Hindgut Research Articles

In vitro characteristics of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) hind gut microbial community in relation to different dietary treatments

In this study, microbial community dynamics were assessed within a simple in vitro model system in order to understand those changes influenced by diet. The abundance and diversity of bacteria were monitored within different treatment slurries inoculated with salmon faecal samples in order to mimic the effects of dietary variables. A total of five complete diets and two ingredients (plant meal) were tested. The total viable counts (TVCs) and sequencing data revealed that there was very clear separation between the complete diets and the plant meal treatments, suggesting a dynamic response by the allochthonous bacteria to the treatments. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) results showed that different diet formulations produced different patterns of fragments, with no separation between the complete diets. However, plant-based protein ingredients were clearly separated from the other treatments. 16S rRNA Illumina-based sequencing analysis showed that members of the genera Aliivibrio, Vibrio and Photobacterium became predominant for all complete diets treatments. The plant-based protein ingredient treatments only sustained weak growth of the genus Sphingomonas. In vitro based testing of diets could be a useful strategy to determine the potential impact of either complete feeds or ingredients on major fish gastrointestinal tract microbiome members.

Techniques for evaluating digestibility of energy, amino acids, phosphorus, and calcium in feed ingredients for pigs.

Sound feed formulation is dependent upon precise evaluation of energy and nutrients values in feed ingredients. Hence the methodology to determine the digestibility of energy and nutrients in feedstuffs should be chosen carefully before conducting experiments. The direct and difference procedures are widely used to determine the digestibility of energy and nutrients in feedstuffs. The direct procedure is normally considered when the test feedstuff can be formulated as the sole source of the component of interest in the test diet. However, in some cases where test ingredients can only be formulated to replace a portion of the basal diet to provide the component of interest, the difference procedure can be applied to get equally robust values. Based on components of interest, ileal digesta or feces can be collected, and different sample collection processes can be used. For example, for amino acids (AA), to avoid the interference of fermentation in the hind gut, ileal digesta samples are collected to determine the ileal digestibility and simple T-cannula and index method are commonly used techniques for AA digestibility analysis. For energy, phosphorus, and calcium, normally fecal samples will be collected to determine the total tract digestibility, and therefore the total collection method is recommended to obtain more accurate estimates. Concerns with the use of apparent digestibility values include different estimated values from different inclusion level and non-additivity in mixtures of feed ingredients. These concerns can be overcome by using standardized digestibility, or true digestibility, by correcting endogenous losses of components from apparent digestibility values. In this review, methodologies used to determine energy and nutrients digestibility in pigs are discussed. It is suggested that the methodology should be carefully selected based on the component of interest, feed ingredients, and available experimental facilities.

Abstract 5385: Colorectal cancer methylome and laterality

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancers are anatomically derived from Midgut area (from cecum to mid transverse colon) and Hindgut area (from mid transverse to anal canal). The laterality of colorectal cancers was reported as one of the prognosis markers of these cancers. Midgut originated cancers had statistically poorer overall survivals than Hind gut (Yahagi et al, J Gastrointest Surg, 2016). In addition to clinical reasons, for example its symptomless nature of the bowel obstruction on the right side, the difference of genetic and/or epigenetic profiles between both side colorectal cancers may exists. Methods: Surgically resected 30 colorectal cancers (Midgut n=9, Hidgut n=21) were included. Any clinicopathological factors except for tumor site was not statistically different between 2 groups. We decided to focus on colon cancer methylome and laterality in this study. Two novel methylation markers of colon cancers (PAX5 and VGF) which were extracted from microarray analysis were used, and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (QMSP) assay was performed for each marker.Results: Both PAX5 and VGF methylations were extremely tumor-specific markers (P<0.001 and P=0.011). Interestingly, Both markers tended to have high methylation frequency in Midgut derived cancers. High frequency of PAX5 promoter methylation was found in 9/9 cases (100%) of Midgut and 15/21 cases (71%) of Hindgut (P=0.141), while that of VGF was found in 6/9 cases (67%) of Midgut and 4/21 cases (19%) of Hindgut (P=0.030). In addition, three multiple colon cancers were found in the cohort. All of them were derived from Midgut area (T1/T1, T3/Tis and T3/Tis), and had high frequency of both PAX5 (2/3, 67%) and VGF (3/3, 100%) methylation. Conclusion: Cancer methylome between Midgut and Hindgut seemed to be different, and it may affect tumor malignancy, plurality and chemotherapy sensitivity. Now we are in progress of increased colorectal cancer cases (over 100) and methylation markers. Citation Format: Sho Hirabayashi, Masamichi Hayashi, Goro Nakayama, Keisuke Kurimoto, Hiroshi Tanabe, Mitsuro Kanda, Hideki Takami, Yukiko Niwa, Naoki Iwata, Daisuke Kobayashi, Chie Tanaka, Suguru Yamada, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Masahiko Koike, Tsutomu Fujii, Michitaka Fujiwara, Yasuhiro Kodera. Colorectal cancer methylome and laterality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5385. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5385

