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Frontiers in veterinary science2024; 11; 1388227; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1388227

Carbonate buffer mixture and fecal microbiota transplantation hold promising therapeutic effects on oligofructose-induced diarrhea in horses.

Abstract: Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal disorder in horses, with diet-induced diarrhea being an emerging challenge. This study aimed to investigate the gut microbiota differences in healthy and diet-induced diarrheic horses and evaluate the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and carbonate buffer mixture (CBM) as potential therapeutic approaches. Twenty healthy horses were included in the study, with four groups: Control, Diarrhea, CBM, and FMT. Diarrhea was induced using oligofructose, and fecal samples were collected for microbiota analysis. FMT and CBM treatments were administered orally using donor fecal matter, and formula mixture, respectively. Clinical parameters, serum levels, intestinal tissue histopathology, and fecal microbiota profiles were evaluated. The results showed that diarrhea induction disbalanced the gut microbiota with decreased diversity and richness, affected clinical parameters including elevated body temperature and diarrhea score, and decreased fecal pH, increased inflammatory responses such as increased serum LPS, IL-17A, lactic acid and total protein, and caused damage in the colon tissue. CBM and FMT treatments altered the gut microbiota composition, restoring it towards a healthier profile compared to diarrheic, restored the gut microbiota composition to healthier states, improved clinical symptoms including decreased body temperature and diarrhea score, and increased fecal pH, decreased inflammatory responses such as increased serum LPS, IL-17A, lactic acid and total protein, and repaired tissue damage. CBM and FMT Spearman correlation analysis identified specific bacterial taxa associated with host parameters and inflammation. FMT and CBM treatments showed promising therapeutic effects in managing oligofructose-induced diarrhea in horses. The findings provide valuable insights into the management and treatment of diarrhea in horses and suggest the potential of combined CBM and FMT approaches for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Copyright © 2024 Tuniyazi, Tang, Hu, Fu and Zhang.
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Publication Date: 2024-04-22 PubMed ID: 38711536PubMed Central: PMC11071171DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1388227Google 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.

The research article evaluates the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and carbonate buffer mixture (CBM) in treating diet-induced diarrhea in horses, with the study demonstrating promising results.

Study Design and Methodology

  • Twenty healthy horses were included in the study and split into four groups: Control, Diarrhea, CBM, and FMT. Each group was served a distinct purpose. The control group helped to establish base levels of gut microbiota, clinical parameters, and tissue conditions before the induction of diarrhea. The diarrhea group was utilized to determine the effects of diarrhea on these parameters.
  • Diarrhea was induced in the horses using a substance called oligofructose. Following this, fecal samples were collected from the horses to analyze the state of their gut microbiota after the induction of diarrhea.
  • FMT and CBM treatments were used to see if they could rectify the effects of diarrhea. They were administered orally using donor fecal matter for the former and a formula mixture for the latter.

Results and Discoveries

  • The study showed that inducing diarrhea in the horses upset the balance of their gut microbiota. It decreased the microbiota’s diversity and richness. In addition, diarrhea elevated the horses’ body temperature and diarrhea score while reducing fecal pH.
  • Induced diarrhea also increased inflammation as evidenced by higher serum levels of LPS, IL-17A, lactic acid, and total protein. Do note that LPS and IL-17A are inflammatory markers, and their elevated levels indicate an inflammatory response. There was also damage observed in the colon tissue of the horses.
  • The FMT and CBM treatments, however, helped mitigate these effects. Both treatments were able to restore the gut microbiota composition towards a healthier profile compared to the diarrheic state. They improved clinical symptoms by decreasing body temperature and diarrhea score while increasing fecal pH.
  • The treatments also decreased inflammatory responses again evident through a decline in serum levels of LPS, IL-17A, lactic acid, and total protein. Furthermore, they repaired the previously observed tissue damage in the colon.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The findings of the study affirm the therapeutic potential of FMT and CBM treatments in managing oligofructose-induced diarrhea in horses.
  • Making use of specific bacterial species identified by the study’s correlation analysis could potentially optimize these therapies and improve outcomes for horses afflicted with diarrhea.
  • This research provides valuable insights into the management and treatment of diarrhea in horses, suggesting combined FMT and CBM approaches could potentially yield optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Cite This Article

APA
Tuniyazi M, Tang R, Hu X, Fu Y, Zhang N. (2024). Carbonate buffer mixture and fecal microbiota transplantation hold promising therapeutic effects on oligofructose-induced diarrhea in horses. Front Vet Sci, 11, 1388227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1388227

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Pages: 1388227

Researcher Affiliations

Tuniyazi, Maimaiti
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Tang, Ruibo
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Hu, Xiaoyu
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Fu, Yunhe
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Zhang, Naisheng
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Tian R, Chong CJ, Bai YY, Chen N, Qiao RR, Wang K, Wang YW, Zhao P, Zhao CB, Tang YP, Zhang L, Zhang Q. The role of gut microbiota in diarrhea and its alleviation through microbiota-targeted interventions. Front Microbiol 2025;16:1630823.
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  2. Rahman R, Marcolla CS, Willing BP. Fecal microbiota transplantation in pigs: current status and future perspective. Anim Microbiome 2025 Jul 20;7(1):76.
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  3. Tuniyazi M, Tang R, Hu X, Zhang N. Methylated tirilazad may mitigate oligofructose-induced laminitis in horses. Front Microbiol 2024;15:1391892.
    doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1391892pubmed: 39386364google scholar: lookup
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