Karra D. A. PhD Student, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa | Lidbury J.A. Associate Professor, Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA | Suchodolski J. S. Professor, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA | Steiner J. Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA | Xenoulis P. Associate Professor, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa and Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
Introduction
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of FMT as an adjunct treatment for cats with chronic enteropathy (CE).
Materials and methods
Nine cats with CE were randomly selected to receive one FMT via enema (FMT-group) at timepoint 0 (T0) and 10 cats with CE were used as controls. Clinical activity was determined using the Feline Chronic Enteropathy Activity Index (FCEAI) and intestinal dysbiosis was determined using the feline dysbiosis index (DI) at T0 and 30 days after FMT (T1).
Results
FCEAI significantly decreased from T0 to T1 in both groups. No significant difference was found in FCEAI and in DI between the two groups at T0 or at T1. No significant difference was found in the DI from T0 to T1 in either group. In the FMT-group, 5 cats had an increased DI (>0) at T0 and remained increased in 4 of those at T1, while in 2 of 4 cats with normal DI (<0) at T0, the DI increased at T1.
Conclusions
In this study, one FMT enema as adjunctive treatment did not lead to a significant improvement in DI nor in FCEAI in cats with CE compared to controls. Further studies are needed.
