Canine and feline microbiota as analyzed by the human I‐chip cluster in different groups.

Abstract

Intestinal microbiota supports the host organisms with many beneficial effects including improved digestion and absorption, resistance to disease and allergy, and intestinal motility. It is thought that modulation of the microbiota via dietary intervention can be achieved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the human I-chip, a bacterial DNA microarray chip (TNO, The Netherlands), as a tool to study the microbiota of dogs and cats. Stool samples from 13 puppies, 17 adult and 27 geriatric dogs, and 12 adult and 29 geriatric cats were analyzed. DNA extracted from stool samples were fluorescently labeled and hybridized on the oligonucleotide chip. Intensity of hybridization was quantified as a ratio to the background signal. The results, as analyzed by cluster analysis, showed that companion animals had different profile of microbiota compared to humans. Bacteria such as L. casei and L. rhamnosus, found in literature to be abundant in human microbiota, were undetectable in dogs and cats. Dog and cat samples were also clearly different, with dog, puppy and cat samples clearly clustering within each group. In summary, the human I-chip showed large differences between the microbiota of dogs, cats, and age groups. It also showed inherent differences between human and companion animal microbiota, suggesting that further work is needed to determine the utility of the human I-chip for companion animal analysis.