Support for sampling in a dog-owner microbiome study

How do lifestyle changes shape the invisible ecosystems we share with our closest companions? This research project investigates the diversity of intestinal protists in dogs and their owners, comparing modern Central Europe with traditional rural communities in Romania.

Parasitology Consultancy Group contributed by organizing and conducting the field sampling in Romania. Together with local veterinarians and community partners, we coordinated the collection of fecal samples from both humans and dogs. These were carefully preserved and prepared for downstream molecular and parasitological analyses by the project's research partners.

By providing high-quality, ethically compliant samples, we helped build the foundation for a study that connects One Health, microbiome science, and comparative medicine. The results will shed light on how modernization and lifestyle transitions influence gut ecosystems in both humans and animals.