Effects of Black Soldier Fly Larvae on the Fecal Characteristics, Skin and Coat Health Markers, Immune Function, and Oral Health Measures of Healthy Adult Cats.

IF 2.7 2区 农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE
Patrícia M Oba, Vanessa M De La Guardia-Hidrogo, Olivia R Swanson, Julio C Mioto, Elizabeth A Koutsos, Daniel Adams, Gene Pavlovsky, Stephanie C J Keating, Andrew J Steelman, Kelly S Swanson
{"title":"Effects of Black Soldier Fly Larvae on the Fecal Characteristics, Skin and Coat Health Markers, Immune Function, and Oral Health Measures of Healthy Adult Cats.","authors":"Patrícia M Oba, Vanessa M De La Guardia-Hidrogo, Olivia R Swanson, Julio C Mioto, Elizabeth A Koutsos, Daniel Adams, Gene Pavlovsky, Stephanie C J Keating, Andrew J Steelman, Kelly S Swanson","doi":"10.1093/jas/skaf063","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is a recently approved alternative protein source for dog and cat foods and treats in the US, but research in cats remains limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of BSFL on the serum chemistry, hematology, skin and coat health markers, fecal characteristics, immune function, and oral health measures of healthy adult cats. Twenty-five adult cats (17 females and 8 males; 6.28 ± 0.27 yr; 4.50 ± 0.18 kg) were used in a completely randomized design. The study was composed of a 21-d baseline period and a 70-d experimental period. During the baseline period, all cats were fed a chicken meal-based control diet (35% of diet). After baseline, cats were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental diets: control diet (n=12) or a BSFL-containing diet (20% whole BSFL meal and 24% chicken meal; n=13). At baseline, teeth were cleaned by a veterinarian. Breath samples were analyzed for odor components, salivary pH was measured, and blood samples were collected after baseline cleaning, d 35, and d 70. Feces were scored, fecal samples were collected, skin was assessed, and hair was collected at baseline and d 70. Oral health indicators were assessed by a board-certified veterinarian at d 70. Data were analyzed using the mixed models procedure of SAS, testing for effects of diet (oral microbiota) or diet, time, and diet*time (variables measured over time), with P<0.05 being significant. Diet*time interactions (P<0.05) were noted for blood calcium, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations and fecal characteristics, metabolite concentrations, and microbiota populations. Some hematologic measures were affected by time, but none were impacted by diet. Cats fed BSFL had lower (P<0.05) fecal pH, dry matter, and phenol, indole, and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations, and greater (P<0.05) fecal scores and short-chain fatty acid concentrations. Fecal microbiota populations were affected by BSFL, with alpha diversity, beta diversity, and >20 bacterial genera being different between groups. Immune markers, skin and hair measures, salivary pH, breath odor, and oral microbiota and health measures were unaffected by the diet. In conclusion, a 20% dietary BSFL inclusion had clear effects on the fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult cats, shifting most outcomes in a positive direction. Inclusion of BSFL had mild effects on serum metabolites and did not significantly affect the other variables measured.</p>","PeriodicalId":14895,"journal":{"name":"Journal of animal science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of animal science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf063","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is a recently approved alternative protein source for dog and cat foods and treats in the US, but research in cats remains limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of BSFL on the serum chemistry, hematology, skin and coat health markers, fecal characteristics, immune function, and oral health measures of healthy adult cats. Twenty-five adult cats (17 females and 8 males; 6.28 ± 0.27 yr; 4.50 ± 0.18 kg) were used in a completely randomized design. The study was composed of a 21-d baseline period and a 70-d experimental period. During the baseline period, all cats were fed a chicken meal-based control diet (35% of diet). After baseline, cats were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental diets: control diet (n=12) or a BSFL-containing diet (20% whole BSFL meal and 24% chicken meal; n=13). At baseline, teeth were cleaned by a veterinarian. Breath samples were analyzed for odor components, salivary pH was measured, and blood samples were collected after baseline cleaning, d 35, and d 70. Feces were scored, fecal samples were collected, skin was assessed, and hair was collected at baseline and d 70. Oral health indicators were assessed by a board-certified veterinarian at d 70. Data were analyzed using the mixed models procedure of SAS, testing for effects of diet (oral microbiota) or diet, time, and diet*time (variables measured over time), with P<0.05 being significant. Diet*time interactions (P<0.05) were noted for blood calcium, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations and fecal characteristics, metabolite concentrations, and microbiota populations. Some hematologic measures were affected by time, but none were impacted by diet. Cats fed BSFL had lower (P<0.05) fecal pH, dry matter, and phenol, indole, and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations, and greater (P<0.05) fecal scores and short-chain fatty acid concentrations. Fecal microbiota populations were affected by BSFL, with alpha diversity, beta diversity, and >20 bacterial genera being different between groups. Immune markers, skin and hair measures, salivary pH, breath odor, and oral microbiota and health measures were unaffected by the diet. In conclusion, a 20% dietary BSFL inclusion had clear effects on the fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult cats, shifting most outcomes in a positive direction. Inclusion of BSFL had mild effects on serum metabolites and did not significantly affect the other variables measured.

求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
Journal of animal science
Journal of animal science 农林科学-奶制品与动物科学
CiteScore
4.80
自引率
12.10%
发文量
1589
审稿时长
3 months
期刊介绍: The Journal of Animal Science (JAS) is the premier journal for animal science and serves as the leading source of new knowledge and perspective in this area. JAS publishes more than 500 fully reviewed research articles, invited reviews, technical notes, and letters to the editor each year. Articles published in JAS encompass a broad range of research topics in animal production and fundamental aspects of genetics, nutrition, physiology, and preparation and utilization of animal products. Articles typically report research with beef cattle, companion animals, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep; however, studies involving other farm animals, aquatic and wildlife species, and laboratory animal species that address fundamental questions related to livestock and companion animal biology will be considered for publication.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信