Strict Carnivores Research Articles

Managing the inappetent hospitalised cat: International Society of Feline Medicine guidelines

Inappetence (also called hyporexia or anorexia) is a common presenting symptom in cats, but suboptimal nutrition can have many negative effects on feline patients, including prolonged hospitalisation and shortened survival. Cats are strict carnivores with a high protein requirement, and when starvation is combined with the hypermetabolic state found in sick cats, a loss of lean body mass can occur. This can have negative effects on wound healing, immune function and gut function. Inappetence in hospitalised cats is not just caused by the underlying illness; it can be exacerbated by stress, as well as factors such as pain, nausea, ileus, constipation and the adverse effects of medication. All contributing factors should be managed, along with the primary disease process, to correct malnutrition. Nutritional assessment of each hospitalised cat allows the identification of patients who require prompt intervention. Appetite stimulants can encourage voluntary food intake and feeding tubes allow provision of nutrition, fluids and medications, and can be managed at home to expedite discharge. The food intake of hospitalised cats should be closely monitored and inappetence should not be ignored, nor intervention delayed.

How important is food structure when cats eat mice?

Feeding whole prey to felids has shown to benefit their gastrointestinal health. Whether this effect is caused by the chemical or physical nature of whole prey is unknown. Fifteen domestic cats, as a model for strict carnivores, were either fed minced mice (MM) or whole mice (WM), to determine the effect of food structure on digestibility, mean urinary excretion time (MUET) of 15N, intestinal microbial activity and fermentation products. Faeces samples were collected after feeding all cats a commercially available extruded diet (EXT) for 10 d before feeding for 19 d the MM and WM diets with faeces and urine collected from day 11 to 15. Samples for microbiota composition and determination of MUET were obtained from day 16 to 19. The physical structure of the mice diet (minced or not) did not affect large intestinal fermentation as total SCFA and branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), and most biogenic amine (BA) concentrations were not different (P > 0·10). When changing from EXT to the mice diets, the microbial community composition shifted from a carbolytic (Prevotellaceae) to proteolytic (Fusobacteriaceae) profile and led to a reduced faecal acetic to propionic acid ratio, SCFA, total BCFA (P < 0·001), NH3 (P = 0·04), total BA (P < 0·001) and para-cresol (P = 0·08). The results of this study indicate that food structure within a whole-prey diet is less important than the overall diet type, with major shifts in microbiome and decrease in potentially harmful fermentation products when diet changes from extruded to mice. This urges for careful consideration of the consequences of prey-based diets for gut health in cats.

Coastal mesozooplankton respond to decadal environmental changes via community restructuring

AbstractLong‐term ecological research has revealed the impact of climate on marine ecosystems at multiple time scales. Changes in the pelagic system have been detected at the LTER‐MC site in the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, western Mediterranean) since 1984. Here we analyzed the time series to determine whether zooplankton had significantly changed over the three decades 1984–2015. In addition to the seasonal cycle as the main mode of temporal variability, we observed long‐term trends in the functional groups and species. Copepods, the most abundant group, declined over the years owing to a decrease in the abundance of Acartia clausi, Centropages typicus, the Paracalanus parvus complex, and Oithona spp. Increasing trends were observed for strict carnivores (chaetognaths) and typical filter feeders (cladocerans, appendicularians, and thaliaceans); the latter may be linked to a higher density of &lt;5 μm phytoplankton. Two main temporal shifts were detected: (i) in 1985–87, similarly to the regime shifts registered in other basins of the Northern Hemisphere, and (ii) after 2011, likely related to local atmospheric forcing. The disappearance or decrease in some neritic copepods and the increased abundance of typical offshore species seem to reflect the enhanced influence of the open Tyrrhenian waters at the sampling site. Despite these changes, no significant trends were detected in the total zooplankton abundance and overall composition, which indicates restructuring within the whole community. These results underline the need to examine the entire zooplankton diversity spectrum and improve our knowledge of their ecological traits to detect and interpret long‐term variability.

