Comparison of faecal flora of cats based on different housing conditions with special reference to Bifidobacterium

Abstract

Faecal flora of cats was compared in different colonies. In conventional cats there were no significant qualitative differences in composition of faecal flora in 3 colonies but there was variation in numbers of enterobacteriaceae, streptococci, bifidobacteria and clostridia, Bacteroidaceae and eubacteria were the most predominant nora followed by clostridia, streptococci and lactobacilli. In SPF cats produced by hysterectomy, the numbers of clostridia and enterobacteriaceae and the frequency of occurrence of staphylococci were higher than in conventional cats, and the numbers of bacterioidaceae and lactobacilli were much lower. 44 strains of bifidobacteria isolated from the faeces of cats were identified as Bifidobacterium adolescentis biovar b and d.

Assessment of microbial diversity along the feline intestinal tract using 16S rRNA gene analysis

“…Previous studies are consistent with our findings where Bacteroides spp. have been reported to be a common bacterial group in the feline large intestine (Osbaldiston & Stowe, 1971; Itoh et al , 1984). However, in contrast, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria have been routinely cultured from duodenal aspirates using culture‐based methods (Papasouliotis et al , 1998; Johnston et al , 2001).…”

“…In one study, Bifidobacterium spp. were cultured from feces in 60% of healthy cats (Itoh et al , 1984). Also, another study utilizing FISH analysis of fecal extracts reported the detection of Bifidobacterium spp.…”

“…To our knowledge, only one culture‐based study has compared the intestinal microbiota between conventionally raised and SPF cats (Itoh et al , 1984). Clostridium spp.…”

“…were significantly higher in cesarian section‐derived, barrier‐maintained cats compared with conventionally raised cats. The SPF cats displayed a microbial community diversity that was generally similar to the conventionally raised cats, with seven bacterial classes identified (Itoh et al , 1984). This is in contrast to the present study, where only four bacterial classes were identified in the SPF cat, with 98% of all clones classified as Clostridiales .…”

“…Past studies characterizing the feline intestinal microbiota have used traditional microbiological culture techniques (Smith, 1965;Osbaldiston & Stowe, 1971;Itoh et al, 1984;Johnston et al, 1993Johnston et al, , 1999Papasouliotis et al, 1998). These studies reported that, in contrast to other mammalian species, the feline intestinal tract harbors predominantly facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria (Johnston et al, 1993(Johnston et al, , 2001Papasouliotis et al, 1998).…”