A prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study on the effect of Enterococcus faecium on clinical activity and intestinal gene expression in canine food-responsive chronic enteropathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Canine chronic enteropathies (CE) are believed to be caused by an aberrant immune response towards the intestinal microbiome. Administration of probiotics can alleviate colitis in people. In vitro effects of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 E1707 (EF) previously have been evaluated using canine cells (e.g., whole blood, intestinal biopsies), but data on in vivo efficacy are lacking.

Hypothesis/objectives

Administration of EF to dogs with food-responsive CE will improve clinical outcome and decrease the intestinal inflammatory profile.

Animals

Dogs diagnosed with CE were prospectively recruited to receive a hydrolyzed elimination diet plus either a synbiotic product containing EF or placebo for 6 weeks. Both veterinary staff and owners were bli

SUBMITTER: Schmitz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4895498 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature