DVM, PhD, resident ECVCP University of Parma PARMA, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Abstract: Background – In chronic enteropathies (CE), intestinal dysbiosis and loss of colonization by Clostridium (Peptacetobacter) hiranonis leads to decreased production of secondary bile acids (BA), which may impact the liver due to BA dysmetabolism. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can restore BA conversion by reintroducing C. hiranonis and, therefore, may impact the liver. Objective – Characterize the response of fecal microbiome and serum liver enzymes to administration of FMT in dogs. Animals – 10 dogs with CE with no or incomplete response to dietary changes. Methods – Prospective observational study. CIBDAI, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, SAP), dysbiosis index (DI) were monitored before (T0), 7 (T1) and 30 days (T2) after FMT. Statistics were performed with Friedman’s test. Results – Significant CIBDAI improvement was observed at T1 (1.5, range 0-7) and T2 (1, range 0-9) vs T0 (3.5, range 2-10) (P=0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed in liver enzyme activities which remained within the range of normal. DI decreased at T2 (-4.2, range: -3.1 to 1.9) vs T0 (-2.3, range -5.5 to 5) and T1 (-2.2, range -5.5 to 3.3) (P=0.02). Conclusions and clinical importance – FMT improved the clinical course of gastrointestinal signs without affecting liver enzymes. However, at baseline only 3/10 dogs had decreased abundance of C. hiranonis, none had increased liver enzymes, and clinical activity was low (median CIBDAI 3.5) suggesting most dogs in this cohort had mild dysbiosis and disease. Measuring fecal and serum BA may help identify smaller effects not captured by liver enzyme measurements
