Canine Skin Microbiome

We saw how important the gut microbiome is to the health of the host in "The Introduction to the Canine Microbiome". A lesser studied area is the skin microbiota which is proving to be as complex and fascinating as the gut microbiota. Here is a snippet of what we know that leaves many questions about our current approach to atopic dermatitis in our companion animals.

Slide 1 Canine Skin Microbiota

The nose has the highest microbial diversity

Hoffmann, A. R., Patterson, A. P., Diesel, A., Lawhon, S. D., Ly, H. J., Stephenson, C. E., ... & Suchodolski, J. S. (2014). The skin microbiome in healthy and allergic dogs. PloS one, 9(1), e83197.

Regulate t-cells

Kennedy, E. A., Connolly, J., Hourihane, J. O. B., Fallon, P. G., McLean, W. I., Murray, D., ... & Irvine, A. D. (2017). Skin microbiome before development of atopic dermatitis: early colonization with commensal staphylococci at 2 months is associated with a lower risk of atopic dermatitis at 1 year. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 139(1), 166-172.

Paws distribute bacteria

Rodrigues Hoffmann A, Patterson AP, Diesel A, Lawhon SD, Ly HJ, et al. (2014) The Skin Microbiome in Healthy and Allergic Dogs. PLoS ONE 9(1): e83197. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083197

Slide 2 Treg cells

Tizard, I. R., & Jones, S. W. (2018). The Microbiota Regulates Immunity and Immunologic Diseases in Dogs and Cats. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 48(2), 307-322.

Slide 3 AD and Diversity

Cuscó, A., Sánchez, A., Altet, L., Ferrer, L., & Francino, O. (2017). Individual Signatures Define Canine Skin Microbiota Composition and Variability. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 4, 6. http://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00006

Rodrigues Hoffmann, A., Patterson, A. P., Diesel, A., Lawhon, S. D., Ly, H. J., Stephenson, C. E., … Suchodolski, J. S. (2014). The Skin Microbiome in Healthy and Allergic Dogs. PLoS ONE, 9(1), e83197. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083197

Meason-Smith, C., Diesel, A., Patterson, A. P., Older, C. E., Mansell, J. M., Suchodolski, J. S., & Rodrigues Hoffmann, A. (2015). What is living on your dog’s skin? Characterization of the canine cutaneous mycobiota and fungal dysbiosis in canine allergic dermatitis. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 91(12), fiv139. http://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiv139

Slide 4 Concepts: Competitive Exclusion and introducing healthy bacteria

Wiles, T. J., Jemielita, M., Baker, R. P., Schlomann, B. H., Logan, S. L., Ganz, J., … Parthasarathy, R. (2016). Host Gut Motility Promotes Competitive Exclusion within a Model Intestinal Microbiota. PLoS Biology, 14(7), e1002517. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002517

Current issues with an indiscriminate approach to eradication bacteria:

Blaser, M. J. (2014). Missing microbes: how the overuse of antibiotics is fueling our modern plagues. Macmillan.

Velasquez-Manodd, M. (2012). An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases. Schribner.

Slide 5 Potential Action Steps:

Microbiome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Cv7zoAO8&t=66s

Benefits of Dirt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWYryKXIIJU&t=21s