Topic:Diet

Diet modulates strongyle infection and microbiota in the large intestine of horses.
PloS one    April 9, 2024   Volume 19, Issue 4 e0301920 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301920
Laroche N, Grimm P, Julliand S, Sorci G.The use of anthelminthic drugs has several drawbacks, including the selection of resistant parasite strains. Alternative avenues to mitigate the negative effects of helminth infection involve dietary interventions that might affect resistance and/or tolerance by improving host immunity, modulating the microbiota, or exerting direct anthelmintic effects. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of diet on strongyle infection in horses, specifically through immune-mediated, microbiota-mediated, or direct anthelmintic effects. Horses that were naturally infected with strongyles were fed eit...
Identification of mulberry leaf flavonoids and evaluating their protective effects on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in equine skeletal muscle satellite cells.
Frontiers in molecular biosciences    April 8, 2024   Volume 11 1353387 doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1353387
Zhang X, Geng A, Cao D, Dugarjaviin M. Horses are susceptible to oxidative stress during strenuous endurance exercise, leading to muscle fatigue and damage. Mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLFs) possess significant antioxidant properties. However, the antioxidant efficacy of MLFs can be influenced by the extraction process, and their impact on HO-induced oxidative stress in equine skeletal muscle satellite cells (ESMCs) remains unexplored. Our study employed three extraction methods to obtain MLFs: ultrasound-assisted extraction (CEP), purification with AB-8 macroporous resin (RP), and n-butanol extraction (NB-EP). We assessed the prot...
Follicular metabolic alterations are associated with obesity in mares and can be mitigated by dietary supplementation.
Scientific reports    March 30, 2024   Volume 14, Issue 1 7571 doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58323-0
Catandi GD, Fresa KJ, Cheng MH, Whitcomb LA, Broeckling CD, Chen TW, Chicco AJ, Carnevale EM.Obesity is a growing concern in human and equine populations, predisposing to metabolic pathologies and reproductive disturbances. Cellular lipid accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction play an important role in the pathologic consequences of obesity, which may be mitigated by dietary interventions targeting these processes. We hypothesized that obesity in the mare promotes follicular lipid accumulation and altered mitochondrial function of oocytes and granulosa cells, potentially contributing to impaired fertility in this population. We also predicted that these effects could be mitigated ...
The paradox of spring: Thyroid and glucocorticoid responses to cold temperatures and food availability in free living Carneddau ponies.
Hormones and behavior    March 18, 2024   Volume 161 105526 doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105526
Granweiler J, Cristu00f3bal-Azkarate J, Morton N, Palme R, Shultz S.In seasonal environments, maintaining a constant body temperature poses challenges for endotherms. Cold winters at high latitudes, with limited food availability, create opposing demands on metabolism: upregulation preserves body temperature but depletes energy reserves. Examining endocrine profiles, such as thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) and glucocorticoids (GCs), proxies for changes in metabolic rate and acute stressors, offer insights into physiological trade-offs. We evaluated how environmental conditions and gestation impact on faecal hormone metabolites (fT3Ms and fGCMs) from late...
Salt preferences of horses for types of NaCl offered.
Research in veterinary science    March 11, 2024   Volume 171 105224 doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105224
Sill S, Zhao L, Houpt K.Salt (NaCl) is an essential nutrient for horses because their diet is low in sodium and they lose salt in sweat. Given the many types of salt block available, 342 horse owners were surveyed to see what type they offered their horses. The owners most often offered plain(30%) mineralized (29%) or Himalayan salt blocks. Next, adult mares were given two choice preference tests between plain (white) and mineralized (red) salt blocks, between mineralized and selenium (green) blocks, between plain and selenium, between Himalayan (pink) and plain and between Himalayan and selenium salt blocks. The hor...
Current Understanding of Equine Gut Dysbiosis and Microbiota Manipulation Techniques: Comparison with Current Knowledge in Other Species.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    February 28, 2024   Volume 14, Issue 5 758 doi: 10.3390/ani14050758
Boucher L, Leduc L, Leclu00e8re M, Costa MC.Understanding the importance of intestinal microbiota in horses and the factors influencing its composition have been the focus of many studies over the past few years. Factors such as age, diet, antibiotic administration, and geographic location can affect the gut microbiota. The intra- and inter-individual variability of fecal microbiota in horses complicates its interpretation and has hindered the establishment of a clear definition for dysbiosis. Although a definitive causal relationship between gut dysbiosis in horses and diseases has not been clearly identified, recent research suggests ...