The Effect of Moxidectin Treatment on the Equine Hind Gut Microbiome, Metabonome and Feed Fermentation Kinetics in Horses with Very Low Parasite Burdens

Seventeen horses, mean 12 ± 3.5 years, kept at pasture, with haylage provided and no concentrates. Faecal Egg Counts were conducted September 2015‐March 2016, no eggs seen, no anthelmintic given. Sampling commenced March 2016, points were 0 (prior), 16, 48 and 168 hours post anthelmintic. Treatments were randomized, nine animals dosed orally with Moxidectin 18.92 mg/g at 0.4 mg/kg bw and eight controls. Three horses from each group were randomly assigned for fermentation kinetics. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted on extracted faecal bacterial DNA, bioinformatics using QIIME assigning operational taxonomic units (OTUs). LEfSe (Segata et al., 2011) was used to identify differentially abundant OTUs. Bacterial metabolic profiles were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy (Escalona et al., 2015), from urine, analysed by Principal Components Analysis. Fermentation of hay and oats, separately, were measured by in vitro gas production (Murray et al., 2006), data were analysed by repeated measures ANOVA.

Novel Presentation of Complete Coronal Urethral Duplication: a Case Report

Urethralduplication is a rare condition occurs as a congenital malformation either independently or in the setting of other congenital malformations such as caudal duplication syndrome. Its prevalence becomes even rarer if it manifests as two side-by-side tracts in coronal plan.Nonetheless, we introduce a unique presentation of complete coronal urethral duplication accompanied by astounding manifestations of gastrointestinal malformations different from what is expected for a normal hind gut or caudal duplication syndrome. A 6-year-old boy with complete coronal duplication of urethra along with duplication of appendix, sigmoid and rectum as well as developmental delay, attracted our attention to report.

Contribution of Lactobacillus plantarum in fermented dairy products to food safety and public health

Strains of Lactobacillus plantarum recently isolated from artisanal fermented milks and milk products include L. plantarum AMA-K, L. plantarum KLDS1.0391, L. plantarum ST27, L. plantarum LL441, L. plantarum ST8K and L. plantarum BR12. The isolates exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against saprophytic and enteropathogenic bacteria which include Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri. The broad antimicrobial spectrum affords ample opportunity for use of L. plantarum strains as food preservatives and probiotics in dairy products. In vivo, health benefits of L. plantarum reported in humans include increased fermentation in the hindgut, reduced intestinal load of diarrhoea-causing Enterobacteriacea, predominance of ingested L. plantarum over enteric pathogens in the intestinal microflora and reduced incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea.

Gut cells in the workers of Apis cerana indica (F.)

