Nutritional management of feline chronic enteropathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 204-212
Author(s):  
Ellie Groves
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Chronic Enteropathy ◽  
Food Sensitivity ◽  
Dietary Antigens ◽  
Undigested Food ◽  
Protein Diets ◽  
Novel Protein

Feline chronic enteropathy covers a heterogeneous range of conditions, including food responsive enteropathies, inflammatory bowel disease and antibiotic-responsive diarrhoea. Dietary management can be extremely helpful, both as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool, when managing many of these patients. A high proportion of cats with chronic enteropathy are thought to be either food-sensitive or food-responsive, and appropriate nutritional support can help to optimise the short- and longer-term management of gastrointestinal disease. Three key dietary options exist: highly digestible gastrointestinal diets, hydrolysed diets and novel protein diets. Highly digestible diets and help to reduce exposure to dietary antigens, minimise complications associated with undigested food and aid nutrient absorption. Novel protein diets, based on a protein source a cat has not previously eaten, or a hydrolysed diet, where protein sources have been reduced in size to below the molecular weight of most food allergens, can help support cats with an underlying food sensitivity (allergy or intolerance), and may also benefit individuals in cases where a true food sensitivity does not underlie the clinical signs. Improvements with appropriate dietary intervention can be dramatic and rapid, with resolution of clinical signs within 2 weeks. This article explores the rationale for each of the three types of diet that can be considered for a diet trial, and the current evidence supporting their use. It also briefly covers recommendations for diet introduction and advice to support clients when considering a diet trial.

scholarly journals Hierarchical modelling of immunoglobulin coated bacteria in dogs with chronic enteropathy shows reduction in coating with disease remission but marked inter-individual and treatment-response variability

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255012
Author(s):  
Lina María Martínez-López ◽  
Alexis Perez-Gonzalez ◽  
Elizabeth Ann Washington ◽  
Andrew P. Woodward ◽  
Alexandra Jazmin Roth-Schulze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽  
Chronic Enteropathy ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Chronic Enteropathies ◽  
Immunogenic Properties ◽  
Bacterial Groups

Chronic enteropathies are a common problem in dogs, but many aspects of the pathogenesis remain unknown, making the therapeutic approach challenging in some cases. Environmental factors are intimately related to the development and perpetuation of gastrointestinal disease and the gut microbiome has been identified as a contributing factor. Previous studies have identified dysbiosis and reduced bacterial diversity in the gastrointestinal microbiota of dogs with chronic enteropathies. In this case-controlled study, we use flow cytometry and 16S rRNA sequencing to characterise bacteria highly coated with IgA or IgG in faecal samples from dogs with chronic enteropathy and evaluated their correlation with disease and resolution of the clinical signs. IgA and IgG-coated faecal bacterial counts were significantly higher during active disease compared to healthy dogs and decreased with the resolution of the clinical signs. Characterisation of taxa-specific coating of the intestinal microbiota with IgA and IgG showed marked variation between dogs and disease states, and different patterns of immunoglobulin enrichment were observed in dogs with chronic enteropathy, particularly for Erysipelotrichaceae, Clostridicaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotellaceae and Bacteroidaceae, families. Although, members of these bacterial groups have been associated with strong immunogenic properties and could potentially constitute important biomarkers of disease, their significance and role need to be further investigated.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Review Evaluating the Impact of Protein Source (Vegetarian vs. Meat Based) in Hepatic Encephalopathy

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
Umair Iqbal ◽  
Ravirajsinh N. Jadeja ◽  
Harshit S. Khara ◽  
Sandeep Khurana
Keyword(s):  
Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Branch Chain Amino ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Protein Diets

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neurological consequence in patients with cirrhosis and has a healthcare burden of USD 5370 to 50,120 per patient annually. HE significantly hampers the quality of life and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Patients with cirrhosis are at a high risk for protein-calorie malnutrition due to altered metabolism. Current evidence has changed the old belief of protein restriction in patients with cirrhosis and now 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg/day protein intake is recommended. Case series and studies with small numbers of participants showed that a vegetarian protein diet decreases the symptoms of HE when compared to a meat-based diet, but the evidence is limited and requires further larger randomized controlled trials. However, vegetable or milk-based protein diets are good substitutes for patients averse to meat intake. Branch chain amino acids (BCAA) (leucine, isoleucine and valine) have also been shown to be effective in alleviating symptoms of HE and are recommended as an alternative therapy in patients with cirrhosis for the treatment of HE. In this review, we provide an overview of current literature evaluating the role of protein intake in the management of HE in cirrhosis.

