Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantations in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using metagenomic sequencing.

AIMS: Gastrointestinal disease is a leading cause of morbidity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under managed care. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) holds promise as a therapeutic tool to restore gut microbiota without antibiotic use. This prospective clinical study aimed to develop a screening protocol for FMT donors to ensure safety, determine an effective FMT administration protocol for managed dolphins, and evaluate the efficacy of FMTs in four recipient dolphins. METHODS AND RESULTS: Comprehensive health monitoring was performed on donor and recipient dolphins. Fecal samples were collected before, during, and after FMT therapy. Screening of donor and recipient fecal samples was accomplished by in-house and reference lab diagnostic tests. Shotgun metagenomics was used for sequencing. Following FMT treatment, all four recipient communities experienced engraftment of novel microbial species from donor communities. Engraftment coincided with resolution of clinical signs and a sustained increase in alpha diversity. CONCLUSION: The donor screening protocol proved to be safe in this study and no adverse effects were observed in four recipient dolphins. Treatment coincided with improvement in clinical signs.

Diagnosis of urinary bladder rupture using ultrasound contrast cystography: in vitro model and two case-history reports.

Because urinary bladder rupture can be life threatening, a simple, safe technique for evaluating patients is desirable. Current diagnostic protocols involve radiographic imaging, but ultrasound-based contrast techniques have not been methodically evaluated in veterinary patients with urologic trauma. Ultrasound contrast cystography (contrast cystosonography) involves infusion of microbubbled saline solution through a urinary catheter. It was performed in an in vitro model and in 2 dogs with naturally occurring urinary bladder rupture. A positive result consisted of visualizing microbubbles sonographically in fluid surrounding the bladder immediately after infusion of contrast into the urinary catheter. A positive result was obtained both in the in vitro model and in the 2 dogs, with radiographic and surgical confirmation of naturally occurring intraperitoneal urinary bladder rupture in the dogs. Based on the results of this study, ultrasound contrast cystography appears to be more sensitive than two-dimensional (2D) abdominal sonography for detecting naturally occurring urinary bladder rupture in dogs.