The characterisation of the skin microbiome in normal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma affected cats and dogs

SCCs are common in both felines and canines and are often diagnosed at late stages leading to high disease morbidity and mortality rates. Unlike murine models, the cutaneous microbiome of cats and dogs share similarities with the human skin microbiome due to cohabitation, regular close contact with owners, and a similar indoor/outdoor lifestyle. The aim of this study was to provide microbiome data for SCC compared to normal 'healthy' skin in cats and dogs using culture-independent molecular profiling, and determine if companion animals could serve as an experimental model to study and evaluate microbiome-based SCC progression and therapies.