CommuniVET™ | Assessing and treating the microbiome

Presented by Linda Toresson, DVM, PhD, Swedish specialist in small animal internal medicine

Continuing education questionnaire

CE credit: 1

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Questions

1. True or False. In a 2021 study by Werner et al., “Diagnostic value of fecal cultures in dogs with chronic diarrhea,” in 2/3 laboratories, more abnormal cultures were reported in dogs with chronic diarrhea than healthy dogs. *

True

False

2. Regarding the dysbiosis index, dysbiosis is defined as healthy, mild or severe, respectively, by the following numerical values *

Healthy = <0, mild = 0–2, severe = 2–10

Healthy =2–10, mild = 0–2, Severe = <0

Healthy = 1, mild = 2, severe = 3

None of the above

3. What percentage of intestinal microbiome species are able to be identified with conventional culture modalities? *

25%

15%

10%

4. In a 2002 study by Engvall et al., “Isolation and identification of thermophilic Campylobacter species in faecal samples from Swedish dogs,” 39%–76% of healthy dogs under 2y of age shed Campylobacter spp. *

True

False

5. Which of the following statements regarding healthy dogs as compared with those with dysbiosis (in both acute and chronic gastroenteritis) is correct? *

Healthy dogs have a less diverse microbiome and a decrease in short-chain, fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria

Healthy dogs have a more diverse microbiome and an increase in SCFA-producing bacteria

Healthy dogs have a less diverse microbiome and an increase in SCFA-producing bacteria

Healthy dogs have a more diverse microbiome and a decrease in SCFA-producing bacteria

6. Which of the following regarding the benefits of SCFAs is true when it comes to microbial gastrointestinal health? *

SCFAs promote healthy motility and enhance enterocyte barrier function and tight junctions

SCFAs serve as an energy source for colonocytes

SCFAs help create and promote an anti-inflammatory environment within the intestinal tract

All of the above

7. Excessive primary bile acids in the colon can result in diarrhea via what mechanism? *

Production of Clostridium hiranonis

Suppression of Clostridium perfringens

Promotion of excessive water and electrolyte secretion resulting in increased colonic motility and mucosal permeability

Endotoxin production leading to alterations in intestinal motility

8. In healthy dogs, what effect does metronidazole therapy have on the intestinal microbiome? *

Minimal effect on the composition of the microbiome, with a decrease in dysbiosis index

Significant effect on the composition of the microbiome, with an increase in dysbiosis index

Increase in secondary bile acids with a decrease in fecal lactate

Decrease in secondary bile acids with a decrease in dysbiosis index

9. Which of the following are tools that affect the microbiotia in chronic enteritis? *

10. In a 2020 article by Cerquetella et al., “Proposal for rational antibacterial use in the diagnosis and treatment of dogs with chronic diarrhoea,” which of the following treatment was recommended last (with some exceptions)? *

Diet trial

Pre- or probiotics

Antibiotics

Anti-inflammatory drugs