Behavioral Comorbidities Treatment by Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Canine Epilepsy: A pilot study of a novel therapeutic approach

This paper investigates the potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) as a novel therapeutic approach for treating behavioral comorbidities in dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The pilot study involved nine dogs with DRE and behavioral issues, receiving three FMT sessions over two weeks from a donor dog with well-controlled epilepsy and unremarkable behavior. Following the FMTs, and at three and six-month follow-up visits, the study observed significant improvements in ADHD-like behavior (specifically impulsivity), fear- and anxiety-like behaviors (non-social fear and chasing), and an overall enhanced quality of life for both the dogs and their owners. These behavioral improvements were further supported by objective computational analysis of behavioral tests. Analysis of urine neurotransmitters revealed decreased concentrations of the excitatory neurotransmitters aspartate and glutamate, while the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the GABA/glutamate ratio increased. Although overall microbial diversity and functional genes remained largely unchanged, specific taxonomic shifts included a decrease in Firmicutes_B (e.g., Peptococcaceae family) and a Blautia_A species, alongside an increase in a Ruminococcus species. While none of the dogs achieved seizure freedom, some did experience a reduction in seizure duration during both ictal and post-ictal phases. The findings suggest that FMT holds promise for alleviating behavioral comorbidities in canine epilepsy, possibly by influencing the microbiota-gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter balance, although the authors acknowledge the limitations of a pilot, open-label study and emphasize the need for larger, controlled trials.