The gut cells in the alimentary canal of workers of honey bee were studied and variations in the foregut, which is divisible into pharynx, oesophagus, crop and proventriculus, and the hindgut which is subdivided into the pylorus, ileum and rectum brought out in terms of histology. It was observed that the oesophagus and proventriculus are surrounded by layers of well developed muscles with an inner cuticular layer (intima). The midgut epithelium has elongated columnar cells with digestive and regenerative cells at the base. In the hindgut the ileac lumen is lined by an inner cuticle that extends throughout its entire length including the rectum. Under TEM differences in cell types of the foregut, midgut and the hind gut are brought out.

Segmental diversity of phosphate transport along the intestinal axis in horses.

For horses, distinct differences in intestinal phosphate transport have been postulated to account for the unique features of hind gut fermentation compared to other monogastric animals and ruminants. So far published data on mechanisms and underlying transport proteins involved in intestinal phosphate transport in the horse are still missing. Therefore we investigated intestinal phosphate transport in horses at both functional and molecular levels. Segmental diversity of intestinal phosphate transport along the intestinal axis was documented using the Ussing chamber technique. A transcellular phosphate secretion in the jejunum was confirmed. Furthermore, 2 sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporters, NaPiIIb and PiT1, were first detected in the equine intestine at mRNA level with PiT1 being expressed in both the small and large intestine, and NaPiIIb being solely expressed in the large intestine. In the colon, unidirectional net flux rates of phosphate were significantly greater compared to flux rates in other segments ( < 0.005) suggesting the colon as a major site for phosphate absorption in horses. Phosphate transport in the colon was mainly transcellular and mediated by a sodium-gradient as documented by Ussing chamber experiments and uptake of phosphate into colonic brush border membrane vesicles. In summary, the present study demonstrated mechanisms and transporters of intestinal phosphate transport in equine intestinal tissues with distinct differences between intestinal segments providing a new basis for a better understanding of intestinal phosphate transport in horses.

Consumption of antimicrobial manuka honey does not significantly perturb the microbiota in the hind gut of mice.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that consuming manuka honey, which contains antimicrobial methylglyoxal, may affect the gut microbiota. We undertook a mouse feeding study to investigate whether dietary manuka honey supplementation altered microbial numbers and their production of organic acid products from carbohydrate fermentation, which are markers of gut microbiota function. The caecum of C57BL/6 mice fed a diet supplemented with antimicrobial UMF® 20+ manuka honey at 2.2 g/kg animal did not show any significantly changed concentrations of microbial short chain fatty acids as measured by gas chromatography, except for increased formate and lowered succinate organic acid concentrations, compared to mice fed a control diet. There was no change in succinate-producing Bacteroidetes numbers, or honey-utilising Bifidobacteria, nor any other microbes measured by real time quantitative PCR. These results suggest that, despite the antimicrobial activity of the original honey, consumption of manuka honey only mildly affects substrate metabolism by the gut microbiota.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis analysis of colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms based on the data from domestic six medical centers

