bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PSIX-16 Observational Canine Aging Study: a Diet Enriched in Antioxidants Reduces Cognitive and Physical Decline
Authors: Key Morgan , Vondran Jodi , Hancock Leslie B , Brejda John 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Older pets often exhibit changes in behaviors and/or mental health such as altered sleeping habits, activity level, social orientation, cognitive ability and overall vitality. Nutrition has been shown in animal models to impact senescence progression. However, symptoms associated with aging often are insidious and unobserved. As a result, nutritional adjustments may be delayed or in some cases never implemented as some pets age. This study was conducted to measure observed behavioral responses of aging dogs being fed an investigational food, enriched with antioxidants, fatty acids and an experimental nutrient blend specific for aging dogs. A secondary objective was to determine behaviors dog owners use to infer their aging pet’s quality of life (QoL). Two-arm, controlled, multicenter, blinded study was conducted in adult dogs living with varying aging stages. Healthy dogs enrolled were categorized as small (15 to 25 lbs.) and medium (26 to 50 lbs.) breeds ≥7 years old, and large (51+ lbs.) breeds were ≥ 5 years old. The dogs were transitioned onto the experimental diet over 28 days and were fed the study food for a minimum of 84 days. Evaluations included physical examination, body weight, triaxial accelerometry, daily and monthly surveys assessing overall aging health, QoL, food, and daily activity with aging questionnaires on days 0, 28, 56, 84. Data from the aging questionnaire were analyzed using a linear mixed-model with Diet, Day, and Diet x Day as fixed-effects. An appropriate variance-covariance structure was selected to model the correlation between the repeated measurements. Single degree-of-freedom estimate statements were used to compare the two diets at each time point, and to compare all test period time points to baseline within each diet. A simulation-based multiplicity adjustment was used to control the Type I error rate. Population: A total of 140 dogs were enrolled, with 98 completing the study. Of the 98 completed participants, 76 dogs met completion criteria and were utilized for the statistical analysis. The dogs transitioned smoothly and accepted the test diet well throughout the study. Statistically significant findings from the monthly owner assessments showed an increase (d 28 P = 0.0032, d 56 P = 0.0081, and d 84 P = 0.0023) in affection from their pets. There was also a perceived increase in stamina (P = 0.0032) within 28 days. By day 56 dogs showed an increase in mental ability (P = 0.0426). The investigational study food was well-accepted and efficacious in supporting aging dogs. Notably, observed markers of social orientation, bonding and affection that often decline in aging dogs and those with canine cognitive dysfunction.
PSIX-12 Development of a Feed Supplement for Cats
Authors: Jang Hyun-Jun , Kim Jung-Ae , Kim Dae-Hyuk , Kim Yangseon 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Probiotics including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. have been known to control the balance of gut microbiota and are positively effective to host animals. In this study, 32 bacterial strains were isolated from Norwegian forest cat (castrated, 12 years old) and Persian cat (castrated, 10 years old) which were privately owned and had indoor access. Among them, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CACC612 (CACC612) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis CACC789 (CACC789) were selected as potential probiotics. From the characterization of the two strains, they showed equivalent acid tolerance, similar cell adhesion rate on HT-29 monolayer cell line, and superior bile salt tolerance, compared with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Subsequently, they exhibited antibacterial activities against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli KCTC 2617, Salmonella Derby NCCP 12238, Salmonella enteritidis NCCP 14546, Salmonella typhimurium NCCP 10328, Clostridium difficile JCM 1296T. From evaluating host effects, the viability of the feline macrophage cell line (Fcwf-4) increased with the treatment of CACC612 or CACC789 (P &lt; 0.05). The induced expression of immune-related genes such as IFN-γ, IL1β, IL2, IL4, and TNF-α by immune stimulation was significantly attenuated by the treatment of CACC612 or CACC789 (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, when 52 clinical factors of sera from 21 healthy cats were analyzed using partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the animals were markedly clustered before and after CACC612 or CACC789 feeding. In addition, hemoglobin and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly increased after CACC612 feeding (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusively, these results could contribute to understanding the functional effects of feline-originated probiotics and supporting their industrial applications.