Serum cobalamin concentrations and small intestinal ultrasound changes in 75 cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease: a retrospective study

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C Jugan ◽  
John R August
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Abdominal Ultrasound ◽  
Wall Layer ◽  
Normal Serum ◽  
Definitive Diagnosis ◽  
Albumin Concentration ◽  
Small Intestinal

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate ultrasonographic changes in the small intestine of cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease and low or low–normal serum cobalamin concentrations. Methods Records for client-owned cats presenting to the small animal hospital with signs of gastrointestinal disease and in which serum cobalamin concentrations were measured from 2000–2013 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were cobalamin concentrations <500 ng/l, abdominal ultrasound within 1 month of cobalamin testing and definitive diagnosis. Results Of 751 serum cobalamin measurements, hypocobalaminemia or low–normal cobalamin was identified in 270 cats, abdominal ultrasound was performed in 207 of those cats and a diagnosis was available for 75 of them. Small intestinal ultrasound changes were detected in 49/75 (65%) cats. Abnormalities included thickening, loss of wall layer definition, echogenicity alterations and discrete masses. Serum cobalamin concentrations <500 ng/l were observed with diagnoses of inflammatory disease, neoplasia, infectious disease and normal histopathology. Cobalamin concentration was significantly lower in cats with lymphoma or inflammatory bowel disease compared with other gastrointestinal neoplasia ( P = 0.031). No difference was found between cobalamin concentration and the presence of ultrasound abnormalities, specific ultrasound changes or albumin concentration. Conclusions and relevance One-third of symptomatic cats with hypocobalaminemia or low–normal cobalamin concentrations may have an ultrasonographically normal small intestine. For the majority of cats in this study, histopathologic abnormalities were observed in the small intestine, regardless of ultrasound changes. These findings suggest gastrointestinal disease should not be excluded based on low–normal cobalamin concentrations, even with a concurrent normal ultrasound examination. Additional studies are needed in cats with low–normal serum cobalamin concentrations, as a definitive diagnosis was not pursued consistently in those cats. However, data from this study suggest that careful monitoring, histopathologic evaluation and future cobalamin supplementation may be warranted.

scholarly journals Comparison of Three Rapid Commercial Canine Parvovirus Antigen Detection Tests with Electron Microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Schmitz ◽  
Christina Coenen ◽  
König Matthias ◽  
Thiel Heinz-Jürgen ◽  
Reto Neiger
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Chronic Diarrhea ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Canine Parvovirus ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Group A ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Group B

Different antibody-based tests for rapid detection of Canine parvovirus antigens in feces are commercially available, allowing quick diagnosis in a clinical setting. However, the diagnostic accuracy of these tests compared with standard methods has not been evaluated so far. In the current study, 3 commercial tests were compared with immune-electron microscopy (IEM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Dogs were divided into 3 groups: group A, samples from dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea ( n = 50); group B, dogs with chronic diarrhea ( n = 10); and group C, dogs with no evidence of gastrointestinal disease ( n = 40). Specificity of all 3 commercial tests versus PCR and IEM was good to excellent (92.2–100%). Sensitivity, in contrast, was poor: 15.8–26.3% versus PCR and 50–60% versus IEM. In group A, 10 dogs were positive by IEM and 24 dogs were positive by PCR. Positive PCR results were also obtained from animals in control groups (group B, 1 dog; group C, 5 dogs). No dog in group B or C was positive by IEM. In conclusion, the rapid tests are useful to diagnose canine parvoviral enteritis, but they do not rule out parvovirus infection in an animal with typical clinical signs. In addition, a small percentage of healthy dogs and dogs with chronic diarrhea showed positive PCR results; this may be due to asymptomatic/persistent infection or intestinal passage of virus. The significance of this finding remains unclear.