To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and their relationship with prognosis of colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). Medical records of 329 patients with colorectal NEN between June 2001 and July 2016 from 6 large scale centers in China were reviewed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and their relationship with prognosis of colorectal NEN. (1) Colonic NEN: A total of 41 patients with colonic NEN were enrolled from The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University(n=11), Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (n=15), Guangdong General Hospital (n=10), Sun Yet-san Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (n=3) and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (n=2). 41 cases, including 20 males and 21 females with a mean age of (58.7±4.7) years. Twenty-three colonic NEN originated in hindgut (23/41, 56.1%), and 20 patients were stage IIII( (20/41, 48.8%). Nine cases (22.0%) were neuroendocrine tumor(NET), 25(61.0%) were neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and 7(17.1%) were mixed adenoendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). Six cases (14.6%) were G1 grade, 3(7.3%) were G2 grade and 32(78.1%) were G3 grade. Ulcerative or cauliflower-like tumors were the most common appearance under endoscopy (both 9/41, 22.0%). Thirty-three patients (80.5%) underwent surgery. During follow-up, 19 cases died and the 3-year survival rate was 46.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed that stage IIII( was an independent risk factor of poor prognosis (HR=3.871, 95%CI:1.342 to 11.167, P=0.012) in colonic NEN patients. (2) Rectal NEN: A total of 288 patients with rectal NEN were enrolled from The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University(n=130), Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University (n=115) and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (n=43). Two hundred and eighty-eight cases, including 181 males and 107 females with a mean age of (47.7±1.5) years. One hundred and ninety-seven patients were stage I((197/288, 68.4%). Of 288 rectal NEN cases, 267(92.7%) were NET, 20(7.0%) were NEC and 1(0.3%) was MANEC; 214(74.3%) were G1 grade, 53(18.4%) were G2 grade and 21(7.3%) were G3 grade. Submucosal tumor was the most common appearance under endoscopy(164/288, 56.9%). Most of the rectal NET G1/G2 tumors were submucosal(146/214, 68.2%;18/53,34.0% respectively) while most of G3 tumors were cauliflower-like (14/21,66.7%). A total of 175 patients (60.8%) underwent endoscopic therapy, while 96 patients(33.3%) underwent surgery. During follow-up, 12 cases died and 3-year survival rate was 94.0%. Multivariate analysis revealed that poor differentiation as NEC or MANEC(HR=8.919, 95% CI:1.911 to 41.637, P=0.005) and stage III( to IIII((HR=10.304, 95%CI:1.772 to 59.916, P=0.009) were independent risk factors of poor prognosis in rectal NEN patients. The clinicopathological manifestations of rectal NEN and colonic NEN are quite different. Rectal NEN are more common with better differentiation and has better prognosis than colonic NEN.

Caudal Regression Syndrome

A case of caudal regression syndrome was reported in 20 wks foetus during routine foetal autopsy at GMCH, Chandigarh. The external examination showed 2 vessels in umbilicus. There was anteroposterior lengthening of skull. The anal opening was absent. The lower limbs were fused in thigh region with a small appendages attached to this on left side which also terminated in foot. The right foot had 5 toes and left foot had 3 toes. No external genitalia were seen. On internal examination, the gut was opening in a dilated cloaca like blind chamber. Kidneys were absent on both sides.X ray examination revealed small sacrum, femur, tibia in both the legs. Fibula was absent bilaterally. Caudal dysgenesis syndrome and caudal regression syndrome are broad terms that refer to a constellation of caudal congenital anomalies affecting caudal spine and spinal cord, hind gut, urogenital system, and the lower limbs. The etiology, incidence, causative factors of this case will be discussed in light of available literature.

Colonic inflammation accompanies an increase of β-catenin signaling and Lachnospiraceae/Streptococcaceae bacteria in the hind gut of high-fat diet-fed mice

Consumption of an obesigenic/high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with a high colon cancer risk and may alter the gut microbiota. To test the hypothesis that long-term high-fat (HF) feeding accelerates inflammatory process and changes gut microbiome composition, C57BL/6 mice were fed HFD (45% energy) or a low-fat (LF) diet (10% energy) for 36 weeks. At the end of the study, body weights in the HF group were 35% greater than those in the LF group. These changes were associated with dramatic increases in body fat composition, inflammatory cell infiltration, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein concentration and cell proliferation marker (Ki67) in ileum and colon. Similarly, β-catenin expression was increased in colon (but not ileum). Consistent with gut inflammation phenotype, we also found that plasma leptin, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α concentrations were also elevated in mice fed the HFD, indicative of chronic inflammation. Fecal DNA was extracted and the V1–V3 hypervariable region of the microbial 16S rRNA gene was amplified using primers suitable for 454 pyrosequencing. Compared to the LF group, the HF group had high proportions of bacteria from the family Lachnospiraceae/Streptococcaceae, which is known to be involved in the development of metabolic disorders, diabetes and colon cancer. Taken together, our data demonstrate, for the first time, that long-term HF consumption not only increases inflammatory status but also accompanies an increase of colonic β-catenin signaling and Lachnospiraceae/Streptococcaceae bacteria in the hind gut of C57BL/6 mice.

Evaluation of extracellular enzyme-producing autochthonous gut bacteria in walking catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.)

The present study was carried out to screen autochthonous gut bacteria in freshwater air breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus Linnaeus. Altogether, 100 extracellular enzyme-producing bacteria were isolated from the foregut (FG) and hindgut (HG) regions. Data were presented as log viable counts g-1 gut (LVC). The occurrence of heterotrophic bacterial population was higher in the FG region (LVC = 8.25) than the HG (LVC= 7.3). Similarly, proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic bacteria in FG outnumbered (LVC=7.25, 6.77 and 5.23 respectively) the HG (LVC=6.38, 5.58 and 4.04 respectively). However, occurrence of cellulolytic bacteria in both, FG and HG was less (LVC=2.1 and 1.34 respectively) in comparison to the other extracellular enzyme-producing bacteria. Out of the 100 bacterial isolates, 22 isolates were primarily selected through qualitative assay of extracellular enzyme activities. Among them, 3 promising isolates were chosen as potent extracellular enzyme producers on the basis of cumulative scores (≥11) of the qualitative assay and quantitative enzyme assay. Maximum protease activity was revealed by the strain FG10 (201±2.40U), while FG43 exhibited maximum amylase (208.3±10.8U) and lipase (4.73±0.05U) activities. Among the strains isolated from the HG, the highest protease (188.3±1.2U), amylase (97.6±0.46U) and lipase (3.7±0.11U) activities were recorded with the strain HG01. The isolates (FG10, FG43 and HG01) were studied through 16S rRNA partial gene sequence analyses and were identified as Bacillus aryabhattai (KP784311), B. flexus (KR809411), and B. cereus (KR809412), respectively. Further studies are to be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these strains in vivo to improve the overall health status of the C. batrachus juveniles.

Evaluation of extracellular enzyme-producing autochthonous gut bacteria in walking catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.)

The present study was carried out to screen autochthonous gut bacteria in freshwater air breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus Linnaeus. Altogether, 100 extracellular enzyme-producing bacteria were isolated from the foregut (FG) and hindgut (HG) regions. Data were presented as log viable counts g-1 gut (LVC). The occurrence of heterotrophic bacterial population was higher in the FG region (LVC = 8.25) than the HG (LVC= 7.3). Similarly, proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic bacteria in FG outnumbered (LVC=7.25, 6.77 and 5.23 respectively) the HG (LVC=6.38, 5.58 and 4.04 respectively). However, occurrence of cellulolytic bacteria in both, FG and HG was less (LVC=2.1 and 1.34 respectively) in comparison to the other extracellular enzyme-producing bacteria. Out of the 100 bacterial isolates, 22 isolates were primarily selected through qualitative assay of extracellular enzyme activities. Among them, 3 promising isolates were chosen as potent extracellular enzyme producers on the basis of cumulative scores (≥11) of the qualitative assay and quantitative enzyme assay. Maximum protease activity was revealed by the strain FG10 (201±2.40U), while FG43 exhibited maximum amylase (208.3±10.8U) and lipase (4.73±0.05U) activities. Among the strains isolated from the HG, the highest protease (188.3±1.2U), amylase (97.6±0.46U) and lipase (3.7±0.11U) activities were recorded with the strain HG01.

