Effect of an In Vitro Proximal Gastrointestinal Tract on Viability of Commercially Available Equine Probiotics.

This research article evaluates the survival of probiotics designed for horses as they pass through the initial parts of the digestive tract, under simulated conditions. The study revealed variations in how the different probiotic micro-organisms fare under these conditions.

Introduction and Objective

• This research focused on the viability of commercially available equine (horse) probiotics as they pass through the initial sections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
• The researchers note that, ideally, probiotics, which are live microorganisms, should remain alive until they reach their target site—typically the cecum or the colon.
• A point was raised about human probiotics often requiring a protection mechanism (enteric protection) to survive the journey through the proximal or early part of the GI tract. However, equine probiotics typically don’t advertise such protection, prompting the researchers to investigate their survival rates.
• The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of an in vitro (laboratory test tube conditions) replica of the equine upper GI tract on the viability of these probiotics.
• The researchers formed a hypothesis that the simulated proximal GI tract would have a negative effect on microbial (probiotic) viability and thought this effect could be lessened by raising the gastric pH to 4.

Methodology and Findings

• The researchers tested 11 different probiotic products. They simulated the conditions of the equine proximal GI tract during these tests.
• The results showed that six out of the tested products had at least one micro-organism which was negatively affected by exposure to the conditions of the proximal GI tract.
• Furthermore, four products had at least one micro-organism that was adversely affected when the researchers increased the gastric pH to 4.0, showing some support for their original hypothesis.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that some micro-organisms contained in equine probiotics do not appear to be adversely affected by exposure to the conditions of the equine proximal GI tract.