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Coprophagy is a behavior where animals consume feces, and has been observed across a wide range of species, including birds and mammals. The phenomenon is particularly prevalent in juveniles, but the reasons for this remain unclear. One hypothesis is that coprophagy enables offspring to acquire beneficial gut microbes that aid development. However, despite the potential importance of this behavior, studies investigating the effects in juveniles are rare. Here we experimentally test this idea by examining how ingestion of adult feces by ostrich chicks affects their gut microbiota development, growth, feeding behavior, pathogen abundance, and mortality. We conducted extensive longitudinal experiments for 8 weeks, repeated over 2 years. It involved 240 chicks, of which 128 were provided daily access to fresh fecal material from adults and 112 were simultaneously given a control treatment. Repeated measures, behavioral observations, and DNA metabarcoding of the microbial gut community, both prior to and over the course of the experiment, allowed us to evaluate multiple aspects of the behavior. The results show that coprophagy causes (a) marked shifts to the juvenile gut microbiota, including a major increase in diversity and rapid maturation of the microbial composition, (b) higher growth rates (fecal-supplemented chicks became 9.4% heavier at 8 weeks old), (c) changes to overall feeding behavior but no differences in feed intake, (d) lower abundance of a common gut pathogen (Clostridium colinum), and (e) lower mortality associated with gut disease. Together, our results suggest that the behavior of coprophagy in juveniles is highly beneficial and may have evolved to accelerate the development of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial dysbiosis and inflammation are implicated in diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. However, it is not known whether crosstalk between immunity and microbiota also regulates metabolic homeostasis in healthy animals. Here, we report that genetic deletion of tuberous sclerosis 1 (Tsc1) in CD11c+ myeloid cells (Tsc1f/fCD11cCre mice) reduced food intake and body mass in the absence of metabolic disease. Co-housing and fecal transplant experiments revealed a dominant role for the healthy gut microbiota in regulation of body weight. 16S rRNA sequencing, selective culture, and reconstitution experiments further confirmed that selective deficiency of Lactobacillus johnsonii Q1-7 contributed to decreased food intake and body mass in Tsc1f/fCD11cCre mice. Mechanistically, activation of mTORC1 signaling in CD11c cells regulated production of L. johnsonii Q1-7-specific IgA, allowing for its stable colonization in the gut. Together, our findings reveal an unexpected transkingdom immune-microbiota feedback loop for homeostatic regulation of food intake and body mass in mammals.

Canine conspecific coprophagy, the tendency or predisposition of some dogs to eat their own faeces or those of other dogs, seems paradoxical because dogs typically show an aversion to conspecific faeces. In an attempt to resolve this paradox, we set out to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of this behaviour and to evaluate the efficacy of 11 products marketed for treating coprophagy as well as behaviour modification procedures. Because a large sample of dogs was needed to address these issues, two web-based surveys were utilized. One, intended to compare coprophagic dogs and non-coprophagic dogs, yielded 1552 returns. The other, yielding 1475 usable returns, specifically recruited owners of coprophagic dogs to gather information about the characteristics of coprophagy and treatment success. The findings revealed that 16% of dogs sampled engaged in frequent conspecific coprophagy, defined as having been seen eating stools at least six times. No evidence was found relating the coprophagy to diet or the dog's age. Coprophagic dogs were as easily house trained as non-coprophagic dogs, suggesting a normal aversion to faeces. Coprophagic dogs were more likely to be reported as greedy eaters than non-coprophagic dogs. The reported success rate of the commercial products and behaviour modification approaches was close to zero, indicating that the behaviour is not readily changed. The coprophagy was overwhelmingly directed at fresh stools, defined as being no more than 2 days old. A hypothesis is offered that coprophagy reflects a tendency inherited from the ancestral wolf to keep the den area free of faecal-borne intestinal parasites that might be deposited in the den resting area and would typically have parasite ova that are not initially infective, but could develop infective larvae after 2 days. An evolved parasite defence strategy to consume fresh faeces in the rest area would be adaptive.

Background: antimicrobial resistance is a global problem in human and veterinary medicine. We aimed to investigate the extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy community dogs in Israel. Methods: Rectal swabs were sampled from 145 healthy dogs, enriched, plated on selective plates, sub-cultured to obtain pure cultures, and ESBL production was confirmed. Bacterial species and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were identified. WGS was performed on all of the ESBL-PE isolates and their resistomes were identified in silico. Owners' questionnaires were collected for risk factor analysis. Results: ESBL-PE gut colonization rate was 6.2% (n = 9/145, 95% CI 2.9–11.5). Overall, ten isolates were detected (one dog had two isolates); the main species was Escherichia coli (eight isolates), belonging to diverse phylogenetic groups—B1, A and C. Two isolates were identified as Citrobacter braakii, and C. portucalensis. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that all of the isolates were genetically unrelated and sporadic. The isolates possessed diverse ESBL genes and antibiotic-resistance gene content, suggesting independent ESBL spread. In a multivariable risk factor analysis, coprophagia was identified as a risk factor for ESBL-PE gut colonization (p = 0.048, aOR = 4.408, 95% CI 1.014–19.169). Conclusions: healthy community dogs may be colonized with ESBL-PE MDR strains, some of which were previously reported in humans, that carry wide and diverse resistomes and may serve as a possible source for AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6-year-old dog was presented for health screening. It never suffered from any disease. Ultrasonography confirmed mass-like thickening with irregular margins protruding toward the gallbladder (GB) lumen. On contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and dynamic computed tomography (CT), contrast enhancement of the corresponding structures was confirmed in arterial phase. After cholecystectomy, cauliflower-like sessile polyps were identified. Histopathological examination revealed chronic lymphoplasmacytic cholecystitis. Bile culture revealed Escherichia coli growth. Our novel findings suggest that chronic cholecystitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis if contrast-enhanced sessile polyps of the GB are found on CEUS and dynamic CT.

