PubMed Abstract PMID: 15284393
This abstract also posted in the files section of the K9Kitchen discussion group.

Monica's Comments
This study saw improved immune function in dogs when they were fed an Acidophilus probiotic. The study notes the difference between a probiotic (good bacteria, fed live in a suppliment) and prebiotics (a nondigestible sugar that feeds the existing good bacteria in the gut). It mentions that even a prebiotic helps to balance out the microflora in the colon, and a combination of both probiotics and prebiotics has shown promise as well. The authors also noted that today's DNA tools makes the identification and counting of the denizens in the gut much easier and more accurate; which, in turn, helps in studying dietary approaches to managing the colonic ecosystem.

The full study is posted at the Nutrition.org for a two-day reading fee of $8 per computer.

The Abstract
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.

Study Author
Rastall RA
Food and Bioprocessing Sciences Group, School of Food Biosciences,
University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK.

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