Immune gene profiling of different gut regions and gut associated lymphoid cells from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Aquaculture in the UK is a valuable industry, with Scotland the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in the EU. However, infectious diseases are considered a significant factor affecting the economic stability of aquaculture, and the salmon farming industry routinely employs vaccines against viral and bacterial pathogens. Although intraperitoneal injection is very successful strategy, it has two main weaknesses: it is a costly process and there are side-effects of the adjuvants. Oral vaccination would be a method of choice but to date has not been particularly efficacious. To overcome this problem we need to have a greater understanding of the gut/mucosal immune system in fish, to allow better development of novel oral vaccination strategies for aquaculture. Towards these goals, in this study our aim was to extend the knowledge base of fish gut immunology and to characterise immune cell markers in different gut regions for identification of the gut regions potentially responsible for antigen presentation and adaptive immune responses. From our transcriptomic analysis, it is clear that T/B cell markers and dendritic cell markers are relatively highly expressed in pyloric caeca, mid gut and hind gut, compared to oesophagus and stomach. GALT cells, isolated from pyloric caeca, mid gut and hind gut, were characterised to determine their responsiveness to a variety of stimulants, including PAMPs and recombinant cytokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 were classically upregulated post-stimulation with LPS or poly I:C but also showed a moderate increase in transcript level after PHA and flagellin (recombinant Yersinia rukeri flagellin) stimulation 24h post stimulation. Th1 cell cytokines, including IFN-γ and IL-2, were greatly induced 24 h post-stimulation with PHA and IL-4/13B (Th2 cytokine) was also upregulated when stimulated with PHA and poly I:C. Overall the immune gene profiling identified here will help focus which gut regions/ cells to study following oral vaccination and we are currently verifying this with trout primed by immersion and given a commercial oral booster (AquaVac ERM Oral) vaccine.

The organs of prey capture and digestion in the miniature predatory bivalve Spheniopsis brasiliensis (Anomalodesmata: Cuspidarioidea: Spheniopsidae) expose a novel life-history trait

ABSTRACTSpheniopsis brasiliensis, from depths of 17–148 m off the southern Atlantic coast of Brazil, is a predator of epipsammic micro-crustaceans which it sucks into the infra-septal chamber using a raptorial inhalant siphon and internally generated hydrostatic suction forces. Prey items, which include ostracods, are thought to be pushed into the funnel-shaped mouth using the foot. The stomach is capacious with a short style sac conjoined briefly with the mid gut and possessing a stubby crystalline style. Internal stomach architecture is simplified, with no identifiable sorting areas (unlike other cuspidarioids) and lined virtually completely by a gastric shield. The exoskeletal remains of digested prey are held in the posterior end of the stomach and not in a specialised waste storage pouch as in the con-familial Grippina coronata. The mid gut, hind gut and rectum are all extremely narrow and, thus, only the smallest of faeces can be accommodated and transmitted for anal discharge. Spheniopsis brasiliensis, like G. coronata is a self-fertilising simultaneous hermaphrodite with encapsulated lecithotrophic eggs brooded internally. Both taxa are thus ovovivaporous. It is also believed that both taxa are univoltine so that larvae and the exoskeletal prey remains are all released post mortem. Cuspidariids are generally regarded as dioecious but, recently, Cardiomya costellata has been shown to be a non-brooding simultaneous hermaphrodite. The distinguishing characters between cuspidariids and spheniopsids thus appear to be their differing reproductive strategies and life history traits.

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) Gastrointestinal Microbial Community Dynamics in Relation to Digesta Properties and Diet.

To better understand salmon GI tract microbial community dynamics in relation to diet, a feeding trial was performed utilising diets with different proportions of fish meal, protein, lipid and energy levels. Salmon gut dysfunction has been associated with the occurrence of casts, or an empty hind gut. A categorical scoring system describing expressed digesta consistency was evaluated in relation to GI tract community structure. Faster growing fish generally had lower faecal scores while the diet cohorts showed minor differences in faecal score though the overall lowest scores were observed with a low protein, low energy diet. The GI tract bacterial communities were highly dynamic over time with the low protein, low energy diet associated with the most divergent community structure. This included transiently increased abundance of anaerobic (Bacteroidia and Clostridia) during January and February, and facultatively anaerobic (lactic acid bacteria) taxa from February onwards. The digesta had enriched populations of these groups in relation to faecal cast samples. The majority of samples (60-86 %) across all diet cohorts were eventually dominated by the genus Aliivibrio. The results suggest that an interaction between time of sampling and diet is most strongly related to community structure. Digesta categorization revealed microbes involved with metabolism of diet components change progressively over time and could be a useful system to assess feeding responses.

