The role of dietary carbohydrates in digestive disorders of rabbits

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Uloga ugljikohidrata hrane u probavnim poremećajima kunića
• Author: Rebecca Aurora Reponen
• Mentor: Tomislav Mašek (mentor)
• Committee member: Hrvoje Valpotić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Diana Brozić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Tomislav Mašek (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-09-03, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Animal Production and Biotechnology

Abstract

Rabbits are herbivore hindgut fermenters and rely on an adequate concentration of fiber within their diet to maintain digestive health. Within the diet of the rabbit, fiber and starch play a critical, interconnecting role regarding the balance of microflora and pH, as well as maintenance of gut motility. When the ratio of starch to fiber is increased, more starch is made available to the
cecal microbiota for fermentation. This changes the concentration of volatile fatty acids, resulting in a changed pH and a possible alteration of motility. Reduced fiber also results in an increased retention time. This disruption of gut balance predisposes rabbits to a variety of digestive disorders, including infections by bacteria of the taxon Clostridia and some Coliforms. Clostridia causes
diseases such as Tyzzer’s disease, epizootic rabbit enteropathy and Clostridial enterotoxemia, which are characterized by diarrhea, weight loss and sudden death. Clostridial species Clostridium piliforme, Clostridium cuniculi and Clostridium spiroforme have been implicated. One of the most important predisposing factors may be the lack of fiber in the rabbits’ diet. A high fiber diet has been shown to be preventative and beneficial in treatment of these diseases, although there is a lack of data regarding their direct connection. Considering the detrimental effects a low-fiber diet has on the digestive health of the rabbit, it can be concluded that such a diet creates the conditions necessary for opportunistic and infectious bacteria to proliferate and cause disease. While antibiotics and motility promoters have been used for treatment of digestive upset in rabbits, prevention is key, especially in intensive commercial rabbit production where economical losses from mortalities can be significant. An emphasis should be put on providing rabbits with a highfiber and a comparatively lower starch content diet. A crude fiber content of 140-200g/kg and a maximum starch content of 140g/kg is recommended to maintain a healthy, functioning digestive tract.

Abstract (croatian)

Kunići su biljojedi s poslije želučanom fermentacijom koji se oslanjaju na odgovarajuću
koncentraciju vlakana u svojoj prehrani kako bi održali zdravlje probavnog sustava. Unutar
prehrane kunića, vlakna i škrob igraju ključnu ulogu u ravnoteži mikroflore i pH, kao i održavanju
motiliteta crijeva. Kada se omjer škroba prema vlaknima poveća, više škroba postaje dostupno
mikroorganizmima cekuma za fermentaciju. To mijenja koncentraciju nižih masnih kiselina, što
rezultira promijenjenim pH i mogućom promjenom motiliteta. Smanjeni unos vlakana također
rezultira produljenim vremenom zadržavanja sadržaja u probavnom sustavu. Ove promjene
predisponiraju kuniće za razne probavne poremećaje, uključujući infekcije bakterijama roda
Clostridia i nekim koliformima. Klostridije uzrokuje bolesti kao što su Tyzzerova bolest,
epizootska enteropatija kunića i klostridijska enterotoksemija, koje karakteriziraju proljev, gubitak
težine i iznenadna smrt. Vrste koje sudjeluju su: Clostridium piliforme, Clostridium cuniculi i
Clostridium spiroforme. Iako postoje različiti zajednički predisponirajući čimbenici za ove bolesti,
jedan od najvažnijih je nedostatak vlakana u prehrani kunića. Prehrana bogata vlaknima pokazala
se preventivnom i korisnom u liječenju ovih bolesti, iako nedostaju podaci o njihovoj izravnoj
povezanosti. Uzimajući u obzir štetne učinke prehrane s malo vlakana na o zdravlje probavnog
sustava kunića, može se zaključiti da takva prehrana stvara uvjete potrebne za razmnožavanje
oportunističkih i zaraznih bakterija i izazivanje bolesti. Za liječenje ovih bolesti koriste se
antibiotici i stimulatori motiliteta crijeva, ali prevencija je ipak ključna, posebno u intenzivnoj
komercijalnoj proizvodnji kunića gdje ekonomski gubici mogu biti značajni. Iz svega navedenog,
jasni je da u prehrani kunića naglasak treba staviti na osiguravanje hrane bogate vlaknima, ali s
relativno niskim sadržajem škroba. Sadržaj sirovih vlakana od 140-200 g/kg i najveći sadržaj
škroba od 140 g/kg preporučuje se za održavanje zdravog, funkcionalnog probavnog sustava trakta
kunića.

• Keywords: Hindgut fermenter; diet; fiber; Clostridium
• Keywords (english): poslije želučana fermentacija; ugljikohidrati; probavni poremećaji
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:140777
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-10-15 12:45:57