scholarly journals Revisiting Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) After a Decade of Targeted Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Leonard Shirose ◽  
Doug Campbell ◽  
Rachel Dillon ◽  
Christina McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are typically characterized by novelty (recent detection) and by increasing incidence, distribution, and/or pathogenicity. Ophidiomycosis, also called snake fungal disease, is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formerly “ophiodiicola”). Ophidiomycosis has been characterized as an EID and as a potential threat to populations of Nearctic snakes, sparking over a decade of targeted research. However, the severity of this threat is unclear. We reviewed the available literature to quantify incidence and effects of ophidiomycosis in Nearctic snakes, and to evaluate whether the evidence supports the ongoing characterization of ophidiomycosis as an EID. Data from Canada remain scarce, so we supplemented the literature review with surveys for O. ophidiicola in the Canadian Great Lakes region. Peer-reviewed reports of clinical signs consistent with ophidiomycosis in free-ranging, Nearctic snakes date back to at least 1998, and retrospective molecular testing of samples extend the earliest confirmed record to 1986. Diagnostic criteria varied among publications (n = 33), confounding quantitative comparisons. Ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 36/121 captive snakes and was fatal in over half of cases (66.7%). This result may implicate captivity-related stress as a risk factor for mortality from ophidiomycosis, but could also reflect reporting bias (i.e., infections are more likely to be detected in captive snakes, and severe cases are more likely to be reported). In contrast, ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 441/2,384 free-ranging snakes, with mortality observed in 43 (9.8 %). Ophidiomycosis was only speculatively linked to population declines, and we found no evidence that the prevalence of the pathogen or disease increased over the past decade of targeted research. Supplemental surveys and molecular (qPCR) testing in Ontario, Canada detected O. ophidiicola on 76 of 657 free-ranging snakes sampled across ~136,000 km2. The pathogen was detected at most sites despite limited and haphazard sampling. No large-scale mortality was observed. Current evidence supports previous suggestions that the pathogen is a widespread, previously unrecognized endemic, rather than a novel pathogen. Ophidiomycosis may not pose an imminent threat to Nearctic snakes, but further research should investigate potential sublethal effects of ophidiomycosis such as altered reproductive success that could impact population growth, and explore whether shifting environmental conditions may alter host susceptibility.

Oral cobalamin supplementation in cats with hypocobalaminaemia: a retrospective study

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1302-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Toresson ◽  
Joerg M Steiner ◽  
Gunilla Olmedal ◽  
MajBritt Larsen ◽  
Jan S Suchodolski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Reference Interval ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Oral Supplementation ◽  
Number Of Patients

Objectives The objective of the study was to evaluate whether oral cobalamin supplementation can restore normocobal-aminaemia in cats with hypocobalaminaemia and clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease. Methods This was a retrospective study based on a computerised database search for client-owned cats treated at Evidensia Specialist Animal Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden, during the period December 2013 to August 2016. Inclusion criteria were cats with clinical signs of chronic enteropathy, an initial serum cobalamin concentration ⩽250 pmol/l (reference interval 214–738 pmol/l) and oral treatment with cobalamin tablets. Results Twenty-five cats met the inclusion criteria. The cats were treated with 0.25 mg cyanocobalamin tablets once daily. Serum cobalamin concentration was rechecked 27–94 days after continuous oral cobalamin supplementation. All cats had serum cobalamin concentrations above the reference interval after oral cobalamin supplementation. Median (range) serum cobalamin concentration was 128 pmol/l (111–250 pmol/l) prior to treatment and 2701 pmol/l (738–16,359 pmol/l) after supplementation. This difference was statistically significant ( P <0.0001). Conclusions and relevance Our results suggest that oral cobalamin supplementation is effective in increasing serum cobalamin to supranormal concentrations in cats with hypocobalaminaemia. Thus, oral cobalamin supplementation is a promising alternative to parenteral administration. Prospective comparative studies in cats being treated with parenteral vs oral cobalamin supplementation in a larger number of patients are warranted before oral supplementation can be recommended for routine use.

scholarly journals Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile in Food-Producing Animals, Horses and Household Pets: A Comprehensive Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melina Kachrimanidou ◽  
Eleni Tzika ◽  
George Filioussis
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Food Animals ◽  
Ribotype 078 ◽  
And Control

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is ubiquitous in the environment and is also considered as a bacterium of great importance in diarrhea-associated disease for humans and different animal species. Food animals and household pets are frequently found positive for toxigenic C. difficile without exposing clinical signs of infection. Humans and animals share common C. difficile ribotypes (RTs) suggesting potential zoonotic transmission. However, the role of animals for the development of human infection due to C. difficile remains unclear. One major public health issue is the existence of asymptomatic animals that carry and shed the bacterium to the environment, and infect individuals or populations, directly or through the food chain. C. difficile ribotype 078 is frequently isolated from food animals and household pets as well as from their environment. Nevertheless, direct evidence for the transmission of this particular ribotype from animals to humans has never been established. This review will summarize the current available data on epidemiology, clinical presentations, risk factors and laboratory diagnosis of C. difficile infection in food animals and household pets, outline potential prevention and control strategies, and also describe the current evidence towards a zoonotic potential of C. difficile infection.

