INHIBITION OF ADHESION OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI TO CANINE AND FELINE UROEPITHELIAL CELLS BY AN EXTRACT FROM CRANBERRY

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main infectious agent of urinary tract infections (UTI) in humans, dogs and cats. Dietary consumption of cranberries is thought to be associated with prevention of UTI in humans based on decreased adhesion of UPEC to uroepithelial cells. The present study evaluated the impact of cranberry extract addition on the attachment of UPEC to canine Madin-Darby Canine Kidney and Crandell-Rees Feline Kidney uroepithelial cells. When the extract was present during bacterial growth or only during adhesion tests, a dose-dependent decrease of UPEC adhesion to all cell types was observed. Bacterial growth was weakly decreased only in the presence of the highest concentration of cranberry extract showing that the anti-adherence effect did not require a bacterial growth inhibitory effect. In conclusion, the addition of cranberry extract has preventive effects on the in vitro bacterial attachment to canine and feline uroepithelial cells in a dose dependent way.