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BMC veterinary research2019; 15(1); 468; doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-2205-1

Acute changes in the colonic microbiota are associated with large intestinal forms of surgical colic.

Abstract: Horses that undergo surgery for treatment of primary large colon disease have been reported to be at increased risk of developing recurrent colic episodes postoperatively. The reasons for this are currently unknown. The aim of the current study was to characterise the faecal microbiota of horses with colic signs associated with primary large colon lesions treated surgically and to compare the composition of their faecal microbiota to that of a control group of horses undergoing emergency orthopaedic treatment. Faecal samples were collected from horses in both groups on admission to hospital, during hospitalisation and following discharge from hospital for a total duration of 12 weeks. Additionally, colonic content samples were collected from surgical colic patients if pelvic flexure enterotomy was performed during laparotomy. A total of 12 samples were collected per horse. DNA was extracted from samples using a commercial kit. Amplicon mixtures were created by PCR amplification of the V1 - V2 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes and submitted for sequencing using the Ion Torrent PGM next-generation sequencing system. Multivariate data analysis was used to characterise the faecal microbiota and to investigate differences between groups. Results: Reduced species richness was evident in the colonic samples of the colic group compared to concurrent sampling of the faeces. Alpha and beta diversity differed significantly between the faecal and colonic microbiota with 304 significantly differentially abundant OTUs identified. Only 46 OTUs varied significantly between the colic and control group. There were no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity of faecal microbiota between colic and control horses at admission. However, this lack of significant differences between groups should be interpreted with caution due to a small sample size. Conclusions: The results of the current study suggest that faecal samples collected at hospital admission in colic cases may not accurately represent changes in upper gut microbiota in horses with colic due to large colon disease.
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Publication Date: 2019-12-21 PubMed ID: 31864369PubMed Central: PMC6925886DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2205-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a study about potential changes in the intestinal bacteria of horses suffering from colic due to large colon diseases and undergone surgery. The intention is to clarify if such changes contribute to the recurrence of colic episodes in these horses.

Overview of the Research

  • The study was carried out to identify potential changes in the intestinal bacteria (microbiota) of horses suffering from colic due to large colon lesions and have undergone surgery.
  • The researchers compared the intestinal bacteria’s composition in these horses with another group of horses, undergoing emergency orthopedic treatment, used as the control group.

Research Methodology

  • The research team collected fecal samples from horses in both the colic group and the control group. The samples were collected at different stages, starting with admission to the hospital, during hospital stay, and following discharge for a total duration of 12 weeks.
  • DNA from these fecal samples was extracted and subsequently amplified.
  • The amplicon mixtures were then sequenced using the Ion Torrent PGM next-generation sequencing system, specifically analyzing the V1 – V2 regions of bacterial 16S rRNA genes.
  • A multivariate data analysis method characterized the intestinal bacteria and investigated differences between the two groups.

Research Findings

  • The analysis showed reduced species diversity of bacteria in the colonic samples from the colic group horses compared to the fecal samples.
  • The bacterial diversity differed significantly between fecal and colonic microbiota with 304 significantly differentially abundant OTUs identified.
  • Only 46 OTUs varied significantly between the colic group and the control group.
  • No significant differences were found in alpha and beta diversity of intestinal bacteria between colic and control horses at the time of their admission to the hospital. However, due to the small sample size, this result should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that fecal samples collected at hospital admission might not accurately reflect changes in the upper gut bacteria in horses with colic due to large colon disease. This suggests that the causes of recurrent colic episodes after surgery might be found elsewhere or require further investigation to properly understand.

Cite This Article

APA
Salem SE, Maddox TW, Antczak P, Ketley JM, Williams NJ, Archer DC. (2019). Acute changes in the colonic microbiota are associated with large intestinal forms of surgical colic. BMC Vet Res, 15(1), 468. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-2205-1

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 468
PII: 468

Researcher Affiliations

Salem, Shebl E
  • Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK.
  • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
Maddox, Thomas W
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK.
Antczak, Philipp
  • Computational Biology Facility, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
Ketley, Julian M
  • Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
Williams, Nicola J
  • Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK.
Archer, Debra C
  • Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK. darcher@liverpool.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colic / microbiology
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Colonic Diseases / microbiology
  • Colonic Diseases / surgery
  • Colonic Diseases / veterinary
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis

Conflict of Interest Statement

None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

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