Proteomics of canine feces from healthy Boxer dogs: a pilot study

The aim of this work was to detect and identify proteins of canine feces from healthy Boxer dogs by a proteomic approach. Dog proteins detected in feces may be of help in investigating (e.g. pathogenesis, diagnosis, follow-up) canine gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. As a first step, an attempt to define the “healthy” proteome pattern of canine feces has been performed. Feces sampled from two groups (8 and 7 patients each) of healthy (no GI signs + no pre/probiotic administration + no change in diet within the last 3 months) Boxer dogs, were included in the study. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were performed. Eight spots form 2DE were considered interesting due to their expression pattern and therefore were selected as candidates for LC-MS/MS analysis. By consulting SwissProt & NCBInr databases, MASCOT and SONAR results allowed us to find the origin species of 4 out of 8 proteins: Canis lupis familiaris, Flavobacteriaceae bacterium, Prochlorococcus marinus, Candida glabrata. Especially the protein from Canis lupis familiaris resulted to be very interesting, cause owing to the hosts (dogs). It was identified as Immunoglobulin lambda-1 light chain isoform X36. If confirmed, this datum could be very interesting for the future perspectives of this kind of studies, being a protein involved in the immune response of the host, but also in some kind of tumor, and other pathological conditions.