Objective To explore the difference in intestinal flora between guide dogs and culled dogs, and analyze the characteristic differences between the two.
Methods The fresh feces samples of 16 guide dogs and 10 culled dogs were collected and divided into Labrador male guide dogs (GD-ML) and culled dogs (ED-ML) and Labrador according to dog breed and sex. Female guide dogs (GD-FL) and elimination dogs (ED-FL), golden retriever male guide dogs (GD-MG) and elimination dogs (ED-MG), and 9 guide dogs and 4 elimination dogs are randomly selected from them Dogs are divided into guide dog group (GD) and elimination dog group (ED), which are divided into 4 groups. The total DNA of stool samples was extracted, PCR-DGGE technology was used to obtain the intestinal flora map, and the difference analysis of each pair of pairs was performed using related software and statistical methods.
Results The cluster analysis results showed that GD and ED, GD-ML and ED-ML, GD-FL, ED-FL and GD-MG were all classified into one category, indicating the intestinal flora between guide dogs and eliminated dogs has a difference. The analysis results of the diversity, richness and uniformity of the intestinal flora showed that there were differences in the diversity index, richness index and uniformity index between every two paired groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. Sequencing analysis results of differential bands showed that: compared with ED, CD Megamonas funiformis YIT 11815 strains increased; compared with ED-ML, GD-ML Succinatimonas hippei YIT 12066, Lactobacillus vaginalis DSM 5837, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii A2- 165 strains increased, Collinsella aerofaciens ATCC 25986 and Prevotella copri DSM 18205 strains decreased; compared with ED-FL., GD-FL Ruminococcus gnavus AGR2154, Fusobacterium russii ATCC 25533 strains decreased; compared with ED-MG, GD-MG Tropheryma whipplei Str. Twist strains increased.
Conclusion This study found that there are differences in the intestinal flora of guide dogs and eliminated dogs. Further research on the different flora in the future may help assist in the early screening of guide dogs.