Veterinary Science - Theses
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ItemFaecal microbiota of cats with diabetes mellitus( 2013)Microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract significantly influence metabolic processes within their mammalian host. Differences in the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota have been reported in mouse models of type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as in humans with this disease. Diabetes mellitus in cats has many similarities to type 2 diabetes in people. No studies of the gastrointestinal microbiota of diabetic cats have been previously published.The objectives of the first part of this study were primarily to compare the composition of the faecal microbiota of diabetic and non-diabetic cats, and secondarily to determine if host signalment and dietary factors influence the composition of the faecal microbiota in cats. Faecal samples were collected from diabetic and non-diabetic cats, and 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and quantitative PCR were performed on each sample. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) based on the unweighted UniFrac distance metric identified a difference in the composition of the faecal microbiota between diabetic and non-diabetic cats, as well as between cats aged ten years or younger and cats greater than ten years of age. No significant differences in the proportions of dominant bacteria by phylum, class, order, family or genus as determined by 454-pyrosequencing were identified between diabetic and non-diabetic cats, however qPCR identified a significant decrease in Faecalibacterium spp. in diabetic cats. Cat breed or gender, dietary carbohydrate, protein or fat content, and dietary formulation (canned versus dry food) did not affect the composition of the faecal microbiota.The objective of the second part of this study was to compare a functional product of the microbiota, namely short chain fatty acids, between diabetic and non-diabetic cats. Mean concentrations of individual short chain fatty acids and total short chain fatty acids were measured in faecal samples of diabetic and non-diabetic cats, with no quantitative or qualitative differences identified between these two groups. However, faecal concentrations of short chain fatty acids may not be a good indication of short chain fatty acid production within the colon, and our results do not exclude the possibility of a functional difference in the microbiota of diabetic cats being present.In conclusion, the composition of the faecal microbiota of diabetic cats differed from that of non-diabetic cats. We did not identify a difference in faecal short chain fatty acid concentrations between diabetic and non-diabetic cats. Additional studies that compare the functional products of the microbiota in diabetic and non-diabetic cats are warranted, to further investigate the potential impact of the gastrointestinal microbiota on the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus in cats. The objectives of the first part of this study were primarily to compare the composition of the faecal microbiota of diabetic and non-diabetic cats, and secondarily to determine if host signalment and dietary factors influence the composition of the faecal microbiota in cats. Faecal samples were collected from diabetic and non-diabetic cats, and 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and quantitative PCR were performed on each sample. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) based on the unweighted UniFrac distance metric identified a difference in the composition of the faecal microbiota between diabetic and non-diabetic cats, as well as between cats aged ten years or younger and cats greater than ten years of age. No significant differences in the proportions of dominant bacteria by phylum, class, order, family or genus as determined by 454-pyrosequencing were identified between diabetic and non-diabetic cats, however qPCR identified a significant decrease in Faecalibacterium spp. in diabetic cats. Cat breed or gender, dietary carbohydrate, protein or fat content, and dietary formulation (canned versus dry food) did not affect the composition of the faecal microbiota. The objective of the second part of this study was to compare a functional product of the microbiota, namely short chain fatty acids, between diabetic and non-diabetic cats. Mean concentrations of individual short chain fatty acids and total short chain fatty acids were measured in faecal samples of diabetic and non-diabetic cats, with no quantitative or qualitative differences identified between these two groups. However, faecal concentrations of short chain fatty acids may not be a good indication of short chain fatty acid production within the colon, and our results do not exclude the possibility of a functional difference in the microbiota of diabetic cats being present. In conclusion, the composition of the faecal microbiota of diabetic cats differed from that of non-diabetic cats. We did not identify a difference in faecal short chain fatty acid concentrations between diabetic and non-diabetic cats. Additional studies that compare the functional products of the microbiota in diabetic and non-diabetic cats are warranted, to further investigate the potential impact of the gastrointestinal microbiota on the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus in cats.