Relationship of the mucosal microbiota to gastrointestinal inflammation and small cell intestinal lymphoma in cats

Abstract

BackgroundThe gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota in healthy cats is altered in IBD. Little research has been performed to identify whether specific bacterial groups are associated with small cell GI lymphoma (LSA).HypothesisMucosal bacteria, including Enterobacteriaceae and Fusobacterium spp., are abundant in intestinal biopsies of cats with small cell GI LSA compared to cats with IBD.AnimalsFourteen cats with IBD and 14 cats with small cell GI LSA.MethodsRetrospective case control study. A search of the medical records was performed to identify cats diagnosed with IBD and with GI LSA. Bacterial groups identified by FISH in GI biopsies were compared between cohorts and correlated to CD11b+ and NF‐κB expression.Results Fusobacterium spp. (median; IQR bacteria/region) were higher in cats with small cell GI LSA in ileal (527; 455.5 – 661.5; P = .046) and colonic (404.5; 328.8 – 455.5; P = .016) adherent mucus, and combined colonic compartments (free mucus, adherent mucus, attaching to epithelium) (8; 0 – 336; P = .017) compared to cats with IBD (ileum: 67; 31.5 – 259; colon: 142.5; 82.3 – 434.5; combined: 3; 0 – 34). Bacteroides spp. were higher in ileal adherent mucus (P = .036) and 3 combined ileal compartments (P = .034) of cats with small cell GI LSA. There were significant correlations between Fusobacterium spp. totals and CD11b+ cell (P = .009; rs .476) and NF‐κB expression (P = .004; rs .523).ConclusionsThe bacterial alterations appreciated might be influential in development of small cell GI LSA, and should drive further studies to elucidate the effects of microbial‐mediated inflammation on GI cancer progression.

The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease

“…Dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) have been shown to have lower concentrations and altered patterns of SCFAs, as well as changes in the fecal microbiota compared to healthy dogs (Minamoto et al, 2019). With respect to cats, it has been shown that the GI microbiota in those with IBD is altered compared to healthy cats (Garraway et al, 2018). One study also found that Fusobacterium spp.…”

“…One study also found that Fusobacterium spp. are elevated in the ileum and colon of biopsies from cats with small cell GI lymphoma compared to those with IBD; however, it’s not yet clear whether this change plays any role in the development of GI lymphoma ( Garraway et al, 2018 ). While a number of previous reviews have discussed this topic at length ( Heilmann and Allenspach, 2017 ; Redfern et al, 2017 ; Roth-Walter et al, 2017 ; Yogeshpriya et al, 2017 ; Barko et al, 2018 ), few authors have explicitly evaluated the impact of macronutrient nutrition (nutrition supplied by carbohydrates, protein, and fat), digestion, and food processing on the pet microbiome and its subsequent effect on health outcomes in IBD.…”

Catching a glimpse of the bacterial gut community of companion animals: a canine and feline perspective

“…Although the relationship between intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer has been widely debated in humans, only a small number of studies have been focused on the correlation between bowel cancer and gut microbiota in dogs and cats and, what is more, with discordant results (Omori et al ., 2017; Garraway et al ., 2018; Gavazza et al ., 2018; Herstad et al ., 2018). However, while the relative abundance of the Fusobacterium genus and the Enterobacteriaceae family increased in ileum and colon biopsies from cats with small cell GI lymphoma (Garraway et al ., 2018), no differences of the abundance of these two bacterial taxa were observed in dogs affected by intestinal lymphoma when compared to the control (Omori et al ., 2017; Gavazza et al ., 2018; Herstad et al ., 2018) and even one study reported a decreased abundance of Fusobacterium spp. in canine lymphoma biopsies (Gavazza et al ., 2018).…”

Role of gut microbiota in dog and cat’s health and diseases

“…There is a dynamic relationship between the immune system and microbiota. Intestinal mucosa, with Tolllike receptors, induces fall signal and provokes the production and the release of inflammatory mediators (cytokines, phagocytes) (Schmitz and Suchodolski, 2016;Garraway et al, 2018).…”