GI26 - Fecal Bile Acids Profiles in Cats with Chronic Enteropathy

Abstract: Background - Dysmetabolism of bile acids (BAs) has been linked to chronic gastrointestinal diseases in humans and dogs.

Objectives - To assess fecal concentrations of unconjugated BAs and their correlation with the abundance of Clostridium hiranonis in cats with chronic enteropathy (CE).

Animals - 45 healthy cats, 22 cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and 34 cats with intestinal small cell lymphoma (SCL).

Methods - Fecal concentrations of unconjugated primary (i.e., cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids) and secondary BAs (i.e., lithocholic, deoxycholic, and ursodeoxycholic acids) were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fecal C. hiranonis abundance was determined by quantitative PCR. Concentrations of BAs were compared between groups. The correlation between the C. hiranonis abundance and BAs concentrations was evaluated by Spearman’s correlation test. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Results - Total fecal BA concentrations were higher (P < .0004; Mann-Whitney test) in cats with CE (IBD and SCL; median[range]: 6,254 [125-17,620] ng/mg) than in healthy control cats (4,316 [1,150-12,910]). Fourteen percent (8/56) of cats with CE had total fecal primary BA concentration above the upper limit of the reference interval. The composition of primary and secondary BAs was abnormal in 23% (13/56) of cats with CE. The abundance of C. hiranonis and percentage of primary BAs were negatively correlated (r_s = -0.67; 95% CI: [-0.78, -0.56]; P < .0001). No significant differences were found between cats with IBD and cats with SCL.

Conclusions and clinical importance - A subset of cats with CE had evidence of BA dysmetabolism.