Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How urethral blockage changes the urinary bacteria in cats
By Lake, Bathilda B et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline urethral obstruction alters the urinary microbiota and comparison to oral, preputial, and rectal microbiotas.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 15 cats with urethral obstruction (UO) showed significant changes in their urinary bacteria compared to 15 healthy cats. Urethral obstruction can cause painful symptoms like straining to urinate or not being able to urinate at all. The study found that the urinary microbiota in affected cats was less diverse, indicating a condition called urinary dysbiosis. While this research is still in early stages, it suggests that understanding these bacterial changes could lead to new treatment options for cats suffering from UO.
People also search for: cat urethral obstruction symptoms · cat urinary problems treatment · changes in cat urinary bacteria
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To document differences in the microbiota of healthy cats versus cats with urethral obstruction (UO); compare the urinary microbiota with the oral, preputial, and rectal microbiota; and demonstrate that 16S rRNA gene sequencing will reveal rich and diverse urinary microbiota. METHODS: 15 client-owned cats with UO and 15 age-matched healthy cats were included from July 2020 through April 2021. Exclusion criteria were evidence of urinary tract infection, urolithiasis, antimicrobial administration, urinary catheterization in the past 30 days, or a comorbidity. This study was a prospective, observational study. Both groups had a baseline CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis, urine culture, and focal bladder ultrasound. Swabs of the cystocentesis site, buccal mucosa, rectum, prepuce, and urinary samples were collected, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to compare the groups and sites. RESULTS: Differences in the microbiota richness and diversity were found in the urine of cats with UO (n = 15) compared to healthy cats (15), along with differences in the preputial and oral samples, supporting the presence of a urinary dysbiosis in cats with UO. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data demonstrates a dramatic change in the urinary microbiota of cats with UO along with changes in microbiota in other sites compared to healthy cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A urinary dysbiosis in cats with UO has been minimally supported in prior studies using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Although these are preliminary results, documenting this dysbiosis in cats with UO provides a potential avenue for novel therapeutics.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39761633/