Isolation and Identification by Morphological and Biochemical Methods of Antibiotic Producing Microorganisms from the gut of Macrotermes michaelseni in Maseno, Kenya

Antimicrobial Activities of Microorganisms Obtained from the gut of Macrotermes michaelseni in Maseno, KenyaAswani Susan Ayitso, David Miruka Onyango, Samuel Otieno Wagai

Changes in Sediment Fatty Acid Composition during Passage through the Gut of Deposit Feeding Holothurians: Holothuria atra (Jaeger, 1883) and Holothuria leucospilota (Brandt, 1835).

Sea cucumbers Holothuria atra and Holothuria leucospilota play an important role in the bioturbation of sediment in coral reef and rocky intertidal ecosystems. This study investigated changes in sediment fatty acid (FA) composition during gut passage in H. atra and H. leucospilota. The FA composition did not differ significantly between species. Comparison of FA composition in ambient sediment (AS), foregut (FG), midgut (MG), hindgut (HG), and faecal pellets (FPs) indicated that marked changes in FA composition occurred during passage through the gut of H. atra and H. leucospilota. Saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and branched fatty acids (BrFAs) were significantly higher in FG than in AS, suggesting that both species selectively ingested nutrient rich particles. Significant reduction of SAFAs, MUFAs, PUFAs, and BrFAs occurred in MD and HD, with complete elimination of most PUFAs in FPs. A decrease in PUFAs 20:5ω3, 18:4ω3, 22:5ω3, 22:6ω3, 18:2ω6, 18:3ω3, 18:3ω6, odd-numbered BrFAs, and MUFA 18:1ω7 indicated that algal detritus and bacteria were important part of diet. These results have implications for the fate of specific dietary FAs, especially ω3 and ω6, and the contribution holothurian FPs make to the FA composition of coral reef and rocky intertidal ecosystems.

Temporal Changes in the Hindgut Health Markers of Labrador Dogs in Response to a Canine-origin ProbioticLactobacillus johnsonii

To study the temporal changes in the hindgut health markers in response to a canine-origin probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonii, 15 Labrador adult female dogs were distributed into three equal groups. Dogs in control group (CON) received a placebo MRS broth in the homemade basal diet as per the NRC recommendations. In other two groups, dogs received either canine-origin probiotic (Lactobacillus johnsonii isolated from dog faeces) developed at our laboratory (cPRO) or dairy-origin probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC-15; dPRO) in the same basal diet The experimental duration of 13-weeks in which feeding of probiotics discontinue after 9-weeks, had experimental protocol involving 3-d digestion trial following 0, 30, 60, 75 and 90 d of feeding to ascertain physical, biochemical and microbial assessment of faecal markers. The digestibility of DM remained similar (P>0.05) irrespective of dietary treatments. Faecal biochemical attributes including pH, lactate and ammonia implied positive influence of probiotic supplementation and the positive influence were more evident in canine-origin probiotic supplemented group. Faecal acetate was higher (P 0.05) among all the groups. There was significant (P<0.01) increase in faecal butyrate in both the probiotics fed groups as compared to CON. The faecal concentrations of total VFAs and SCFAs in fresh faeces were higher (P<0.05) in cPRO compared to other two groups. Faecal count of health-positive and healthnegative bacteria revealed that lactobacillus count exhibited higher (P<0.05) values in cPRO, intermediate in dPRO and lower value in CON, with the bifidobacteria population showing highest (P<0.05) value in the both the probiotics supplemented animals. There was a reducing effect in the health-negative clostridia and coliforms in cPRO and dPRO compared to CON. Overall, the results concluded that Probiotic supplementation was effective in improving the hind gut health, antioxidant and metabolic response in dogs. However, the present results are indicative of the superiority of canine-origin probiotic (cPRO) over the dairy-origin (dPRO) one, so far as its application for canines is concerned.