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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(3); 925-931; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12584

Effect of a probiotic on prevention of diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens shedding in foals.

Abstract: Up to 60% of foals develop diarrhea within 6 months after birth. Preventive measures are limited but potentially probiotics could be used. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a newly designed probiotic on the incidence of foal diarrhea in a randomized field trial. Methods: Seventy-two healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled field trial. Foals were administered a placebo or probiotic for 3 weeks and monitored for an additional week. A total of 3 fecal samples were taken from each foal at biweekly intervals. Statistical modeling was applied for comparison of incidence and duration of diarrhea and fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile between treatment and age groups. Results: The overall incidence of diarrhea was 41 of 72 (59%) and did not differ (P = 0.37) between treatment groups. Foals treated with probiotics were more likely to develop diarrhea requiring veterinary intervention (P = 0.007). Age had a significant effect on incidence of diarrhea (P < 0.001); foals 8-15 days old having the highest probability of developing diarrhea. Duration of diarrhea and soft feces were not significantly different between groups. The prevalence of C. perfringens shedding was 55% with no difference between treatment groups (P = 0.23). The prevalence of C. difficile shedding was 11%. Conclusions: There was no benefit of administering a 3-week course of probiotics, but potential adverse effects were noted. Whether the probiotics lacked a clinical effect, or the choice of strains or dose was inadequate, is unknown. Clostridial shedding was not influenced by probiotics despite in vitro activity of probiotics.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-04-22 PubMed ID: 25903509PubMed Central: PMC4895414DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12584Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 research article studies the effects of a particular probiotic on foal diarrhea and shedding of two strains of Clostridia. It concludes that the probiotic does not have a beneficial impact on these health issues in foals.

Objective and Methodology

  • The objective of the research was to measure the impact of a specially designed probiotic on the incidents of foal diarrhea through a randomized field trial.
  • The study was conducted on 72 healthy newborn foals using a randomized, placebo-controlled field trial.
  • The method involved giving the foals either a placebo or the probiotic for three weeks, followed by a monitoring period of an additional week.
  • For each foal, three fecal samples were taken at two-week intervals.
  • Statistical modelling was applied to compare the incidence and duration of diarrhea and fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile between treatment and age groups.

Results

  • The overall incidence of diarrhea ended up being 41 of 72, which equals 59%, a figure that did not differ substantially between the treatment groups.
  • It was observed that foals that were treated with probiotics had a higher probability of developing diarrhea that required veterinary intervention.
  • The age of the foals had a significant effect on the incidence of diarrhea; foals between 8-15 days old had the highest probability of developing diarrhea.
  • The duration of diarrhea and the softness of feces did not show a significant difference between the groups.
  • About 55% of foals showed fecal shedding of C. perfringens with no observable difference between the treatment groups.
  • The prevalence of C. difficile shedding was observed to be at 11%.

Conclusions

  • There was no noticeable benefit of administering the three-week course of probiotics for treating foal diarrhea and clostridial shedding.
  • In fact, some potential negative effects were noted where foals treated with probiotics were more likely to develop severe diarrhea that required veterinary involvement.
  • The researchers concluded that either the probiotics lacked a clinical effect, or the chosen strains or doses were not appropriate.
  • It was found that probiotics didn’t influence the shedding of Clostridia despite their in vitro effectiveness against these strains.

Cite This Article

APA
Schoster A, Staempfli HR, Abrahams M, Jalali M, Weese JS, Guardabassi L. (2015). Effect of a probiotic on prevention of diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens shedding in foals. J Vet Intern Med, 29(3), 925-931. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12584

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 3
Pages: 925-931

Researcher Affiliations

Schoster, A
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
  • Vetsuisse Faculty, Equine Department, Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Staempfli, H R
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Abrahams, M
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Jalali, M
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Weese, J S
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Guardabassi, L
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Shedding
  • Clostridioides difficile
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology
  • Clostridium Infections / prevention & control
  • Clostridium Infections / veterinary
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Diarrhea / veterinary
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / prevention & control
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use

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Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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