perda de peso, os níveis de colesterol e PT e a abundância de Bacteroidetes permaneceram inalteradas estatisticamente. Conclui-se então que, nos modelos testados, há diferenças na microbiota fecal entre os grupos dos estudos realizados. Entretanto, no estudo com os gatos a obesidade pareceu não influenciar o crescimento das diferentes populações de microorganismos. / Treatment methods for obesity in dogs and cats focus on calorie restriction, either by restricting the calorie intake of the animal, or by feeding energy diluted diets. However, these methods often fail, requiring additional strategies to promote weight loss. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the gut microbiota between lean and obese animals and determine whether neutering and/or weight loss are associated with changes in the microbial populations. In the first experiment, the composition of the faecal microbiota was evaluated in lean intact, lean neutered and obese neutered cats, before and after weight loss. The obese cats were submitted to six weeks of energy restriction and showed less fat body mass after weight loss (p<0.001), although the body weight has not changed (P>0.05). Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes were the predominant bacterial phyla in all groups. The lean neutered cats had a bacterial profile of what one would expect from the obese cats, with greater abundance (P<0.05) of Firmicutes and lower abundance (P<0.05) of Bacteroidetes. There were no significant differences between lean intact and obese neutered. The microbe populations of obese cats showed very few changes with weight loss. In the second experiment, testing was performed when the dogs were lean, after ad libitum feeding to promote weight gain and after weight loss. Serum concentrations were analyzed: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins (TP), insulin and leptin. Faecal samples were analyzed to determine the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin, PA, ALT and TP were greater (P<0.05) in obese dogs when compared to the lean. The abundance of Bacteroidetes was greater (P<0.001) in the lean group and the phylum Firmicutes showed no differences among the groups (P>0.05). After weight loss, the levels of cholesterol and TP and the abundance of Bacteroidetes remained unchanged statistically. In conclusion, differences in the faecal microbiota were observed among the groups of both studies. However, in the study with cats, obesity seems not to influence the growth of diverse populations of microrganisms.

Os métodos de tratamento para a obesidade em cães e gatos focam na restrição calórica, seja restringindo a ingestão de alimento ou alimentando o animal com dietas hipocalóricas. Entretanto, esses métodos frequentemente falham, sendo necessárias estratégias alternativas para promover a perda de peso. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar as diferenças na microbiota fecal entre animais magros e obesos e determinar se a castração e/ou a perda de peso estão associadas com mudanças na população microbiana. No primeiro experimento, a composição da microbiota fecal foi avaliada nos gatos magros inteiros, magros castrados e obesos castrados, antes e depois da perda de peso. Os gatos obesos foram submetidos a seis semanas de restrição energética e apresentaram redução na massa gorda após a perda de peso (P<0,001), embora o peso corporal não tenha mudado (P>0,05). Firmicutes, seguido de Bacteroidetes foram os filos predominantes em todos os grupos. O grupo dos magros castrados tiveram o perfil de bactérias que era esperado para os obesos, com maior abundância de Firmicutes e menor de Bacteroidetes (P<0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos magros inteiros e obesos castrados. A população microbiana dos gatos obesos mostrou poucas alterações com a perda de peso. No segundo experimento, o teste foi realizado quando os cães estavam magros, após consumo ad libitum para promover o ganho de peso e após a perda de peso. As seguintes concentrações séricas foram analisadas: glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos, albumina, creatinina, fosfatase alcalina (FA), alanina aminotransferase (ALT), proteínas totais (PT), insulina e leptina. As amostras de fezes foram analisadas para determinar a abundância de Bacteroidetes e Firmicutes. As concentrações de triglicerídeos, colesterol, albumina, FA, ALT e PT foram maiores (P<0,05) nos cães obesos quando comparados aos magros. Bacteroidetes foi mais abundante (P<0,001) nos magros e Firmicutes não diferiu entre os grupos (P>0,05). Após a perda de peso, os níveis de colesterol e PT e a abundância de Bacteroidetes permaneceram inalteradas estatisticamente. Conclui-se então que, nos modelos testados, há diferenças na microbiota fecal entre os grupos dos estudos realizados. Entretanto, no estudo com os gatos a obesidade pareceu não influenciar o crescimento das diferentes populações de microorganismos. / Treatment methods for obesity in dogs and cats focus on calorie restriction, either by restricting the calorie intake of the animal, or by feeding energy diluted diets. However, these methods often fail, requiring additional strategies to promote weight loss. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the gut microbiota between lean and obese animals and determine whether neutering and/or weight loss are associated with changes in the microbial populations. In the first experiment, the composition of the faecal microbiota was evaluated in lean intact, lean neutered and obese neutered cats, before and after weight loss. The obese cats were submitted to six weeks of energy restriction and showed less fat body mass after weight loss (p<0.001), although the body weight has not changed (P>0.05). Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes were the predominant bacterial phyla in all groups. The lean neutered cats had a bacterial profile of what one would expect from the obese cats, with greater abundance (P<0.05) of Firmicutes and lower abundance (P<0.05) of Bacteroidetes. There were no significant differences between lean intact and obese neutered. The microbe populations of obese cats showed very few changes with weight loss. In the second experiment, testing was performed when the dogs were lean, after ad libitum feeding to promote weight gain and after weight loss. Serum concentrations were analyzed: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins (TP), insulin and leptin. Faecal samples were analyzed to determine the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin, PA, ALT and TP were greater (P<0.05) in obese dogs when compared to the lean. The abundance of Bacteroidetes was greater (P<0.001) in the lean group and the phylum Firmicutes showed no differences among the groups (P>0.05). After weight loss, the levels of cholesterol and TP and the abundance of Bacteroidetes remained unchanged statistically. In conclusion, differences in the faecal microbiota were observed among the groups of both studies. However, in the study with cats, obesity seems not to influence the growth of diverse populations of microrganisms.

Os métodos de tratamento para a obesidade em cães e gatos focam na restrição calórica, seja restringindo a ingestão de alimento ou alimentando o animal com dietas hipocalóricas. Entretanto, esses métodos frequentemente falham, sendo necessárias estratégias alternativas para promover a perda de peso. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar as diferenças na microbiota fecal entre animais magros e obesos e determinar se a castração e/ou a perda de peso estão associadas com mudanças na população microbiana. No primeiro experimento, a composição da microbiota fecal foi avaliada nos gatos magros inteiros, magros castrados e obesos castrados, antes e depois da perda de peso. Os gatos obesos foram submetidos a seis semanas de restrição energética e apresentaram redução na massa gorda após a perda de peso (P<0,001), embora o peso corporal não tenha mudado (P>0,05). Firmicutes, seguido de Bacteroidetes foram os filos predominantes em todos os grupos. O grupo dos magros castrados tiveram o perfil de bactérias que era esperado para os obesos, com maior abundância de Firmicutes e menor de Bacteroidetes (P<0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos magros inteiros e obesos castrados. A população microbiana dos gatos obesos mostrou poucas alterações com a perda de peso. No segundo experimento, o teste foi realizado quando os cães estavam magros, após consumo ad libitum para promover o ganho de peso e após a perda de peso. As seguintes concentrações séricas foram analisadas: glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos, albumina, creatinina, fosfatase alcalina (FA), alanina aminotransferase (ALT), proteínas totais (PT), insulina e leptina. As amostras de fezes foram analisadas para determinar a abundância de Bacteroidetes e Firmicutes. As concentrações de triglicerídeos, colesterol, albumina, FA, ALT e PT foram maiores (P<0,05) nos cães obesos quando comparados aos magros. Bacteroidetes foi mais abundante (P<0,001) nos magros e Firmicutes não diferiu entre os grupos (P>0,05). Após a perda de peso, os níveis de colesterol e PT e a abundância de Bacteroidetes permaneceram inalteradas estatisticamente. Conclui-se então que, nos modelos testados, há diferenças na microbiota fecal entre os grupos dos estudos realizados. Entretanto, no estudo com os gatos a obesidade pareceu não influenciar o crescimento das diferentes populações de microorganismos. / Treatment methods for obesity in dogs and cats focus on calorie restriction, either by restricting the calorie intake of the animal, or by feeding energy diluted diets. However, these methods often fail, requiring additional strategies to promote weight loss. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the gut microbiota between lean and obese animals and determine whether neutering and/or weight loss are associated with changes in the microbial populations. In the first experiment, the composition of the faecal microbiota was evaluated in lean intact, lean neutered and obese neutered cats, before and after weight loss. The obese cats were submitted to six weeks of energy restriction and showed less fat body mass after weight loss (p<0.001), although the body weight has not changed (P>0.05). Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes were the predominant bacterial phyla in all groups. The lean neutered cats had a bacterial profile of what one would expect from the obese cats, with greater abundance (P<0.05) of Firmicutes and lower abundance (P<0.05) of Bacteroidetes. There were no significant differences between lean intact and obese neutered. The microbe populations of obese cats showed very few changes with weight loss. In the second experiment, testing was performed when the dogs were lean, after ad libitum feeding to promote weight gain and after weight loss. Serum concentrations were analyzed: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins (TP), insulin and leptin. Faecal samples were analyzed to determine the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin, PA, ALT and TP were greater (P<0.05) in obese dogs when compared to the lean. The abundance of Bacteroidetes was greater (P<0.001) in the lean group and the phylum Firmicutes showed no differences among the groups (P>0.05). After weight loss, the levels of cholesterol and TP and the abundance of Bacteroidetes remained unchanged statistically. In conclusion, differences in the faecal microbiota were observed among the groups of both studies. However, in the study with cats, obesity seems not to influence the growth of diverse populations of microrganisms.

