Changes of faecal bacterial communities and microbial fibrolytic activity in horses aged from 6 to 30 years old.
Abstract: Horse owners and veterinarians report that from the age of 15, their horses can lose body condition and be more susceptible to diseases. Large intestinal microbiome changes may be involved. Indeed, microbiota is crucial for maintaining the condition and health of herbivores by converting fibres into nutrients. This study aimed to compare the faecal microbiome in horses aged from 6 to 30 years old (yo), living in the same environment and consuming the same diet, in order to assess whether the parameters changed linearly with age and whether there was a pivotal age category. Fifty horses were selected from the same environment and distributed across four age categories: 6-10 (n = 12), 11-15 (n = 11), 16-20 (n = 13), and 21-30 (n = 14) yo. All horses had no digestive problems, had teeth suitable for consuming their feed, and were up to date with their vaccination and deworming programmes. After three weeks of constant diet (ad libitum hay and 860 g of concentrate per day), one faecal sample per horse was collected on the same day. The bacterial communities' richness and intra-sample diversity were negatively correlated with age. There was a new distribution of non-beneficial and beneficial taxa, particularly in the 21-30 yo category. Although the faecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids remained stable, the acetate proportion was negatively correlated with age while it was the opposite for the proportions of butyrate, valerate, and iso-valerate. Additionally, the faecal pH was negatively correlated with age. Differences were more pronounced when comparing the 6-10 yo and 21-30 yo categories. The values of the parameters studied became more dispersed from the 16-20 yo category onwards, which appeared as a transitional moment, as it did not differ significantly from the younger and older categories for most of these parameters. Our data suggest that the microbiome changes with age. By highlighting the pivotal age of 16-20, this gives the opportunity to intervene before individuals reach extremes that could lead to pathological conditions.
Copyright: © 2024 Baraille et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Publication Date: 2024-06-03 PubMed ID: 38829841PubMed Central: PMC11146703DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303029Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 focuses on the alterations in the faecal microbiome and microbial fibrolytic activity in horses ranging from 6 to 30 years old, and the potential link of these changes to aging related health issues in horses.
Objectives and Methodology
- The study’s primary objective was to investigate whether changes in the faecal microbiome of horses with age contribute to health deterioration and increased susceptibility to diseases in horses above 15 years old.
- Fifty horses, which were healthy and had proper dental health for feed consumption, were selected for the research. They were kept in the same environment and provided with the same diet, ensuring that variables were minimized.
- The horses were divided into four age groups: 6-10 years, 11-15 years, 16-20 years, and 21-30 years old.
- After three weeks of constant diet, a faecal sample from each horse was collected for analysis.
Findings on Microbial Changes
- The richness and intra-sample diversity of bacterial communities in the faecal samples were found to have a negative correlation with the horse’s age.
- There was a shift in the distribution of non-beneficial and beneficial bacterial taxa, most noticeably in the oldest age group of 21-30 years. This signifies that an aging horse’s gut hosts fewer beneficial bacteria with increasing age.
Changes in Fibrolytic Activity and Related Aspects
- While the overall faecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids remained stable, the proportion of specific types changed with age. Most notably, the acetate proportion showed a negative correlation with age while the proportions of butyrate, valerate, and iso-valerate showed the opposite trend.
- These fatty acids are produced during the microbial fermentation of dietary fibres in the large intestine and are critical for the nutritional and physiological well-being of the horse.
- The faecal pH showed a negative correlation with age, indicating a more acidic environment in older horses, which might alter the gut’s microbial environment.
Pivotal Finding
- The most significant finding of this study was the identification of 16-20 years as a transitional age group. The values of the studied parameters became more dispersed in this category, suggesting a significant shift in the ageing process of horses.
- This pivotal age gives veterinarians and horse owners an opportunity to implement interventions before the horses reach the extremes that could lead to health issues.
Cite This Article
APA
Baraille M, Buttet M, Grimm P, Milojevic V, Julliand S, Julliand V.
(2024).
Changes of faecal bacterial communities and microbial fibrolytic activity in horses aged from 6 to 30 years old.
PLoS One, 19(6), e0303029.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303029 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, PAM UMR A 02.102, Dijon, France.
- Lab To Field, Dijon, France.
- Lab To Field, Dijon, France.
- Lab To Field, Dijon, France.
- Sandgrueb-Stiftung, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Lab To Field, Dijon, France.
- Institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, PAM UMR A 02.102, Dijon, France.
MeSH Terms
- Horses / microbiology
- Animals
- Feces / microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Bacteria / classification
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Male
- Female
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
References
This article includes 67 references
- Ifce-OESC. Combien d’équidés en France?n2019. Available from: https://www.ifce.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IFCE_OESC_Note_thematique-Effectifs-equides_juillet2019_V2.pdf.