Background: antimicrobial resistance is a global problem in human and veterinary medicine. We aimed to investigate the extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy community dogs in Israel. Methods: Rectal swabs were sampled from 145 healthy dogs, enriched, plated on selective plates, sub-cultured to obtain pure cultures, and ESBL production was confirmed. Bacterial species and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were identified. WGS was performed on all of the ESBL-PE isolates and their resistomes were identified in silico. Owners’ questionnaires were collected for risk factor analysis. Results: ESBL-PE gut colonization rate was 6.2% (n = 9/145, 95% CI 2.9–11.5). Overall, ten isolates were detected (one dog had two isolates); the main species was Escherichia coli (eight isolates), belonging to diverse phylogenetic groups—B1, A and C. Two isolates were identified as Citrobacter braakii, and C. portucalensis. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that all of the isolates were genetically unrelated and sporadic. The isolates possessed diverse ESBL genes and antibiotic-resistance gene content, suggesting independent ESBL spread. In a multivariable risk factor analysis, coprophagia was identified as a risk factor for ESBL-PE gut colonization (p = 0.048, aOR = 4.408, 95% CI 1.014–19.169). Conclusions: healthy community dogs may be colonized with ESBL-PE MDR strains, some of which were previously reported in humans, that carry wide and diverse resistomes and may serve as a possible source for AMR.

Introduction Coprophagia is a relatively rare phenomenon characterized by the ingestion of feces, and it is usually classified as a rare form of pica. It has been associated with multiple organic causes or mental disorders such as brain tumors, alcoholism, mental retardation, dementia, schizophrenia, depressive disorders or fetishism. Objectives Case report and reflection on its etiology Methods A Pubmed search was performed with the MeSH terms “Coprophagy” and “pica”. Relevant articles obtained from the respective bibliographic references were also consulted. Results A 56-year-old man with a history of psychiatric follow-up with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and cognitive impairment, assessed for behavioral changes such as cat feces intake. After possible organic causes were excluded, treatment with supportive psychotherapy and pharmacologically began with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, along with treatment for schizophrenia. Conclusions According to literature, coprophagia often occurs associated with other medical or neuropsychiatric conditions. Although the etiology, pathophysiology and management remains unclear, several pharmacologic treatments have been attempted with some degree of success. We describe a case of unusual behavior, coprophagia, associated with cognitive impairment and schizophrenia that responded favorably to fluoxetine although without complete remission, in order to contribute to a future nosological redefinition. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Coprophagia by suckling rabbits, i.e. ingestion of feces from their mother, reduces mortality after weaning. We hypothesized that this beneficial effect of coprophagia is immune-mediated at the intestinal level. Therefore, this study investigated immune development after weaning by analyzing the ileal transcriptome at day 35 and 49 in rabbits with differential access to coprophagia in early life. Rabbit pups had access between day 1 and 15 to (i) no feces (NF) or (ii) feces from unrelated does (Foreign Feces, FF) or (iii) feces from unrelated does treated with antibiotics (FFab). 350 genes were differentially expressed between day 35 and day 49 in suckling rabbits with access to coprophagia. These genes coded for antimicrobial peptides, a mucin, cytokines and chemokines, pattern recognition receptors, proteins involved in immunoglobulin A secretion and in interferon signaling pathway. Strikingly, prevention of coprophagia or access to feces from antibiotic-treated does in early life blunted immune development between day 35 et 49 in the ileum of rabbits. Thus, coprophagia might be crucial for the maturation of intestinal immunity in rabbits and could explain why this behavior improves survival., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Avian gut microbial communities are complex and play a fundamental role in regulating biological functions within an individual. Although it is well established that diet can influence the structure and composition of the gut microbiota, foraging behaviour may also play a critical, yet unexplored role in shaping the composition, dynamics, and adaptive potential of avian gut microbiota. In this review, we examine the potential influence of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the establishment and adaptability of wild avian gut microbiomes. Coprophagy involves the ingestion of faeces, sourced from either self (autocoprophagy), conspecific animals (allocoprophagy), or heterospecific animals. Much like faecal transplant therapy, coprophagy may (i) support the establishment of the gut microbiota of young precocial species, (ii) directly and indirectly provide nutritional and energetic requirements, and (iii) represent a mechanism by which birds can rapidly adapt the microbiota to changing environments and diets. However, in certain contexts, coprophagy may also pose risks to wild birds, and their microbiomes, through increased exposure to chemical pollutants, pathogenic microbes, and antibiotic-resistant microbes, with deleterious effects on host health and performance. Given the potentially far-reaching consequences of coprophagy for avian microbiomes, and the dearth of literature directly investigating these links, we have developed a predictive framework for directing future research to understand better when and why wild birds engage in distinct types of coprophagy, and the consequences of this foraging behaviour. There is a need for comprehensive investigation into the influence of coprophagy on avian gut microbiotas and its effects on host health and performance throughout ontogeny and across a range of environmental perturbations. Future behavioural studies combined with metagenomic approaches are needed to provide insights into the function of this poorly understood behaviour., (© 2023 The Authors. Biological Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Cambridge Philosophical Society.)