PSIX-13 Intake Differences in Small Dogs Suggest a Need for Size-Specific Energy Considerations
Authors: McGrath Allison P , Hancock Leslie B , Morris Elizabeth M 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The domestic dog is one of the most diverse mammalian species in the world. However, knowledge regarding potential differences in metabolism and disparities in nutritional considerations due to body size is limited. The primary focus of this study was to investigate differences in energy needs of small dogs compared with medium and large dogs by analyzing longitudinal intake for individuals of varying body sizes. A secondary aim was to assess age-associated differences in the energy needs of small dogs by comparing longitudinal intake between young and old small dogs. Caloric intake (kcal/d), metabolic body weight (MBW)-adjusted caloric intake (kcal/kg0.75/d; MBW-Kcal), and BW were assessed in a population of mature adult dogs dogs (10.8 ± 1.9 yr; n = 58) categorized into three size groups based on ideal body weight; small (≤11 kg; n = 19), medium (11 &lt; x &lt; 22 kg; n = 29), nd large (≥ 22 kg; n = 10). The second study population was made up of small dogs less than seven years old (1.2 ± 0.8 yr; ≤11 kg; n = 46). All dogs were fed to maintain ideal BW. Intake was measured daily; BW was recorded monthly. The activity factor (AF) of each dog was calculated by dividing daily caloric intake by their resting energy requirement. ANOVA was used to assess effects of size and age on all data. Nonparametric test of medians was conducted to evaluate the distribution of MBW-Kcal. As expected, caloric intake increased as size increased (P &lt; 0.001); however, this effect was not attenuated by adjusting for MBW (P &lt; 0.001). Mean MBW-Kcal was greater in small dogs than medium (P &lt; 0.001) and large dogs (P = 0.031). The variance of MBW-Kcal in small dogs was greater than in large (P &lt; 0.001) and medium dogs (P &lt; 0.001), indicating that small dogs had a larger range in the distribution of caloric intake even when adjusted for MBW (Figure 1). Mean AF of small dogs (1.7) was also greater than large (1.5; P = 0.030) and medium dogs (1.5; P &lt; 0.001), but the AF of medium and large dogs were similar (P = 0.650). MBW-kcal and AF were similar between small old and young dogs (P &gt; 0.05). These data demonstrate that even when adjusted for MBW, small dogs may require more calories to maintain BW than their medium- and large-breed counterparts, and this increased caloric need appears to be sustained in both dmall young and old dogs. These results suggest that small breed dogs have different metabolic factors driving caloric needs compared with larger dogs and further emphasize that nutritional guidelines should be updated to better reflect the energy needs of small dogs across life stages.
PSIX-7 Attenuation of Immune Allergic Response Pathways in Canines with Dermatological Problems Fed a Polyphenol-Rich Food
Authors: Tavener Selena K , Badri Dayakar V , Panickar Kiran S 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Pathogenesis of canine dermatological problems is mediated by multiple effector cells including lymphocytes, eosinophils, and mast cells. We have previously reported a significant increase in the gene expression of interleukin-5 receptor alpha (IL-5RA) in dogs with dermatological problemscompared with controls, as well as a modest increase in C-C chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3), IL-4 and IL-5. We now investigated whether 2 tests foods (one rich in polyphenols) would provide beneficial effects in canines with dermatological problems (n = 8) compared with controls (n = 8). Dogs were pre-fed control food for 28 days and then divided into two groups based on their age, gender and phenotype (Healthy, Derm) followed by a cross-over design. At each phase, dogs were fed for 42 days with test food 1 (TF1) and the second group was fed with a greater polyphenol content Test food 2 (TF2) for 42 days followed by a crossover. Blood samples were collected at the end of pre-feed, end of phase 1, and end of phase 2. The study was approved by IACUC and AWC, Hill’s PNC. RNA was extracted from blood collected in PAXgene tubes and gene expression was investigated using the NanoString nCounter platform. To assess the food effect, a mixed model analysis was performed using treatment (food) as a fixed effect and animal as random effect using JMPPro. TF2 fed dogs decreased pruritus scores, increased the response rate (improvement %) to 30.77% compared with dogs fed TF1. There was a significant decrease in the interleukin-5 receptor alpha (IL-5RA) in dogs fed TF2 when compared with baseline (P &lt; 0.05). IL-5RA is a receptor expressed on eosinophils as well as committed eosinophil precursors in the bone marrow. There was also a decrease in FCRL2 in dogs fed TF2 (P &lt; 0.05). This gene is preferentially expressed in memory B-cells and plasma cells and also involved in B-cell receptor signaling. The generation of plasma cells requires naïve B cell activation to differentiate into antibody secreting cells or memory B cells. Given the lower levels of FCRL2 with TF2, it is possible that the production of subsequent IgE is attenuated. Another signaling molecule that was significantly decreased with TF2 was the innate immune response molecule C3AR1, a receptor for Complement C3a that induces chemotaxis, granule release, as well as superoxide production. TF1 and TF2 significantly decreased CCR3, a receptor on eosinophils and basophils. CCR3 antagonists are effective in reducing allergic inflammation. Our results indicate the important role of eosinophilic allergic response in dermatological disorders in dogs. TF2 appears to have a beneficial effect in attenuating allergy-inducing signaling pathways of innate and adaptive immune responses. Targeting these molecules may be important as part of newer therapeutic approaches, including nutritional strategies, to manage dermatological problems in dogs.