Dietary enrichment of resistant starches or fibers differentially alter the feline fecal microbiome and metabolite profile

BackgroundCats are strict carnivores but possess a complex gastrointestinal (GI) microbial community that actively ferments dietary substrates that are not digested and reach the colon. The GI microbiota responses to dietary inclusion of resistant starches versus fibers have not been tested in cats. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of diets enriched in resistant starch or fibers on the fecal characteristics, microbiome, and metabolite profiles of cats. Twelve healthy adult domestic shorthair cats (age = 9.6 ± 4.0 year; body weight = 3.9 ± 1.0 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test diets that were enriched with: (1) resistant starch (ERS), (2) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend (FPPB), or (3) a fiber-prebiotic-probiotic blend + immune-modulating ingredients (iFPPB). In each 28-day period, 22 days of diet adaptation was followed by fecal and blood sample collection. Fecal samples were used for shotgun metagenomic sequencing. In addition, fecal and blood metabolite measurements and white blood cell stimulation was performed to assess immune function.ResultsA total of 1690 bacterial species were identified, with 259 species differing between fiber-rich and ERS treatments. In comparison with fiber-rich treatments that increased diversity and promoted Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations, resistant starch reduced microbial diversity and fecal pH, led to a bloom in Actinobacteria, and modified Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes orthology (KO) terms pertaining to starch and sucrose metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, epithelial cell signaling, among others. Resistant starch also differentially modified fecal metabolite concentrations with relevance to GI and overall host health (increased butyrate; decreased propionate and protein catabolites - branched-chain fatty acids; phenols and indoles; ammonia) and reduced blood cholesterol, which correlated strongly with microbial taxa and KO terms, and allowed for a high predictive efficiency of diet groups by random forest analysis.ConclusionEven though domestic cats and other carnivores evolved by eating low-carbohydrate diets rich in protein and fat, our results demonstrate that the feline microbiome and metabolite profiles are highly responsive to dietary change and in directions that are predictable.

Eutrophication induces shifts in the trophic position of invertebrates in aquatic food webs.

Changes in the ecological stoichiometry of primary producers may have considerable implications for energy and matter transfer in food webs. We hypothesized that nutrient enrichment shifts the trophic position of omnivores towards herbivory, as the nutritional quality of primary producers increases. This hypothesis was tested by analyzing the ecological stoichiometry and stable isotope signature of primary producers and a wide range of aquatic macroinvertebrates, including primary consumers (herbivores) and secondary consumers (both potential omnivores and strict carnivores), along a eutrophication gradient in an agricultural landscape. Our results showed (1) that carbon : nutrient ratios of primary producers decreased along the eutrophication gradient, while the elemental composition of consumers remained homeostatic, and (2) that the trophic position of several omnivores and the generalist predator Notonecta decreased, while the trophic position of most other consumers remained constant. These findings suggest that shifts in the diets of aquatic invertebrates induced by increasing eutrophication may affect species interactions and food web structure in aquatic ecosystems.

Non-carnivorous feeding in Arctic chaetognaths

Chaetognaths (arrow worms) are important components of zooplankton communities in terms of abundance, biomass and contribution to carbon export. Though traditionally considered strict carnivores, recent studies have identified “omnivorous” chaetognaths. These may feed on non-animal materials, including algae, detritus or sediments. The feeding strategies of the Arctic species Eukrohnia hamata and Parasagitta elegans are particularly interesting given differences in their vertical distributions, and the strong seasonality (peaks and troughs) in the abundance of expected prey items, such as copepods. We analyse the feeding history of these chaetognaths in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, and Baffin Bay, using gut contents (types and colours) as short-term signals (days), and biochemistry (stable isotope, lipid and fatty acid composition) as signals integrated over the longer-term (weeks to months), to investigate seasonality in diets and determine the extent to which animal and non-animal matter are consumed. Between November 2007 and July 2008 in the Beaufort Sea, green detritus and oil droplets were abundant in the guts of only E. hamata and were found to contain evidence of diatoms. Weak differences in apparent predation rates and prey items for the two species, but high amounts of green detritus and silica in E. hamata guts point towards direct ingestion of diatoms and marine snow at both epi- and meso-pelagic depths, and can explain δ15N and δ13C-contents that may predict omnivory in the Chukchi Sea and Baffin Bay (fall 2014). Dietary signals in P. elegans predict that this species has a reduced dependence on diatom source pathways relative to E. hamata, for instance a relative absence in green material in guts, and a lower 16:1 (n − 7) concentration. Whilst nitrogen isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers suggested a more carnivorous diet, they also suggest that Calanus copepods are less important to its diet than other types of zooplankters. We suggest that E. hamata (whether pelagic or hyper-benthic) likely receives a substantial energy input from algae and detritus and is thus not a strict carnivore. Our data provide the stimulus for continued focus on these organisms and the important role they play in carbon flux as we try to better understand carbon cycling in a changing Arctic Ocean.

