196 The Effect of Hydrolyzed Protein on Fecal Microbiota in Adult Dogs

Abstract

Abstract Research on protein hydrolysates has observed various properties and functionalities of these ingredients depending on the type of hydrolysate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrolyzed chicken protein that was incorporated into diets on gut health in healthy adult dogs. Five complete and balanced treatment diets were manufactured: 1) CONd: chicken meal diet; 2) 5% CLHd: 5% substitution of chicken liver hydrolysate of chicken meal diet; 3) CLHd: chicken liver hydrolysate diet; 4) 5% CHd: 5% substitution of chicken hydrolysate of chicken meal diet; and 5) CHd: chicken hydrolysate diet. A 5×5 Latin square design was used which included 10 neutered adult beagles. Each of the 5 periods consisted of a 7-d washout time and a 28-d treatment period. All diets were well accepted by the dogs. For fecal metabolites, there was greater fecal butyrate concentration as well as reduced isovalerate, 4-ethylphenol, and indole in dogs fed CLHd than CONd (P < 0.05). Regarding the overall microbiota composition, Firmicutes, Bacteriodota, Fusobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were the top 5 most abundant phyla. At the class level, samples from CHd group had greater relative abundances of Bacteriodia and Fusobacteriia as well as less Bacilli. On the other hand, CLHd group had greater abundances of Bacilli and Actinobacteria with less Fusobacteriia. At the level of order, CHd group had greater Bacteriodales and Fusobacteriales while CLHd group had greater Bifidobacteriales. At the family level, CHd group showed a greater abundance of Muribaculaceae and a decreased abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae when compared with the other groups. Alternatively, CLHd group demonstrated a greater abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae together with reduced abundance of Fusobacteriaceae, Muribaculaceae, Sutterrellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae. Fecal microbiota was shifted by CLHd with greater differential abundance in Ruminococcus gauvreauii group as well as reduced Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Sutterella, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides compared with CONd (P < 0.05). There was also a difference in beta diversity of fecal microbiota between CLHd and CHd (P < 0.05). However, no difference was observed in alpha diversity among treatment groups (P < 0.05). Fecal butyrate concentration was negatively correlated with the genera Blautia, Phascolarctobacterium, Sutterella, Faecalibacterium, and Bacteriodes. Conversely, Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium were positively correlated with butyrate concentration. In conclusion, the test chicken protein hydrolysates may have potential to support gut health by modulating microbiota.