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FEMS microbiology letters2011; 326(1); 62-68; doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02434.x

Characterization of the fecal bacteria communities of forage-fed horses by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA V4 gene amplicons.

Abstract: The diversity of the equine fecal bacterial community was evaluated using pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Fecal samples were obtained from horses fed cool-season grass hay. Fecal bacteria were characterized by amplifying the V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Of 5898 mean unique sequences, a mean of 1510 operational taxonomic units were identified in the four fecal samples. Equine fecal bacterial richness was higher than that reported in humans, but lower than that reported in either cattle feces or soil. Bacterial classified sequences were assigned to 16 phyla, of which 10 were present in all samples. The largest number of reads belonged to Firmicutes (43.7% of total bacterial sequences), Verrucomicrobia (4.1%), Proteobacteria (3.8%), and Bacteroidetes (3.7%). The less abundant Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and TM7 phyla presented here have not been previously described in the gut contents or feces of horses. Unclassified sequences represented 38.1% of total bacterial sequences; therefore, the equine fecal microbiome diversity is likely greater than that described. This is the first study to characterize the fecal bacterial community in horses by the use of 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing, expanding our knowledge of the fecal microbiota of forage-fed horses.
© 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-11-02 PubMed ID: 22092776DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02434.xGoogle 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 reports on a study which examined the range and diversity of bacteria found in the feces of horses fed with cool-season grass hay. The study implemented the pyrosequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in bacterial cells to identify different types of bacteria.

Study Methodology

  • The scientists tapped into the pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene within bacterial cells. This gene is present in all bacteria and its sequence variations are used to differentiate between diverse bacterial species.
  • Fecal samples were obtained from horses fed on cool-season grass hay.
  • The team focussed on the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to profile the bacterial community. Using high-throughput sequencing methods, they were able to identify a broad range of bacterial species in each sample.

Study Findings

  • An average of 1510 operational taxonomic units, which refer to clusters of organisms with high genetic similarity, were identified in the four fecal samples retrieved. This indicates a rich range of bacterial species present in horse feces.
  • The richness of bacteria from the horse fecal samples was found to be higher than in humans but lower than in cattle feces or soil.
  • Of the 5898 mean unique sequences obtained, bacterial sequences were assigned to 16 phyla. 10 of these phyla were present in all samples, representing the core microbiota of the horse’s gut.
  • A large proportion of the reads belonged to Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Some less abundant Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and TM7 phyla were also present, which have not been previously described in the contents or feces of horses’ guts.
  • The researchers noted that 38.1% of the total bacterial sequences were unclassified. This indicates that the diversity of the equine fecal microbiome is possibly greater than previously described.

Significance of the Study

  • This is the first study to utilize 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing to explore the bacterial community present in the feces of horses. The newly identified presence of Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and TM7 phyla in horse guts adds to our understanding of the microbial ecosystem within horses.
  • The substantial percentage of unclassified sequences signals a need for future research to uncover, categorize and understand the potentially new bacterial species thriving in horses’ gut.
  • Understanding the bacterial diversity of the horse’s gut can help in ensuring the health and wellness of the horses, particularly regarding their digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Cite This Article

APA
Shepherd ML, Swecker WS, Jensen RV, Ponder MA. (2011). Characterization of the fecal bacteria communities of forage-fed horses by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA V4 gene amplicons. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 326(1), 62-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02434.x

Publication

FEMS microbiology letters
ISSN: 1574-6968
NlmUniqueID: 7705721
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 326
Issue: 1
Pages: 62-68

Researcher Affiliations

Shepherd, Megan L
  • Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. meshephe@vt.edu
Swecker, William S
    Jensen, Roderick V
      Ponder, Monica A

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Bacteria / classification
        • Bacteria / genetics
        • Base Sequence
        • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
        • Feces / microbiology
        • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
        • Genes, rRNA
        • Horses / microbiology
        • Metagenome
        • Molecular Sequence Data
        • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
        • Sequence Analysis, RNA

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