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Published on: September 19, 2019
Gut microbiome alterations in canine idiopathic epilepsy: a pairwise case-control study.
Yixuan Yang1,2, Julie Nettifee3, M Andrea Azcarate-Peril4
1Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
Animal Microbiome
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in dogs is linked to gut microbiome changes. A specific bacteria, Collinsella, was more abundant in dogs with IE, suggesting a potential role in the condition.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary neurology
- Microbiome research
- Canine health
Background:
- Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic nervous system disorder in dogs.
- The etiology of canine IE remains poorly understood.
- The microbiota-gut-brain axis is an emerging area of research in IE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in the fecal microbiome of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
- To identify specific microbial differences between IE and control dogs.
Main Methods:
- A pairwise case-control observational study was conducted.
- Fecal samples from 98 dogs (49 IE, 49 control) were analyzed.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to profile the gut microbiome.
Main Results:
- A modest but significant shift in the gut microbiome (weighted UniFrac distance) was observed in IE dogs.
- One specific bacterial species, Collinsella, was found to be significantly more abundant in IE dogs across multiple analysis methods.
- Gut microbiome composition varied significantly by household but not by sex, age, or breed.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests a relationship between gut microbiome alterations and idiopathic epilepsy in dogs.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying this association.
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