Abstract
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in several physiologic functions of the host. In humans and animals, manipulation of the intestinal microbiota by oral administration of probiotic lactic acid bacteria plays a significant role in modulating the immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of the probiotic mixture Slab51® and the capacity of this mixture to stimulate immune function in healthy dogs. Twenty dogs were divided in two groups and received a control diet or the same diet supplemented with a dose of 400 billion cfu of lyophilized bacteria for a period of 60 days. Body weight, food intake, body condition score (BCS), fecal score (FSS), fecal immunoglobulin IgA concentration, plasma IgG concentration, and fecal microbiota composition were monitored. Weight, food intake, BCS, FSS, and biochemical parameters remained unchanged during the treatment in both groups of animals. The fecal microbiota showed a significant decrease in the abundance of Clostridium perfringens and a significant increase in the abundance of beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus organisms (p < 0.05). Fecal IgA and plasma IgG levels were significantly higher in the group receiving the probiotic compared to healthy controls. These data show that dietary supplementation with the probiotic mixture Slab51® is safe and well-tolerated, modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and enhancing specific immune functions in healthy dogs.
Highlights
The aim of the present study was to perform an open-label pilot trial to assess clinical, immunological, and microbiological effects of the multi-strain probiotic Slab51 R (SivoMixx R, Ormendes SA, Jouxtens-Mézery, CH) in healthy dogs
The results of this trial suggest that supplementation of dry food with Slab51 does not have any measurable adverse effect on dogs (Group A), because there were no differences in food intake, weight loss, or serum biochemistry values between the two groups
The trial showed that supplementation with the probiotic Slab51 R enhances mucosal as well as systemic immune parameters in healthy dogs
Summary
The aim of the present study was to perform an open-label pilot trial to assess clinical, immunological, and microbiological effects of the multi-strain probiotic Slab R (SivoMixx R , Ormendes SA, Jouxtens-Mézery, CH) in healthy dogs. Similar results and conclusions were reported by other authors, demonstrating any significant differences on the influences of probiotic supplementation on lymphoid organs weights [2]. In this optic our approach for this study was to evaluate the impact of live and concentrated probiotic bacteria on systemic and mucosal immune-response in healthy dogs, evaluating directly immunoglobulin concentration. The mechanisms underlying the immune modulating properties of probiotics are not fully understood These actions may be due to the ability of probiotics to correct intestinal dysbiosis and/or mediate host responses through a direct adjuvant effect on immune factors, such as cytokines [4]. It was shown that administration of Lactobacillus johnsonii to healthy human volunteers boosted the systemic IgA response to the Salmonella typhi vaccine Ty21a [13]
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