The aim of this study was to compare the serum endotoxin levels in correlation with soluble CD14 and IL-1β in dogs with intestinal dysbiosis that were treated with a probiotic product containing Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Pediococcus acidilactici. Levels of serum endotoxin, soluble CD14 and IL-1β were assessed before meal consumption, and 6 and 12 h after meal consumption, both prior to initiation of probiotic treatment and after completion of 30 days of treatment. Pre-meal serum endotoxin levels decreased by 25.89% and 6 h and 12 h post-meal levels decreased by 35.00% and 44.93%, respectively, when compared to the respective pre-treatment values which correlated with a decrease in serum soluble CD14 levels, while IL-1β remained approximatively constant. RezumatScopul prezentului studiu a fost de a compara nivelul seric de endotoxine, corelat cu CD14 solubil și IL1-β, la câini cu disbioză intestinală tratați cu un produs probiotic ce conține Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis și Pediococcus acidilactici. Nivelurile de endotoxină serică, CD14 solubil și IL1-β au fost determinate înainte de hrănire, la 6 și respectiv 12 ore după masă, atât înainte de inițierea tratamentului cu probiotic, cât și la finalizarea celor 30 de zile de tratament. Comparând rezultatele post-tratament cu cele obținute înaintea administrării probioticului, nivelul ante-prandial al endotoxinei serice a scăzut cu 25,89%, iar la 6 ore și 12 ore scăderea a fost de 35,00%, respectiv 44,93%. Reducerea endotoxinei serice poate fi corelată cu tendinţa de scădere a nivelului CD14 solubil, în timp ce nivelul IL1-β a rămas aproximativ constant.

Spore-based Bacillus spp. products are considered to have a higher probiotic potential compared to products containing only lactic acid bacteria because their viability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is higher, even when GI environmental conditions are unfavorable. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Pediococcus acidilactici spore-based potential probiotic on the natural levels of postprandial endotoxemia. A total of 11 dogs completed the study: group 1—healthy dogs: n = 5; group 2—dogs with apparent dysbiosis: n = 6. For 30 days, the dogs were fed the probiotic product; clinical examinations and blood sampling were done before and after completion of the probiotic treatment. Endotoxin levels were assessed pre-meal, 6 h and 12 h post-meal, before initiation and after completion of the treatment. The results showed a decrease in endotoxin levels after treatment, especially 12 h post-meal (group 1: 20.60%; group 2: 44.93%). This study reports new information with regard to natural endotoxemia levels in dogs and suggests that a multi-strain formula (spore-based) consisting of B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and P. acidilactici is able to diminish endotoxin values.

The normal morphology of the colon differs among mammal species.The ascending colon presents several types of cells, responsible for carrying different functions for this organ. Among them, the mucus-secreting cells ensure the integrity of the mucosa, local defense, protection against different external factors, inflammatory diseases, cancer, etc. The ascending colon from 5 adult male chinchillas were processed for paraffin embedding and stained with three methods: Goldner's trichrome, PAS reaction, and Alcian blue staining procedure. The results showed that the structure of the ascending colon is similar to the one described in other species, i.e. mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa. Regarding the mucus-secreting cells present in the deeper part of the mucosal crypts (deep crypt secretory or DCS cells) turned out to be different not only morphologically from the surface goblet cells but also regarding the type of mucus synthesized. DCS cells have a multivacuolated, faintly stained cytoplasm with moderately PAS-positive reaction and intensely positive reaction to Alcian blue stain. The mean surface of DCS cells was 521.6 µm 2 as compared to 437.9 µm 2 for goblet cells (p<0.05). In conclusion, our study describes for the first time in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) the presence of formerly known non-goblet or vacuolated cells, and recently entitled DCS cells in the glandular epithelium of the colon. The understanding of morphological peculiarities in chinchilla may serve as a good basis to understand the pathophysiology of various conditions that may arise.