PSIX-11 Testing the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of brewer’s Yeast Extract on Macrophage Cell Lines in Vitro
Authors: De La Guardia-Hidrogo Vanessa M , Rummell Lindsey M , Asquith Thomas N , Nelson Erick R , Swanson Kelly S 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that brewer’s yeast may modulate gastrointestinal and immune health. Yeasthas been reported to contain bioactive components that possess anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in animal models, but source of yeast and processing conditions are unique to each product and require testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a novel brewer’s yeast product in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge using two macrophage cell lines (Raw 264.7 cells; J774A.1 cells) in vitro. Once cells were stable, they were exposed to one of the following treatments for 24 h: sterile phosphate-buffered saline (placebo), brewer’s yeast extract (low dose or high dose), LPS only (positive control), and LPS + brewer’s yeast extract (low dose or high dose). Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) was used to analyze relative mRNA production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-1β) in response to the treatments. Statistical analysis was performed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS, testing for the main effect of treatment. Significance was declared as P ≤ 0.05. As expected, LPS increased expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-1β to greater (P &lt; 0.05) concentrations than that of the placebo and yeast treatments in both cell lines. The results also showed that brewer’s yeast treatment in RAW 264.7 cells led to greater (P ≤ 0.01) mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1α and IL-1β during LPS challenge compared with control (LPS only) cells. In J774A.1 cells, brewer’s yeast treatments reduced (P ≤ 0.01) the mRNA expression of IL-1α and IL-1β during LPS challenge in a dose-dependent manner. However, no differences were observed in the mRNA abundance of TNF-α or IL-6 in J774A.1 cells. These findings suggest that the brewer’s yeast extract tested may possess anti-inflammatory effects in macrophage cell lines in vitro, although the responses varied across cell lines and yeast extract concentrations. Further research is needed to explore the potential applications of brewer’s yeast as an anti-inflammatory agent in the target animals of interest.
PSVIII-14 Improved Palatability and Digestibility in Dry Dog Food Using a Porcine Intestinal Mucosa Hydrolysate
Authors: Segarra Sergi , Dziedzic Boguslawa , Dziedzic Mariusz 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
A proper diet for a dog is one that provides all the required nutrients and is highly digestible. In order for the ingredients to be delivered to the organism, this diet should be highly palatable. Currently, research is being conducted on the possibility of introducing new sources of animal protein, thus replacing traditional meat meals. A new source of protein, together with increasing the digestibility and palatability of dry pet food while maintaining the price of the recipe, is an expected success. Porcine intestinal mucosa hydrolysate (PIMH) products are high-quality, sustainable, and inexpensive protein sources obtained from porcine intestinal mucosa as byproduct of the heparin manufacturing process. PIMH are being used as alternative protein sources in several animal species. The present study aimed to determine the effects of incorporating 3% PIMH (Palbio HP, Bioiberica SAU, Palafolls, Spain) as replacement for poultry meal on digestibility and palatability of dog dry food. The palatability test was conducted on a professional, independent panel of dogs. The test lasted 4 days with 20 adult dogs. Apparent digestibility and feces quality were also assessed in a digestibility test under the supervision of veterinarians in a 10-day experiment. The tested diets which serve as reference of a commercial dry dog food (Control diet) and a diet in which 3% PIMH was incorporated as replacement for poultry meal (PIMH diet). Palatability evaluation was performed in a two-pan setting in which first choice and consumption ratio were quantified and compared over four days. A Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis and a P-value of &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. An improvement in palatability was observed with the PIMH diet. More specifically, first choice results were greater during the four days of the study with PIMH (82%, 88%, 89% and 100%, respectively) compared with Control. Likewise, consumption ratio was also greater with PIMH over the four study days (84%, 87%, 86% and 93%, respectively). On the other hand, the PIMH diet showed a greater digestibility (77.98%) compared with the Control diet (73.95%), as well as a better feces score (0% unacceptable feces vs 4.2% in the Control group).In conclusion, using 3% Palbio HP PIMH in dry dog food as replacement for poultry meal leads to enhanced palatability and digestibility, while it has no negative impact on feces quality or diet costs.