Effect of β-alanine on the athletic performance and blood amino acid metabolism of speed-racing Yili horses.
Frontiers in veterinary science    February 28, 2024   Volume 11 1339940 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1339940
Li X, Ma J, Li H, Li H, Ma Y, Deng H, Yang K.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental β-alanine feeding on the athletic performance of Yili horses involved in speed racing, focusing on alterations in plasma free amino acid patterns pre and post exercise. Additionally, the research aimed to evaluate the effects of carnosine on the plasma acid-base buffering capacity and antioxidant levels in these horses. Twelve Yili horse stallions, averaging 3 years in age and 346.50 ± 21.39 kg in weight, were chosen and randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a test group, each comprising six horses...
Response of serum biochemical profile, antioxidant enzymes, and gut microbiota to dietary Hong-bailanshen supplementation in horses.
Frontiers in microbiology    February 20, 2024   Volume 15 1327210 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1327210
Ding J, Gu B, Meng J, Hu M, Wang W, Liu J.Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in humans and animals, which is very important for health. TCM affects the body 's immunity and changes in intestinal flora. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Hong-bailanshen (HBLS) supplementation in horses on serum biochemical profile, antioxidant enzymes and gut microbiota. Unassigned: In this study, five horses were selected. On day 0, 14, 28, blood samples and feces were collected on days 0, 14, and 28 to analyse gut microbiota, serum biochemical and redox indexes. Unassigned: The results showed that the additi...
Effects of concentrate levels on intestinal fermentation and the microbial profile in Japanese draft horses.
Journal of equine science    January 18, 2024   Volume 34, Issue 4 101-109 doi: 10.1294/jes.34.101
Yano R, Moriyama T, Fujimori M, Nishida T, Hanada M, Fukuma N.In racehorses, feeding a high-concentrate diet could cause abnormal fermentation in the hindgut. This feeding management regime is not suitable for the nutritional physiology of horses. However, studies on the hindgut environment have yet to be reported in Japanese draft horses, so feeding management needs to be investigated in these horses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a high-concentrate diet on hindgut fermentation in Japanese draft horses. Feces were collected from 20 male Japanese draft horses managed by two stables with different feeding designs...
α-Casozepine supplementation shows no effect on foals’ growth and cortisol levels before and after weaning.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    January 3, 2024   1-5 doi: 10.2460/javma.23.09.0545
Wood MK, Mason RM, Burk SV, Birmingham SSW.The goal of this study was to determine whether oral administration of α-casozepine (Zylkene) supplementation decreases the risk of disease in foals, as measured through salivary cortisol levels, temperature, clinical signs of disease, and body weight before and after weaning. Methods: 20 Thoroughbred foals were observed over 10 weeks, beginning 14 days prior to the time of weaning. Methods: Experimental foals were randomly selected and given α-casozepine daily for 10 weeks, while the controls received a placebo with the same frequency as the experimental group. The average daily height and ...
Epidemiological investigation of insulin dysregulation in Shetland and Welsh ponies in Australia.
Equine veterinary journal    January 3, 2024   doi: 10.1111/evj.14044
Clark BL, Norton EM, Bamford NJ, Randhawa IAS, Kemp KL, McCue ME, Bertin FR, Stewart AJ.Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to equine metabolic syndrome. There are limited epidemiological studies investigating dynamic testing of ID in ponies. Objective: To evaluate prevalence and risk factors for ID through dynamic testing of hyperinsulinaemia (DHI) and insulin resistance (IR). Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Sex, age, breed, height, cresty neck score (CNS), body condition score (BCS), laminitis, HMGA2:c.83G>A genotype and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) status were documented. Dynamic hyperinsulinaemia was diagnosed with an oral sugar test (OST) and IR with ...
Hematological reference values of horses in Western Libya and their relationship to breed, age, and management.
Open veterinary journal    December 31, 2023   Volume 13, Issue 12 1696-1707 doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.18
Sawesi OK, Elbaz AK, Mahmoud AS, Duro EM, Alteab AA, Milad KK, Bennuor EM.Hematological evaluation is an important step for health assessment in equine medicine. Besides biochemical tests, that evaluation could be pivotal for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. In Libya, the horse population has drastically increased in the last years, and hitherto, no report addressed the reference hematological values for the existing equine breeds. Unassigned: This study aimed to establish the reference for hematological indices of traditional equestrian and stud-farm equine breeds in Western Libya in regard to some variables such as individual characteristics, manage...
A glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonist reduces the insulin response to a glycaemic meal in ponies1.
Journal of animal science    December 8, 2023   skad389 doi: 10.1093/jas/skad389
de Laat MA, Fitzgerald DM, Harris PA, Bailey SR.High plasma concentrations of insulin can cause acute laminitis. Ponies and horses with insulin dysregulation (ID) exhibit marked hyperinsulinaemia in response to dietary hydrolysable carbohydrates. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone released from the gastrointestinal tract, enhances insulin release, and is increased post-prandially in ponies with ID. The aim of this study was to determine whether blocking the GLP-1 receptor reduces the insulin response to a high glycaemic meal. Five adult ponies were adapted to a cereal meal then given two feed challenges 24 h apart of a me...
Field study examining the mucosal microbiome in equine glandular gastric disease.
PloS one    December 7, 2023   Volume 18, Issue 12 e0295697 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295697
Paul LJ, Ericsson AC, Andrews FM, McAdams Z, Keowen ML, St Blanc MP, Banse HE.Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) is a common disease among athletic horses that can negatively impact health and performance. The pathophysiology of this EGGD remains poorly understood. Previous studies using controlled populations of horses identified differences in the gastric glandular mucosal microbiome associated with disease. The objective of this study was to compare the gastric microbiome in horses with EGGD and those without across multiple barns and differing management practices. We hypothesized that alterations in the microbiome of the gastric glandular mucosa are associated...
Dental Correction Does Not Alter Postprandial Nutrient Concentrations in Healthy Mares.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 30, 2023   Volume 131 104935 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104935
Starrett A, Smith R, Urso PM, Urschel KL, Anderson MJ, Suagee-Bedore JK.Irregular wear patterns are theorized to cause poor feed digestion and weight loss in the horse. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that dental correction would increase postprandial nutrient concentrations and reduce fecal particle size (FPS) in clinically healthy mares. The study was conducted in 16 mares of mature age (4-17) who had not received dental care in the previous year. A diet consisting of ad libitum Coastal Bermudagrass hay and 1.36 kg of a pelleted feed was fed daily prior to and during the study. Eight mares received dental work and eight served as untreat...
Effect of Sugar Beet Pulp on the Composition and Predicted Function of Equine Fecal Microbiota.
Biology    September 19, 2023   Volume 12, Issue 9 1254 doi: 10.3390/biology12091254
Ford T, McAdams ZL, Townsend KS, Martin LM, Johnson PJ, Ericsson AC.The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the partial replacement of dietary hay with sugar beet pulp (SBP) on the composition and predicted function of the fecal microbiota of healthy adult horses. Fecal samples were collected daily for 12 days from six adult horses after removal from pasture, including a five-day acclimation period, and a seven-day period following the introduction of SBP into their diet, and compared to six untreated horses over a comparable period. Fecal DNA was subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and a longitudinal analysis was performed comparing the ...
Effect of high-starch or high-fibre diets on the energy metabolism and physical performance of horses during an 8-week training period.
Frontiers in physiology    September 8, 2023   Volume 14 1213032 doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213032
Martin A, Lepers R, Vasseur M, Julliand S.Large amounts of high-starch concentrates are traditionally fed to horses in training. However, this has been associated with digestive or muscle diseases and behavioural modifications. In parallel, it has been demonstrated that horses fed high-fibre, low-starch diets achieve the same performance over an exercise test as the ones fed high-starch diets. However, whether the same performance level can be maintained over a longer training cycle is still being determined. This study aimed to compare the evolution in physical performance and cardiorespiratory responses of two groups of French Trott...
Fecal Microbiota and Diet Composition of Buryatian Horses Grazing Warm- and Cold-Season Grass Pastures.
Microorganisms    July 30, 2023   Volume 11, Issue 8 1947 doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11081947
Zaitseva S, Dagurova O, Radnagurueva A, Kozlova A, Izotova A, Krylova A, Noskov S, Begmatov S, Patutina E, Barkhutova DD.The Buryatian horse is an ancient breed and, as an indigenous breed, they have unique adaptive abilities to use scarce pastures, graze in winter, and survive in harsh conditions with minimal human care. In this study, fecal microbiota of Buryatian horses grazing in the warm and cold seasons were investigated using NGS technology on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We hypothesized that the composition of microbial communities in the feces of horses maintained on pasture would change in the different seasons, depending on the grass availability and different plant diets. We conducted microhistologic...
[The content of zinc and selenium in local food products of Yakutia].
