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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Sci / Biomarkers for monitoring the equine large intestinal inflam...
Journal of animal science2022; 100(10); skac268; doi: 10.1093/jas/skac268

Biomarkers for monitoring the equine large intestinal inflammatory response to stress-induced dysbiosis and probiotic supplementation.

Abstract: 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 fatty acids, in blood, and fecal secretory immunoglobulin-A (SIgA). These biomarkers were evaluated in two trials including 9 and 12 healthy horses, which developed large intestinal dysbiosis experimentally induced by 5 d of antibiotic administration (trimethoprim sulfadiazine [TMS]) or 5 d of abrupt introduction of high starch levels (barley) into the diet. Horses were either control or supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, and Bifidobacterium lactis. Correlations were performed between biomarkers and fecal bacterial diversity, composition, and function. No significant interaction between day and supplementation, or supplementation effect were observed for each biomarker. However, with the dietary stressor, a significant increase in blood concentrations of 3-OH C16 (P = 0.0125) and C14 (P = 0.0252) fatty acids was measured 2 d after the cessation of barley administration. Furthermore, with the antibiotic stressor, blood levels of 3-OH C16 progressively increased (P = 0.0114) from the first day to 2 d after the end of TMS administration. No significant day effect was observed for fecal SIgA concentrations for both stressors. These results indicate that both antibiotic- and diet-induced dysbiosis resulted in a local translocation of LPS 2 d after the cessation of the stressor treatments, suggesting an impairment of intestinal permeability, without detectable local inflammation. Blood LPS and fecal SIgA concentrations were significantly correlated with several bacterial variations in the large intestine, which are features of antibiotic- and diet-induced dysbiosis. These findings support the hypothesis that a relationship exists between dysbiosis and the loss of mucosal integrity in the large intestine of horses. Horses can suffer from intestinal barrier disruption leading to permeability associated with local inflammation, which can result in discomfort and even disease. Intestinal barrier disruption may be a consequence of microbiota disturbances in the large intestine. Therefore, this study investigated the use of blood and fecal biomarkers for noninvasively assessing intestinal barrier permeability and inflammatory responses to microbial alterations. Two biomarkers were evaluated in healthy horses that were subjected to antibiotic- and diet-induced large intestine bacterial disturbances. Notably, the blood levels of the biomarkers increased 2 d after the cessation of both treatments, reflecting an abnormal intestinal barrier permeability. By contrast, the levels of fecal biomarker detected did not indicate the presence of inflammation. However, levels of the two biomarkers were significantly correlated with several bacterial variations in the feces, supporting the hypothesis that a relationship exists between microbiota disturbances and intestinal barrier disruption in the large intestine of horses.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Publication Date: 2022-08-19 PubMed ID: 35980768PubMed Central: PMC9576022DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac268Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research focuses on identifying noninvasive biomarkers to study any intestinal permeability and local inflammatory immune response in horses that could result from disturbances in their large intestine. The study showcased a significant increase in some biomarkers due to diet-based stress from a sudden introduction of high starch levels or antibiotics, both resulting in an impairment of intestinal permeability.

Study Details

  • The study aimed to identify noninvasive biomarkers to study issues related to the intestinal health of horses. Particular focus was given to the large intestine, as disturbances to this organ’s barrier can have serious health implications for horses, including loss of mucosal integrity leading to increased intestinal permeability.
  • The biomarkers under study were lipopolysaccharides (LPS), mirrored by 3-OH C14, C16, and C18 fatty acids, in blood, and fecal secretory immunoglobulin-A (SIgA). These biomarkers are often used in other mammalian species.
  • The increase in permeability may result from a local inflammatory immune response following alterations to the microbiota in the horse’s gut, a condition known as dysbiosis.

Experimental Findings

  • The research comprised two trials involving 9 and 12 healthy horses that developed large intestinal dysbiosis due to a five-day course of antibiotics (trimethoprim sulfadiazine [TMS]) or five days of abrupt introduction of high starch levels (barley) into their diet. Some horses were given probiotic supplementation.
  • The perturbation in the natural balance of the microbiome resulted in the translocation of LPS two days after the cessation of the stressor treatments. This translocation is indicative of an impairment of the intestinal permeability.
  • No significant effect was detected for fecal SIgA concentrations for both stressors, meaning they did not indicate the presence of local inflammation in the large intestine under these stressor conditions.

Correlation between Biomarkers and Bacterial Variations

  • The levels of blood LPS and fecal SIgA were found to correlate significantly with several bacterial variations in the large intestine, a characteristic of antibiotic- and diet-induced dysbiosis.
  • These correlations support the theory that a connection exists between dysbiosis and loss of mucosal integrity in the horse’s large intestine.
  • The findings emphasize the potential of these biomarkers as indicators of intestinal barrier disruption due to microbiota disturbances in the large intestine of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Collinet A, Grimm P, Jacotot E, Julliand V. (2022). Biomarkers for monitoring the equine large intestinal inflammatory response to stress-induced dysbiosis and probiotic supplementation. J Anim Sci, 100(10), skac268. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac268

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 100
Issue: 10
PII: skac268

Researcher Affiliations

Collinet, Axelle
  • Lab To Field, 21000 Dijon, France.
  • Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, L'Institut Agro Dijon, PAM UMR A 02.102, 21000 Dijon, France.
Grimm, Pauline
  • Lab To Field, 21000 Dijon, France.
Jacotot, Emmanuel
  • Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, L'Institut Agro Dijon, PAM UMR A 02.102, 21000 Dijon, France.
Julliand, Véronique
  • Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, L'Institut Agro Dijon, PAM UMR A 02.102, 21000 Dijon, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria
  • Biomarkers
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Dysbiosis / veterinary
  • Fatty Acids
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Intestine, Large
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Mammals
  • Probiotics
  • Starch
  • Sulfadiazine
  • Trimethoprim

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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