As bacteria synthesize nutrients primarily in the cecum, coprophagy is indispensable for supplying rabbits with essential nutrients. Recent research has demonstrated its pivotal role in maintaining intestinal microbiota homeostasis and immune regulation in rabbits, although the specific mechanism remains unknown. Here, we used coprophagy prevention (CP) to investigate the effects of coprophagy on the cecum homeostasis and microbiota in New Zealand white rabbits. Furthermore, whether supplementation of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) may alleviate the cecum inflammation and apoptosis caused by CP was also explored. Four groups were randomly assigned: control (Con), sham-coprophagy prevention (SCP), coprophagy prevention (CP), and CP and C. butyricum addition (CPCB). Compared to Con and SCP, CP augmented cecum inflammation and apoptosis, as well as bacterial adhesion to the cecal epithelial mucosa, while decreasing the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occluding, and claudin-1). The relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria was significantly decreased in the CP group. Inversely, there was an increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group. Additionally, CP increased the levels of Flagellin, IFN-γ, TNF-a, and IL-1β in cecum contents and promoted the expression of TLR5/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in cecum tissues. However, the CPCB group showed significant improvements in all parameters compared to the CP group. Dietary C. butyricum supplementation significantly increased the production of SCFAs, particularly butyric acid, triggering anti-inflammatory, tissue repairing, and barrier-protective responses. Notably, CPCB effectively mitigated CP-induced apoptosis and inflammation. In summary, CP disrupts the cecum epithelial barrier and induces inflammation in New Zealand white rabbits, but these effects can be alleviated by C. butyricum supplementation. This process appears to be largely associated with the TLR5/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The pancreas is a mixed organ that contains acinar cells that secrete digestive enzymes and pancreatic lipases and, in its endocrine portion, secretes glucagon and insulin to regulate blood sugar levels through the alpha (a) and beta (ß) cells. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by the insufficient secretion of pancreatic enzymes, causing a failure in nutrient absorption, leading to weight loss, diarrhea, coprophagia, and polyphagia. Dogs with a history of pancreatitis may develop diabetes, EPI, or both. Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome caused by persistent hyperglycemia and glycosuria due to the total or partial insufficiency of insulin secretion by ß-cells.A dog was treated in Brasília-DF: a male, weighing 9.50 kg, Dachshund breed, neutered, 13 years old, with a history of vomiting and diarrhea, hyperglycemia and glycosuria, and dietary indiscretion. At that time, screening laboratory tests and an abdominal ultrasound were performed. The imaging identified the pancreas with increased echogenicity and heterogeneous echotexture, fibro-adipose infiltration with signs of chronicity, and a thickened duodenal wall. The patient was seen by an endocrinology specialist after 4 months, with weight loss (6.30 kg) despite receiving insulin, a low body condition score (BCS 4/9), coprophagia, and polyphagia. The canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) test was performed with a value of 2.10 (5.2-35 ng/ml). We observed that pancreatitis can lead to both diabetes and EPI in the same patient and that the cTLI was essential for the diagnosis. The patient showed significant clinical improvement with Pancreatin supplementation combined with insulin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors driving infection prevalence among host species is crucial for effective disease mitigation. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, causes neuroangiostrongyliasis and serves as an excellent model for studying infection dynamics across hosts. This study investigates the relative impact of encounter rates on A. cantonensis prevalence in snail hosts by assessing their coprophagic tendencies. Multiple-choice feeding assays were conducted with four snail species (Parmarion martensi, Laevicaulis alte, Lissachatina fulica, and Veronicella cubensis) differing in A. cantonensis prevalence. The snails were offered romaine lettuce, hibiscus flowers, papaya, and rat feces. The relative intake ratios (RIR) were calculated and used to evaluate 1) feces preference among the snail species, and 2) correlation between feces preference and A. cantonensis prevalence. We also compared preferences for feces from rats fed high-fat and balanced diets; no significant difference was observed. Feces made up the highest proportion of the diet of P. martensi (11.6%), followed by V. cubensis (7.8%), L. fulica (5.9%), and L. alte (5.1%). Additionally, P. martensi showed a significantly higher preference (RIR) than all other species. The correlation between feces preference and A. cantonensis prevalence among species was weakly positive. These findings suggest that the level of coprophagy influences encounter rates with A. cantonensis, contributing to variation in infection prevalence among snail species. However, other factors may also play a role, as preference and prevalence were only weakly correlated. Understanding these dynamics can inform strategies for managing the spread of A. cantonensis and mitigating its health impacts., (© R.L. Rollins et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2024.)

