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New formula shows promise as a treatment option for oral dysbiosis in cats

January 20, 2021

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**A unique new formula known as Protektin30™ may offer an effective solution for oral dysbiosis in feline patients.**

Oral dysbiosis, an imbalance of the microbial community that inhabits the oral cavity is more well-studied in humans and dogs but evidence suggests that dysbiosis also correlates with feline chronic gingivitis and gingivostomatitis (FGS).^1,9 FGS is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by mucosal inflammation and swelling of the gingiva, causing pain and abnormal chewing/feeding behavior.⁸

Diagnosis

A hallmark of oral dysbiosis is the loss of microbial diversity within the oral cavity. In lower GI and skin microbiome research, loss of diversity strongly correlates with an increase in inflammation.^2,3 Recent work has characterized the in situ inflammatory responses driven by a dysbiotic microbiome. Briefly, it has been shown to elicit characteristic T_h17/T_h23 immune responses, including increases in IL-6 and IL-23 cytokine levels and an accumulation of neutrophil invasion the affected gingival tissue.⁷ This can then lead to gingival swelling, stimulation of gingival nerves surrounding the periodontal ligament and inappropriate growth factor expression.^10,11

A second hallmark of oral dysbiosis is the increased presence (burden) of pathogenic microbes, such as Porphyromonas sp., Tannerella sp., Treponema sp., and/or abnormally high levels of commensal microbes such as Fretibacterium sp., Peptostreptococcus sp., and Catonella sp.^4-6,12

A third hallmark of oral dysbiosis is the loss of or significant decreased presence of beneficial microbes known to be protective (they either regulate healthy immune balance or promote healthy barrier functions). Less is known about the feline oral microbiome, but several groups (ourselves included) are focused on their identification and characterization.

Considering the cause

The most significant driver for the development of oral dysbiosis in feline is diet. Age, exercise, exposure to antibiotics, some medications, and an alteration of the cat’s health (particularly having to do with salivary output and liver function) have also been linked.

A targeted treatment approach

We developed an approach to rehabilitate a dysbiotic oral microbiome in felines. Briefly, an ideal approach would be safe and well-tolerated for daily consumption, work directly on the oral microbiome upon contact, and induce changes in the composition of the oral microbiome in a relatively short period of time.

After screening hundreds of GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredients with ideal safety profiles for daily consumption in felines, we identified several target ingredients that selectively (i) blocked the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungus in the oral cavity, (ii) but induced the growth of beneficial microbes in co-culture and in oral biofilm studies.

Formulation studies showed a synergism when used in combination that were ideal for use in feline, particularly when administered in drinking water. This synergistic combination of ingredients is called Protektin30™ and has been tested in over 198 oral biofilm cultures showing significant ability to reduce the growth of harmful species such as Catonella sp., Peptostreptococcus sp., Porphyromonas sp., Staphylococcus sp. and enables persistence of more balanced levels of commensals that are often found in healthy felines. Protektin30™ will be undergoing placebo-controlled clinical evaluation in 2021. More can be found at teefhealth.com.