Partial characterization of digestive proteases in Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi)

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to characterize the digestive proteases of totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi). Fish were sacrificed to obtain the multienzymatic extracts from the stomach and intestine, and determine the stability and optimum pH and temperature values. Residual activity and number of isoforms were determined with some inhibitors. Optimal pH of stomach proteases was 2, with stability above 100% at that same pH. Optimum pH of intestinal proteases was between 9 and 11, with stability above 100% between 8-12. Optimum temperature for stomach proteases was 35°C and remained highly stable, while optimum temperature for intestinal proteases was 45°C, with high stability between 35-55°C. Pepstatin A totally inhibited acid protease activity and revealed a single band. SDS-PAGE zymogram revealed 8 bands in the intestine, where phenanthroline inhibited 80% of the total activity. The digestive capacity of T. macdonaldi is characteristic of a strict carnivore, similar to other marine fish species.

Assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of l-arginine produced by fermentation using Corynebacteriumglutamicum NITE SD 00285 for all animal species.

l‐Arginine is an amino acid that is conditionally essential for mammalian neonates, some strict carnivores, birds and fish. The subject of this opinion is a request for renewal of authorisation of l‐arginine produced by a strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum. The strain designation has changed to its new deposition number, NITE SD 00285, but the strain is otherwise unchanged from the previous opinion. It is not genetically modified and possesses no antibiotic resistance of safety concern. Minor changes in downstream processing following fermentation have been made. The FEEDAP Panel notes that two out of five batches did not meet the specification of the current authorisation (minimum 98% on a dry matter basis). The FEEDAP Panel concludes that l‐arginine produced by fermentation to C. glutamicum NITE SD 00285 remains safe for the target species, consumers of products from animals fed the additive and the environment under the approved conditions of authorisation. The additive is considered as irritant to skin, corrosive to eyes and poses a risk by inhalation.

A Systematic Review on the Effects of Plant-Feeding by Omnivorous Arthropods: Time to Catch-Up With the Mirid-Tomato Bias?

Zoophytophagous (omnivorous) predators provide valuable pest control services, and offer an advantage over strict carnivores as plant-feeding enables survival during prey shortage. This putative advantage can potentially be their downside, as plant-feeding may entail damage that negatively affects plant growth/yield (i.e., the cost arising from of omnivore plant-feeding). Yet, benefits conferred by predatory services are usually thought to counterbalance any impact of plant damage. In this systematic review, our goal was to determine how often levels of omnivore damage and its consequences for plants (costs) are considered or quantified. We provide a synthesis of publication trends and findings on omnivore plant-feeding levels, plant injury variables, actual (if quantified) and potential effects on growth/yield, the type of study (lab, greenhouse) and the plants/omnivores most often examined. Our search revealed that measures of omnivore plant-feeding are occasionally reported, but seldom are the direct consequences of such damage also considered. Omnivore plant-feeding were reported in 57% of studies (53 of 93 full-text examined); within these, the majority (>80%) indicated moderate to high levels of plant-feeding. However, only 22% of reports (15 of 69) quantified the effects of omnivore-inflicted damage on plant performance. Of these 15 reports, a greater number found negative consequences for plants compared to those showing no effect (8 vs. 4; 3 with both), with consequences for yield relative to growth being more often evaluated (6 vs. 2). Overall, fruit/leaf injuries relative to stem/flower-feeding were most often examined, and lab/greenhouse experiments predominated. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and the mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis were the most common species studied (34 and 14 reports, respectively). Our results indicate that costs to plants of omnivore-inflicted damage are often neglected. We argue that predatory benefits need to be simultaneously considered with plant-feeding effects to appropriately evaluate pest control services. Publication trends suggest that more studies are evaluating costs to plants, but a paradigm shift is still needed. Furthermore, we found that our understanding of plant-feeding and its effects is disproportionally based on studies examining tomato plants and its omnivorous biocontrol agents. To confirm the generality of findings thus far, other plant omnivore systems should be further considered.

