AKC Canine Health Foundation - 21

Diagnostic Evaluation of the Canine Gut Microbiome
Jenessa Winston, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal
Medicine)
The Ohio State University
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jenessa Winston is an Assistant Professor at the Ohio State
University College of Veterinary Medicine. She received a
Bachelor of Science in Integrated Biology from University of
Florida in 2007. She then received her veterinary degree from
the North Carolina State University in 2011. She went on to
complete a rotating small animal internship and residency
training in small animal internal medicine at NC State achieving board certification, as a
diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, in 2015. As a Clinical
Investigator and NIH T32 fellow at NC State, Dr. Winston completed a PhD in Comparative
Biomedical Sciences with an Infectious Disease concentration in 2019. Her dissertation focused
on defining the dynamics between the gut microbiota, microbial derived secondary bile acid
ursodeoxycholic acid, and Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis.
As a clinician scientist, Dr. Winston's primary research areas of interest include microbe-host
interactions during health and disease and rational manipulation of microbial ecosystems
including interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation. Since starting at OSU, Dr.
Winston has launched the Companion Animal Fecal Bank, which currently has several ongoing
clinical trials evaluating the use of fecal transplant in companion animal obesity and canine
parvovirus enteritis, including the AKC Canine Health Foundation funded canine SLIM study. Dr.
Winston is also a founding member of the Companion Animal Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Consortium, a unique international group of clinicians and scientists working to accelerate
microbial therapeutics in veterinary medicine.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT
The gastrointestinal microbiota is an intricate and complex ecosystem that has substantial
impacts on the host during health and disease. The gut microbiome is an immune and metabolic
organ which has influence over gastrointestinal health and other organ systems including the
brain, kidney, heart, and lungs. As with any ecosystem, the gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem
can be disrupted. Thus, resulting in dramatic alterations in the gut microbial composition and
function, which can lead to substantial physiological derangements and disease. Alterations in
this microbial ecosystem during disease states is called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis has been noted in
a variety of disease states in veterinary medicine, including canine obesity, canine parvovirus
enteritis, and canine chronic enteropathy. Evidence is rapidly mounting that modifying the gut
microbiota is important for treating diseases. Microbiota-based fecal evaluations are promising
veterinary diagnostic tests. During this session, participants will learn the current state of using
molecular tools, including sequencing and the canine dysbiosis index, for assessing the gut
microbiome in canine patients. Currently, additional clinical studies are required before
evidence-based recommendations can be made regarding the best practices for integration of
microbiome diagnostics into canine medicine.
CURRENT CHF GRANTS
02723: Scientific and Clinical Assessment of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Obese Dogs: SLIM
Study
2023 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference
Presented by the AKC Canine Health Foundation and Nestlé Purina PetCare

AKC Canine Health Foundation

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