Find in Library

Gastrointestinal (GI) afflictions are prevalent among the feline population, wherein the intricacies of the gut microbiome exert a profound influence on their overall health. Alterations within this microbial consortium can precipitate a cascade of physiological changes, notably in immune function and antioxidant capacity. This research investigated the impact of <i>Bifidobacterium lactis</i> (<i>B. lactis</i>) and <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> (<i>L. plantarum</i>) on cats’ GI health, exploring the effects of probiotic supplementation on the intestinal ecosystem using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The findings demonstrated a significant improvement in gut barrier function by reducing plasma concentrations of D-lactate (D-LA) by 30.38% and diamine oxidase (DAO) by 22.68%, while increasing the population of beneficial bacteria such as <i>Lactobacillus</i>. There was a notable 25% increase in immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, evidenced by increases of 19.13% in catalase (CAT), 23.94% in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 21.81% in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Further analysis revealed positive correlations between <i>Lactobacillus</i> abundance and IgA, CAT, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels. These correlations indicate that <i>B. lactis</i> and <i>L. plantarum</i> enhance feline immune and antioxidant functions by increasing the abundance of beneficial <i>Lactobacillus</i> in the GI tract. These findings provide a foundation for probiotic interventions aimed at enhancing health and disease resistance in feline populations.