How Feline Urethral Obstruction Alters the Urinary Microbiota—A Potential Game-Changer for Treatment
A recent study by Bathilda B. Lake and colleagues provides groundbreaking insights into how feline urethral obstruction (UO) affects the urinary microbiota. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the research team was able to document significant differences in the urinary microbiota of cats with UO compared to healthy cats. The study also compared the urinary microbiota to the oral, preputial, and rectal microbiota, revealing an altered microbial environment in UO-affected cats, suggesting a state of urinary dysbiosis.
Study Design:
The study included 30 client-owned cats, with 15 cats diagnosed with urethral obstruction (UO) and 15 healthy, age-matched control cats. To ensure consistency, cats with urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, recent antimicrobial treatment, or urinary catheterization in the past 30 days were excluded. Both groups underwent baseline tests including a CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis, urine culture, and bladder ultrasound. Samples from the cystocentesis site, buccal mucosa, rectum, prepuce, and urinary samples were collected, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to assess the microbiota diversity and richness across the groups and sampling sites.
Key Findings:
Altered Urinary Microbiota: The study found significant differences in the richness and diversity of the urinary microbiota in cats with UO compared to healthy cats. This suggests that UO may cause a state of urinary dysbiosis, which could contribute to the pathophysiology of the condition.
Changes in Other Microbiota Sites: In addition to the urinary microbiota, the study revealed changes in the preputial and oral microbiotas in cats with UO, supporting the idea that the disease may impact microbial populations throughout the body, not just in the urinary tract.
Potential for Novel Therapies: The identification of a urinary dysbiosis in UO cats opens up new possibilities for novel therapeutic interventions, such as probiotics or targeted microbiota-modulating therapies, to manage or prevent UO in cats.
Clinical Relevance:
This study is one of the first to document the presence of urinary dysbiosis in cats with UO using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, a method that allows for a more comprehensive analysis of microbial diversity than traditional culture methods. Although the results are preliminary, the findings suggest that a microbial imbalance may play a significant role in the development or exacerbation of UO. These insights could lead to new treatments that address the underlying microbial factors contributing to UO in cats.
Conclusion:
This study provides valuable data supporting the presence of urinary dysbiosis in cats with urethral obstruction. By highlighting the changes in the urinary and other microbiotas, the research lays the foundation for further investigation into the role of the microbiome in feline urological health. As we continue to uncover the complex relationships between microbial populations and disease, these findings could pave the way for novel, microbiome-based therapies to manage UO in cats.
Read full article here: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/aop/ajvr.24.07.0213/ajvr.24.07.0213.xml
