Browsing by Author "McGrew, Keely"
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Item Evaluating The Effect of a Macaque-Specific Probiotic on Prevention of Diarrhea, Chronic Stress Response and Social Interactions in a Colony of Macaca fascicularis(2023-05-15) McGrew, Keely; Kosten, Therese A.; Benoit, Julia S.; Alward, Beau A.; Dauwalder, BrigitteSocial housing changes can associate with diarrhea in macaques. Probiotics are utilized in human subjects to prevent and treat diarrhea. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of a species-specific probiotic known as SDPro™ on prevention of relocation-associated diarrhea in 120 juvenile macaques of both sexes and evaluate effects on gut microbiome composition. We compared microbiome composition between two groups to characterize effect of the probiotic on gut flora. SDPro™ administration caused changes in beta diversity but not in alpha diversity. Significant changes in taxa abundance at the phylum, genus and species level were noted in animals that received the probiotic compared to those that did not. The change in beta diversity from baseline to post-administration period showed a significant difference by group (p = .05). SDPro™ did not alter diarrhea incidence following relocation; however, there was a sex-based effect of probiotic administration on diarrhea severity, in that administration reduced diarrhea severity in males only. Social behaviors were monitored twice-weekly in the morning and afternoon for five weeks following a 10-day administration of SDPro™ in 56 subjects. Locomotion was lower in the afternoon, but this decrease was less with probiotics administration. No other behavioral effects were noted. Finally, the effect of SDPro™ on hair cortisol was assessed to determine if it mitigated chronic stress. While the probiotics did not alter cortisol levels, we found females had significantly lower cortisol levels than males.Item THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL HOUSING CHANGES, TEMPERAMENT AND SOCIAL RANK ON THE MICROBIOME COMPOSITION AND DIARRHEA RATES IN A COLONY OF MAURITIUS-ORIGIN MACACA FASCICULARIS(2021-05) McGrew, Keely; Kosten, Therese A.; Alward, Beau A.; Benoit, Julia S.; Monts de Oca, Nicole A.The gut-brain axis has been implicated in health outcomes related to physical and mental health in humans and animals. Social housing changes can be a source of stress in laboratory animals, and this stress may cause a negative shift in the gut flora (“gut dysbiosis”) that can play a role in diarrhea. Diarrhea is the most common health problem noted in captive macaque populations, and it can have significant consequences. This study characterized changes in the microbiome of primates (Macaca fascicularis) that experienced a change in social housing and were exhibiting diarrhea. As an adjunct, behavior aspects (temperament and social status) and fecal cortisol (a measure of stress) levels were evaluated to see if there is correlation with presence and severity of diarrhea. Fecal samples of recently-imported animals were collected during specific routine sedation events. As the animals experienced a housing change, the entire cohort was monitored for diarrhea. Matched-case samples (one sick, one healthy animal) were collected when the diarrhea outbreaks began. Samples from each time point per animal were evaluated via NexGen 16S microbiome analysis and cortisol levels. No significant correlation was determined between temperament test results/social rank, HPA axis activity and diarrhea. Significant changes in alpha and beta diversity and in abundance levels of several taxa were noted on the microbiome analysis between the two time points and animals with and without diarrhea. Characterization of these changes will direct future interventions.