- Doliguez P, Le Masne L, Delerue M. Gestion pratique du vieux cheval. 2023. Available from: https://equipedia.ifce.fr/sante-et-bien-etre-animal/soin-prevention-et-medication/prevention/gestion-pratique-du-vieux-cheval.
- Agroscope. La filière équine Suisse: les chiffres clefs. Bilan 2016. 2017. Available from: https://www.cofichev.ch/Htdocs/Files/v/6062.pdf/Publications-autres/HNS/Bericht_2016_fr_DEF-20171205.pdf.
- Agroscope. La filière équine Suisse: les chiffres clefs. Aperçu 2019. 2019. Available from: https://www.cofichev.ch/Htdocs/Files/v/6113.pdf/Publications-autres/Kennzahlen-Pferdebranche-F.pdf.
- APHIS. Age-related Trends in Demographics of Equids in the United States. 2018. Available from: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/equine/downloads/equine15/Equine15_is_TrendsAge.pdf.
- Ireland J, Clegg P, McGowan C, McKane S, Pinchbeck G. A cross-sectional study of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Part 2: Health care and disease.. Equine Veterinary Journal 2011;43(1):37–44.
- Gehlen H, Lilge S, Merle R, Steinborn S. Einfluss des Pferdealters auf die Wahl der Haltung, des Managements und der Dienstleistungsansprüche von Pferdebesitzern.. Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 2021.
- Ireland J, Clegg P, McGowan C, McKane S, Chandler K, Pinchbeck G. Disease prevalence in geriatric horses in the United Kingdom: Veterinary clinical assessment of 200 cases.. Equine Veterinary Journal 2012;44(1):101–6.
- Brosnahan M, Paradis M. Demographic and clinical characteristics of geriatric horses: 467 cases (1989–1999).. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2003;223(1):93–8.
- Julliand V, Grimm P. The microbiome of the horse hindgut: History and current knowledge.. Journal of Animal Science 2016;94(6):2262–74.
- Den Besten G, Van Eunen K, Groen A, Venema K, Reijngoud D, Bakker B. The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism.. Journal of Lipid Research 2013;54(9):2325–40.
- Yao Y, Cai X, Fei W, Ye Y, Zhao M, Zheng C. The role of short-chain fatty acids in immunity, inflammation and metabolism.. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2022;62(1):1–12.
- Cheng J, Palva A, De Vos W, Satokari R. Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiota to Human Health: From Birth to 100 Years of Age.. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 2013;358:323–346.
- Biagi E, Candela M, Turroni S, Garagnani P, Franceschi C, Brigidi P. Ageing and gut microbes: Perspectives for health maintenance and longevity.. Pharmacological Research 2013;69(1):11–20.
- Nagpal R, Mainali R, Ahmadi S, Wang S, Singh R, Kavanagh K. Gut microbiome and aging: Physiological and mechanistic insights.. Nutrition and Healthy Aging 2018;4:267–285.
- Badal V, Vaccariello E, Murray E, Yu K, Knight R, Jeste D. The Gut Microbiome, Aging, and Longevity: A Systematic Review.. Nutrients 2020;12(12):3759.
- Kim M, Benayoun B. The microbiome: An emerging key player in aging and longevity.. Translational Medicine of Aging 2020;4:103–16.
- Park S, Kim K, Ahn Y, Jeong J, Huh C, Kim D. Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in elderly people of urbanized towns and longevity villages.. BMC Microbiol 2015;15(1):49.
- Biagi E, Franceschi C, Rampelli S, Severgnini M, Ostan R, Turroni S. Gut Microbiota and Extreme Longevity.. Current Biology 2016;26(11):1480–5.
- Odamaki T, Kato K, Sugahara H, Hashikura N, Takahashi S, zhong Xiao J. Age-related changes in gut microbiota composition from newborn to centenarian: a cross-sectional study.. BMC Microbiol 2016;16(1):90.
- Iwauchi M, Horigome A, Ishikawa K, Mikuni A, Nakano M, Xiao J. Relationship between oral and gut microbiota in elderly people.. Immunity Inflam & Disease 2019;7(3):229–36.
- Kim B, Choi C, Shin H, Jin S, Bae J, Han M. Comparison of the Gut Microbiota of Centenarians in Longevity Villages of South Korea with Those of Other Age Groups.. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2019;29(3):429–40.
- Tuikhar N, Keisam S, Labala R, Imrat, Ramakrishnan, Arunkumar M. Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota in centenarians and young adults shows a common signature across genotypically non-related populations.. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2019;179:23–35.
