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Veterinary microbiology2013; 166(1-2); 225-232; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.05.003

Diarrhea-associated pathogens, lactobacilli and cellulolytic bacteria in equine feces: responses to antibiotic challenge.

Abstract: Antibiotics are important to equine medicine, but antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) can lead to poor performance and even mortality. AAD is attributed to disruption of the hindgut microbiota, which permits proliferation of pathogenic microbes. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of common antibiotics on cellulolytic bacteria, lactobacilli, and AAD-associated pathogens in the feces of healthy horses. Fifteen horses were assigned to three treatment groups (blocked by age and sex): control (no antibiotics), trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (PO), or ceftiofur (IM). Fecal samples (n=8 per horse) were taken during dietary adaptation (3 weeks), antibiotic challenge (1 week), and withdrawal (1 week). Bacteria were enumerated by serial dilution and viable count. Cellulolytic bacteria decreased by >99% during administration of either antibiotic (P<0.0001) and were still less than controls at the end of the withdrawal period (P<0.0001). Fecal samples from horses challenged with ceftiofur had 75% fewer lactobacilli than those from control horses at the end of the antibiotic challenge period (P<0.05). Antibiotic challenged horses also shed more salmonella than control horses (P<0.05). Antibiotics had no effect on the number of Clostridium perfringens isolates. There was no detectable Clostridium difficile during adaptation or in any control horse. C. difficile increased (P<0.0001) to approximately 10(4)cfu/g when horses were challenged with antibiotics, and were still detectable 1 week after withdrawal. These results indicate that antibiotics can disrupt the normal gastrointestinal microbiota and allow proliferation of Salmonella spp. and C. difficile.
Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Publication Date: 2013-05-20 PubMed ID: 23769300DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.05.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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.

This study investigates how common antibiotics affect certain gut bacteria in healthy horses, specifically, cellulolytic bacteria, lactobacilli, and diarrhea-associated pathogens. The findings suggest that such antibiotics can disrupt gut bacteria resulting in an increase in harmful microbes such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile.

Methodology

  • The study enrolled fifteen horses grouped into three treatment groups according to their age and sex. The groups included a control group (no antibiotics), a group administered trimethoprim-sulfadiazine orally (PO), and a group given ceftiofur via intramuscular injection (IM).
  • During three stages (diet adaptation for three weeks, antibiotic treatment for a week, and withdrawal for a week), fecal samples were taken from each horse eight times. Bacteria in these samples were evaluated using serial dilution and viable count.

Findings

  • The study found a significant reduction (>99%) in cellulolytic bacteria in horses during administration of either antibiotic. This reduction persisted even at the end of the withdrawal period.
  • Horses treated with ceftiofur showed a 75% decrease in lactobacilli in their fecal samples compared to the control group at the end of the antibiotic treatment stage.
  • There was an increase in the development and shedding of salmonella in horses treated with antibiotics compared to those in the control group.
  • Interestingly, antibiotic treatment didn’t affect the number of Clostridium perfringens isolates.
  • Clostridium difficile was not detectable in the horses during the adaptation stage or in the control group. However, C. difficile count increased significantly in the horses treated with antibiotics and remained detectable even a week after the withdrawal.

Conclusion

These results underscore that commonly used antibiotics may significantly disrupt the normal population of beneficial gut microbiota in horses. This microbial imbalance can promote the proliferation of pathogenic microbes such as Salmonella spp. and Clostridium difficile, potentially leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Cite This Article

APA
Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Flythe MD. (2013). Diarrhea-associated pathogens, lactobacilli and cellulolytic bacteria in equine feces: responses to antibiotic challenge. Vet Microbiol, 166(1-2), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.05.003

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 166
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 225-232
PII: S0378-1135(13)00251-4

Researcher Affiliations

Harlow, Brittany E
  • University of Kentucky, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
Lawrence, Laurie M
    Flythe, Michael D

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
      • Bacteria / drug effects
      • Bacteria / metabolism
      • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
      • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
      • Cellulose / metabolism
      • Diarrhea / microbiology
      • Diarrhea / veterinary
      • Feces / microbiology
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / microbiology
      • Horses
      • Lactobacillus / drug effects
      • Lactobacillus / metabolism
      • Male
      • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

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