Clinical Effects of a Parasynbiotic Combining 1-Kestose and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FM8 on Feline Atopic Skin Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Hideaki Takahashi *
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan, Graduate School of Nutritional Sciences, Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences, Nisshin 470-0131, Aichi, Japan and Biosis Lab. Co., Ltd., Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Koji Kawano
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan and Tokyo Animal Allergy Center, 1-5-9 1F, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041, Japan.
Keita Iyori
Final Answer Co., Ltd., Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0044, Japan and 1sec. Co., Ltd., Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0044, Japan.
Tadashi Fujii
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan, Biosis Lab. Co., Ltd., Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan and Department of Medical Research on Prebiotics and Probiotics, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Kento Kuramitsu
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan and Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Aichi, Japan.
Akira Ueyama
1sec. Co., Ltd., Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0044, Japan.
Hazumu Amatsuji
1sec. Co., Ltd., Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0044, Japan.
Yun-Hsia Hsiao
1sec. Co., Ltd., Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0044, Japan.
Takayuki Asahina
Minori. Co., Ltd., Okayama, Okayama 701-1221, Japan.
Nobuhiro Kondo
Research & Development Sector, Neo-Functional Ingredients Department, Wellneo sugar Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8536, Japan.
Eizaburo Ohno
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Kohei Funasaka
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Yoshiki Hirooka
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan, Biosis Lab. Co., Ltd., Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan and Department of Medical Research on Prebiotics and Probiotics, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Takumi Tochio
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan, Biosis Lab. Co., Ltd., Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan and Department of Medical Research on Prebiotics and Probiotics, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritus and typical lesions such as erythema, papules, excoriations, and lichenification. Although the relationship between gut microbiota and atopic dermatitis is well-documented in humans and dogs, research exploring gut-targeted therapies for FASS remains limited, and the role of gut microbiota in this condition is unclear. This study aimed to conduct a pilot investigation into the effects of a parasynbiotic containing 1-Kestose and heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum FM8 on clinical symptoms and gut microbiota in cats with FASS.
Methodology: Eleven cats with FASS were orally administered the parasynbiotic, composed of 1-Kestose (400 mg/day) and heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum FM8 (2.0 × 1010 CFU/day), for 8 weeks. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD), investigator pruritus score (IPS), and rating of global assessment of improvement (GAI). Fecal microbiota was analyzed at baseline and post-intervention using 16S rRNA sequencing, with samples from 16 healthy cats as controls.
Results: Parasynbiotic intervention significantly reduced SCORFAD and IPS scores (p = 0.0224 and p = 0.0018, respectively), and improvement in GAI scores was observed in 10 of 11 cats. Additionally, β-diversity analysis of fecal microbiota did not reveal significant differences between baseline and post-intervention samples within the FASS group, a trend toward distinction from healthy controls was observed. Taxonomic analysis revealed that Collinsella stercoris was significantly enriched in FASS cats compared with healthy controls, whereas its abundance decreased significantly after parasynbiotic intervention.
Conclusion: These findings suggested that improvements in clinical symptoms may be linked to alterations in gut microbiota, specifically through the reduction of C. stercoris, which was initially enriched in FASS cats. This pilot study underscores the potential of parasynbiotic administration as a therapeutic strategy for FASS, while its small sample and lack of placebo control warrant cautious interpretation.
Keywords: Feline atopic skin syndrome, 1-Kestose, Lactobacillus plantarum FM8, parasynbiotics