Abstract: Objectives To explore the ideal frequency of screening and diagnostic testing for stool banks and to describe the parasites and pathogens observed in this population
Animals 406 cats and 556 dogs were screened for donation to a stool bank.
Methods Fecal samples were collected from potential donors for a stool bank in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Samples were submitted for third party testing for parasites and pathogens on a weekly basis. Microbiome testing using 16S rRNA sequencing (Illumina) was also performed on a monthly basis.
Results Of the 962 cats and dogs screened, only 16% (50 cats and 82 dogs) were accepted as donors after screening for parasites, pathogens, and microbiome composition. Pathogen testing on a weekly basis was identified as the ideal time frame, allowing for better detection of Giardia infections than monthly testing and we found that daily testing was unnecessary. The top pathogens identified in dogs were Giardia and cryptosporidium and the top pathogen in cats was the feline coronavirus. The most common potential pathogen found was Clostridium perfringens, which was found in more than half of the individuals screened. The parasites, hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm were rarely found in this population.
Conclusions Identification and maintenance of healthy donors for stool banks requires extensive monitoring, particularly for parasites and pathogens.
