![[Feedback]](/icons/banner/feedbackACT.gif){kind=icon}
![[For Subscribers]](/icons/banner/subscriberACT.gif){kind=icon}
![[Archive]](/icons/banner/archiveACT.gif){kind=icon}
![[Search]](/icons/banner/searchACT.gif){kind=icon}
![[Contents]](/icons/banner/tocACT.gif){kind=icon}
|
|
|
|
|
||
Food and Bioprocessing Sciences Group, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK
2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.a.rastall{at}reading.ac.uk.
The activities of the bacteria resident in the colon of companion animals can have an impact upon the health of the host. Our understanding of this microbial ecosystem is presently increasing due to the development of DNA-based microbiological tools that allow identification and enumeration of nonculturable microorganisms. These techniques are changing our view of the bacteria that live in the gut, and they are facilitating dietary-intervention approaches to modulate the colonic ecosystem. This is generally achieved by the feeding of either live bacteria (probiotics) or nondigestible oligosaccharides (prebiotics) that selectively feed the indigenous probiotics. Feeding studies with a Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic have shown positive effects on carriage of Clostridium spp. in canines and on recovery from Campylobacter spp. infection in felines. Immune function was improved in both species. Prebiotic feeding studies with lactosucrose and fructo-oligosaccharides in both cats and dogs have shown positive effects on the microflora balance. Recently synbiotic forms (a probiotic together with a prebiotic) targeted at canines have been developed that show promise as dietary-intervention tools.
KEY WORDS: • bacteria • colonic microflora • probiotics • prebiotics • Bifidobacterium • Lactobacillus
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. Nather, T. Alter, A. Martin, and L. Ellerbroek Analysis of risk factors for Campylobacter species infection in broiler flocks Poult. Sci., June 1, 2009; 88(6): 1299 - 1305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Corthesy, H. R. Gaskins, and A. Mercenier Cross-Talk between Probiotic Bacteria and the Host Immune System J. Nutr., March 1, 2007; 137(3): 781S - 790S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Eckert, J. He, D. K. Yarbrough, F. Qi, M. H. Anderson, and W. Shi Targeted Killing of Streptococcus mutans by a Pheromone-Guided "Smart" Antimicrobial Peptide Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., November 1, 2006; 50(11): 3651 - 3657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Hasegawa, K. Yang, M. Hashimoto, J.-H. Park, Y.-G. Kim, Y. Fujimoto, G. Nunez, K. Fukase, and N. Inohara Differential Release and Distribution of Nod1 and Nod2 Immunostimulatory Molecules among Bacterial Species and Environments J. Biol. Chem., September 29, 2006; 281(39): 29054 - 29063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Penders, C. Thijs, C. Vink, F. F. Stelma, B. Snijders, I. Kummeling, P. A. van den Brandt, and E. E. Stobberingh Factors Influencing the Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota in Early Infancy Pediatrics, August 1, 2006; 118(2): 511 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. K. Keel and J. G. Songer The Comparative Pathology of Clostridium difficile-associated Disease Vet. Pathol., May 1, 2006; 43(3): 225 - 240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Eckert, F. Qi, D. K. Yarbrough, J. He, M. H. Anderson, and W. Shi Adding Selectivity to Antimicrobial Peptides: Rational Design of a Multidomain Peptide against Pseudomonas spp. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., April 1, 2006; 50(4): 1480 - 1488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Pouteau, R. Frenais, H. Dumon, L. Noah, L. Martin, and P. Nguyen Colonic Fermentation of Inulin Increases Whole-Body Acetate Turnover in Dogs J. Nutr., December 1, 2005; 135(12): 2845 - 2851. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
