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BMC veterinary research2017; 13(1); 144; doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1064-x

Comparison of the fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and diarrheic foals at two and four weeks of life.

Abstract: Diarrhea in foals affects up to 60% of foals during the first six months of life. The effect of diarrhea on the fecal bacterial microbiota in foals has not been investigated. Little is known on the fecal bacterial microbial richness and diversity of foals at a young age. The objective was to compare the fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy foals to foals with diarrhea at two and four weeks of life. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from foals (n = 20) at 1-14 (T1) and 15-28 (T2) days of age and analyzed using high throughput sequencing. Differences in relative abundance of bacterial taxa, alpha diversity and beta diversity indices were assessed between age-matched foals with diarrhea (n = 9) and healthy foals (n = 11), and between time points. Results: Differences in microbial community composition based on time point and health status were observed on all taxonomic levels. Of 117 enriched species in healthy foals at T2, 50 (48%) were Lachnospiraceae or Ruminococcaceae. The Chao richness index was increased in healthy foals at T2 compared to T1 (p = 0.02). Foals with diarrhea had a significantly lower richness index than non-diarrheic foals at T2 (p = 0.04). Diarrhea had an inconsistent effect, while time point had a consistent effect on microbial community structure. Conclusions: Preventative and therapeutic measures for diarrhea should focus on maintaining bacterial microbiota richness. Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae were underrepresented in foals with diarrhea. These should be evaluated further as potential therapeutic options.
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Publication Date: 2017-05-30 PubMed ID: 28558788PubMed Central: PMC5450145DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1064-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 explores the impact of diarrhea on the fecal bacterial microbiota in foals and compares this between healthy foals and those with diarrhea at two and four weeks old. It concludes that diarrhea affects the richness and diversity of foal’s microbiota and recommends that further research should evaluate the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae to potentially offer therapeutic options.

Research Study Objectives and Methods

  • The study aims to investigate the effects of diarrhea on the fecal bacterial microbiota of foals. It also aims to understand the richness and diversity of the foals’ bacterial microbiome at two different age points: two weeks and four weeks.
  • In order to gather data, fecal samples were collected from 20 foals at two different time intervals: 1-14 days of age (T1) and 15-28 days of age (T2).
  • The fecal samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing to measure the abundance of different bacteria, and to compute diversity indices.
  • The study compared healthy foals and those with diarrhea at two and four weeks of age to understand differences in bacterial taxa, diversity and richness.

Research Study Results

  • The results indicated a significant variation in the bacterial community structure based on the age and health status of the foals.
  • Of the 117 species enriched in healthy foals at T2, 50 or 48% belonged to the families Lachnospiraceae or Ruminococcaceae.
  • The Chao richness index, a measure of the number of distinct bacterial species, was greater in healthy foals at T2 compared to T1.
  • The study found that foals with diarrhea at T2 showed a significantly lower richness index than their non-diarrheic counterparts.
  • The effects of diarrhea on the microbial community structure were found to be inconsistent, whereas the time point had a consistent effect.

Research Conclusions and Recommendations

  • The research concludes that diarrhea affects bacterial microbiota richness in foals and suggests that both preventative and therapeutic measures for diarrhea should aim to preserve this richness.
  • Two bacterial families, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, which were underrepresented in foals with diarrhea, are suggested to be further researched as potential therapeutic options.

Cite This Article

APA
Schoster A, Staempfli HR, Guardabassi LG, Jalali M, Weese JS. (2017). Comparison of the fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and diarrheic foals at two and four weeks of life. BMC Vet Res, 13(1), 144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1064-x

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 144
PII: 144

Researcher Affiliations

Schoster, A
  • Equine Department, University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. aschoster@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
  • Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Stigbojlen 4, 1870, Copenhagen, Denmark. aschoster@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
Staempfli, H R
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, N1G2W1, Canada.
Guardabassi, L G
  • Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Stigbojlen 4, 1870, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.
Jalali, M
  • Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, N1G2W1, Canada.
Weese, J S
  • Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, N1G2W1, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Male

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