Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Veterinary Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Difference in Bacteriological Flora Between Cecal Feces and Normal Feces in Guinea Pigs: Animal Experiments
Kobaylarda Sekal Dışkı ile Normal Dışkı Arasındaki Bakteriyolojik Flora Farkı: Hayvan Deneyleri
Gülşah KAYA KARASUa , Sandra SCHMİDTb
aVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, South Holland, Netherlands
bUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Turkiye Klinikleri J Vet Sci. 2025;16(1):15-21
doi: 10.5336/vetsci.2024-104419
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in bacterial flora between normal feces and caecotrophy in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Material and Methods: Six adult guinea pigs, housed in pairs, were observed daily from 6.00 pm to 12.00 pm for four weeks. Observations focused on feces and caecotrophy excretion and intake, as well as overall behavior. Fresh samples of feces and caecotrophy were collected from each animal for bacterial analysis, and processed within 12 hours using appropriate agar plates for clinical diagnostics. Results: The study found a significant difference in the total bacterial count of Lactobacillus spp. between the two types of feces. Both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus spp. were present in both normal feces and caecotrophy. Visual examination of the feces did not reveal any distinctions between the two types of feces for guinea pigs. Behavioral observations showed that active feeding and normal fecal excretion were followed by rest periods during which guinea pigs consumed caecotrophy. Caecotrophy consumption occurred in stages, with animals frequently biting off pieces. When re-offered collected caecotrophy, the guinea pigs consumed it again, while normal feces were rejected. Conclusion: These findings confirm the existence of true caecotrophy in guinea pigs, highlighted by significant differences in Lactobacillus spp. colony counts and the guinea pigs' selective behavior towards caecotrophy over normal feces. Further research in these areas would contribute to our understanding of the complex interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and host physiology in guinea pigs.

Keywords: Guinea pigs; caecotrophy; bacteriological flora; feces; feeding
ÖZET
 Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, kobayların (guinea pigs) (Cavia porcellus) normal dışkı ile sekotrof dışkısı arasındaki bakteriyel floradaki farklılıklarını araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Altı erişkin kobay, çiftler hâlinde barındırıldı ve 4 hafta boyunca her gün saat 18.00-12.00 arasında gözlemlendi. Gözlemler, dışkı ve sekotrof dışkısının atılması ve alınması ile genel davranışlara odaklandı. Her bir hayvandan taze dışkı ve sekotrof örnekleri bakteri analizi için toplandı ve klinik tanı için uygun agar plakaları kullanılarak 12 saat içinde işlendi. Bulgular: Çalışmada, iki dışkı türü arasında Lactobacillus spp.'nin toplam bakteri sayısında önemli bir fark bulundu. Hem Bifidobacteria hem de Lactobacillus spp., normal dışkı ve sekotrof dışkısında mevcuttu. Dışkıların görsel incelemesi, iki tür arasında herhangi bir fark ortaya koymadı. Davranışsal gözlemleri, aktif beslenme ve normal dışkı atılımının, kobayların sekotrof tükettiği dinlenme dönemleriyle tarafından takip edildiğini gösterdi. Sekotrof tüketimi aşamalar halinde gerçekleşti ve hayvanlar sık sık parçaları ısırdı. Toplanan sekotrof tekrar sunulduğunda, kobaylar bunu tekrar tüketirken, normal dışkı reddedildi. Sonuç: Bu bulgular, Lactobacillus spp. koloni sayılarındaki önemli farklılıklar ve kobayların normal dışkı yerine sekotrof tercih etme davranışlarıyla vurgulanan, kobaylarda gerçek sekotrof varlığını doğrulamaktadır. Bu alanlarda daha fazla araştırma, kobaylarda diyet, bağırsak mikrobiyotası ve konak fizyolojisi arasındaki karmaşık etkileşimleri anlamamıza katkıda bulunacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Kobaylar; sekotrof; bakteriyolojik flora; dışkı; beslenme
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