Probiotics
What are priobiotics
Probiotics have been defined by the joint Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. There is growing evidence supporting the use of probiotics in companion animals, particularly for promoting gastrointestinal health. However, this rapidly expanding field of research is also opening prospects for their use in supporting other body systems, such as cognitive, dermatological and renal health.[1][2][3][4]
What are the features of an ideal priobiotics
The ideal probiotic should meet a number of criteria which are described in more detail below:
- Viable- Probiotics should remain viable through specialised manufacturing conditions where they may be exposed to temperature extremes and humidity. Finished products should be tested for adequate probiotic levels, not only at the time of manufacture but throughout their stated shelf life.
- Stable in physiological conditions - Probiotics should be tested to ensure they can survive gastrointestinal conditions, including exposure to gastric acid, bile salts and digestive enzymes.
- Non-pathogenic/safe - Probiotics must be non-pathogenic and safe, as such they should be registered with official authorities to ensure they are tested for antibiotic-resistant genes or genes which might induce clinical infections, and are sensitive to clinically-relevant antibiotics. Probiotics are generally extremely safe for most animals, however in small subsets of animals (those undergoing chemotherapy or are immunosuppressed), probiotics should be used with more caution.
- Adherence - Probiotic bacteria should have a good ability to adhere to the intestinal mucosa in order to be retained within the gut long enough to colonise and exert their effects.
- Health benefit – A probiotic strain must demonstrate a positive influence upon host health, for example increased microbiota diversity or certain immune parameters.
- Dose - In order to provide the claimed health benefits, probiotics should be provided at an the efficacious dose guided by the supporting research. This dose can be variable between probiotic strains, but is commonly around 10[5] colony forming units (CFUs).[6]
Which priobiotic strains are suitable for use in dogs and cats?
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most widely used probiotics in humans and veterinary species and include bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus. Their suitability as probiotics is due to the fact that LAB possess many of the previously listed properties; they strongly adhere to intestinal mucus through expression of certain surface molecules[7] can survive gastric conditions[7], and have an antagonistic action against pathogenic bacteria [8]
Certain criteria assessing safety and efficacy need to be met in order for a probiotic to gain European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approval, therefore, the strains currently registered for use specifically as gut flora stabilisers in dogs and cats remains fairly limited due to the reduced availability of veterinary research. At this current time probiotics that are EFSA authorised as gut flora stabilisers include: Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 4b1705, Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663/ NCIMB 10415 4b1707, Lactobacillus acidophilus CECT 4529 4b1715 and Bacillus subtilis (now velezensis) C-3102 (DSM 15544) (currently for use in dogs only) [9]
How do probiotics affect the gut environment
The micro-organisms within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (microbiota) should exist in a harmonious balance, important for it to perform its many significant functions. If the natural balance becomes altered, through factors such as disease, stress, sudden dietary change or certain medications, the resulting dysbiosis can have negative impacts on host health. The aim of probiotic therapy is repopulate the gut with advantageous bacterial species that can adhere to the intestinal mucosa and colonise the GI tract. There they can act to stabilise the resident microbial communities, inhibit the growth of pathogens and support the intestinal immunological barrier through a number of mechanisms.[5]
References
- ↑ Marsella, R. Evaluation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG for the prevention of atopic dermatitis in dogs. Am. J. Vet. Res 2009; 70:735–740
- ↑ Marsella R, Santoro D, Ahrens K. Early exposure to probiotics in a canine model of atopic dermatitis has long-term clinical and immunological effects. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol 2012; 146:185–189
- ↑ Yeh YM, Lye XY, Lin HY, et al. Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 on alleviating canine aggression and separation anxiety Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2022 Jan 29:105569.
- ↑ Koppe L, Mafra D, Fouque D. Probiotics and chronic kidney disease. Kidney international 2015; 88(5):958-66.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Isolauri E, Kirjavainen PV, Salminen S. Probiotics: a role in the treatment of intestinal infection and inflammation? Gut 2002;50 (3):54-59.
- ↑ Ouwehand AC. The role of probiotics in digestive health Nutrition and Dietary Supplements 2015;7:103-109
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Monteagudo-Mera A, Rastall RA, Gibson GR, Charalampopoulos D, Chatzifragkou A. Adhesion mechanisms mediated by probiotics and prebiotics and their potential impact on human health . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019;103(16):6463-6472
- ↑ Żukiewicz-Sobczak W, Wróblewska P, Adamczuk P, Silny W. Probiotic lactic acid bacteria and their potential in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.Cent Eur J Immunol 2014;39(1):104-108.
- ↑ European Union Register of Feed Additives pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 Annex I: List of additives (Released 28.01.2022)