Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Feces
Horse feces serve as an important indicator of digestive health and overall well-being. The composition and consistency of equine feces can provide insights into the horse's diet, hydration status, and gastrointestinal function. Factors such as feed type, water intake, and gut microbiota can influence fecal characteristics. Abnormalities in feces, such as changes in color, consistency, or frequency, may signal underlying health issues, including colic, parasitic infections, or dietary imbalances. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the analysis, implications, and management of fecal characteristics in equine health.
Dietary Transitions Toward Sustainable Horse Feeding. Sustainability is the balancing act of optimizing the use of current resources without compromising the current or future environment. Within the agriculture sector the primary focus of sustainability has been to reduce environmental pollution, specifically greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions, nitrogen emissions, and leaching. For the equine industry the first step towards sustainability is the documentation and critique of current feeding and management practices to permit modifications to enable the industry meet social and legislative obligations. As a monogastric hindgut fermenter on a per k...
Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare (Equus caballus) fecal microbiota. The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. The maintenance of healthy bacterial communities may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, social relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, and social stressors such as increased competition and rank maintenance. We investigated the effects of increased social instability, as determined by the number of group changes made by femal...
Multi-Centered Field Evaluation of a Salmonella spp. Point-of-Care PCR Assay Using Equine Feces and Environmental Samples. The introduction of microfluidic card technology has opened the field for rapid point-of-care (POC) molecular assays, including fecal and environmental Salmonella spp. testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel POC PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella spp. in feces and environmental samples. A total of 143 fecal samples and 132 environmental samples were collected for POC PCR Salmonella spp. testing as well as qPCR testing. Each sample was inoculated into selenite broth and incubated for 18 to 24 hours. For the POC PCR assay, 14 μl of selenite broth were mixed with 126 μ...
Internal parasites (nematode) infestation in pure Arabian horses: Field study. Hematological and biochemical values are widely used in veterinary clinics for disease prognosis, nutritional and therapeutic monitoring, as well as in understanding the disease process in farm animals, including equines. This study aims to assess the alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters in pure Arabian horses infested with internal parasites. Samples of feces and blood were collected from 20 adult mares. Fecal samples were proceeded by flotation test. The blood samples were analyzed for hematological and biochemical parameters to determine their means ± standard error (M ...
Effects of concentrated fecal microbiota transplant on the equine fecal microbiota after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Bacterial imbalances are observed in intestinal diseases and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used to restore the intestinal microbiota of horses. However, there is evidence that the current methods proposed for FMT in horses have limited efficacy. The objective of this study was to concentrate the bacteria present in the donor stool by centrifugation, and to test the effect in horses with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. One healthy 11-year-old horse was selected as a fecal donor and 9 horses were given trimethoprim sulfadiazine (TMS) for 5 days to induce dysbiosis. Horses receive...
Effect of dietary iron supplementation on the equine fecal microbiome. Iron is an essential element for all living organisms, including bacteria, as several virulence factors and replication components are influenced by iron concentration. The objective of this study was to determine whether the composition and diversity of the fecal microbiota of adult horses are affected by supplemental dietary iron. Ten clinically healthy horses were randomly divided into a control and an iron-supplemented group ( = 5). The treated group was supplemented with oral ferrous sulphate monohydrate (720 ppm of iron), whereas the control group received 320 ppm of iron daily for 15 d....
Effects of Macleaya cordata extract supplementation on digestive parameters of ponies. High amounts of grains in the equine diet led to high starch intake, causing gut alterations. Aimed at reducing harmful effects, extract (MCE) is a phytogenic additive that stands out for its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects proven in different species. However, there is no useful information for horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of the inclusion of commercial MCE on body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), total apparent digestibility (AD) of nutrients, faecal pH and fermentative products, on ponies fed a high-starch diet. Eight ...
Impacts of Domestication and Veterinary Treatment on Mobile Genetic Elements and Resistance Genes in Equine Fecal Bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is a threat to both human and animal health. We aimed to understand the impact of domestication and antimicrobial treatment on the types and numbers of resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and class 1 integrons (C1I) in the equine gut microbiome. Antibiotic-resistant fecal bacteria were isolated from wild horses, healthy farm horses, and horses undergoing veterinary treatment, and isolates (9,083 colonies) were screened by PCR for C1I; these were found at frequencies of 9.8% (vet horses), 0.31% (farm horses), and 0.05% (wild horses). A co...
Longitudinal study of the short- and long-term effects of hospitalisation and oral trimethoprim-sulfadiazine administration on the equine faecal microbiome and resistome. Hospitalisation and antimicrobial treatment are common in horses and significantly impact the intestinal microbiota. Antimicrobial treatment might also increase levels of resistant bacteria in faeces, which could spread to other ecological compartments, such as the environment, other animals and humans. In this study, we aimed to characterise the short- and long-term effects of transportation, hospitalisation and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMS) administration on the faecal microbiota and resistome of healthy equids. In a longitudinal experimental study design, in which the ponies served as the...