PSVIII-17 In-Home Validation of a Canine Supplement Containing a Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Product
Authors: Gasper Julie , Norton Sharon A , Naqvi S Ali , Sardi Maria I 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Controlled, evidence-based research studies are essential to ensure functional pet food, treat and supplement ingredients are efficacious. However, understanding how nutritional technologies influence pet health and well-being in the pet's home environment is an additional way to derive further insight on performance and effectiveness. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of supplemental Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) using subjective pet owner insights coupled with an analysis of fecal metagenomic characteristics in dogs using an in-home testing approach. Healthy adult dogs (n = 348; 170 males and 178 females; mean age = 6.0 y; mean BW = 18.2 kg) were recruited from across the U.S. and randomly allotted to one of two treatment groups blocked by breed, gender, age and BW. Owners were asked to feed their dogs their usual food, treats and supplements throughout the 60-d study. The SCFP was delivered in a daily chew. The control was a placebo chew void of SCFP (CON), and the treatment chew (EPI) was formulated to deliver 7 mg· kg BW-1· d-1 SCFP (EpiCor postbiotic, Ankeny, IA). Surveys were fielded on d 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 to obtain pet owner subjective ratings of supplement performance across key health attributes. Fecal sample collection kits were provided to respondents on d 0, 30 and 60 for shotgun metagenomic analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted in R v.4.1.2. Ordinal logistic regression using the package ordinal in R was conducted on the survey data to understand relationships between the predictor variables and the ranked outcomes. Metagenomic data were analyzed using phyloseq, vegan, lme4, LinDA and emmeans packages in R. Differences P &lt; 0.05 were considered significant and P ≤ 0.10 as trends after FDR correction. Dogs receiving the EPI chew received numerically higher immunity ratings throughout the study and overall tended to be 95% more likely (P = 0.10) to receive a higher immune health rating versus CON. By d 60, EPI dogs were more likely (211% greater odds; P = 0.007) to exhibit less breath odor and 165% more likely to be less anxious (P = 0.02) than CON dogs. An increased relative abundance in butyrate producing taxa Anaerostipes hadrus (P = 0.002) and Megamonas (P = 0.001) and Fusobacteria (P = 0.004) were observed in EPI dogs emerging at d 30. Under the conditions of this study, daily supplementation of a SCFP supplement provided a spectrum of positive health outcomes in healthy adult dogs. Moreover, there was consistency in physiological benefits noted in previous controlled studies in healthy dogs fed SCFP to the owner-perceived changes in several health attributes in this study. Our data also suggest that SCFP may beneficially affect key indicators of breath odor and anxiety in dogs.
