PhD in Veterinary Sciences for Animal Health and Food Safety

Contacts

Supervisor

Giorgia Meineri

Curriculum vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Phd thesis

Title: Improving Gastrointestinal Health and Wellbeing in Dogs under Breeding Conditions: Efficacy of a Natural Dietary Supplement

 

Description:

The gastrointestinal (GI) health of dogs, particularly those in Kernel conditions, is often compromised by oxidative stress-related inflammation, and associated disorders like inflammatory bowel disease. My PhD research, conducted over three years, focused on developing and evaluating a natural dietary supplement aimed at improving GI health and overall well-being in dogs exposed to the stressful conditions of kennel environments. The supplement, containing bromelain, quercetin, and Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom), was evaluated through a series of in vitro and in vivo studies.

 

Briefly:

Year 1

Aim: Make a selection of suitable natural substances and investigate the antioxidant activity of selected natural compounds, both individually and in combination, to identify the most effective formulation.

Outcome: The study demonstrated that the selected compounds exhibited significant antioxidant activity, suggesting their efficacy in reducing oxidative stress-related gut inflammation in dogs under Kernel conditions.

 

Year 2

Aim: To develop a supplement formulation integrating bromelain, quercetin, and Lentinula edodes and assess its impact on in vivo gastrointestinal health.

Outcome: The formulation was administered to a group of American Staffordshire Terrier dogs, and biomarkers of stress, inflammation, and intestinal metabolism were measured. The results indicated a notable improvement in gut health, including enhanced intestinal barrier function and reduced inflammatory markers in dogs receiving the supplement.

 

Year 3

Aim: To assess the supplement's effect on gut microbiota and evaluate its broader impact on microbiota diversity and distribution.

Outcome: The microbiota analysis revealed significant shifts in the gut microbiome composition, with increased levels of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These findings demonstrated the supplement's ability to positively modulate the gut microbiota, supporting improved gastrointestinal health and reducing the incidence of GI-related disorders.

 

Overall findings:

These results suggest that the use of natural dietary supplements offers a promising, safer alternative to traditional treatments for managing GI health in dogs, particularly in environments where stress and dietary challenges are prevalent.

Research activities

Year 1:  Initial Investigations and In Vitro Antioxidant Chemical Analyses

1. Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant properties of bromelain, quercetin, and Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom).
2. Activities:
   • I conducted extensive literature review to select natural ingredients with potential antioxidant properties.
   • I performed in vitro assays to measure Total Phenolic Content (TPC), DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity, and ABTS Radical Cation Decolorization.
   • I formulated a dietary supplement based on the results of the individual and combined antioxidant capacities of the selected ingredients.

Year 2:  In Vivo Trials and Initial Analysis

1. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of the formulated dietary supplement on GI health in dogs under breeding conditions.
2. Activities:
   • I conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30 dogs, divided into treated and control groups.
   • I collected fecal samples at weekly intervals over a 35-day period.
   • I measured fecal markers including calprotectin, histamine, indole/skatole, pH, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA).

Year 3:  Microbiota Analysis and Advanced Insights

1. Objective: To investigate the impact of the dietary supplement on the gut microbiome and its broader implications.
2. Activities:
   • I extracted and quantified microbial DNA from fecal samples.
   • I conducted 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis using QIIME 2 and R software.
   • I analyzed microbial community richness and evenness (Alpha diversity) and community composition (Beta diversity).
   • I identified specific taxa significantly affected by the supplement.

 

		2024	Conferences and Workshops Fetch Coastal Conference. Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Presentations and invited lectures		2024	Poster presentation and Section moderator “Evaluation of a novel antioxidant formulation for the improvement of canine gastrointestinal health”. Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD) International Congress 2024. Chicago, USA.
		2024	Science Talk and Poster presentation “Unraveling Gut Dynamics: Investigating the Impact of a Novel Supplement on Canine Gut Microbiota.” Food Systems Microbiome Conference 2024. Turin, Italy.
		2023	Oral presentation “Nutraceuticals: a promising alternative to the use of drugs for intestinal wellness in dogs”. Animal Production Science: innovations and sustainability for future generations. ASPA Congress 2023. Monopoli (Bari), Italy.
		2022	Oral presentation “New Nutraceuticals derived from natural sources for improving gastrointestinal health in Animal Nutrition, An oral Presentation at Terra Madre Congress 2024”. Symposium towards the International Society for Gastronomic Science and Studies 2022, Turin, Italy.

Publications

All of my research products