Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis
Gut microbiota composition plays a crucial role in host health and may be influenced by age and disease conditions. This study investigates the gut microbiota diversity of 175 dogs across three age groups (Junior (20–46 months, 43 dogs), Adult (47–92 months, 58 dogs), and Senior (93–168 months, 74 d...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Fatemeh Balouei Christina de Rivera Andrea Paradis Bruno Stefanon Stephanie Kelly Noelle McCarthy Paolo Mongillo |
| author_facet | Fatemeh Balouei Christina de Rivera Andrea Paradis Bruno Stefanon Stephanie Kelly Noelle McCarthy Paolo Mongillo |
| author_sort | Fatemeh Balouei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gut microbiota composition plays a crucial role in host health and may be influenced by age and disease conditions. This study investigates the gut microbiota diversity of 175 dogs across three age groups (Junior (20–46 months, 43 dogs), Adult (47–92 months, 58 dogs), and Senior (93–168 months, 74 dogs), and examined the impact of osteoarthritis on microbial composition. Alpha diversity analysis using the Shannon and Chao1 indices were significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in Senior dogs Beta diversity analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity indices demonstrated substantial overlap in gut microbiota composition across age groups, with no significant clustering observed (<i>p</i> > 0.05). A second analysis compared the microbiota of 69 healthy dogs and 81 dogs affected by osteoarthritis (OA) in the three classes of age. No significant differences were shown for alpha diversity and beta diversity between healthy and OA dogs. This indicates that aging and osteoarthritis do not induce significant shifts in microbial beta diversity, although high inter-individual variability was noted. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Junior dogs exhibited enrichment in <i>Blautia</i>, Erysipelotrichaceae, and <i>Clostridium</i>, while Adult dogs were characterized by higher abundances of <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i>, and Ruminococcaceae. Senior dogs had increased representation of <i>Prevotella</i> and <i>Ruminococcus</i>. In OA dogs, <i>Peptococcus</i>, <i>Peptostreptococcus</i>, Clostridiaceae, and <i>Coprobacillus</i> were significantly enriched in comparison to healthy dogs, suggesting potential microbiota shifts associated with osteoarthritis. Overall, these findings indicate that gut microbiota diversity varies across different life stages, specific bacterial taxa were differentially enriched in relation to age and OA. This study enhances our understanding of gut microbiota dynamics in dogs and provides insights into potential age- and disease-related microbial signatures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4556624810b4b80a1cf63fc3d49f6c0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e4556624810b4b80a1cf63fc3d49f6c02025-08-20T03:10:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511161910.3390/ani15111619Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with OsteoarthritisFatemeh Balouei0Christina de Rivera1Andrea Paradis2Bruno Stefanon3Stephanie Kelly4Noelle McCarthy5Paolo Mongillo6Agrifood, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze, 206, 33100 Udine, ItalyTranspharmation Canada Ltd., Fergus, ON N1M 2W8, CanadaTranspharmation Canada Ltd., Fergus, ON N1M 2W8, CanadaAgrifood, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze, 206, 33100 Udine, ItalyTranspharmation Canada Ltd., Fergus, ON N1M 2W8, CanadaTranspharmation Canada Ltd., Fergus, ON N1M 2W8, CanadaDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell’Universita’ 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyGut microbiota composition plays a crucial role in host health and may be influenced by age and disease conditions. This study investigates the gut microbiota diversity of 175 dogs across three age groups (Junior (20–46 months, 43 dogs), Adult (47–92 months, 58 dogs), and Senior (93–168 months, 74 dogs), and examined the impact of osteoarthritis on microbial composition. Alpha diversity analysis using the Shannon and Chao1 indices were significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in Senior dogs Beta diversity analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity indices demonstrated substantial overlap in gut microbiota composition across age groups, with no significant clustering observed (<i>p</i> > 0.05). A second analysis compared the microbiota of 69 healthy dogs and 81 dogs affected by osteoarthritis (OA) in the three classes of age. No significant differences were shown for alpha diversity and beta diversity between healthy and OA dogs. This indicates that aging and osteoarthritis do not induce significant shifts in microbial beta diversity, although high inter-individual variability was noted. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis identified distinct bacterial taxa associated with different age groups. Junior dogs exhibited enrichment in <i>Blautia</i>, Erysipelotrichaceae, and <i>Clostridium</i>, while Adult dogs were characterized by higher abundances of <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i>, and Ruminococcaceae. Senior dogs had increased representation of <i>Prevotella</i> and <i>Ruminococcus</i>. In OA dogs, <i>Peptococcus</i>, <i>Peptostreptococcus</i>, Clostridiaceae, and <i>Coprobacillus</i> were significantly enriched in comparison to healthy dogs, suggesting potential microbiota shifts associated with osteoarthritis. Overall, these findings indicate that gut microbiota diversity varies across different life stages, specific bacterial taxa were differentially enriched in relation to age and OA. This study enhances our understanding of gut microbiota dynamics in dogs and provides insights into potential age- and disease-related microbial signatures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1619gut microbiotadogsagingosteoarthritis16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Fatemeh Balouei Christina de Rivera Andrea Paradis Bruno Stefanon Stephanie Kelly Noelle McCarthy Paolo Mongillo Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis Animals gut microbiota dogs aging osteoarthritis 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing |
| title | Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis |
| title_full | Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis |
| title_fullStr | Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis |
| title_short | Gut Microbiota Variation in Aging Dogs with Osteoarthritis |
| title_sort | gut microbiota variation in aging dogs with osteoarthritis |
| topic | gut microbiota dogs aging osteoarthritis 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1619 |
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