Background: Coprophilia and coprophagia are distinct paraphilias that fall under the category of other specified paraphilic disorders in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . Coprophilia refers to sexual excitement from viewing, smelling, or handling feces, as well as fantasizing about another person engaging in these activities. Coprophagia, or eating one's own or another person's excrement, has also been observed in some patients with coprophilia., Aims: The purposes of this review are to examine the current literature on the etiology, symptoms, interviewing techniques, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy used for each disorder and to elicit best practice guidelines in the treatment of patients with coprophila and coprophagia., Methods: Electronic and hand searches were initiated using CINAHL, EBSCOhost, SAGEpub, and MEDLINE databases between 1990 and 2022 using the terms "coprophilia," "coprophagia," "paraphilia NOS," and "other specified paraphilic disorder" restricted to English., Results: Individual case reports and limited studies were found in this literature. Reported treatment protocols included individual and tandem use of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, with mixed outcomes. Future studies are needed to explore the factors that mitigate the paraphilias, therapeutic management, and treatment outcomes, to produce evidence-based practice treatment guidelines., Conclusions: Understanding the psychological and biological factors that may contribute to these disorders' manifestations may portend a greater understanding and insight into the genesis of the paraphilias. Having specific evidence-based treatment protocols will afford the psychiatric nurse practitioner to render patient-centered, safe, and culturally competent care and effect better patient outcomes among this understudied population., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Coprophagy prevention (CP) affects the growth performance, hepatic lipid synthesis, and gut microbiota in rabbits. Supplementation with Clostridium butyricum ( C. butyricum, Strain number: CCTCC M 2019962) has been found to improve growth performance in rabbits. However, it remains unknown whether C. butyricum can ameliorate the effects of CP on hepatic lipid synthesis and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of CP on hepatic lipid synthesis and the underlying mechanism based on the gut-liver axis. The findings revealed that supplementation with C. butyricum could reverse CP-related growth performance, lipid accumulation, bile acid synthesis, and inflammation. Furthermore, C. butyricum exerted protective effects on the gut by preserving intestinal barrier integrity and modulating gut microbiota composition; these factors may represent potential mechanisms through which C. butyricum improves CP-related outcomes. Specifically, C. butyricum reshaped the microbiota by increasing butyric acid levels, thereby maintaining secondary bile acid (deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid) balance and attenuating the inhibitory effects of the FXR/SHP pathway on lipid synthesis (SREBP1c/ApoA1). Moreover, the activation of butyrate/GPR43pathway by C. butyricum reduced damage to the intestinal barrier (ZO-1/Occludin/Claudin1) and restored the gut immune microenvironment in CP rabbits. In summary, supplementation with C. butyricum can alleviate the adverse effects of CP on growth performance and hepatic lipid synthesis by modulating the gut-liver axis.

Abstract Many small herbivores practice cecotrophy - the ingestion of special feces enriched in microbial protein by colonic separation mechanisms (CSM). In digesta passage experiments, secondary marker excretion peaks in feces are considered indicative of marker-reingestion via cecotrophy, but corroboration by behavioral observation was lacking so far. The paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical hystricomorph rodent, produces two different kinds of feces (hard and soft) and practices cecotrophy either directly (from the anus) or indirectly (from a pile of defecated feces, mostly when hard and soft feces are defecated together). To investigate effects of diet on cecotrophy, we monitored cecotrophy behavior and digesta passage marker excretion of solute and particle markers in four adult pacas, at constant food intake, on four diets varying in protein and fiber content. Marker excretion patterns suggested a 'mucus-trap' CSM typical for hystricomorph rodents, and showed secondary peaks of a similar time lag after cecotrophy as the primary marker peak after marker feeding. However, not every cecotrophy event was followed by a secondary marker peak. On higher fiber/lower protein diets, the number of cecotrophy bouts, the duration of cecotrophy, the number of secondary marker peaks and the difference between solute and particle marker retention increased, whereas the proportion of indirect cecotrophy decreased, indicating a higher degree of digesta phase separation on these diets. Compared to hard feces, soft feces were particularly enriched in solute marker concentration. Cecotrophy depends on a CSM that varies in its efficiency with the nutrient composition of the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprophagia is a rare and distressing disorder characterized by symptoms of compulsive consumption of feces. Several attempts have been made in literature to explore the pathophysiology, management, and outcomes of this disorder. However, critical questions remain, related to characterizing effective management, features of associated comorbidities, time to recovery of symptoms, sustainability of recovery, and the determinants of outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of available literature addressing these questions. We present two cases of patients with coprophagia in seeking to address these questions. Common symptoms of thought content disorder related to coprophagic behavior are noted in both cases. A shorter time to resolution of coprophagia is noted in one of the patients compared to previously reported studies. Recent and pertinent literature was reviewed and the implications for diagnosis and management of coprophagia are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of anthelmintic treatment at 1, 3, and 6 month intervals was evaluated in a prospective controlled field study with naturally exposed Lithuanian village dogs by monthly coproscopy during 1 year. A placebo-treated control group (C) (n = 202) and groups treated with two broad-spectrum anthelmintics, febantel/pyrantel-embonate/praziquantel (Drontal® Plus, Bayer) (D1, D3, D6; n = 113-117) and emodepside/praziquantel (Profender®, Bayer) (P1, P3, P6; n = 114-119), were included. At the beginning of the study, eggs of Toxocara canis (4.02%) and T. cati (0.44%) identified morphometrically and/or molecularly and eggs of taeniid- (0.78%) and Capillaria-like eggs (5.03%) were present in the feces without significant differences in prevalence between groups. Significant decreases in excretion