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Animals
Special Issues
Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects
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Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 6292

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Remigiusz Gałęcki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: veterinary entomology; edible insects; veterinary parasitology; companion animals; veterinary prevention; one health; epidemiology; molecular biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue entitled “Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects”. Animals is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that provides an advanced forum for any multidisciplinary studies that involve veterinary sciences, animal sciences, zoology, animal-derived food, animal diseases and public health, entomology, and animal nutrition. This Special Issue responds to the current trends in the implementation of insects into the food chain and the development of animal products based on edible insects.

This Special Issue aims to explore the potential benefits of edible insects in human and animal nutrition. "Six-legged livestock" have been recognized as one of the most innovative food and feed substrates in recent years. In addition, edible insects are described as a milestone in the diversification of protein sources and a safeguard for the global food chain. Currently, many scientific and commercial initiatives are being launched in world, developing the idea of entomophagy. On the basis of the available studies and analyses, the possibility of the safe admission of insect protein to human and animal nutrition has been positively assessed. According to EU regulations, Processed Animal Protein (PAP) from insects can be used to produce feed for companion animals, aquaculture, poultry, and pigs. The positive effect on the digestive tract, clinical status, hypoallergenicity, or the health-promoting aspect will be a significant added value for insect-delivered products. It is essential that research on the use of edible insects in animals is based on evidence-based medicine.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, short communications, case reports, opinion papers, and reviewers are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Edible insects;

Animal nutrition;

Pharmacology;

Animal gut health;

Neurological system;

Immunology;

Physiology;

Biochemistry;

Microbiology;

Companion animals;

Livestock;

Functional ingredients;

Feed additives;

bioactive compounds;

Clinical evaluation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Remigiusz Gałęcki
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • edible insects
  • domestic animals
  • animal nutrition
  • animal health
  • bioactive compounds
  • clinical evaluation
  • in vitro studies
  • animal gut health
  • functional ingredients
  • insect-delivered compounds
  • ethnopharmacology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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18 pages, 30061 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Indole Analogues from the Periplaneta americana Extract and Their Therapeutic Effects on Ulcerative Colitis
by Yuchen Xie, Qi Yu, Shun Yao, Rui Peng and Jing Li
Animals 2025, 15(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010063 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 717
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the intestinal mucosa, and its incidence is steadily increasing worldwide. As a traditional Chinese medicinal insect, Periplaneta americana has been broadly utilized in clinical practice to treat wound healing. The tryptophan (Trp), tryptamine (Try), and [...] Read more.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the intestinal mucosa, and its incidence is steadily increasing worldwide. As a traditional Chinese medicinal insect, Periplaneta americana has been broadly utilized in clinical practice to treat wound healing. The tryptophan (Trp), tryptamine (Try), and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrogen-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (Thcc) identified from P. americana concentrated ethanol-extract liquid (PACEL) exhibit significant cell proliferation-promoting and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of UC, but the mechanism involved remains obscure. Here, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model was used to investigate the efficacy of high/low doses of PACEL, Trp, Try, and Thcc. Transcriptome sequencing was employed to detect the gene expression in the mouse intestine. The results showed that high doses of PACEL, Trp, Try, and Thcc could significantly improve weight loss and diarrhea, notably in the PACEL and Trp groups. Transcriptome analysis indicated that statistically changed genes in four treatment groups were specifically enriched in the immune system. Of these, the integrated analysis identified six hub genes (IL1β, CCL4, CXCL5, CXCR2, LCN2, and MMP9) regulated by NF-κB, which were significantly downregulated. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the UC treatment properties of indole analogues from PACEL, potentially through the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects)
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23 pages, 1485 KiB  
Article
A Model for Consumer Acceptance of Insect-Based Dog Foods among Adult UK Dog Owners
by Joanne Pinney and Montserrat Costa-Font
Animals 2024, 14(7), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071021 - 27 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2748
Abstract
The use of alternative proteins is becoming more common in pet feed, and insect-based dog foods (IBDFs) are becoming more widely available. However, little research has been conducted to date in respect of the drivers for consumers’ acceptance of IBDF. This study aimed [...] Read more.
The use of alternative proteins is becoming more common in pet feed, and insect-based dog foods (IBDFs) are becoming more widely available. However, little research has been conducted to date in respect of the drivers for consumers’ acceptance of IBDF. This study aimed to investigate the acceptance of IBDF among adult UK dog owners and the factors influencing the decision to try and buy such products. A theoretical model was developed following a review of the existing literature. An online survey of 280 participants was carried out and the results were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the theoretical model. The following constructs all had a significant impact on attitudes towards IBDF and/or intentions to try and buy IBDF: food preferences for animal welfare, health and environment; attitudes towards uses of animals; beliefs about insect sentience; disgust; perceptions of benefits and risks; and social norms. Social norms had the strongest influence of any single construct. Consumer acceptance of IBDF is multi-faceted including social, cultural and ethical components, and it is likely that the better availability of information and opportunities for consumers to familiarise themselves with IBDF would help to drive consumer acceptance. In order to allow dog owners to make informed decisions in line with their ethical preferences, further research is needed to establish the overall health and welfare implications of IBDF on the animals involved in production, as well as the companion animals, who are the ultimate consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects)
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8 pages, 1337 KiB  
Case Report
An Assessment of the Impact of Insect Meal in Dry Food on a Dog with a Food Allergy: A Case Report
by Cinthia Gonçalves Lenz Cesar, Pedro Henrique Marchi, Andressa Rodrigues Amaral, Leonardo de Andrade Príncipe, Adrielly Aparecida do Carmo, Rafael Vessecchi Amorim Zafalon, Nelson Nobuhiro Miyamoto, Nury Aymée Collona Rodriguez Garcia, Júlio Cesar de Carvalho Balieiro and Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192859 - 4 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
Food allergy triggers an immune response to dietary proteins, resulting in food rejection and dermatological and gastrointestinal manifestations. The preferred therapies include diets with hydrolyzed proteins or unusual single-source proteins, with insect protein emerging as a promising option, with no reported allergic reactions [...] Read more.
Food allergy triggers an immune response to dietary proteins, resulting in food rejection and dermatological and gastrointestinal manifestations. The preferred therapies include diets with hydrolyzed proteins or unusual single-source proteins, with insect protein emerging as a promising option, with no reported allergic reactions in dogs with a food allergy. In this case study, the effects of including black soldier fly larva (BSFL) meal were observed in a 5-year-old spayed beagle previously diagnosed with a food allergy. The objective was to assess the potential of BSFL meal as an adjunct in treating a food allergy. As part of the protocol, two nutritionally very similar diets were used, differing only in the protein source: the control diet, with poultry by-product meal; and the BSFL diet, which completely replaced the poultry by-product meal. After a 12-day adaptation period to the BSFL diet, the dog showed no gastrointestinal changes, maintaining an adequate fecal score and no clinical signs of the disease. A challenge test with the control diet resulted in episodic gastrointestinal symptoms, which were reversed within two days by reintroducing the BSFL diet. The BSFL protein-based diet was effective in controlling the dog’s clinical signs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects)
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