Influences of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and Cellobiose on the Composition and Metabolic Activity of Fecal Microbiota in Dogs given Boiled Chicken Head and Cow Milk

Abstract

Influences of viable or sterilized Lactobacillus and cellobiose on the fecal microbiota and fecal metabolites in dogs given boiled chicken head and cow milk were investigated. During the intake of boiled chicken head and cow milk, the number of Enterobacteriaceae (p<0.05) and the fecal pH (p<0.05) increased significantly, and the frequency of occurrence of lecithinase-negative and lecithinase-positive clostridia tended to increase in all test groups. Furthermore, fecal concentrations of sulfide increased significantly (p<0.05) or tended to increase in all test groups. Although the numbers of lactobacilli did not decrease during the intake of boiled chicken head and cow milk in the viable Lactobacillus and cellobiose intake group and sterilized Lactobacillus and cellobiose intake group, they decreased significantly (p<0.05) and bifidobacteria were not detected during the intake of boiled chicken head and cow milk in the skim milk intake group. The fecal concentrations of short chain fatty acids (acetic, butyric and propionic acids) were not changed throughout the test period in any test group. Although clinical symptoms such as fecal hardness in dogs given Lactobacillus and cellobiose were not markedly different from those of the skim milk intake group, there were no dogs which excreted only abnormal (soft, muddy to diarrhea) feces in the viable Lactobacillus administration group on day 21. These findings indicate that administration of Lactobacillus and cellobiose offered more protection against fecal microbiota disorders during the intake of boiled chicken head and cow milk than the administration of skim milk, and there is a possibility of alleviating clinical symptoms by the administration of Lactobacillus and cellobiose.