202 Functional Properties of Ganoderma Lucidum (GL) Supplementation in Canine Nutrition

Abstract

Abstract Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is a mushroom that has been widely used in Asia for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity. However, the nutraceutical properties of GL have not been tested in dogs. Forty adult beagles were used in a completely randomized design. Dogs were fed a commercial dry extruded complete and balanced diet plus GL top-dressed daily upon feeding time. Four experimental treatments were used: 0% GL supplementation (control), 5 mg/ kg BW of GL, 10 mg/ kg BW of GL, or 15 mg/kg BW of GL. Following a 7-d adaptation to the control diet, dogs were fed their respective treatment diets for 28 d. They were challenged with vaccination of a modified live virus Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 1 (Hepatitis), Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus and killed Rabies Virus on d 7 with blood collections on d 0, 14, and 28. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of GL on vaccine-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and fecal microbiota. The vaccine-specific serum IgG concentrations, following vaccination for rabies, in adult dogs fed 15 mg/kg of GL were greater (P = 0.0384) than the group control when analyzed as a fold change from baseline. The predominant phyla that comprised the fecal microbial community of the dogs in all groups were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteriota. At the class level, Bacilli, Bacteroidia, Clostridia, Fusobacteriia, and Negativicutes had greater relative abundance. The α and β diversities of fecal microbial communities were not impacted by treatment. These data suggest that the inclusion of GL had no detrimental effects on fecal microbiota. And due to impact in vaccine response among treatments, GL may exert beneficial immunomodulatory effects in healthy adult dogs when provided at a daily dose of 15 mg/ kg BW.