of T. canis eggs was found 1 month after the treatment with Drontal® Plus in February (D1) and with Profender® in October (P1), November (P1), December (P3), February (P1), and March (P1, P3), as compared to controls in the same months. The incidence of egg excretion per dog at least once a year was significantly lower in group P1 for T. canis (4.24%; p < 0.01) and in groups D1, P1 for taeniid eggs (0%; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), when compared to controls (16.96 and 6.70%, respectively). A critical analyses of factors possibly responsible for intestinal passage of canine helminth eggs revealed that chained dogs excreted T. canis eggs more frequently 1 month after treatment compared to dogs in pens, particularly from November to March (p = 0.01). The incidence of single detection of T. cati eggs was significantly increased in chained dogs (12.46%) as compared to fenced dogs (1.08%; p = 0.0001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unraveling the relationship between the unusual feeding behaviors and the nutritional intake of endangered species may provide crucial information for understanding species response to habitat unpredictable changes. Primates occasionally re‐ingest fruit seeds alongside ingestion of feces, a behavior called coprophagy. The nutritional benefit is one of the several non‐mutual exclusive hypotheses proposed to explain this behavior. We investigated the ecological correlates of coprophagy in wild western gorillas. We tested whether coprophagy occurred during periods of lower fruit availability and whether it led to higher nutrient intake in comparison to the other food. Data integrated phenological, fecal and nutritional analyses of gorilla food with behavioral observations collected at two sites in Central Africa (Mbeli Bai: ad libitum observations on 15 groups/solitary males, October 2002–November 2005; Bai Hokou: 5‐min scan on a habituated group, December 2004–December 2005). Coprophagy occurred at the end of the high‐fruiting season in association of two Dialium species. Coprophagy correlated positively with the occurrence of Dialium spp. fruit in gorilla feces and in the feeding scans, and showed a positive trend with Dialium availability but not with total fruit availability. Nutritional comparison of Dialium seeds with other important gorilla food showed higher fat and mineral content, particularly of Mg, but also of phenols and tannins in Dialium seeds. We discuss how the effect of gut processing and gut heat via coprophagy may act as cooking‐like effect: increasing the ability to maximize nutrient intake by concurrently softening fibers and decreasing the toxic effect of antifeedants, like in human traditional cooking. Our results support both the multiple nutritional benefit hypothesis and the toxicity reduction hypothesis. Since Dialium is precious timber, the importance of this tree for the critically endangered western gorillas should be taken with high consideration when planning controlled logging of degraded forests or in face of habitat changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consult-liaison psychiatrists often encounter difficult clinical scenarios. We present a pediatric case of presumptive coprophagia. After a negative medical work-up, the pediatrics team asked psychiatry to assist them in managing this relatively rare disorder in the hospital setting. Little is known about the etiology and treatment of coprophagia in the pediatric population. Using the case as a catalyst, we discuss what is known about this disorder as well as treatment strategies in the hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The aim of the article was to present the results of the author's own study that sought relationships between having experienced psychological trauma and the psychological characteristics of people with eating disorders. The basic research question was the following: To what degree are the traumatic events experienced by females with various types of eating disorders related to these females' psychological characteristics? PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE The sample comprised 120 females with eating disorders: 30 females aged between 20 and 26 diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, 31 females diagnosed with binge-eating disorder and 59 females aged between 20 and 26 diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The research was carried out in the years 2007-2012 in outpatient clinics treating neuroses and eating disorders and mental health outpatient clinics in Poland. The study employed a clinical and psychometric (i.e., questionnaires for measuring psychological characteristics) approach. RESULTS Statistical analysis confirmed the existence of significant differences between the females with eating disorders who have experienced relational trauma(s) in their lives (particularly in their childhood and adolescence) and those who did not reveal such experience. The females with anorexia and bulimia who have also experienced psychological, physical or sexual violence revealed a significantly different, higher level of bulimic thinking and tendencies for excessively uncontrolled, impulsive behaviors towards food and nutrition (i.e., vomit-provoking and other forms of body purgation, e.g. using purgative drugs and others) than did females with no relational trauma experience. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of relational trauma occurrence was significantly higher for females with bulimia and bulimic anorexia. For females with restrictive anorexia and binge-eating disorder, no significantly frequent occurrence of trauma was observed. Diagnosing the occurrence of relational trauma in patients' histories is a key element that should be involved in the process of psychotherapy for people with eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprophagy by breeding birds, whereby parents eat the feces of their nestlings, is a common but rarely studied behavior. By eating feces, breeding parents may recycle nutrients. In many passerines, eating feces also reduces breeders' time away from the nest, saving energy and increasing brooding time. Here, we report the proportion of individuals that display coprophagy in a population of Dunnocks, Prunella modularis, in Dunedin (New Zealand), and evaluate whether coprophagy varies between sexes, and between two mating systems (monogamy and polyandry). We find that females consume fecal sacs significantly more frequently than males. We also find a non-significant trend for monogamous females to eat feces more often than polyandrous females. We conclude that two hypotheses - parental-nutritional and economical-disposal - could explain the differences in coprophagy between sexes. Our results also suggest that male Dunnocks may engage in coprophagy to recycle nutrients rather than for saving energy. Finally, we describe a novel observation of a nestling being fed with its own feces by an adult male. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from carnivory to omnivory is poorly understood. The ability to feed at more than one trophic level theoretically increases an animal's fitness in a novel environment. Because of the absence of light and photosynthesis, most subterranean ecosystems are characterized by very few trophic levels, such that food scarcity is a challenge in many subterranean habitats. One strategy against starvation is to expand diet breadth. Grotto Salamanders (Eurycea spelaea (Stejneger, 1892)) are known to ingest bat guano deliberately, challenging the general understanding that salamanders are strictly carnivorous. Here we tested the hypothesis that grotto salamanders have broadened their diet related to cave adaptation and found that, although coprophagous behavior is present, salamanders are unable to acquire sufficient nutrition from bat guano alone. Our results suggest that the coprophagic behavior has emerged prior to physiological or gut biome adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well-known that retrograde transport of urine fills the caeca of birds with fluid and small particles, the function of avian caeca is still not fully understood. We measured mean retention times (MRT) of solute (cobalt-EDTA, Co), small particle (< 2 mm, chromium-mordanted fibre, Cr) and large particle (8 mm, cerium-marked fibre, Ce) markers in geese ( Anser anser ) and turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) fed alfalfa pellets ad libitum. Intake did not differ between species. Turkeys had longer MRT for all markers (Co: 10.4 vs. 3.2 h; Cr 23.3 vs. 2.9 h; Ce 9.5 vs. 2.1 h), achieved a higher fibre digestibility, and had a higher calculated dry matter gut fill. Thus, geese and turkeys correspond to the typical dichotomy of good fliers vs. poor fliers/flightless species in avian herbivores. Because uric acid is fermented much faster by microbes than fibre, the ultimate cause of short-MRT digesta retention in avian caeca as in geese is possibly rather uric acid than fibre fermentation. The numerical differences between marker MRT in geese correspond to a colonic separation mechanism that delays the excretion of fluids more than small and again more than large particles. In contrast to geese, turkeys excreted solid and liquid (caecal) faeces. Liquid faeces contained less fibre and more crude protein than solid faeces and accounted for the excretion of 7, 25 and 34% of Ce, Co and Cr markers. Marker excretion patterns and MRT for liquid faeces (Co 15 vs. Cr 50 h) suggest that small particles did not simply move in parallel to fluids, but were retained selectively by being trapped in colonic digesta upon expulsion from caeca, with subsequent repeated retrograde transport into caeca with the next batch of urine. Given the absence of coprophagy in birds (in contrast to small mammalian herbivores), such a delay of small (microbial) particle escape from the caeca appears reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents have been extensively used as animal models in microbiome studies. However, all rodents have a habitual nature called coprophagy, a phenomenon that they self-reinoculate feces into their gastrointestinal tract. Recent studies have shown that blocking coprophagy can alter rodents' diversity of gut microbiota, metabolism, neurochemistry, and cognitive behavior. However, whether rodents' coprophagy behavior affects the levels of inflammation and depression is unclear. In order to address this problem, we first blocked coprophagy in healthy mice. It displayed an increase in the levels of depression, verified by depressive-like behaviors and mood-related indicators, and inflammation, verified by the increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, in coprophagy-blocked mice. Furthermore, we transplanted fecal microbiota from chronic restraint stress (CRS) depression model mice and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model mice to healthy recipient mice, respectively. It showed that the disease-like phenotypes in the coprophagy-blocked group were worse than those in the coprophagy-unblocked group, including severer depressive symptoms and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ) in serum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus (HIP). These findings showed that blocking coprophagy in mice not only increased the levels of inflammation and depression in healthy mice but also aggravated inflammation and depression induced by fecal microbiota from disease donors. The discovery may provide a vital reference for future research involving FMT in rodents., (© 2023 Scandinavian Societies for Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology.)

Background: Coprophagy plays a vital role in maintaining growth and development in many small herbivores. Here, we constructed a coprophagy model by dividing rabbits into three groups, namely, control group (CON), sham-coprophagy prevention group (SCP), and coprophagy prevention group (CP), to explore the effects of coprophagy prevention on growth performance and cecal microecology in rabbits., Results: Results showed that CP treatment decreased the feed utilization and growth performance of rabbits. Serum total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the CP group were remarkably lower than those in the other two groups. Furthermore, CP treatment destroyed cecum villi and reduced the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecum contents. Gut microbiota profiling showed significant differences in the phylum and genus composition of cecal microorganisms among the three groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Oscillospira and Ruminococcus decreased significantly in the CP group. Enrichment analysis of metabolic pathways showed a significantly up-regulated differential metabolic pathway (PWY-7315, dTDP-N-acetylthomosamine biosynthesis) in the CP group compared with that in the CON group. Correlation analysis showed that the serum biochemical parameters were positively correlated with the abundance of Oscillospira, Sutterella, and Butyricimonas but negatively correlated with the abundance of Oxalobacte and Desulfovibrio. Meanwhile, the abundance of Butyricimonas and Parabacteroidesde was positively correlated with the concentration of butyric acid in the cecum., Conclusions: In summary, coprophagy prevention had negative effects on serum biochemistry and gut microbiota, ultimately decreasing the growth performance of rabbits. The findings provide evidence for further revealing the biological significance of coprophagy in small herbivorous mammals., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