The interplay between voluntary food intake, dietary carbohydrate-lipid ratio and nutrient metabolism in an amphibian, (Xenopus laevis).

Digestion of food and metabolism of frogs are little studied at the moment, and such processes could be very particular in the case of amphibians, given their ectothermic and carnivorous nature which may lead them to use nutrients through specific biochemical pathways. In the present study, 24 adult Xenopus laevis (six replicates with two frogs per treatment) were randomly assigned to two diets with different carbohydrate:fat ratio (4.5:1 and 2.1:1), changing the dietary glucogenic and lipogenic proportions. Food intake (FI) per unit metabolic body weight (MBW) as well as macronutrient digestibility were calculated, and circulating blood acylcarnitines and amino acids measured, in order to evaluate the effect of the diet treatments. Results demonstrated that food intake regulated most of the changes in the parameters evaluated; significant differences were obtained in crude protein and fat digestibilities through the effect of FI/MBW (p<0.05), whereas diet treatment had a significant effect on the levels of malonyl-CoA. Food intake also significantly impacted malonyl, isovaleryl, hydroxyisovaleryl and long chain fatty acid concentrations; significant (p<0.05) interactions between those metabolites were detected owing to diet. The findings obtained suggest that food intake was the main factor controlling digestion and metabolism in X. laevis, with frogs preferring to utilise protein and fat as primary sources for energy production in the citric acid cycle, reflecting characteristics of a strict carnivore physiological model.

Safety and efficacy of l‐arginine produced by fermentation using Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 10741P for all animal species

l‐Arginine is considered to be a non‐essential amino acid for most adult mammalian species, but it is classified as essential for birds, fish, possibly reptiles and also for strict carnivores. The product subject of this assessment is l‐arginine produced by fermentation using a non‐genetically modified strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum (KCCM 10741P). It is intended to be used in feed and water for drinking for all animal species and categories. Species identity of the production organism was confirmed and the strain was sensitive to antibiotics at concentrations at or below thresholds specified by EFSA; thus, C. glutamicum KCCM 10741P may be considered safe by the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach. No viable cells of C. glutamicum were detected in the final product. The amount of identified material exceeded 99.8%, and no impurities of concern were detected. The use of l‐arginine produced by C. glutamicum KCCM 10741P is safe for target species when supplemented to diets in appropriate amounts, for the consumer and the environment. l‐Arginine produced by C. glutamicum KCCM 10741P is considered corrosive to skin and eyes and therefore poses a risk by inhalation. The additive is an effective source of arginine for all species. For the supplemental l‐arginine to be as efficacious in ruminants as in non‐ruminant species, it requires protection against microbial degradation in the rumen.

