Canine oral health & insect-based pet food

About the study

Eight beagle dogs were fed a black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal-based extruded diet over a period of 50 days, in a cross-over study. The black soldier fly diet was compared to a control diet with a similar nutrient and ingredient composition but based on poultry by-product meal (PBP), for the same 50-day period.
Samples of the dogs' dental plaque were taken before and at the end of each period. VSC-producing bacteria were counted, saliva was subjected to microbiota evaluation, and bad breath was assessed using an odour intensity scale.

The study was conducted by the Federal University of Paraiba in 2023. The black soldier fly larvae meal used was ProteinX® from Protix, composing 29.5% of the diet.

Overall improved oral health with black soldier fly larvae meal

1. Reduction of VSC-producing bacteria

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ProteinX realised a 7% reduction in VSC-producing bacteria in the dental plaque. This outcome is particularly notable, since these bacteria would typically increase with regular food consumption with no dental prophylaxis. The results show that food with ProteinX actually reversed the bacterial growth pattern from an expected increase to a decrease. VSC-producing bacteria are responsible for bad breath and dental and gum disease.

2. An increase in beneficial bacteria

ProteinX seems to modulate saliva microbiota, increasing the abundance of Moraxella bacteria, according to the metagenomic analysis (using 16s rRNA gene sequencing). This group of bacteria is considered a marker of oral health and beneficial for the oral microbiome.

3. Breath evaluation

The dogs' breath was evaluated after 50 days of consuming the test diet (PBP and BSFL) by a blind panel composed of four subjects using an organoleptic intensity scale5. Dogs presented a trend of a lower score for bad breath (odour intensity scale) when fed a black soldier fly larvae diet, and a significative higher frequency of score 1 (barely noticeable odour), indicating that dogs had breath improvement, probably able to be detected by owners.

ProteinX

ProteinX contains components with antimicrobial properties that are able to disrupt the bacterial cell envelope and its homeostasis, leading to bacterial death. The components are antimicrobial peptides (AMP), such as cecropins, coprisin, defensins, cathelicidin and insect AMP-complexes; fatty acids (especially lauric acid) and polysaccharides, such as chitin6.

Mechanism of action of AMPs

The anionic molecules in the membranes of bacteria attract cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Unlike bacteria, the cytoplasmic membrane of mammalian (host) cells with a neutral net charge has no or a weak interaction with cationic AMPs, meaning the host's cells are barely affected (figure 3).

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Source: Protix.

References:

• 1 OLSÉN, L.; BRISSMAN, A.; WIMAN, S.; ERIKSSON, F.; KAJ, C.; BRUNIUS ENLUND, K. Improved oral health and adaptation to treatment in dogs using manual or ultrasonic toothbrush or textile of nylon or microfiber for active dental home care. Animals, v. 11, n. 9, p. 2481, 2021
• 2 HENNET, P.; DELILLE, B.; DAVOT, J. L. Oral malodor in dogs: measurement using a sulfide monitor. Journal of veterinary dentistry, v. 12, n. 3, p. 101-103, 1995
• 3 ALLAKER, R. P. Investigations into the micro-ecology of oral malodour in man and companion animals. Journal of Breath Research, v. 4, n. 1, p. 017103, 2009.
• 4 Neto, E. S., Cardoso, R. K. N., Santos, L. A. T. A., Sampaio, F. C., Santos, E. M., Restan, W. A. Z., ... & Loureiro, B. A. (2023). Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal based extruded diets: potential to improve canine oral health.
• Journal of Insects as Food and Feed,1(aop), 1-13.
• 5 Greenman, J. et al., 2004. Study on the organoleptic intensity scale for measuring oral malodor. Journal of Dental Research 83: 81-85. https://doi.org/10.1177/1544059104083 00116
• 6 Veldkamp, T., Dong, L., Paul, A., & Govers, C. C. F. M. (2022). Bioactive properties of insect products for monogastric animals–a review. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 8(9), 1027-1040.
• 7 Geitani, R., Moubareck, C. A., Xu, Z., Karam Sarkis, D., & Touqui, L. (2020). Expression and roles of antimicrobial peptides in innate defense of airway mucosa: potential implication in cystic fibrosis. Frontiers in immunology, 11, 1198.