A major challenge for the pig industry is to formulate starter diets that primarily fit the digestive capacity, maintain GIT health and promote growth without recourse to in-feed antimicrobials. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrase enzymes (CE) targeting non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in enhancing gut health and function in piglets. First, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding CE in piglet diets on growth performance, GIT bacterial activity and nutrient digestibility. Pigs fed diets containing CE had a higher ileal lactobacilli count, total organic acids concentrations, NSP digestibility and low ammonia compared with control. The effectiveness of CE targeting NSP was further evaluated using enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in a challenge model to evaluate the impact on gut health and function. Two approaches for the ETEC challenge were adopted; an in situ small intestine segments perfusion model and an in vivo model. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to establish and validate the in situ model. In the pilot study, conventional anti-diarrhea agents; fumaric acid, ZnO, egg yolk antibodies against ETEC K88 fimbriae and carbadox, attenuated fluid losses in ETEC-infected jejunal segments. Following the establishment of the in situ model, four experiments were conducted to study the effects NSP hydrolysis products (HP) from various feedstuffs (i.e. wheat, soybean meal, canola meal and flaxseed) on ETEC-induced secretory diarrhea. The results demonstrated that HP protected against ETEC-induced fluid and electrolyte losses. A further study was conducted to investigate the response of piglets fed diets containing HP and EYA singly or in combination upon oral challenge with ETEC. Feeding HP and EYA alone or in combination attenuated ETEC-enteritis symptoms such that piglets fed additives showed less pronounced acute phase responses and superior performance. Piglets fed diets containing additives had lower gastric pH, fewer ETEC adhered to ileal mucosa and lower incidence of diarrhea. Overall, reduction of intestinal pathogens or toxic bacterial metabolites contributes to enhanced GIT health and function. These novel results expand the scope of enzyme technology in animal nutrition within the new paradigm of dietary approaches to gut health and function.

A major challenge for the pig industry is to formulate starter diets that primarily fit the digestive capacity, maintain GIT health and promote growth without recourse to in-feed antimicrobials. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrase enzymes (CE) targeting non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in enhancing gut health and function in piglets. First, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding CE in piglet diets on growth performance, GIT bacterial activity and nutrient digestibility. Pigs fed diets containing CE had a higher ileal lactobacilli count, total organic acids concentrations, NSP digestibility and low ammonia compared with control. The effectiveness of CE targeting NSP was further evaluated using enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in a challenge model to evaluate the impact on gut health and function. Two approaches for the ETEC challenge were adopted; an in situ small intestine segments perfusion model and an in vivo model. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to establish and validate the in situ model. In the pilot study, conventional anti-diarrhea agents; fumaric acid, ZnO, egg yolk antibodies against ETEC K88 fimbriae and carbadox, attenuated fluid losses in ETEC-infected jejunal segments. Following the establishment of the in situ model, four experiments were conducted to study the effects NSP hydrolysis products (HP) from various feedstuffs (i.e. wheat, soybean meal, canola meal and flaxseed) on ETEC-induced secretory diarrhea. The results demonstrated that HP protected against ETEC-induced fluid and electrolyte losses. A further study was conducted to investigate the response of piglets fed diets containing HP and EYA singly or in combination upon oral challenge with ETEC. Feeding HP and EYA alone or in combination attenuated ETEC-enteritis symptoms such that piglets fed additives showed less pronounced acute phase responses and superior performance. Piglets fed diets containing additives had lower gastric pH, fewer ETEC adhered to ileal mucosa and lower incidence of diarrhea. Overall, reduction of intestinal pathogens or toxic bacterial metabolites contributes to enhanced GIT health and function. These novel results expand the scope of enzyme technology in animal nutrition within the new paradigm of dietary approaches to gut health and function.