Safety and efficacy of l-arginine produced by fermentation with Escherichiacoli NITE BP-02186 for all animal species.

l‐Arginine is considered as a non‐essential amino acid for most adult mammalian species, but it is classified as essential for birds, fish, possibly reptiles and also for strict carnivores. l‐Arginine produced by fermentation with Escherichia coli NITE BP‐02186, genetically modified to enhance the production of l‐arginine, is intended to be used in feed and water for drinking for all animal species and categories. The product under assessment does not give rise to any safety concern with regard to the genetic modification of the production strain. Its use as a nutritional additive is safe for target species when supplemented to diets in appropriate amounts. The use of l‐arginine as a feed flavouring agent is unlikely to pose any concern. No risks are expected for the consumer from the use of the product under assessment as a feed additive. It is not irritant to skin or eyes, nor a skin sensitiser. Although the presence of endotoxin activity is of no concern, the available exposure and toxicological data indicate that the additive may pose a risk to users by inhalation. The use of this additive in animal nutrition does not pose a risk to the environment. The additive is an effective source of arginine for all species. l‐Arginine is considered efficacious when used as a flavouring compound in animal nutrition.

Food habits of three carnivores in a mosaic landscape of São Paulo state, Brazil

Sao Paulo is the most developed state in Brazil, but despite intense land use changes, some mammal species still inhabit remnant fragments of native vegetation of the state. We used fecal analyses to investigate prey diversity, trophic niche breadth, and trophic niche overlap of pumas, ocelots, and maned wolves in protected and non-protected areas in Sao Paulo state. During 18 months, we inspected more than 10,000 km of roads and trails and collected 233 fecal samples. Maned wolves showed generalist food habit, ocelots were predominantly carnivores, and pumas were strict carnivores. The European hare, an exotic species which had not yet been reported in the study area, was identified in the feces of a puma. Trophic niche breadth was the lowest for maned wolves (BA = 0.339) and the highest for pumas (BA = 0.723). Trophic niche overlap was high between maned wolves and ocelots (Ojk = 0.765) and between pumas and ocelots (Ojk = 0.639). Significantly different diets of maned wolves and ocelots were observed between dry and rainy seasons. Our findings indicate that these three species may adapt their diets to the disturbed landscapes. This is the second study characterizing food habits of ocelots in Cerrado areas but the first considering a large number of samples.

Gyrfalcons Falco rusticolus adjust CTNS expression to food abundance: a possible contribution to cysteine homeostasis.

Melanins form the basis of animal pigmentation. When the sulphurated form of melanin, termed pheomelanin, is synthesized, the sulfhydryl group of cysteine is incorporated to the pigment structure. This may constrain physiological performance because it consumes the most important intracellular antioxidant (i.e., glutathione, GSH), of which cysteine is a constitutive amino acid. However, this may also help avoid excess cysteine, which is toxic. Pheomelanin synthesis is regulated by several genes, some of them exerting this regulation by controlling the transport of cysteine in melanocytes. We investigated the possibility that these genes are epigenetically labile regarding protein intake and thus contribute to cysteine homeostasis. We found in the Icelandic population of gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus, a species that pigments its plumage with pheomelanin, that the expression of a gene regulating the export of cystine out of melanosomes (CTNS) in feather melanocytes of developing nestlings increases with food abundance in the breeding territories where they were reared. The expression of other genes regulating pheomelanin synthesis by different mechanisms of influence on cysteine availability (Slc7a11 and Slc45a2) or by other processes (MC1R and AGRP) was not affected by food abundance. As the gyrfalcon is a strict carnivore and variation in food abundance mainly reflects variation in protein intake, we suggest that epigenetic lability in CTNS has evolved in some species because of its potential benefits contributing to cysteine homeostasis. Potential applications of our results should now be investigated in the context of renal failure and other disorders associated with cystinosis caused by CTNS dysfunction.

Safety and efficacy of l‐arginine produced by Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80099 for all animal species

l‐Arginine is considered as a non‐essential amino acid for most adult mammalian species, but it is classified as essential for birds, fish, possibly reptiles and also for strict carnivores. The product subject of this assessment is l‐arginine produced by fermentation with a genetically modified strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum (KCCM 80099). It is intended to be used in feed and water for drinking for all animal species and categories. The following conclusions refer to the additive ‘L‐arginine produced by Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80099’. Neither the genetically modified production strain nor its recombinant DNA were detected in the final product. The additive does not give rise to safety concerns with regard to the genetic modification of the production strain. The use of the additive is safe for target species when supplemented to diets in appropriate amounts, for the consumer and for the environment. The additive is not hazardous by inhalation, is not a skin sensitiser, but is corrosive to skin and eyes. The additive is an effective source of arginine for all species. For the supplemental l‐arginine to be as efficacious in ruminants as in non‐ruminant species, it requires protection against microbial degradation in the rumen.

