Srifawattana Nuttawan, Phimolsiripol Yuthana, Boonchuay Pinpanit, Na-Lampang Kannika, Piboon Promporn, Umsumarng Sonthaya, Nganvongpanit Korakot
Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
Vet Sci. 2025 Jan 17;12(1):68. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12010068.
Can black soldier fly (BSF) larvae be a protein substitute for managing adverse food reactions (AFRs) in dogs, specifically those with dermatitis? We evaluated BSF larvae's safety, tolerance, and effectiveness as a novel protein source in dogs with AFRs. Sixteen dogs, including eight healthy controls and eight diagnosed with AFRs, were fed a diet containing BSF larvae for four weeks. Skin conditions, including dermatological lesions and Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) scores, and gastrointestinal signs, including relevant clinical signs, stool consistency, and hematological and biochemical parameters, were monitored. No significant gastrointestinal side effects were observed. The control and AFRs groups maintained stable body weights, while stool consistency scores did not change significantly. Moreover, skin reaction data obtained before the study were collected through interviews with the owners. The mean PVAS scores in the AFRs group were significantly higher ( < 0.05) during the self-control period (6.0 ± 1.6) when compared with other periods. However, no significant differences ( > 0.05) were observed between the pre-study baseline (2.0 ± 1.1) and scores at 2 weeks (2.3 ± 1.5) and 4 weeks (2.4 ± 1.2) of feeding with BSF-based food, which indicated that BSF larvae did not exacerbate pruritic symptoms. Hematology and blood chemistry remained within normal ranges in all dogs, indicating no adverse effects on overall health. BSF larvae were well tolerated by AFR-affected and control dogs, with no adverse clinical outcomes. The findings suggest that BSF larvae may offer a better, sustainable alternative protein source for managing AFRs in dogs, particularly in those on hypoallergenic diets. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these results and assess the broader implications of BSF larvae diets on canine health.
黑水虻幼虫能否作为一种蛋白质替代品，用于处理犬类尤其是患有皮炎的犬类的食物不良反应（AFR）？我们评估了黑水虻幼虫作为AFR犬类新型蛋白质来源的安全性、耐受性和有效性。16只犬，包括8只健康对照犬和8只被诊断患有AFR的犬，被喂食含有黑水虻幼虫的日粮四周。监测皮肤状况，包括皮肤病损和瘙痒视觉模拟量表（PVAS）评分，以及胃肠道症状，包括相关临床症状、粪便稠度以及血液学和生化参数。未观察到明显的胃肠道副作用。对照组和AFR组的体重保持稳定，而粪便稠度评分没有显著变化。此外，研究前通过与犬主访谈收集皮肤反应数据。与其他时期相比，AFR组在自我对照期（6.0±1.6）的平均PVAS评分显著更高（<0.05）。然而，在基于黑水虻食物喂养2周（2.3±1.5）和4周（2.4±1.2）时的评分与研究前基线（2.0±1.1）之间未观察到显著差异（>0.05），这表明黑水虻幼虫不会加重瘙痒症状。所有犬的血液学和血液化学指标均保持在正常范围内，表明对整体健康没有不良影响。受AFR影响的犬和对照犬对黑水虻幼虫耐受性良好，未出现不良临床结果。研究结果表明，黑水虻幼虫可能为处理犬类的AFR提供一种更好的、可持续的替代蛋白质来源，特别是对于食用低敏日粮的犬。需要进一步的长期研究来证实这些结果，并评估黑水虻幼虫日粮对犬类健康的更广泛影响。
