Urine microbiota in a canine model of bladder cancer

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), also known as urothelial carcinoma, is the most common bladder cancer in dogs and has been associated with herbicide exposure. While some dog breeds like Scottish terriers and beagles exhibit a genetic predisposition to TCC, most bladder cancers are sporadic and result from mutations that may accrue from environmental exposures like diet or herbicides. The microbiome plays a critical role in host health and immune development, and microbes also metabolize the dietary compounds, xenobiotics, and toxins that dogs are exposed to each day. Recent studies have also determined that microbes can initiate or promote tumor development in stomach, colorectal, and cervical cancers. The primary goal of our study is to characterize the urinary microbiota in dogs with and without TCC.