Abstract
Simple SummaryIn recent years, many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics in acute and chronic gastrointestinal disorders in both humans and animals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of a specific probiotic mixture in cheetahs. In the wild, cheetah populations have drastically reduced due to habitat destruction, human–wildlife conflict and illegal wildlife trade. In captivity, chronic gastrointestinal diseases have a high prevalence. Based on our results, it can be concluded that probiotics may be helpful as a dietary supplement in cheetahs suffering from gastrointestinal disease.Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are classified as “vulnerable” species due to the low numbers persisting in the wild. Gastrointestinal diseases are very common in this species when they are kept in captivity, in particular gastritis. Clinical signs are predominantly characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and anorexia. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic in two groups of cheetahs: Group A (n = 4)—rescued cheetahs housed at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (Otjiwarongo, Namibia); Group B (n = 9)—captive cheetahs housed in Italian zoos. Animals showed gastrointestinal signs of different severity, and were positive for Helicobacter spp., detected by PCR in stool samples. Two sachets of probiotic formulation were administered to all cheetahs once a day for 21 consecutive days. Clinical conditions (appetite loss, vomiting, stool consistency and Body Condition Score) before (T0) and after 21 days of probiotic administration (T1) were then compared using a simplified Feline Chronic Enteropathy Activity Index (FCEAI) score. A slight but not significant improvement in the scores was observed in Group A, which had mild intestinal symptoms, while a significant decrease in vomiting and stool consistency (**p < 0.01) scores was observed in Group B, which had more pronounced symptoms. Results suggest that high concentrations of live probiotics can be of help in managing gastrointestinal signs in cheetahs.
Highlights
The cheetah is the only species of the genus Acinonyx and is classified as “vulnerable”due to the low number of individuals (~7100 mature individuals) persisting in the wild [1].In this species, gastritis has been an important clinical disease reported predominantly in the captive population; in the 1990s it was noted in approximately 91% of the NorthAmerican captive cheetahs studied [2]
Two Helicobacter species have mainly been identified in cheetahs with gastritis: H. acinonychis, associated with lymphoplasmacytic gastric infiltration, lymphoid follicles with hyperplastic gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and evidence of gastric reflux, erosion and necrosis, and H. heilmannii, which seems to be less frequently associated with gastric disease [4]
Group A included 9 (8 males, 1 female) rescued cheetahs living at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Otjiwarongo, Namibia; Group B included 9 (6 males, 3 females) captive cheetahs hosted in 2 Italian zoos, Parco Zoo Falconara (AN) and Le Cornelle (BG)
Summary
The cheetah is the only species of the genus Acinonyx and is classified as “vulnerable”due to the low number of individuals (~7100 mature individuals) persisting in the wild [1].In this species, gastritis has been an important clinical disease reported predominantly in the captive population; in the 1990s it was noted in approximately 91% of the NorthAmerican captive cheetahs studied [2]. The cheetah is the only species of the genus Acinonyx and is classified as “vulnerable”. Due to the low number of individuals (~7100 mature individuals) persisting in the wild [1]. In this species, gastritis has been an important clinical disease reported predominantly in the captive population; in the 1990s it was noted in approximately 91% of the North. Two Helicobacter species have mainly been identified in cheetahs with gastritis: H. acinonychis (or H. acinonyx), associated with lymphoplasmacytic gastric infiltration, lymphoid follicles with hyperplastic gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and evidence of gastric reflux, erosion and necrosis, and H. heilmannii, which seems to be less frequently associated with gastric disease [4]. Conventional therapy for the treatment of gastritis in cheetahs, as in other animals, involves the use of antibiotic therapy [5,6], it is not recommended for mild cases [7]
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