Evaluating the urinary microbiome of male feline urinary obstruction

Here we characterized the urinary microbiome of male cats with urinary obstruction and healthy, age-matched controls. Other prominent microbial communities (rectal, oral, skin) were also evaluated to determine whether these communities contributed to the urinary microbiome in urethral obstruction if a urinary microbiome was detected. We hypothesized that the feline urinary tract harbors a unique urinary microbiota best characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing that deviates from health (i.e., undergoes dysbiosis) with urethral obstruction secondary to feline interstitial cystitis.