Fecal dysbiosis in miniature dachshunds with inflammatory colorectal polyps

- Inflammatory colorectal polyp (ICRP) is commonly observed in miniature dachshund in Japan.
- Fecal microbiota was characterized by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- ICRP-affected dogs showed significant fecal dysbiosis compared with healthy dogs.
- Microbiota of ICRP-affected dogs tended to change in composition to be similar to healthy after immunosuppressive therapy.

Chronic gastrointestinal disease is associated with the alteration of gastrointestinal microbiota. Inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRPs) are commonly observed in miniature dachshunds (MDs) in Japan and are characterized by multiple polyps that are restricted in the colorectal mucosa with severe neutrophil infiltration. This study was aimed to compare the fecal microbiota of ICRP-affected MDs with that of healthy MDs. High-throughput sequencing of amplicons derived from the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was applied using the Illumina MiSeq system. Principal coordinates analysis revealed that fecal microbiota of ICRP-affected MDs was significantly altered compared with that of healthy MDs. Proportions of Fusobacteriaceae, Helicobacteraceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Turicibacteraceae were significantly more abundant in ICRP-affected MDs, while those of Lachnospiraceae were significantly less abundant in ICRP-affected MDs compared with healthy MDs. These results suggest that the dysbiosis is associated with ICRPs and is a potential therapeutic target, though further investigations are needed.