Voprosy pitaniia    May 17, 2023   Volume 92, Issue 3 93-99 doi: 10.33029/0042-8833-2023-92-3-93-99
Deficiency of the necessary complex of micronutrients under abnormal nutrition structure creates a problem for the preservation of health and performance of the population. In this regard, it is very relevant to develop a science-based strategy for the consumption of traditional Yakut national food that have a high nutritional value and are able to satisfy the requirements of the human body in micronutrients. of the research was to investigate the content of selenium and zinc in the local foods which are most commonly consumed by the population of Yakutia. . The objects of study were meat (7-...
Contrasting seasonal patterns in diet and dung-associated invertebrates of feral cattle and horses in a rewilding area.
Molecular ecology    February 6, 2023   Volume 32, Issue 8 2071-2091 doi: 10.1111/mec.16847
Thomassen EE, Sigsgaard EE, Jensen MR, Olsen K, Hansen MDD, Svenning JC, Thomsen PF.Trophic rewilding is increasingly applied in restoration efforts, with the aim of reintroducing the ecological functions provided by large-bodied mammals and thereby promote self-regulating, biodiverse ecosystems. However, empirical evidence for the effects of megafauna introductions on the abundance and richness of other organisms such as plants and invertebrates, and the mechanisms involved still need strengthening. In this study, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of dung from co-existing feral cattle and horses to assess the seasonal variation in plant diet and dung-associated a...
Undetectable vitamin D3 in equine skin irradiated with ultraviolet light.
Journal of equine science    September 21, 2022   Volume 33, Issue 3 45-49 doi: 10.1294/jes.33.45
Azarpeykan S, Gee EK, Thompson KG, Dittmer KE.Vitamin D requirements for most animals are expected to be fulfilled through daily exposure of the skin to solar ultraviolet B radiation. The synthesis of vitamin D in skin depends on different factors including melanin pigmentation, the amount of UVB radiation reaching the skin, type of clothing/hair coat, latitude and altitude, season, and time of day. Alternatively vitamin D may be obtained from UVB irradiated pasture species. Recent studies have shown that in unsupplemented grazing horses 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the predominant form of vitamin D in plasma, and that 25OHD is undetectable sug...
Dietary and management factors influence the equine gastric microbiome.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    September 20, 2022   Volume 260, Issue S3 S111-S120 doi: 10.2460/javma.22.07.0277
Paul LJ, Ericsson AC, Andrews FM, McAdams Z, Keowen ML, St Blanc MP, Banse HE.The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship of diet and management factors with the glandular gastric mucosal microbiome. We hypothesize that the gastric mucosal microbial community is influenced by diet and management factors. Our specific objective is to characterize the gastric mucosal microbiome in relation to these factors. 57 client-owned horses in the southern Louisiana region with and without equine glandular gastric disease. Diet and management data were collected via a questionnaire. Gastroscopy was used for evaluation of equine gastric ulcer syndrome and collectio...
Type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses is a novel glycogen storage disease causing exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Equine veterinary journal    September 14, 2022   Volume 55, Issue 4 618-631 doi: 10.1111/evj.13876
Valberg SJ, Williams ZJ, Finno CJ, Schultz A, Velez-Irizarry D, Henry ML, Gardner K, Petersen JL.Both type 1 (PSSM1) and type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM2) are characterised by aggregates of abnormal polysaccharide in skeletal muscle. Whereas the genetic basis for PSSM1 is known (R309H GYS1), the cause of PSSM2 in Quarter Horses (PSSM2-QH) is unknown and glycogen concentrations not defined. Objective: To characterise the histopathological and biochemical features of PSSM2-QH and determine if an associated monogenic variant exists in genes known to cause glycogenosis. Methods: Retrospective case control. Methods: Sixty-four PSSM2-QH, 30 PSSM1-QH and 185 control-QH were identifi...
Biomarkers for monitoring the equine large intestinal inflammatory response to stress-induced dysbiosis and probiotic supplementation.
Journal of animal science    August 19, 2022   Volume 100, Issue 10 skac268 doi: 10.1093/jas/skac268
Collinet A, Grimm P, Jacotot E, Julliand V.Large intestine barrier disturbances can have serious consequences for the health of horses. The loss of mucosal integrity that leads to increased intestinal permeability may result from a local inflammatory immune response following alterations of the microbiota, known as dysbiosis. Therefore, our research aimed to identify noninvasive biomarkers for studying the intestinal permeability and the local inflammatory immune response in horses. Regarding the biomarkers used in other mammalian species, we measured the concentrations of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), reflected by 3-OH C14, C16, and C18 ...