Costs and benefits of omnivore-mediated plant protection: effects of plant-feeding on Salix growth more detrimental than expected

Predators can decrease herbivore damage to plants, and this is often assumed to be beneficial to plant growth/reproduction without actual quantification. Moreover, previous studies have been biased towards strict carnivores and neglected the role of omnivorous predators in prey-suppression. Here, we examined the costs (reduction in growth) and benefits (increase in growth) of enemy-mediated plant protection via the omnivorous (prey and plant-feeding) Orthotylus marginalis, relative to herbivory by a detrimental insect pest of Salix spp. plantations, the beetle Phratora vulgatissima. In a first experiment, we compared the cost of adult beetle versus omnivore nymph plant-feeding, and assessed the (non-) additive effects of the two types of damage. In a second experiment, we quantified the reduction in plant damage resulting from beetle-egg feeding by omnivorous nymphs and subsequent benefits to plants. We found that plant-feeding by omnivores negatively affected plant growth and this effect was similar to the cost imposed by beetle herbivory. Furthermore, simultaneous damage effects were additive and more detrimental than individual effects. While egg-predation by omnivore nymphs completely prevented beetle damage to plants, there was no difference in plant growth relative to only herbivore-damaged plants and growth was still reduced compared to control plants. Thus, despite herbivore suppression, there was no benefit to plant growth of omnivore-mediated plant protection and the negative effects of omnivore plant-feeding remained. These results are a first for an omnivorous enemy, and provide novel and timely insights on the underlying assumptions of tri-trophic associations and their use for biocontrol of insect pests.

Upregulation of Glucose Production by Increased Dietary Protein in the Adult Cat (Felis catus)

Domestic cats are strict carnivores with a high requirement for protein, from which they derive their energy and glucose needs. Shuttling of amino acid carbon through glucose may also increase utilization of amino acids that are normally oxidized as protein intake increases. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of dietary protein intake on endogenous glucose production in the cat. Eighteen cats from the colony at the Centre for Feline Nutrition at Massey University were fed one of three low carbohydrate diets containing 15, 45, or 65% of their metabolizable energy as crude protein. After 3 weeks, cats were administered a primed continuous infusion of [U‐13C] glucose for 5 hours and blood was sampled. Mass isotopomer distribution analysis of plasma glucose was used to determine glucose production. Endogenous glucose production from all sources was 1.2‐ and 1.3‐times greater in cats fed 45 and 65% crude protein compared to those fed 15% crude protein (P &lt; 0.05). Contribution of the Cori cycle to gluconeogenesis was not different among diets and averaged 32.6 ± 1.41%, whereas non‐Cori cycle flux of endogenous glucose production (net gluconeogenesis) was greater in cats fed 45 and 65% (1.92 vs 2.29 and 2.47 g glucose × kg BW−1 × d−1, P &lt; 0.05). Increased gluconeogenesis in cats fed high protein diets suggests that part of the increased rate of amino acid catabolism and oxidation in these cats is the result of increased amino acid carbon cycling through glucose.Support or Funding InformationResearch funding was provided by the Animals and Society Research Fund, BRCSRA.

Fetal life malnutrition was not reflected in the relative abundances of adiponectin and leptin mRNAs in adipose tissue in male mink kits at 9.5weeks of age.

