Investigating the Gut Microbiome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats

SUMMARY: Researchers will study the microbiome (gut bacteria) in cats with inflammatory bowel disease to inform the development of safer and more effective therapies.   

THE PROBLEM: Inflammatory bowel disease causes weight loss, vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea in cats. IBD can be complicated to treat, often requiring diet changes and medication. Many medicines have serious side effects that can decrease the quality of life. Bacteria in the intestines promote gut health, and loss of beneficial bacteria can cause IBD. How these bacteria regulate gut health or cause diseases like IBD in cats is unclear. 

THE PROJECT: Bifidobacterium is a beneficial bacterium that supports gut health. In previous studies, researchers found decreased Bifidobacterium in cats with IBD. The team has also seen lower amounts of chemicals called indoles in these same cats. Indoles, which Bifidobacterium makes, promote gut health. 

In this study, researchers will assess how Bifidobacterium affects gut health in cats with IBD. First, cats with IBD from a primary care veterinary hospital will be enrolled in a clinical trial to test if a Bifidobacterium probiotic can treat IBD in cats. Cats with IBD will receive the probiotic or a placebo for eight weeks. During this trial, the team will assess if the probiotic reduces signs of illness. The team will also collect blood samples during the trial to evaluate if treatment with the probiotic will increase indoles in the cats' blood.   

In another arm of the study, researchers will grow Bifidobacterium from cat feces in a laboratory using special conditions to find out if they can make indoles. Knowing if Bifidobacterium makes indoles will advance our understanding of how these bacteria can affect gut health. Finally, the team will collect immune cells from the blood of healthy cats and those with IBD. The cells will be exposed to indoles to determine if they can reduce inflammation. 

PROTENTIAL IMPACT: Findings from this study will fill critical knowledge gaps on how gut microbes influence intestinal health in cats. If successful, the novel probiotic therapy used in this study could be safer and less toxic than the currently available drugs to treat IBD in cats. The probiotic selected is commercially available, allowing for rapid adoption by veterinarians.