Workplace-related environmental exposure and its potential influence on hair mineral and gut microbiota in cloned working dogs

This study observed four genetically identical cloned working dogs exposed to different environments, such as an airport and a police station, over two years. Hair and fecal samples revealed that the airport-exposed dog had higher concentrations of toxic minerals like Pb and Ni, and a simplified intestinal microbiota with increased Actinobacteria and decreased Lachnospiraceae and Fusobacteria. These findings suggest that environmental conditions can influence the accumulation of harmful substances and affect gut microbiota, highlighting the potential of non-invasive methods for evaluating environmental influences on working dogs. The study emphasizes the need for further research with larger sample sizes to understand the mechanisms and long-term health implications of these environmental effects.