Effects of dietary yeast cell wall on faecal bacteria and fermentation products in adult cats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of spray-dried yeast cell wall (YCW) in diets for healthy adult cats on apparent nutrient digestibility and on bacterial composition and fermentation products in the stool. Fourteen cats with an average weight of 4.40 +/- 1.05kg and an average age of 6.2 +/- 0.54years were used and assigned to treatments in an unbalanced randomized block design (by experimental period) with two blocks and three or four cats per diet in each block. Treatments included: control (0% YCW), 0.2% YCW, 0.4% YCW and 0.6% YCW, totalling seven animals per experimental diet. We found that YCW did not affect body weight, nutrient and food intake, faecal production, faecal score, faecal pH or urine output (p>.05). Regarding faecal bacteria, we observed a linear reduction in Clostridium perfringens, a quadratic reduction in Escherichia coli, and linear increases in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. (p<.05) with the inclusion of YCW. Regarding the faecal short-chain fatty acid profile, butyrate, valerate, total biogenic amines, putrescine, cadaverine and histamine increased linearly (p<.05) with the inclusion of YCW. It was concluded that in healthy adult cats, consumption of YCW modulates the faecal bacterial populations, with an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduction in some potentially pathogenic bacteria. It was concluded that YCW modulated the levels of fermentation products. There was an increase in fermentation products coming from carbohydrate metabolism, an important effect that can potentially benefit the intestinal health of cats. The consumption of YCW also increased the fermentation of nitrogen compounds, which have not yet been defined as deleterious or beneficial. The fermentability of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds may be associated. Therefore, YCW may cause rapid fermentation of both classes of compounds by enhancing the fermentability of one class.