scholarly journals Protein and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation for 16 Weeks Improves Sleep and Mood States in Postmenopausal Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 9-9
Author(s):  
Jamie Baum ◽  
Aubree Hawley ◽  
Caroline Baughn ◽  
Sam Walker ◽  
Angela Tacinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Protein Isolate ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Wrist Actigraphy

Abstract Objectives Body composition shifts as we age, resulting in loss of skeletal muscle mass with an increase in fat mass, which is linked to disruptions in sleep-wake rhythms and mood disturbance. Current evidence suggests protein and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3FA) individually augment sleep quality and attenuate depression, but a concomitant effect is yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of protein and O3FA supplementation on regulation of sleep and mood states in postmenopausal women. Methods Overweight, postmenopausal women (60.6 ± 9.0 years; BMI: 28.1 ± 6.9) participated in this randomized, controlled, single-blinded, 16 wk dietary intervention. Participants were allocated to 1 of 5 groups: 1) control, no INT (n = 6); 2) whey protein isolate (PRO; 25 g/d; n = 4); 3) O3FA (DHA/EPA; 4.3 g/d; n = 10); 4) PRO + soy bean oil (4.3 g/d) placebo (n = 6), and 5) PRO + O3FA (n = 8). Sleep (via Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Global Sleeping Score; PSQI GSS) and total mood disturbances; (TMD; via Profile of Mood States (POMS)) including six affect states of depression, fatigue, anger, tension, confusion, and vigor subscales were assessed at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 wks. Sleep was measured at 0, 8, and 16 wk via wrist Actigraphy. Body composition was measured via DXA at 0 and 16 wk. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA to assess the relationship between diet, sleep, and mood states over time. Results Overall, all interventions improved PSQI GSS (P &lt; 0.05) by 16 wks. There was a trend for all interventions to improve sleep efficiency (P = 0.06), with no effect on total sleep time. All interventions improved TMD (P &lt; 0.05) and vigor (P &lt; 0.001), with a trend on depression (P = 0.06). PRO, O3FA, and O3FA + PRO significantly improved vigor at 12-wks (P &lt; 0.01). PRO alone significantly improved vigor at 16 wk (P &lt; 0.001) compared to CON. There was no significant effect of intervention on body composition. However, PRO, O3FA, and PRO + O3FA had a positive (564.7 ± 681.4 g) and the CON had a negative (−171.0 ± 991.6) net change of total lean mass at 16 wks. Conclusions This pilot study suggests that PRO, O3FA, and PRO + O3FA have potential to improve sleep and mood in overweight, postmenopausal women. Additional research is needed to determine the long-term individual and concomitant effect of PRO and O3FA on sleep and mood states. NCT0303041. Funding Sources Arkansas Biosciences Institute.

scholarly journals Dietary Factors and Modulation of Bacteria Strains of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne Verhoog ◽  
Petek Eylul Taneri ◽  
Zayne M. Roa Díaz ◽  
Pedro Marques-Vidal ◽  
John P. Troup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Nutrition Therapy ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Akkermansia Muciniphila ◽  
Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii ◽  
Restriction Diet ◽  
Medical Nutrition

Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii are highly abundant human gut microbes in healthy individuals, and reduced levels are associated with inflammation and alterations of metabolic processes involved in the development of type 2 diabetes. Dietary factors can influence the abundance of A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii, but the evidence is not clear. We systematically searched PubMed and Embase to identify clinical trials investigating any dietary intervention in relation to A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii. Overall, 29 unique trials were included, of which five examined A. muciniphila, 19 examined F. prausnitzii, and six examined both, in a total of 1444 participants. A caloric restriction diet and supplementation with pomegranate extract, resveratrol, polydextrose, yeast fermentate, sodium butyrate, and inulin increased the abundance of A. muciniphila, while a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols decreased the abundance of A. muciniphila. For F. prausnitzii, the main studied intervention was prebiotics (e.g. fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin type fructans, raffinose); seven studies reported an increase after prebiotic intervention, while two studies reported a decrease, and four studies reported no difference. Current evidence suggests that some dietary factors may influence the abundance of A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii. However, more research is needed to support these microflora strains as targets of microbiome shifts with dietary intervention and their use as medical nutrition therapy in prevention and management of chronic disease.

scholarly journals Dietary Intervention Can Improve Clinical Signs in Osteoarthritic Dogs

2006 ◽  
Vol 136 (7) ◽  
pp. 1995S-1997S ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Servet ◽  
Vincent Biourge ◽  
Philippe Marniquet
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Clinical Signs
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document