News from research - 10. december 2013

Diet Supplemented group

3000,00

Investigations on faecal biomarkers of gastrointestinal inflammation and immunity Control group

p=0.01

2000,00 The impact of some physiological factors such as age, gestation and lactation on faecal calprotectin and IgA, non-invasive markers of intestinal inflammation and immunity, respectively, was assessed in 138 dogs.

#10 - December 2013

Effect of age:

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Measurement of faecal calprotectin concentrations is widely used in human medicine, and has been shown to be a marker of intestinal inflammation in adult dogs with chronic diarrhoea1. Secretory IgA is the predominant immunoglobulin subtype in secretions, protecting mucosal surfaces of the body from infectious agents. Therefore, 0,00 6 months 12 months faecal IgA has been suggested to be the most useful marker of the mucosal immunity, and in dogs, it has been used to evaluate intestinal immunity2,3. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of physiological factors such as gestation, lactation and age on faecal calprotectin and IgA in dogs.

5 weeks To do so, 138 dogs of different breeds were includedWeaning into pre-term Whelping the study:

Stool samples were collected just after defecation and kept frozen at - 20°C until analysis. Calprotectin and IgA were respectively quantified by a radioimmunoassay and ELISA.

Higher faecal calprotectin concentrations were observed in puppies between 4 and 9 weeks of age compared to adult dogs. In contrast, no significant differences in IgA concentrations were observed in puppies compared to adult dogs.

The effect of age on faecal calprotectin could be explained by several phenomena, such as an increased intestinal permeability during the development of the digestive tract in very young dogs, the physiological establishment of the gut microbiota or dietary influence.

Intro Fresh news from the WINSS* 2013! *Waltham International Nutritional Sciences Symposium In October, WALTHAM hosted a three-day state of the art nutritional sciences symposium called “From Pet Food to Pet Care - Bridging the Gap” in Portland, Oregon (USA). This event, co-sponsored by Banfield Pet Hospital, the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition gathered about 300 world-class academics, researchers and veterinary specialists. All the

Effects of gestation and lactation: Bitches during their second month of lactation had significantly lower faecal IgA concentrations when compared to their first month of lactation. This may be explained by the important production of IgA in the milk and the high quantity of milk produced by bitches during 12 months 2 years of age 3 years of age 6 months this of age (22-30 months) (34-40 months) of ageperiod.

Cardiology

This study showed that faecal IgA and calprotectin • 89 adult healthy control dogs, used as reference for faecal concentrations vary markedly depending of physiologic factors, Puppy diet Growth diet Follow-up (regular diet) calprotectin and IgA concentrations; such as gestation, lactation, and age. These factors need to be Control considered when using these faecal biomarkers Puppies (n=45) Adults (n=34) Adults (n=33) for evaluation of • 19 female dogs, followed from the secondMothers month(n=6) of gestation until group intestinal immunity or inflammation. the end of the second month of lactation; • 30 puppies, followed from 4 to 9 weeks of age.

Supplemented group

Mothers (n=5)

Impact of age on faecal calprotectin concentrations

Faecal calprotectin (µg/g)

1.Grellet, A., Heilmann, R.M., Lecoindre, P., Feugier, A., Day, M.J., Peeters, D.,Questionnaire Freiche, V., Hernandez, J., IgE measurements End of feeding period Questionnaire 1 2

Cats’ early nutrition and growth may interact with the genetic predisposition for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and modify phenotypic expression of this disease. To understand better the relationship between early growth and HCM, the objective of this study was to assess echocardiographic findings in a colony of adult cats with respect to early growth patterns and metabolic variables.

Grandjean, D., Suchodolski, J.S., Steiner, J.M., 2013. Fecal calprotectin concentrations in adult dogs with IgEAm measurements chronic diarrhea.

J Vet Res 74, 706-711.

2.Peters, I.R., Calvert, E.L., Hall, E.J., Day, M.J., 2004. Measurement of immunoglobulin concentrations in the feces of healthy dogs. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 11, 841-84 3.Tress, U., Suchodolski, J.S., Williams, D.A., Steiner, J.M., 2006. Development of a fecal sample collection strategy for extraction and quantification of fecal immunoglobulin A in dogs. Am J Vet Res 67, 1756-1759.

10th percentile 25th percentile

90

median 75th percentile

80

90th percentile

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Puppies between 4 and 6 weeks of age

Puppies between 7 and 9 weeks of age

Adult dogs

© ROYAL CANIN SAS 2013. All Rights Reserved - Credits: JM. Labat, F. Duhayer

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Of course, Royal Canin research was involved, with 4 short communications and 16 posters, and we are proud to share some of them with you in this new issue of News from Research!

Do you want to know more? Proceeding document is available for download: http://www.waltham.com/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/winss/FINALWINSSProceedings2013.pdf Marie-anne Hours (Scientific Support- R&D) & Gregory Casseleux (Scientific Communication- Europe)

Does early growth affect Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in adult cats?