An important issue in the evolution of group living is the risk of pathogen and predator exposure entailed by the inherent accumulation of feces within a nesting site. While many group living species limit this risk by cleaning the nest, others do not, raising questions about the benefits of maintaining feces in the nest and their importance in social evolution. Here, we investigated whether one of these benefits could be mediated by coprophagy in families of the European earwig, Forficula auricularia. In this insect species, mothers and mobile juveniles (nymphs) line their nests with feces and consume them. In a first experiment, we tested whether access to feces produced by either nymphs or mothers affects nymph survival in both presence and absence of food. The results showed that access to sibling feces, but not mother feces, enhanced offspring survival under food deprivation. Such an effect did not occur when regular food was available. We then conducted a food-choice experiment to reveal whether nymphs prefer food to feces, and if they discriminate between feces from their mother, unrelated adult females, unrelated nymphs, or their siblings. We found that offspring generally preferred regular food to feces, but nevertheless always consumed some feces. By contrast, nymphs showed no preference between related sibling or mother feces and did not discriminate between feces from related and unrelated individuals. Overall, our results suggest that the benefits of coprophagy could favor the maintenance of feces within the nest and promote the evolution of social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the unusual behavior of coprophagia (eating one's own feces) in neurologic disorders. The Mayo Clinic Health Sciences-computerized clinical database was queried for all patients evaluated at our institution between 1995 and 2015 in which coprophagia was documented in the medical records. Twenty-six patients were identified of which 17 had coprophagia. Of the 17 patients, five were excluded due to age at onset less than 10 years, leaving 12 adult patients for this study. The median age at onset of coprophagia in the 12 patients was 55 years (range 20-88 years), and half were female. Additional behaviors were common including scatolia (fecal smearing), hypersexuality, aggression, and pica (eating objects of any kind). Coprophagia was associated with neurodegenerative dementia in six patients, developmental delay in two, and one each with seizures, steroid psychosis, frontal lobe tumor, and schizoaffective disorder. Brain imaging in the six patients with dementia showed moderate-to-severe medial temporal lobe atrophy, as well as mild frontal lobe atrophy. Autopsy examination was performed in one patient and revealed frontotemporal lobar degeneration pathology. Many different behavioral and pharmacologic therapies were implemented, yet only haloperidol was associated with discontinuation of the behavior. Coprophagia is associated with different neurologic disorders, particularly neurodegenerative dementias. The behavior may be related to medial temporal lobe atrophy, similar to the Klüver-Bucy syndrome. Haloperidol appears to be effective in treating the behavior, at least in some patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprophilia is a rarely discussed phenomenon although not uncommon in psychiatric intensive care units, inpatient learning disability services and on wards for older people. It evokes intense emotional reactions in those who witness and who are exposed to it. This paper gives a definition and a current diagnostic overview of this unusual phenomenon. It sums up the medical and psychoanalytic approaches, then makes an effort to illustrate and evaluates the psychosexual symbolic meaning of coprophilia through the film of Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For captive chimpanzees, ‘abnormal’ behaviours include behaviours observed only in captivity (i.e. species-atypical behaviours) and those that are performed at higher rates in captivity compared to in the wild. Both types are used as metrics for evaluating captive primates’ welfare. However, categorizing all abnormal behaviours together ignores variation in their etiologies, which limits our ability to understand them and provide useful interventions. Coprophagy (deliberately eating faeces) is an intriguing abnormal behaviour because, unlike many abnormal behaviours, it is performed at higher rates among captive chimpanzees that were mother reared, compared to those that were human reared, and it has been proposed that it represents a socially learnt ‘cultural’ behaviour. Furthermore, coprophagy is observed among both wild and captive animals, although at higher rates in captivity. Typically, coprophagy is classed with other abnormal behaviours by those evaluating captive chimpanzee welfare, but such categorization has arisen from a top–down approach based on a priori assumptions. To apply a bottom–up approach, which would allow us to identify relations between behaviours in chimpanzees’ repertoire, in this study we ran a principal components analysis on the behaviours performed by 60 captive chimpanzees, to determine whether coprophagy should be classified with other abnormal behaviours. The principal components analysis revealed seven factors that we termed social, aggressive, playful, active, feed, abnormal and self-directed. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that coprophagy loaded onto the ‘social’ factor, which included positive social behaviours, and not onto the ‘abnormal’ factor, which included other abnormal behaviours. Supporting previous research, we also found that those chimpanzees that were mother-reared showed higher rates of coprophagy than those that were human reared; there was a significant positive correlation between time spent with conspecifics during the first four years of life and the rate of coprophagy performed by the subjects as adults ( r = 0.575, N = 60, P < 0.001). We discuss these results giving consideration to the practical applications for monitoring and evaluating captive chimpanzee welfare and also from a theoretical perspective about the social learning mechanisms that may underpin the transmission of coprophagy among captive chimpanzees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Huang–Lian–Jie–Du Decoction (HLJDD) is widely used for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, inflammation and neural system diseases in clinic. In the present study, the comprehensive metabolic profile of HLJDD was demonstrated reliably and rapidly followed by the metabolic pathway analysis of six typical pure compounds (four alkaloids, one flavonoid and one iridoid) in HLJDD using LC–IT-MS combined with high resolution LC–FT-ICR-MS. 2. Totally, 85 compounds, including 32 prototype components and 53 biotransformed metabolites were detected and characterized in the urine and feces after oral administration of HLJDD and six pure compounds to rats, respectively. Among them, 17 prototypes were identified definitely with standard references. 3. Hydroxylation, demethylation and glucuronidation reactions of alkaloids, as well as glucuronidation and sulfonation reactions of iridoids and flavonoids, were observed as the major metabolic pathways of HLJDD. Flavonoids, iridoids and their metabolites were mainly excreted from urine. However, amount of alkaloids were detected in feces. 