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Scientific reports2024; 14(1); 17124; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6

Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing.

Abstract: Gut bacterial communities have a profound influence on the health of humans and animals. Early-life gut microbial community structure influences the development of immunological competence and susceptibility to disease. For the Thoroughbred racehorse, the significance of early-life microbial colonisation events on subsequent health and athletic performance is unknown. Here we present data from a three-year cohort study of horses bred for racing designed to explore interactions between early-life gut bacterial community structure, health events in later life and athletic performance on the racetrack. Our data show that gut bacterial community structure in the first months of life predicts the risk of specific diseases and athletic performance up to three years old. Foals with lower faecal bacterial diversity at one month old had a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease in later life which was also associated with higher relative abundance of faecal Pseudomonadaceae. Surprisingly, athletic performance up to three years old, measured by three different metrics, was positively associated with higher faecal bacterial diversity at one month old and with the relative abundance of specific bacterial families. We also present data on the impact of antibiotic exposure of foals during the first month of life. This resulted in significantly lower faecal bacterial diversity at 28 days old, a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease in later life and a significant reduction in average prize money earnings, a proxy for athletic performance. Our study reveals associations between early-life bacterial community profiles and health events in later life and it provides evidence of the detrimental impact of antimicrobial treatment in the first month of life on health and performance outcomes in later life. For the first time, this study demonstrates a relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance that has implications for athletes of all species including humans.
© 2024. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2024-08-07 PubMed ID: 39112552PubMed Central: 4095778DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6Google 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 investigates the correlation between early-life gut bacterial structure in Thoroughbred racehorses, and their subsequent disease risks and athletic performance. It reveals that lower gut bacterial diversity in foals during their initial months may increase their risk of certain diseases and reduce their racing performance later in life. Conversely, antibiotic use in the first month was associated with reduced bacterial diversity, higher disease risk, and diminished athletic performance.

Research Methodology

  • The study was primarily a long-term, three-year cohort study involving Thoroughbred racehorses.
  • The primary aim was to examine the relationship between early-life gut bacterial community structure, disease risks in forthcoming years, and athletic performance.
  • Faecal samples of the horses were collected during their first month of life to analyze the gut bacterial community structure.
  • The horses were followed for three years to assess their health conditions and racing performance.
  • The impact of antibiotic exposure during the first month of life was also investigated.

Key Findings

  • The research revealed a correlation between gut bacterial community structure during the first few months of life and the risk of specific diseases and athletic performance three years later.
  • Foals with lower faecal bacterial diversity during their first month had a significantly greater risk of developing respiratory disease later in life, an outcome that demonstrated a connection with a higher relative abundance of faecal Pseudomonadaceae.
  • Athletic performance measured by three different metrics was positively associated with higher faecal bacterial diversity during the first month.
  • Early antibiotic exposure led to significantly lower faecal bacterial diversity at 28 days old, an increased risk of respiratory disease in later life, and a noteworthy decline in average prize money earnings, serving as an indicator of diminished athletic performance.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The study illustrates links between early-life bacterial community profiles and health incidents later in life.
  • The research shows evidence of the adverse influence of antibiotic treatment during the initial month of life with respect to long-term health and performance outcomes.
  • The research findings underscore the relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance, providing significant implications for athlete health management across various species, including humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Leng J, Moller-Levet C, Mansergh RI, O'Flaherty R, Cooke R, Sells P, Pinkham C, Pynn O, Smith C, Wise Z, Ellis R, Couto Alves A, La Ragione R, Proudman C. (2024). Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing. Sci Rep, 14(1), 17124. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 17124

Researcher Affiliations

Leng, J
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK.
  • Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
Moller-Levet, C
  • School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Edward Jenner Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
Mansergh, R I
  • Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
O'Flaherty, R
  • Avonvale Vets, 6 Broxell Close, Warwick, CV34 5QF, UK.
Cooke, R
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK.
Sells, P
  • Chasemore Farm, Orbital Veterinary Services, Bookham Road, Downside, Cobham, KT11 3JT, UK.
Pinkham, C
  • Pinkham Equine Veterinary Services, Home Farm Offices, Netherhapton, Salisbury, SP2 8PJ, UK.
Pynn, O
  • Rossdales Equine Practice, Beaufort Cottage Stables, High Street, Newmarket, CB8 8JS, UK.
Smith, C
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Cambridge Road, Newmarket, CB8 OFG, UK.
Wise, Z
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Cambridge Road, Newmarket, CB8 OFG, UK.
Ellis, R
  • Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
Couto Alves, A
  • School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Edward Jenner Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
La Ragione, R
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK.
  • School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Edward Jenner Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
Proudman, C
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK. c.proudman@surrey.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Athletic Performance
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Male
  • Female

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Peleg O, Raytan M, Borenstein E. KADAIF: an anomaly detection method for complex microbiome data. Bioinformatics 2025 Oct 2;41(10).
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  2. Qin X, Xi L, Zhao L, Han J, Qu H, Xu Y, Weng W. Exploring the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota across different horse breeds and ages using metataxonomics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2025;15:1590839.
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