RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS OF THE 28th ECVIM-CA CONGRESS

All IBD dogs showed a reduction in GI signs following 8 weeks of prednisone therapy compared with baseline CIBDAI scores (p<0.05). The mucosa‐associated microbiota in the intestines of healthy and diseased dogs was most abundant in free and adherent mucus. In IBD dogs at diagnosis, the total number of EUB‐338 positive bacteria, Faecalibacterium spp., and Streptococcus spp. was decreased (p<0.05) compared to healthy dogs. The spatial distribution of mucosal bacteria was significantly different (p<0.05) in IBD dogs following prednisone therapy, with higher numbers of total bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp., Faecalibacterium spp., and Streptococcus spp. detected predominantly within adherent mucus compared to other mucosal compartments. Relative to other bacterial groups, the number of mucosal Enterobacteriaceae was decreased (p<0.05) in prednisone‐treated IBD dogs. The expression of TJPs occludin and zonulin was increased (p<0.05) in IBD versus healthy dogs; however, only occludin was increased (p<0.05) in IBD dogs following prednisone therapy.