Fecal Microbiota, Forage Nutrients, and Metabolic Responses of Horses Grazing Warm- and Cool-Season Grass Pastures. Integrating warm-season grasses into cool-season equine grazing systems can increase pasture availability during summer months. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of this management strategy on the fecal microbiome and relationships between fecal microbiota, forage nutrients, and metabolic responses of grazing horses. Fecal samples were collected from 8 mares after grazing cool-season pasture in spring, warm-season pasture in summer, and cool-season pasture in fall as well as after adaptation to standardized hay diets prior to spring grazing and at the end of the grazing seaso...
Effects of forage phosphorous content on faecal phosphorous excretion and possible markers of low phosphorous intake in foals fed forage-only diets. Knowledge of endogenous nutrient losses is important when estimating the nutrient requirements of animals. It has been suggested that faecal endogenous phosphorus (P) losses differ between growing and adult horses, but studies on foals are scarce. In addition, studies on foals on forage-only diets with different P contents are lacking. Thus this study: (1) assessed faecal endogenous P losses in foals fed a grass haylage-only diet close to or below estimated P requirements; (2) evaluated use of serum cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type-I collagen (CTx) as a marker of bone resorpti...
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from equids sampled in the NAHMS 2015-16 equine study and association of management factors with resistance. Several studies have investigated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalized horses, but studies conducted on community-based populations of equids are limited. The factors associated with AMR in these bacteria in the general horse population are not well understood. The primary objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella and describe antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and E. coli from equids across the United States. The second objective was to identify associations between health management and biosecurity...
Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets Affects the Fluid Balance, Faecal Water-Holding Capacity and Microbial Ecosystem in French Trotters. Racing events challenge the fluid balance of athletic horses. The equine large intestine functions as a fluid reservoir, since the properties of dietary forage fibre affect the digesta water content and the milieu of this ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the effect of grass maturity and legume forage on the faecal water-holding capacity (WHC) and microbial ecosystem, and the fluid balance and body weight (BW) of French trotters in race training. Six geldings were offered three diets with different fibre compositions: concentrate and late-harvested mature grass haylage (35:65 energy r...
Results of a Clinical Trial Showing Changes to the Faecal Microbiome in Racing Thoroughbreds after Feeding a Nutritional Supplement. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used to evaluate the effect of various interventions on the equine microbiome. The aim of this randomised blinded clinical trial was to determine if a prebiotic nutritional supplement would result in a change from baseline in the faecal microbiome composition of racing Thoroughbred horses in training being fed a high concentrate/grain-based diet to be more similar to that found in forage fed/pasture grazed horses. Thirty-two horses on one training yard were randomised to either receive the supplement or not. Faecal samples were collected at baseline, 6...
The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota. To support the overall health of horses, it is essential to maintain an optimal gut health (GH) status, which encompasses several physiological and functional aspects, including the balance and functionality of intestinal microbial populations and, accordingly, the effective digestion and absorption of nutrients. Numerous biotic and abiotic stressors can lead to an imbalance of GH, such as the quality of forages and the composition of diet, e.g., the inclusion of high energy-dense feeds to meet the energy requirements of performance horses. To support the digestive function and the intestinal ...
Effects of Starch Overload and Cecal Buffering on Fecal Microbiota of Horses. Starch overload in horses causes gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders that are associated with microbiota changes. Therefore, we identified the fecal microbiota and hypothesized that intracecal injection of alkaline solution (buffer; Mg(OH)2 + Al(OH)3) could stabilize these microbiota and clinical changes in horses submitted to corn starch overload. Ten crossbred horses (females and geldings) were allocated to group I (water−saline and starch−buffer treatments) and group II (water−buffer and starch−saline treatments). Clinical signs, gross analysis of the feces, and fecal microbiot...
Fecal prevalence of Clostridium innocuum DNA in healthy horses and horses with colitis. This study compared the prevalence of C. innocuum DNA in the feces of healthy horses and horses with acute colitis. C. innocuum was identified in 22% (15/68) of colitis cases and 18% (12/68) of healthy horses (p = 0.416).
Recovery of Salmonella bacterial isolates from pooled fecal samples from horses. It is important to determine if a horse is shedding Salmonella spp., but a complete culture series can be cost prohibitive. Objective: Determine the optimal pooling technique to maintain high sensitivity of Salmonella spp. culture using spiked samples, and then demonstrate the efficacy of this protocol on clinical submissions. Objective: Pooled fecal samples are as sensitive as 5 individual cultures for the detection of Salmonella shedding. Methods: A single Salmonella-negative horse from the university herd, and 19 hospitalized horses. Methods: Salmonella-free fecal samples were spiked with d...
Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses-Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count. The defensive function of the intestinal mucosa depends both on the ability to secrete immunoglobulin A and communication with the mucus microbiome. In horses, the functioning of this system is also influenced by the presence of nematode eggs. Feces collected from healthy horses were examined to determine the fecal egg count, immunoglobulin A level (ELISA), microbiome composition (Next-Generation Sequencing, NGS, V3−V4 and V7−V9 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene analysis and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production ((high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC). In the taxonomic ...
