Abstract
ABSTRACTThe in vitro effect of a Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) and tannins from chestnut wood on composition and metabolic activity of canine and feline faecal microbiota was evaluated. Four treatments were carried out: control diet, chestnut tannins (CT), YSE and CT + YSE. The YSE was added to canine and feline faecal cultures at 0.1 g/l, while CT were added at 0.3 g/l for a 24-h incubation. A total of 130 volatile compounds were detected by means of headspace-solid phase microextraction gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. Several changes in the metabolite profiles of fermentation fluids were found, including a decrease of alcohols (−19%) and esters (−42%) in feline and canine inoculum, respectively, which was due to the antibacterial properties of tannins. In canine inoculum, after 6 h, YSE + CT caused lower cadaverine concentrations (−37%), while ammonia (−4%) and quinolone (−27%) were reduced by addition of CT. After 24 h, the presence of CT resulted in a decrease of sulphur compounds, such as dimethyl sulphide (−69%) and dimethyl disulphide (−20%). In feline faecal cultures, after 6 h, CT lowered the amount of indole (−48%), whereas YSE tended to decrease trimethylamine levels (−16%). Both in canine and feline inoculum, addition of CT and, to a minor extent, YSE affected volatile fatty acids patterns. In canine faecal cultures, CT exerted a marginal inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli population (−0.45 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml), while enterococci were increased (+2.06 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml) by YSE. The results from the present study show that YSE and tannins from chestnut wood exert different effects on the composition and metabolism of canine and feline faecal microbiota. In particular, the supplementation of YSE and tannins to diets for dogs and cats may be beneficial due to the reduction of the presence of some potentially toxic volatile metabolites in the animals’ intestine.
Highlights
The canine and feline gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a variety of complex microbial communities that play a fundamental role in maintaining the nutritional and health status of the host
The results from the present study show that Y. schidigera extract and tannins from chestnut wood exert different effects on the composition and metabolism of canine and feline faecal microbiota
Considering that very little is known about the effects of Y. schidigera and tannin extracts in dogs and cats, the aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of these extracts on the composition and activity of canine and feline faecal microbiota
Summary
The canine and feline gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a variety of complex microbial communities that play a fundamental role in maintaining the nutritional and health status of the host. While many studies have highlighted the beneficial effects deriving from the dietary inclusion of non-digestible carbohydrates and prebiotics in dogs and cats (Pinna and Biagi 2014; Rochus et al 2014), little is known about feeding functional food components to these animals. Yucca schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies and tannin extracts are naturally occurring plant substances that have been widely investigated in swine and poultry production as potential phytochemical compounds for reducing odour and ammonia emissions (Windisch et al 2008; Biagi et al 2010). Y. schidigera is known to have antimicrobial (Wang et al 2000), antiprotozoal (McAllister et al 2001), and antifungal (Miyakoshi et al 2000) activities. The biological effects of Y. schidigera have been attributed to its high content of steroidal saponin fraction (Patra and Saxena 2009); Duffy et al (2001) reported that the observed effects were due to the non-saponin fraction
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
