Analysis of the culturable gut yeast microbiota of dogs with digestive disorders

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2024-03, Vol.168, p.105153-105153, Article 105153
• Main Authors: Álvarez-Pérez, Sergio, Rodríguez-Franco, Fernando, García-Sancho, Mercedes, Tercero-Guerrero, Daniela, Sainz, Ángel, García, Marta E., Blanco, José L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal susceptibility; Digestive disorder; Dog; Malassezia; Yeast
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105153

Despite the increasing interest in studying the gut mycobiota of dogs, the association between fungal colonization and the development of digestive disorders in this species remains largely understudied. On the other hand, the high prevalence of antifungal-resistant yeasts detected in previous studies in samples from animals represents a major threat to public health. We analyzed the presence of culturable yeasts in 112 rectal swab samples obtained from dogs with digestive disorders attended in a veterinary teaching hospital. Our results revealed that Malassezia pachydermatis was frequently isolated from the studied dog population (33.9% of samples), and that the isolation of this yeast was significantly associated to the age of animals, but not to their sex, disease group, or the presence of vomits and/or diarrhea. In contrast, other yeast species were less prevalent (17.9% of samples in total), and their isolation was not significantly associated to any variable included in the analysis. Additionally, we observed that 97.5% of the studied M. pachydermatis isolates (n = 158, 1–6 per positive episode) displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value >4 μg/ml to nystatin, 31.6% had a MIC ≥32 μg/ml to fluconazole, and 27.2% had a MIC >4 μg/ml to amphotericin B. The antifungal susceptibility profiles of non-Malassezia (n = 43, 1–7 per episode) were more variable and included elevated MIC values for some antifungal-species combinations. These results confirm that the intestine of dogs is a reservoir of opportunistic pathogenic yeasts and suggest that the prevalence of M. pachydermatis colonization depends more on the age of animals than on any specific digestive disorder. •The presence of culturable yeasts in dogs with digestive disorders was analyzed.•Malassezia pachydermatis was the most prevalent species (>30% of samples).•The isolation of M. pachydermatis was associated to the age of animals.•Yeast presence was not linked to any specific digestive disorder.•Most yeast isolates showed decreased susceptibility to ≥1 antifungal.