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Veterinary research communications2024; 48(4); 2847-2855; doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10444-7

Composition and diversity of 16S rRNA based skin bacterial microbiome in healthy horses.

Abstract: Characterization of microbiota structure on the skin of healthy horses is important for further development of modulation strategies to ensure optimal bacterial composition for physiological processes. This requirement is also supported by the relatively high incidence of dermatological diseases in horses and thus the need to manage them therapeutically. The taxonomic analysis of skin samples (n = 30) from five different body parts of clinically healthy Shetlands ponies females (neck, back, abdomen, pastern, muzzle) kept under homogeneous conditions (in open stalls with paddock, feed with dry hay, green grass ad libitum and granulated feed) was performed using amplification of V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results indicate that bacteria associated with healthy equine skin represent 18 phyla, 29 classes and 119 families. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria (30.8 ± 9.1%) followed by Actinobacteriota (20.4 ± 7.6%), Firmicutes (19.5 ± 10.1%), Bacteroidota (8.5 ± 5.0%) and Deinococcota (7.2 ± 14.8%). Among 229 genera identified, Corynebacterium (7.4 ± 6.5%) was the most abundant genus in skin sites of horses, followed by Deinococcus (7.1 ± 14.9%) and Macrococcus (5.0 ± 8.2%). Indices for the richness and diversity of species within bacterial populations for five regions of horses skin revealed no significant variations observed for species richness (Chao1, p-value 0.2001) but significant result for species evenness (Shannon, p-value 0.0049) with maximum on the neck and minimum on the back skin site. The clustering was seen across samples from different skin sites but also across samples collected from individual horses.
© 2024. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2024-06-20 PubMed ID: 38900396PubMed Central: PMC11315781DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10444-7Google 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.

Overview

  • This study analyzed the composition and diversity of bacterial communities on the skin of healthy Shetland ponies using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to better understand their microbiome and inform strategies for managing equine skin health.

Introduction and Importance

  • The skin microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining physiological processes and skin health in horses.
  • Characterizing the microbiota on healthy horse skin helps in developing modulation strategies to maintain or restore an optimal bacterial balance.
  • Understanding the normal bacterial population is crucial because horses often suffer from dermatological diseases that require therapeutic intervention.

Materials and Methods

  • Sample Collection: Skin swab samples (n=30) were collected from five body sites on clinically healthy female Shetland ponies: neck, back, abdomen, pastern, and muzzle.
  • Environmental Conditions: Horses were kept under uniform conditions – open stalls with paddocks, fed dry hay, green grass available freely, plus granulated feed.
  • DNA Sequencing: The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified to profile the bacterial communities present on the skin samples.

Results: Taxonomic Composition

  • The study identified bacteria representing 18 phyla, 29 classes, and 119 families, indicating a diverse microbial community.
  • The most abundant bacterial phyla on healthy equine skin were:
    • Proteobacteria (~30.8% ± 9.1%)
    • Actinobacteriota (~20.4% ± 7.6%)
    • Firmicutes (~19.5% ±10.1%)
    • Bacteroidota (~8.5% ± 5.0%)
    • Deinococcota (~7.2% ± 14.8%)
  • At the genus level (229 genera identified), the most abundant were:
    • Corynebacterium (7.4% ± 6.5%)
    • Deinococcus (7.1% ± 14.9%)
    • Macrococcus (5.0% ± 8.2%)

Results: Diversity Indices

  • The study measured species richness and species evenness for bacterial populations on the five skin regions.
  • Species richness (using Chao1 index):
    • No significant differences were found between the different body sites (p = 0.2001).
    • This suggests a similar total number of bacterial species across skin sites.
  • Species evenness (using Shannon index):
    • Significant differences were observed (p = 0.0049) indicating that the relative abundance of species varies between sites.
    • The neck had the highest species evenness, indicating a more balanced microbial community.
    • The back had the lowest species evenness, indicating dominance by fewer species.

Results: Community Clustering

  • Bacterial communities clustered not only by sampling site but also by individual horse, reflecting both site-specific and host-specific microbial signatures.
  • This implies that both the microenvironment of the skin site and individual host factors influence microbiome composition.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The skin of healthy horses harbors a diverse bacterial community, dominated by specific phyla and genera.
  • Understanding these communities provides a baseline for comparing diseased or disturbed skin microbiomes in horses.
  • Differences in species evenness across skin sites suggest certain areas may be more vulnerable to microbial imbalance or infection.
  • The findings support the potential for targeted microbiome modulation or therapeutic strategies to promote skin health and prevent dermatological issues in horses.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of considering both anatomical location and individual variation when examining the equine skin microbiome.

Cite This Article

APA
Strompfová V, Štempelová L. (2024). Composition and diversity of 16S rRNA based skin bacterial microbiome in healthy horses. Vet Res Commun, 48(4), 2847-2855. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-024-10444-7

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 4
Pages: 2847-2855

Researcher Affiliations

Strompfová, Viola
  • Centre of Biosciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology, Šoltésovej 4-6, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia. strompfv@saske.sk.
Štempelová, Lucia
  • Centre of Biosciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology, Šoltésovej 4-6, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / microbiology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Skin / microbiology
  • Microbiota
  • Female
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • RNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Li F, Jiang D, Wang Q, Chang O, Yin J, Yu M, Pan H. Host-Microbiota-Parasite Interactions in Grass Carp: Insights from Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Infection. Microorganisms 2025 Apr 10;13(4).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13040872pubmed: 40284708google scholar: lookup
  2. Matinpour M, Zettner N, Neumann K, Bäumer L, Burkovski A. Analysis of the Culturable Skin Microbiome of Horses from Southern Germany. Microorganisms 2025 Mar 8;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030623pubmed: 40142516google scholar: lookup
  3. Marsella R. Skin Barrier in Normal and Allergic Horses: What Do We Know?. Vet Sci 2025 Jan 24;12(2).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12020091pubmed: 40005851google scholar: lookup
  4. Gerlicz W, Sypka M, Jodłowska I, Białkowska AM. Isolation, Selection, and Identification of Keratinolytic Bacteria for Green Management of Keratin Waste. Molecules 2024 Jul 18;29(14).
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