Contrasting Volatilomes of Livestock Dung Drive Preference of the Dung Beetle Bubas bison (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)    June 28, 2022   Volume 27, Issue 13 4152 doi: 10.3390/molecules27134152
Perera NN, Weston PA, Barrow RA, Weston LA, Gurr GM.Volatile cues can play a significant role in the location and discrimination of food resources by insects. Dung beetles have been reported to discriminate among dung types produced by different species, thereby exhibiting behavioral preferences. However, the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in dung localization and preference remains largely unexplored in dung beetles. Here we performed several studies: firstly, cage olfactometer bioassays were performed to evaluate the behavioral responses of (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to VOCs emanating from fresh horse, sheep, and cattle dung; seco...
Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems.
Animal microbiome    June 21, 2022   Volume 4, Issue 1 41 doi: 10.1186/s42523-022-00192-x
Weinert-Nelson JR, Biddle AS, Williams CA.Diet is a key driver of equine hindgut microbial community structure and composition. The aim of this study was to characterize shifts in the fecal microbiota of grazing horses during transitions between forage types within integrated warm- (WSG) and cool-season grass (CSG) rotational grazing systems (IRS). Eight mares were randomly assigned to two IRS containing mixed cool-season grass and one of two warm-season grasses: bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] or crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]. Fecal samples were collected during transitions from CSG to WSG pasture sections (...
Influence of Azadirachta indica and Cnidoscolus angustidens Dietary Extracts on Equine Fecal Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Journal of equine veterinary science    June 16, 2022   Volume 116 104049 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104049
Alvarado TD, Elghandour MMMY, Ekanem NJ, Alcala-Canto Y, Velu00e1zquez AE, Pacheco EBF, Purba RAP, Salem AZM.The present study was conducted to investigate the aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica (AZN), Cnidoscolus angustidens (CNA), and their combination (MIX) at dosages of 0-, 0.6-, 1.2-, and 1.8- mL for their ability to reduce greenhouse gases and fermentation profiles in an in vitro study using horse feces and a nutrient-dense diet (as substrate). The quantity of greenhouse gas and fermentation profiles were determined in in vitro incubation for 48 h. Extracts of AZN, CNA, and MIX reduced total gas production of the incubated and degraded substrates in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manne...
Biological Potential of Polyphenols in the Context of Metabolic Syndrome: An Analysis of Studies on Animal Models.
Biology    April 7, 2022   Volume 11, Issue 4 559 doi: 10.3390/biology11040559
Niewiadomska J, Gajek-Marecka A, Gajek J, Noszczyk-Nowak A.Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a disease that has a complex etiology. It is defined as the co-occurrence of several pathophysiological disorders, including obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MetS is currently a severe problem in the public health care system. As its prevalence increases every year, it is now considered a global problem among adults and young populations. The treatment of choice comprises lifestyle changes based mainly on diet and physical activity. Therefore, researchers have been attempting to discover new substances that could help reduce or even reverse t...
Caecal microbiota in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
Veterinary medicine and science    January 21, 2022   Volume 8, Issue 3 1049-1055 doi: 10.1002/vms3.735
Aleman M, Sheldon SA, Jospin G, Coil D, Stratton-Phelps M, Eisen J.Trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) in horses is a form of neuropathic pain of undetermined cause that often results in euthanasia. The role of microbiota in TMHS has not been investigated in diseased horses. To investigate if gastrointestinal microbiota in the cecum is different in horses with TMHS compared to a control population, during a summer season with clinical manifestations of disease. Ten castrated horses: five with TMHS and five neurologically normal controls. All horses were sourced from our institution and kept under the same husbandry and dietary conditions. All horses were f...
Humans have intestinal bacteria that degrade the plant cell walls in herbivores.
World journal of gastroenterology    December 30, 2021   Volume 27, Issue 45 7784-7791 doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i45.7784
Fujimori S.The cell walls of plants are mainly made of cellulose and contain a large number of calories. However, the main component, cellulose, is an indigestible plant fiber that is thought to be difficult for humans to use as energy. Herbivores acquire energy through the degradation of cell wall-derived dietary fiber by microorganisms in the digestive tract. Herbivores, especially horses, have a highly developed cecum and large intestine, and plants are fermented for their efficient use with the help of microorganisms. Humans also have an intestinal tract with a wide lumen on the proximal side of the ...
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