Assessment of Adaptation Status of Reintroduced Equus Przewalskii Based on Comparative Analysis of Fecal Bacteria with Those of Captive E. Przewalskii, Domestic Horse and Mongolian Wild Ass. Intestinal microbiota play an important role in the survival of the host. However, no study to date has elucidated the adjustment of intestinal microbiota of the host during rewilding. Thus, this study aims to describe the intestinal bacterial community of reintroduced Przewalski’s horse (RPH) after being released into their original habitat for approximately 20 years in comparison with that of captive Przewalski’s horse (CPH), sympatric domestic horse (DH) and Mongolian wild ass (MWA) by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the prevalent bacterial communities were differe...
Fecal microbiota of horses with colitis and its association with laminitis and survival during hospitalization. The association of microbiota with clinical outcomes and the taxa associated with colitis in horses remains generally unknown. Objective: Describe the fecal microbiota of horses with colitis and investigate the association of the fecal microbiota with the development of laminitis and survival. Methods: Thirty-six healthy and 55 colitis horses subdivided into laminitis (n = 15) and non-laminitis (n = 39, 1 horse with chronic laminitis was removed from this comparison) and survivors (n = 27) and nonsurvivors (n = 28). Methods: Unmatched case-control study. The Illumina MiSeq platform tar...
[Is alfalfa hay an alternative to meadow hay in equine nutrition?]. Roughage alternatives for equine nutrition must be found due to the increasing climatic challenges. The aim of this study was to examine the nutrient composition and feed hygiene of alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay and to investigate the acceptance, weight development and faecal quality of broodmares fed alfalfa hay. The feed used was examined for nutrient content and hygiene status according to the standards of the Verband Deutscher Landwirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalten (VDLUFA). Twenty adult pregnant warmblood mares were fed in two groups (n=10) with a defined am...
Characterisation of the Faecal Microbiome of Foals from 0-5 Months of Age and Their Respective Mares across Five Geographic Locations. A foal undergoes considerable growth and development from birth to weaning, progressing from a milk-based diet to complete herbivory. The symbiotic relationships between bacteria, archaea and fungi substantiate this energy demand by colonising the hindgut and remaining flexible throughout the diet transitions. A total of 70 faecal samples were collected from 14 mares and their foals across five studs in NSW as they aged from 0 to 5 months old. DNA was extracted from faecal samples and underwent amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 hypervariable region of archaea and bacteria, a...
Fecal Microbiota Comparison Between Healthy Teaching Horses and Client-Owned Horses. The objective of this study was to compare the fecal microbiota of two healthy teaching horse herds with that of client-owned horses from the same geographic areas. The fecal microbiota of client-owned horses from Ontario Canada (n = 15) and Florida, USA (n = 11) was compared with that teaching horses from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada (n = 10) and the University of Florida, Florida, USA (n = 15). The fecal microbiota was characterized by sequencing of bacterial DNA using the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The diversity (inverse Simpson index) of the fecal mi...
Biomarkers for monitoring the equine large intestinal inflammatory response to stress-induced dysbiosis and probiotic supplementation. 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 ...
Host feces, olfactory beacon guiding aggregation of intestinal parasites Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae). The aim of this study was to identify the aggregation sites and transmission characteristics of Gasterophilus pecorum, the dominant pathogen of endangered equines in desert steppe. Therefore, we tested with a four-arm olfactometer the olfactory response of the G. pecorum adults to the odors that have a great impact on their life cycle, and also investigated the occurrence sites of the adults in the area where the Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) roam frequently during the peak period of G. pecorum infection. The results of four-directional olfactory test showed that the fresh horse feces...
Molecular detection and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. in Chinese racehorses. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite causing diarrhoea in humans and animals. Although Cryptosporidium has been found in domestic horses (farmed or kept at pasture), there has been only one published study of Cryptosporidium infections in Chinese racehorses, which was restricted to a very small geographical area. Objective: To investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in the faeces of racehorses in China and to perform molecular characterisation of the parasite. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: A total of 621 fresh faecal samples were collected for DNA extraction from racehorses at...
Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems. 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 (...
Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques in the mid-IR (MIR) and near-IR (NIR) spectroscopy to determine n-alkane and long-chain alcohol contents in plant species and faecal samples. n-Alkanes and long-chain alcohols (LCOH) have been used as faecal markers to assess the feeding behaviour of both wild and domestic herbivore species. However, their chemical analysis is time-consuming and expensive, making it necessary to develop more expeditious methodologies to evaluate concentrations of these markers. This work aimed to evaluate the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technology in the near infrared (NIR) and mid infrared (MIR) intervals, for the determination of n-alkane and LCOH concentrations of different plant species and faecal samples of domestic he...
Surveillance of hepatitis E virus in the horse population of Korea: A serological and molecular approach. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen causing hepatitis worldwide. Despite the prevalent evidence of interspecies HEV infection in various animal species, the role of horses in HEV epidemiology remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of HEV infection in 283 blood and 114 fecal samples from 397 horses using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Among the 283 serum samples, 35 were positive for anti-HEV antibodies (12.4%; 95% confidence interval: 8.8-16.8), and four of the five sampling reg...