- Wang N, Li R, Lin H, Fu C, Wang X, Zhang Y. Enriched taxa were found among the gut microbiota of centenarians in East China.. PLoS ONE 2019;14(10):e0222763.
- Wu L, Zeng T, Zinellu A, Rubino S, Kelvin D, Carru C. A Cross-Sectional Study of Compositional and Functional Profiles of Gut Microbiota in Sardinian Centenarians.. mSystems 2019;4(4):e00325–19.
- Xu C, Zhu H, Qiu P. Aging progression of human gut microbiota.. BMC Genomics 2019;20(1):798.
- La-ongkham O, Nakphaichit M, Nakayama J, Keawsompong S, Nitisinprasert S. Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and the core gut microbiome of healthy Thai humans.. 3 Biotech 2020;10(6):276.
- Claesson M, Jeffery I, Conde S, Power S, O’Connor E, Cusack S. Gut microbiota composition correlates with diet and health in the elderly.. Nature 2012;488(7410):178–84.
- Jackson M, Jeffery I, Beaumont M, Bell J, Clark A, Ley R. Signatures of early frailty in the gut microbiota.. Genome Med 2016;8(1):8.
- Maffei V, Kim S, Blanchard E, Luo M, Jazwinski S, Taylor C. Biological Aging and the Human Gut Microbiota.. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A 2017;72(11):1474–82.
- Haran J, Bhattarai S, Foley S, Dutta P, Ward D, Bucci V. Alzheimer’s Disease Microbiome Is Associated with Dysregulation of the Anti-Inflammatory P-Glycoprotein Pathway.. mBio 2019;10(3):e00632–19.
- Nishiwaki H, Hamaguchi T, Ito M, Ishida T, Maeda T, Kashihara K. Short-Chain Fatty Acid-Producing Gut Microbiota Is Decreased in Parkinson’s Disease but Not in Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder.. mSystems 2020;5(6):e00797–20.
- Heinzel S, Aho V, Suenkel U, Von Thaler AK, Schulte C, Deuschle C. Gut Microbiome Signatures of Risk and Prodromal Markers of Parkinson Disease.. Annals of Neurology 2021;90(3).
- Hopkins M, Sharp R, Macfarlane G. Variation in human intestinal microbiota with age.. Digestive and Liver Disease 2002;34:S12–8.
- Woodmansey E, McMurdo M, Macfarlane G, Macfarlane S. Comparison of Compositions and Metabolic Activities of Fecal Microbiotas in Young Adults and in Antibiotic-Treated and Non-Antibiotic-Treated Elderly Subjects.. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004;70(10):6113–22.
- Tiihonen K, Tynkkynen S, Ouwehand A, Ahlroos T, Rautonen N. The effect of ageing with and without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on gastrointestinal microbiology and immunology.. Br J Nutr 2008;100(1):130–7.
- An R, Wilms E, Smolinska A, Hermes G, Masclee A, De Vos P. Sugar Beet Pectin Supplementation Did Not Alter Profiles of Fecal Microbiota and Exhaled Breath in Healthy Young Adults and Healthy Elderly.. Nutrients 2019;11(9):2193.
- Ruiz‐Ruiz S, Sanchez‐Carrillo S, Ciordia S, Mena M, Méndez‐García C, Rojo D. Functional microbiome deficits associated with ageing: Chronological age threshold.. Aging Cell 2020;19(1):e13063.
- Dougal K, de la Fuente G, Harris P, Girdwood S, Pinloche E, Geor R. Characterisation of the faecal bacterial community in adult and elderly horses fed a high fibre, high oil or high starch diet using 454 pyrosequencing.. PLoS ONE 2014;9(2):e87424.
- Theelen M, Luiken R, Wagenaar J, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan M, Rossen J, Zomer A. The Equine Faecal Microbiota of Healthy Horses and Ponies in The Netherlands: Impact of Host and Environmental Factors.. Animals 2021;11(6):1762.
- Morrison P, Newbold C, Jones E, Worgan H, Grove-White D, Dugdale A. The Equine Gastrointestinal Microbiome: Impacts of Age and Obesity.. Front Microbiol 2018;9:3017.
- Morrison P, Newbold C, Jones E, Worgan H, Grove-White D, Dugdale A. Effect of age and the individual on the gastrointestinal bacteriome of ponies fed a high-starch diet.. PLoS ONE 2020;15(5):e0232689.
- Henneke D, Potter G, Kreider J, Yeates B. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares.. Equine Veterinary Journal 1983;15(4):371–2.
- Yu Z, Morrison M. Improved extraction of PCR-quality community DNA from digesta and fecal samples.. BioTechniques 2004;36(5):808–12.