This retrospective study on 28 adult cats of various breeds showed that left ventricular hypertrophy was related to early growth patterns.

Grellet A. Heilmann RM, Mila H, Feugier A, Grützner N, ,Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM, Chastant-Maillard S. Effect of age, gestation and lactation on fecal immunoglobulin A and calprotectin concentrations in dogs.

Puppies (n=35) Proc. of the WINSS 2013; OctoberAdults (n=25) Oregon (USA), Adults (n=24) 1-4, Portland, 36

attendees were brought together, for scientific sessions that addressed current human and pet care issues including ageing, microbiome, healthy weight management, and many other hot topics linked to nutrition.

Twenty eight adult colony cats over 3 years of age, with recorded growth curves during the first year of life, were included. The population consisted of 20 males and 8 females, all neutered, from various breeds: Domestic short/longhair (n=11), Birman (n=5), Somali (n=4), Maine Coon (n=4), Siamese (n=2), Exotic shorthair (n=1), and Sphynx (n=1). The median age was 5.3 years, ranging from 3.2 to 6.8 years. Body condition scores ranged from 4 to 9 (median 5.5) and body weight at the time of the study ranged from 2.7 to 7.2 kg (median 4.8kg).

Clinical examination and echocardiography were performed on all cats. Body weight, body condition score (on a 9-point scale), and head length and width were assessed. A blood analysis including circulating glucose, insulin, NT pro-BNP*, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) was also carried out.

Cardiac abnormalities included a cardiac murmur (n=7), gallop (n=3) and arrhythmia (n=1). 50% of cats (14/28) had echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy. These findings of left ventricular hypertrophy were significantly associated (p<0.05) with bodyweight at 6 and 12 months, head width at adulthood, and circulating concentrations of NT-pro-BNP and IGF-1.

Left ventricular hypertrophy was common in this population, affecting 50% of adult cats. These echocardiographic findings were associated with growth patterns such as heavier body weight at 6 and 12 months of age. Further investigations are necessary to assess the relationship between early nutrition, growth, and the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Freeman LM, Rush JE, Feugier A, van Hoek I. Early growth is related to metabolic markers and cardiac hypertrophy in cats. Proc. of the WINSS 2013; October 1-4, Portland, Oregon (USA), 87 * NT-proBNP is a biomarker that can be used as an evaluation tool for cardiac disease.

Body weight at 6 months (kg)

Intestinal

5 p=0.01

4

3

2 No LVH

LVH

LVH= Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Percentage

15

Neutering

Incidence of overweight after neutering is reduced after feeding a specifically formulated diet

This 6-month trial assessed the impact of feeding Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Feline Weight Control * in maintaining an optimal body condition following neutering in 187 cats.

Control diet

5

10

Dermatology 5

Long term effects of the “Skin Barrier cocktail” on Feline Weight the incidence of atopic dermatitis Days clinical signs Control diet 0

0

The effects0 of diets formulated to promote the 30 60 90 120 barrier effect 0of the skin (enriched in Pantothenate, Nicotinamide, Histidine, Inositol, and Days Choline) were evaluated in 80 Labrador puppies up to 3 years of age.

30

60

90

120

150

180

Neutering

Circulating Der f IgE levels at 6 and 12 months of age

150

180

EA unit

Diet Supplemented group

3000,00

Neutering

Control group

Neutering is a known risk factor for obesity in cats, and is commonly associated with significant weight gain in the weeks following surgery. Thus, the post-neuter period is an opportunity to help prevent overweight through dietary intervention.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of a moderate fat, low energy dry diet (Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Feline Weight Control) in promoting maintenance of optimal bodyweight following sterilisation.

Body weight at 6 months (kg)

One-hundred eighty-seven healthy cats with an ideal body condition (87 females and 100 males, mean age: 5.2+/- 0.8 months), presenting for neutering in 51 Banfield Pet Hospitals, were enrolled.

Cats were randomly assigned to two dietary regimes: one group was instructed to feed the trial diet (Royal Canin Weight control) 5 at maintenance, with a daily ration corresponding to 77.6 kcal/kg p=0.01 0.711 BW , and the other group was instructed to stick to the cat’s regular diet according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

4 Bodyweight and Body Condition Score (BCS) were measured by veterinarians at enrolment, after 2 weeks, and monthly over the 6 months following surgery.

3

Compared with baseline, the odds of being scored as overweight (i.e. BCS>3 on a 5 point scale) six months after neutering was 4.1 times greater for cats in the control group compared to cats fed the test diet (p<0.001).

The rate of weight gain was also significantly 2 No LVH

Diet composition (% as fed) Veterinary Care Nutrition Feline Weight Control*

Moisture

5.5%

Protein

35%

Fat

10%

Crude Fibre

9.3%

Ash

10.2%

*In some parts of the world, Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Feline Weight Control * is known as Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Neutered Satiety Balance.

reduced (p<0.05) in the group fed the test diet compared to control, and in females compared to males.