4. In general, the distinctive metabolic process of three kinds of representative components in HLJDD was clarified. Thein vivometabolic network of HLJDD was demonstrated. Meanwhile, the investigation of representative pure compounds in metabolic study provided a valuable strategy to elucidate the full-scale metabolic fate of HLJDD. This might be helpful to understand thein vivomechanism of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Determining the cause of pruritus relies on establishing the pattern of abnormal pruritus. The presence of gastrointestinal ( GI) disease has also been helpful in determining the cause of pruritus. No study has systematically evaluated typical GI signs and pruritic behaviours in apparently healthy dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate owners' perceptions of pruritus and GI signs in apparently healthy dogs, and determine if age, breed, activity, diet or supplements affected these signs. Animals Three hundred and fourteen apparently healthy dogs ≥12 months old with an unremarkable physical examination and no history of pruritus, otitis, skin/hair disease, metabolic or GI disease were enrolled. Methods Thirty one veterinarians enrolled dogs after establishing their pruritus visual analog scale ( PVAS) score and faecal consistency score ( FCS); owners completed a comprehensive online survey regarding GI signs, possible pruritic behaviours, ear cleaning and sneezing. Results A PVAS score of ≤1.9 was recorded in 87.6% of dogs and the FCS was 2-3 in 94.9% of dogs. PVAS was positively correlated with paw licking/chewing, facial/muzzle rubbing, head shaking and sneezing. Scooting was positively correlated with sneezing. Over 96% of dogs had 1-3 bowel movements ( BM) per day. Age was positively correlated with facial/muzzle rubbing, sneezing, coprophagia and borborygmi. The number of walks/day was positively correlated with paw licking/chewing, head shaking, sneezing, number of BM/day, coprophagia , belching, flatulence and borborygmi. Conclusion and clinical importance A standard method of asking relevant questions was developed and the frequency of GI signs and many behaviours that may indicate pruritus in apparently healthy dogs was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprophagia and entomophagia are two phenomena not commonly reported in the medical literature and their occurrence is usually associated with mental disorders. We present the case of a 59-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse who was evaluated due to cognitive deterioration and disturbed eating habits including feces and living insects. Organic causes were ruled out and an important cognitive impairment became evident on neuropsychological formal test. The behavior remitted after antipsychotic pharmacologic therapy and alcohol detoxification, leaving the diagnostic impression of alcohol related dementia. This report shows a rare association of these two conditions in a patient with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprophagia or the ingestion of faeces has been associated with medical conditions (seizure disorders, cerebral atrophy and tumours) and psychiatric disorders (mental retardation, alcoholism, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, fetishes, delirium and dementia). The case of a woman in her 30s presenting with coprophagia and psychotic symptoms following hypoxic brain injury is reported. The case is discussed and literature is reviewed. We investigate cariprazine, a relatively new atypical antipsychotic for treating coprophagia, associated with psychotic symptoms. Psychiatric evaluation revealed cognitive dysfunction and psychotic symptoms. Physical examination and laboratory evaluation were unremarkable. She was treated with haloperidol resulting in resolution of coprophagia. Attempts at switching to alternative antipsychotics, due to side effects, resulted in recurrence of coprophagia. Subsequent relapses required higher doses of haloperidol for remission of coprophagia and psychotic symptoms. She finally responded to cariprazine. While firm conclusions are not possible from the experience of a single case, we suggest cariprazine may also be a treatment option for coprophagia, particularly in patients with psychotic symptoms., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The article discusses the horror torture porn film 'The Human Centipede: First Sequence' by director Tom Six. Topics include extremism in film, various scenes where the sense of nausea is generated in spectators and the gut wrenching effect film creates. Also, other film from the same genre like ‘The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence' are highlighted.

Many dogs display coprophagic behaviour. Helminth eggs can passively pass the dog's digestive tract and this may result in a false positive diagnosis of infection with gastrointestinal helminth parasites. For a period of one year, faecal samples of dogs were examined monthly using the Centrifugal Sedimentation Flotation (CSF) technique with a sugar flotation solution (s.g. 1.27-1.30 g/cm³). If a sample tested positive for canine helminth eggs, the owner was asked to submit another sample after preventing the dog from eating faeces for 3 days. If the second sample again tested positive for the same type of helminth egg, the dog was considered to have a patent infection. If the second sample tested negative, the first sample was considered a false positive due to coprophagy. The focus of this study was on dogs shedding Toxocara eggs. At the first examination, 246 samples (out of 308 samples testing positive for canine-specific helminth eggs) tested positive for Toxocara spp. Of these, 120 (49%) tested negative at the second examination. Coprophagic behaviour was recognized by 261 of the 564 owners that answered the accompanying questionnaire. This concerned 391 dogs. Coproscopical examination also provided proof of coprophagy (e.g. oocysts of Eimeria spp. or non-dog typical helminth eggs) in dogs belonging to owners that did not report coprophagic behaviour in their dogs. Results indicate that coprophagy in dogs may result in an overestimation of the prevalence of patent helminth infections and that dogs may serve as a transport host for helminth eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alstonia scholaris Linn. is traditionally used to treat constipation. The present study was carried to investigate laxative activity of aqueous extract of A. scholaris on albino Wistar rats. Rats were divided in to 4 groups of 6 animals each, first group as control, second group served as standard (Senna-30 mg/kg), while group 3 and 4 were treated with aqueous extract of A. scholaris at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (p.o.), respectively. The laxative activity was determined based on the weight of feces matter. The aqueous extract of the plant produced significant (p<0.01) laxative activity at both doses. The results showed that the aqueous extract of A. scholaris has a significant laxative activity and supports its traditional use in herbal medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]