BackgroundMalnutrition in fetal life and during suckling have in some animal studies resulted in adaptive changes related to the fat and glucose metabolism, which in the long term might predispose the offspring for metabolic disorders such as obesity later in life. The objective was to study the effect of fetal life malnutrition in male mink on the gene expression of leptin and adiponectin in different adipose tissue sites.ResultsThirty-two male mink, strict carnivore species, exposed to low (FL) or adequate (FA) protein provision the last 16.3 ± 1.8 days of fetal life and randomly assigned to a low (LP) or adequate (AP) protein diet from 7 to 9.5 weeks of age were used. Adipose tissues (subcutaneous, perirenal and mesenteric) were analyzed using qPCR. Fetal life or post-weaning protein provision did not affect the relative abundances of leptin and adiponectin mRNAs in adipose tissue at 9.5 weeks of age. Relative abundances of leptin and adiponectin mRNAs were different between adipose tissue sites and were significantly higher in subcutaneous than in perirenal and mesenteric tissues.ConclusionFetal life protein malnutrition in male mink, did not result in adaptive changes in the gene expression of leptin and adiponectin mRNAs in adipose tissue at 9.5 weeks of age as found in rodents. However, both leptin and adiponectin mRNAs were significantly differently expressed between tissue sites.

Safety and efficacy of L arginine produced by Corynebacterium glutamicum KCTC 10423BP for all animal species

L-Arginine is considered as a non-essential amino acid for most adult mammalian species, but it is classified as essential for birds, fish, possibly reptiles and also for strict carnivores. The following conclusions refer to L-Arginine produced by Corynebacterium glutamicum KCTC 10423BP. The use of L-Arginine is safe for target species when supplemented to diets in appropriate amounts. There are no safety concerns arising from ruminal L-Arginine metabolism. The composition of edible tissues and products of animal origin will not be altered by the use of L-Arginine in animal nutrition. Considering the high purity of the product under assessment, no risk is expected for the consumer from the use of L-Arginine as a feed additive. L-Arginine is not irritating to skin or eyes and is not likely to be a skin sensitiser. Although there is a potential for user exposure by inhalation, there is evidence of no acute toxicity by the inhalation route. The use of L-Arginine in animal nutrition would not pose a risk to the environment. Dietary L-Arginine is an effective source of arginine for all animal species when a requirement exists. For the supplemental L-Arginine to be fully efficacious in ruminants, it requires protection against degradation in the rumen.

Integrated community profiling indicates long-term temporal stability of the predominant faecal microbiota in captive cheetahs.

Understanding the symbiotic relationship between gut microbes and their animal host requires characterization of the core microbiota across populations and in time. Especially in captive populations of endangered wildlife species such as the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), this knowledge is a key element to enhance feeding strategies and reduce gastrointestinal disorders. In order to investigate the temporal stability of the intestinal microbiota in cheetahs under human care, we conducted a longitudinal study over a 3-year period with bimonthly faecal sampling of 5 cheetahs housed in two European zoos. For this purpose, an integrated 16S rRNA DGGE-clone library approach was used in combination with a series of real-time PCR assays. Our findings disclosed a stable faecal microbiota, beyond intestinal community variations that were detected between zoo sample sets or between animals. The core of this microbiota was dominated by members of Clostridium clusters I, XI and XIVa, with mean concentrations ranging from 7.5-9.2 log10 CFU/g faeces and with significant positive correlations between these clusters (P<0.05), and by Lactobacillaceae. Moving window analysis of DGGE profiles revealed 23.3-25.6% change between consecutive samples for four of the cheetahs. The fifth animal in the study suffered from intermediate episodes of vomiting and diarrhea during the monitoring period and exhibited remarkably more change (39.4%). This observation may reflect the temporary impact of perturbations such as the animal’s compromised health, antibiotic administration or a combination thereof, which temporarily altered the relative proportions of Clostridium clusters I and XIVa. In conclusion, this first long-term monitoring study of the faecal microbiota in feline strict carnivores not only reveals a remarkable compositional stability of this ecosystem, but also shows a qualitative and quantitative similarity in a defined set of faecal bacterial lineages across the five animals under study that may typify the core phylogenetic microbiome of cheetahs.