Feeding a specifically formulated diet after neutering significantly limits weight gain. Six months after surgery, the probability of a cat fed Royal Canin Feline Weight Control to be overweight is significantly lower than for a cat fed his regular diet.

Spofford N, Mougeot I, Elliott D, Addleman A, Lefebvre S; Wang M, Yang M, Feugier A, Biourge V, Lund E. A moderate fat, low energy dry expanded diet reduces weight and body score gain following neutering in cats.

Proc. of the WINSS 2013; October 1-4, Portland, Oregon (USA), 85

LVH

LVH= Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Percentage of overweight cats (assigned to a BCS>3 on a 5-points scale) at various points after neutering Percentage 25

The “skin barrier cocktail” is a combination of histidine and 4 vitamins of the B group (Pantothenate, Nicotinamide, Inositol, and Choline) that has been shown EA unitto enhance the skin barrier1. Evidence now suggests a role for skin barrier impairment in the developmentDiet of Canine Atopic Dermatitis2,3 (CAD). The purpose of this study was to 2000,00 Supplemented 3000,00 investigate the effects of diets fortified to promote skin barrier duringgroup the first year of life on the incidence of atopy symptoms compared toControl group non-supplemented control diets.

Eleven gestating Labrador Retrievers dams were randomly fed either a diet enriched with the “skin barrier cocktail” (n=5) or an unsupplemented control diet (n=6) from 5 weeks pre-term.

Subsequently, 80 puppies (47 males and 33 females) were enrolled p=0.01 and fed one2000,00 of the 2 diets, for a period of 1 year. The diet of the puppy matched the diet of their mother: thus, 35 puppies were maintained on the test diet and 45 on the control diet.

p=0.01

1000,00

At 12 months of age, circulating IgE antibodies to mite allergens (Der f and Der p) were significantly higher in dogs fed the control diet than in dogs fed the supplemented diet. After the end of the feeding period, the frequency of itch-associated behaviour (scratching, licking, 1000,00 rubbing, gnawing, and other clinical signs of atopy), were followed for 2 more years via owner questionnaires (see “study design”).

0,00

6 months

12 months

These results suggest that a canine diet formulated with the “skin barrier cocktail”, known to improve the barrier function of the skin may5 weeks have a role in delaying the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

12 months 6 months

For the first year follow-up questionnaire (at 2 years of age), no difference was observed for the two groups in the incidence of Atopic Dermatitis symptoms by owner assessment or veterinary diagnosis.

However, after the second follow-up questionnaire (at 3 years of age), the overall rate of atopic dermatitis symptoms had increased in the 0,00up to 12/57).

6 months months control group (6/59 At this stage, there12were significantly more symptomatic animals in the control diet group (30.3%: 10/33) than in the supplemented test diet group (8.3%, 2/24; p=0.04).

pre-term

Whelping

of age

of age

Weaning

van Beeck FL, Watson AL, Bos M, Biourge V, Willemse T. The effect of long term feeding of skin barrier fortified diets on the two year incidence of atopic dermatitis symptoms in labrador retrievers. Proc. of the WINSS 2013; October 1-4, Portland, Oregon (USA), 66

Puppy diet constituentsGrowth Follo 1. Watson AL, Fray TR, Bailey J et al. Dietary are able to play a diet beneficial role in canine epidermal barrier function. Experimental Dermatology 2006; 15: 74–81.

2. OlivryControl T. Is the skin barrier abnormal in dogs with atopic dermatitis? Vet Immunol and Immunopath.

Mothers (n=6) Puppies (n=45) Adults (n= 2011;14:11-16 group

3. Suter M et al. Structure of the skin barrier and its relevance for skin disease. Proc. of the ESVD congress 2013, Sept 21-29, Valencia (Spain)

Supplemented group

Study design:

Mothers (n=5)

Puppies (n=35)

Adults (n=

IgE measurements End of feeding period

20

5 weeks pre-term

Control

Whelping

6 months of age

Weaning

15

12 months of age

IgE measurements

2 years of age (22-30 months)

3 years of age (34-40 months)

Faecal calprotectin (µg/g) 10th percentile

10

Puppy

Feline Weight Control diet

5

Control group

diet

Mothers (n=6)

0 0

30

60

90

120

150

Growth

90

180

Supplemented group

Mothers (n=5)

Neutering

Adults (n=34) 75th percentile

80

Adults (n=33)

90th percentile

Puppies 60 (n=35)

40

3000,00

median

Puppies (n=45)

50

Diet

25th percentile Follow-up (regular diet)

70

Days

EA unit

diet

Faecal calprotectin (µg/g)

30

10th percentile

Supplemented group

90

25th percentile

20

Adults (n=25)

IgE measurements End of feeding period IgE measurements

Adults (n=24) Questionnaire 1

Questionnaire 2