Changes in the fecal microbiota in dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea during an outbreak in Norway

Abstract

Background A severe form of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) occurred in dogs in the Oslo region of Norway during autumn 2019. Objectives To characterize the fecal microbiota of dogs with AHDS during the outbreak and compare it to that of healthy dogs from the same period and before the outbreak. Animals Dogs with AHDS (n = 50), dogs with nonhemorrhagic diarrhea (n = 3), and healthy dogs (n = 11) were sampled during the outbreak. In addition, 78 healthy dogs from the same region were sampled before the outbreak between 2017 and 2018. Methods Retrospective case‐control study. The fecal microbiotas were characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results Dogs with AHDS had significantly different microbiota composition (R2 = .07, P < .001) and decreased intestinal diversity relative to healthy dogs from the outbreak period (median, 2.7; range, 0.9‐3.5 vs median, 3.2; range, 2.6‐4.0; P < .001). The microbiota in dogs with AHDS was characterized by a decrease of Firmicutes and an outgrowth of Proteobacteria, with increased numbers of Clostridium perfringens and Providencia spp. Among the Providencia spp., 1 showed 100% sequence identity with a Providencia alcalifaciens strain that was cultivated and isolated from the same outbreak. No Providencia spp. was found in healthy dogs sampled before the outbreak. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with AHDS had marked changes in fecal microbiota including increased numbers of Providencia spp. and C. perfringens, which may have contributed to the severity of this illness.

Clinical response in dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome following randomized probiotic treatment or fecal microbiota transplant

“…In the two dogs that did not respond to therapy, abdominal ultrasound and necropsy did not find other disease etiologies. While a lack of imaging could be considered a limitation, this is consistent with previous veterinary literature ( 5 , 8 , 9 ). These study variabilities highlight the substantial differences in veterinary literature among AHDS studies, making comparisons among studies challenging, and highlighting the need for standardized veterinary studies to accurately compare treatment efficacy.…”

“…The study inclusion time-frame of 48 h was also shorter than, though falls within, the <3 days used by many studies. (8,10,19,36) However, disease duration is not defined in all previous studies (5,9), and only three dogs in the current study presented at the 48-h duration of clinical signs allowed, suggesting that dogs often present to veterinarians well within 72 h due to the severity of clinical signs. Several dogs in this study also had known dietary indiscretions or recent introduction of novel commercial dog foods or treats.…”

“…Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) is a common cause of severe, hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomiting in dogs associated with gastrointestinal (GI) bacterial dysbiosis ( 1 – 4 ) and hyperpermeability ( 2 , 4 ). Previous studies have inferred associations with shifts in normal bacterial communities, increases in potentially pathogenic bacteria targeted for analysis (e.g., Clostridium perfringens ) ( 2 – 5 ), endotoxin production ( 6 – 8 ), and dietary factors ( 1 ), but the presence of these predisposing factors is inconsistent in AHDS dogs ( 6 – 11 ) and in some cases, can be found in healthy dogs (e.g., fecal Clostridium perfringens ) ( 8 , 10 ). Therefore, AHDS is considered an idiopathic condition, with standard therapy consisting of intensive intravenous fluids and supportive care.…”

Effects of Canine-Obtained Lactic-Acid Bacteria on the Fecal Microbiota and Inflammatory Markers in Dogs Receiving Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Treatment

“…We found that the changes in S100A12 concentrations and C. perfringens abundance between D1 and D7 were significantly correlated, suggesting that this bacterial taxon may play a role in NSAID-induced enteropathy. Its role in inflammation is not a new phenomenon, as C. perfringens is associated with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs [ 35 , 36 , 37 ], where its pathogenetic potential is linked to the production of netE and netF toxins [ 38 ].…”

Defining a metagenomic threshold for detecting low abundances of Providencia alcalifaciens in canine faecal samples

“…Indeed, during the outbreak in 2019, P. alcalifaciens was found in the faeces of more than half the dogs (62%) admitted to the Small Animal Hospital at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences with AHDS ( Haaland et al., 2020 ). Further, non-culture-based methods revealed an increase in the relative abundance of P. alcalifaciens in faeces from dogs suffering from AHDS ( Herstad et al., 2021 ). The bacterium was rarely found in healthy controls ( Jørgensen et al., 2021 ).…”