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Associations between dog keeping and indoor dust microbiota
Jenni M Mäki1,2, Pirkka V Kirjavainen3,4, Martin Täubel3
1Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Neulaniementie 4, P.O. Box 95, 70701, Kuopio, Finland. jenni.maki@kuh.fi.
Scientific Reports
|March 6, 2021
Summary
Dog ownership increases indoor bacterial diversity, potentially explaining protection against allergies. This study found distinct microbial profiles in homes with dogs compared to those without.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Exposure to microbes in early life influences immune system development.
- Dog ownership is linked to reduced risk of allergic diseases and infections, possibly via microbial exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dog ownership on the composition of house dust microbiota.
- To identify specific bacterial and fungal taxa associated with the presence of dogs in homes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of bacterial and fungal microbiota in floor dust samples from two birth cohorts (Finnish LUKAS2 and German LISA).
- Utilized Illumina MiSeq sequencing for microbiota characterization.
- Quantified human-associated bacteria and assessed microbial diversity metrics (richness, Shannon index).
Main Results:
- Dog homes exhibited significantly higher bacterial richness and diversity compared to non-dog homes.
- Specific bacterial genera (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes) were more abundant in dog homes.
- Relative abundance of human-associated bacteria was lower in dog homes.
- Fungal richness and abundance of the genus Leucosporidiella were higher in dog homes, with findings largely replicated across cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Dog ownership is reproducibly associated with increased bacterial richness and diversity in house dust.
- Specific microbial genera in house dust are linked to dog ownership.
- Dogs exert a more pronounced influence on bacterial than fungal indoor microbiota composition.