PSVIII-19 Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Product Modulates Blood Cell Counts and Gut Immunity in Healthy Adult Cats
Authors: Lin Ching-Yen , Norton Sharon A , Franz Nolan 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) has been shown to modulate immune responses in dogs and livestock. Information about feeding SCFP to cats, however, is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SCFP (TruMune, Cargill, Inc.) on immune indices including fecal IgA, serum oxidative stress markers, and toll-like receptor (TLR) responsiveness in healthy adult cats. Sixty-three cats (mean age = 6.3 ± 2.8 yr; mean BW = 4.4 ± 0.1 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design. All cats were fed a control kibble diet without SCFP (CON) during a 21-day adaptation period. Cats were randomly assigned to one of the three diets including CON, a dry diet containing 150 mg/kg BW SCFP (TRUL), and a dry diet containing 300 mg/kg BW SCFP (TRUH) and fed for 42 days. Fecal samples were collected on days 0, 21, and 42 for fecal IgA analysis. Serum samples were collected on days 0 and 42 for measurements of serum chemistry, complete blood count, and oxidative stress markers. Whole blood samples were collected on day 42 for TLR responsive evaluation. Protocols were approved by the facility’s Institutional Animal Care and Use committee before the study. Data were analyzed using R v.4.1.2. Differences P &lt; 0.05 were considered significant and P &lt; 0.10 as trends. All serum chemistry and blood cell count values were within the reference ranges, with serum chemistry not affected by SCFP. Absolute cell counts of eosinophils and neutrophils decreased linearly with SCFP dose (P &lt; 0.001) while absolute cell counts of lymphocytes and monocytes increased linearly with SCFP dose (P &lt; 0.01). TLR responsiveness was not altered (P &gt; 0.05) by SCFP. A tendency (P = 0.08) of quadratic treatment dose response was noted for thiobarbituric acids from the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, with cats fed TRUL having the greatest thiobarbituric acid values. Fecal IgA showed a quadratic treatment dose response on day 42 (P = 0.01), with cats fed TRUL having the lowest fecal IgA values. These results demonstrate that SCFP may affect immune outcomes including blood cell counts and fecal IgA in adult healthy cats.
PSVIII-A-3 Activity Behavior and Growth Performance During Summer of Grazing Beef Heifers with Divergent Residual Feed Intake
Authors: Lasso Sergio , Londono-Mendez Maria Camila , Fitzsimmons Carolyn J , Bork Edward , Plastow Graham , Basarab John A , da Silva Gleise 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Concerns about sustainability of beef production systems generate an interest in improved feed efficiency; however, there is a lack of research evaluating cattle activity budgets in response to the interaction between residual feed intake (RFI) and environment while grazing. Lying behavior and activity can provide insight into how animals interact with the environment and serve as an indicator of animal comfort. Furthermore, exposure to severe environmental factors can change behavioral patterns and impair animal performance. Therefore, this study evaluated activity budgets and performance in grazing beef heifers with divergent residual feed intake (RFI) during the summer season. From July to August 2022, forty-four crossbred beef heifers [358 ± 4.78 kg of body weight (BW); approximately 14 months of age] previously tested for RFI in drylot and classified as more (n = 21; LOW-RFI = -0.9 ± 0.70) or less feed efficient (n = 23; HIGH-RFI = 1.3 ± 1.00) were grazed at 2.72 AUM/ha over 7 wk in Alberta, Canada. IceRoboticTM pedometers (IceQube+) were used to track 24-hr heifer activity budgets [n = 43; total steps and lying and standing time (min/d and min/h) for 36 d]. Full BW was obtained on d -1, 0, 14, 28, 42, and 43 while fat scan on rib and rump were measured by ultrasound (Aloka 500 V diagnostic real-time) on d 0 and 42. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation information were collected within 1 km of the grazed area to calculate the Comprehensive Climate Index (CCI). Based on CCI, weather conditions were considered to impose risk to cause mild, moderate, severe, and extreme stress for 5, 18, 7, and 1 days, respectively. For BW, average daily gain (ADG), rump (RF) and rib fat (RiF), the data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, while behavior activity included repeated measures. An RFI x day interaction was observed for lying and standing times (P = 0.02) and total steps (P = 0.001). Greater number of steps (P &lt; 0.01) and an increased standing time (P &lt; 0.01) were observed in HIGH-RFI heifers. RFI × hour interaction was observed for lying and standing times (P = 0.006), where LOW-RFI heifers spent more time lying at 10:00 am (P &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, LOW-RFI heifers had decreased number of steps per hour throughout the study (P = 0.03; 178 vs 191 ± 4.1). No effects were observed for ADG, BW, RF, and RiF (P &gt; 0.24). In summary, selected activity behaviors differed between beef heifers with divergent residual feed intake while summer grazing. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of continuous changes in weather conditions to better understand the environmental impacts on animal behavior while selecting for more efficient beef cattle.