The Effects of Bacillus licheniformis-fermented Products on Chronic Feline Diarrhea and Intestinal Microbiota

Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (BLFP) are probiotics with antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that can improve growth performance. This study aimed to, firstly, compare the fecal microbiota of cats with chronic diarrhea (n = 8) with that of healthy cats (n = 4) from the same household using next-generation sequencing and, secondly, evaluate the effectiveness of oral administration of BLFP in relieving clinical signs and altering the intestinal microbiota in diarrheal cats. Six out of eight cats with diarrhea showed clinical improvement after BLFP administration for 7 days, and in two cats the stool condition was normal. A higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was noted in the feces of diarrheal cats without clinical improvement as compared with those in the healthy control group and in the diarrheal cats with clinical improvement after receiving BLFP. The phylum Bacteroidetes and class Bacteroidia decreased significantly in diarrheal cats regardless of BLFP administration. Blautia spp., Ruminococcus torques, and Ruminococcus gnavus, which belong to the Clostridium cluster XIVa and have been reported as beneficial to intestinal health, increased significantly in feces after BLFP treatment. Furthermore, a significant decrease in Clostridium perfringens was noted in diarrheal cats after BLFP administration. Overall, BLFP could be a potential probiotic to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms and improve fecal microbiota in cats with chronic diarrhea. Overall design: Twelve cats from the same household were included in this study. All the cats were fed a similar diet and had the same exercise level. The health status of these cats was observed and evaluated by owners and veterinarians. To evaluate the effects of BLFP on relieving the clinical signs and alteration of the microbiomes in cats with diarrhea, and to ensure that each cat received an equal amount of BLFP intake, 1.1 mg/kg BLFP was prepared as previously described and supplied in a capsule that was manually fed to the cats by the owner once a day for 7 consecutive days. Clinical scoring and fecal samples of these cats were collected before and after 7 days of BLFP treatment.