- Grimm P, Combes S, Pascal G, Cauquil L, Julliand V. Dietary composition and yeast/microalgae combination supplementation modulate the microbial ecosystem in the caecum, colon and faeces of horses.. Br J Nutr 2020;123(4):372–82.
- Escudié F, Auer L, Bernard M, Mariadassou M, Cauquil L, Vidal K. FROGS: Find, Rapidly, OTUs with Galaxy Solution.. Bioinformatics 2018;34(8):1287–94.
- Jouany J. Volatile fatty acid and alcohol determination in digestive contents, silage juices, bacterial cultures and anaerobic fermentor contents.. Sci Aliments 1982;2:131–144.
- Grimm P, Philippeau C, Julliand V. Faecal parameters as biomarkers of the equine hindgut microbial ecosystem under dietary change.. Animal 2017;11(7):1136–45.
- Segata N, Izard J, Waldron L, Gevers D, Miropolsky L, Garrett W. Metagenomic biomarker discovery and explanation.. Genome Biol 2011;12(6):R60.
- Mueller S, Saunier K, Hanisch C, Norin E, Alm L, Midtvedt T. Differences in Fecal Microbiota in Different European Study Populations in Relation to Age, Gender, and Country: a Cross-Sectional Study.. Applied and Environment Microbiology 2006;72(2):1027.
- Julliand V, Grimm P. The impact of diet on the hindgut microbiome.. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2017;52:23–8.
- Garber A, Hastie P, Murray J. Factors influencing equine gut microbiota: current knowledge.. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2020;88:102943.
- Ghosh T, Das M, Jeffery I, O’Toole P. Adjusting for age improves identification of gut microbiome alterations in multiple diseases.. eLife 2020;9:e50240.
- Lim M, Hong S, Kim J, Nam Y. Association Between Gut Microbiome and Frailty in the Older Adult Population in Korea.. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A 2021;76(8):1362–8.
- Verdi S, Jackson M, Beaumont M, Bowyer R, Bell J, Spector T. An Investigation Into Physical Frailty as a Link Between the Gut Microbiome and Cognitive Health.. Front Aging Neurosci 2018;10:398.
- Zhang Q, Hu W, Deng Y, Wan J, Wang Y, Jin P. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota and decreased propionic acid associated with metabolic abnormality in Cushing’s syndrome.. Front Endocrinol 2023;13:1095438.
- Ghosh T, Shanahan F, O’Toole P. The gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing.. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022;19:565–584.
- Ralston S, Foster D, Divers T, Hintz H. Effect of dental correction on feed digestibility in horses.. Equine Veterinary Journal 2001;33(4):390–3.
- Zwirglmaier S, Remler H-P, Senckenberg E, Fritz J, Stelzer P, Kienzle E. Effect of dental correction on voluntary hay intake, apparent digestibility of feed and faecal particle size in horse.. Animal Physiology Nutrition 2013;97(1):72–9.
- Wang X, Li F, Zhang N, Ungerfeld E, Guo L, Zhang X. Effects of supplementing a yeast culture in a pelleted total mixed ration on fiber degradation, fermentation parameters, and the bacterial community in the rumen of sheep.. Animal Feed Science and Technology 2023;296:115565.
- Salvi P, Cowles R. Butyrate and the Intestinal Epithelium: Modulation of Proliferation and Inflammation in Homeostasis and Disease.. Cells 2021;10(7):1775.
- Tamanai-Shacoori Z, Smida I, Bousarghin L, Loreal O, Meuric V, Fong S. Roseburia spp.: a marker of health?. Future Microbiology 2017;12(2):157–70.
- Rosero J, Killer J, Sechovcová H, Mrázek J, Benada O, Fliegerová K. Reclassification of Eubacterium rectale (Hauduroy et al. 1937) Prévot 1938 in a new genus Agathobacter gen. nov. as Agathobacter rectalis comb. nov., and description of Agathobacter ruminis sp. nov., isolated from the rumen contents of sheep and cows.. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016;66(2):768–73.
- Mäkivuokko H, Tiihonen K, Tynkkynen S, Paulin L, Rautonen N. The effect of age and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on human intestinal microbiota composition.. Br J Nutr 2010;103(2):227–34.
- Merritt A, Julliand V. Gastrointestinal physiology.. In: Geor R, Harris P and Coenen M editors. Oxford: Saunders Elsevier; 2013. pp. 3–32.
- O’Toole P, Jeffery I. Gut microbiota and aging.. Science 2015;350(6265):1214–5.
- Claesson M, Cusack S, O’Sullivan O, Greene-Diniz R, De Weerd H, Flannery E. Composition, variability, and temporal stability of the intestinal microbiota of the elderly.. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011;108(supplement_1):4586–91.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists