Effect of Feeding Fructooligosaccharides and Enterococcus faecium and Their Interaction on Digestibility, Blood, and Immune Parameters of Adult Horses.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of dietary prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from inulin and Enterococcus faecium on nutrient digestibility, fecal pH, and some blood parameters. In this experiment, twelve adult Kurdish horses with average bogy weight of 416 ± 43.3 kg and age averaging 6 ± 1.8 year were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin Square experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial design during 4 periods of 28 days, including 21 days for dietary adaptation and 7 days for sampling. Horses were offered 1 of 4 treatments: (1) no FOS or 2.5 × 10 colony forming units (CFU) of Enterococcus faecium supplementation (Con), (2) 10 g of FOS without Enterococcus faecium supplementation (Pre), (3) 10 g of Enterococcus faecium without FOS supplementation (Pro), and (4) 10 g of FOS plus 10 g of Enterococcus faecium supplementation (Mix). Results showed that fecal pH decreased in horses fed Pre or Pro treatments compared with those not supplemented (P < .05). Also, triglyceride and cholesterol decreased when Pre was added to the diets (P < .05). The concentration of triglyceride and cholesterol decreased in horses fed the Mix and Pro diets. Pre × Pro supplementation interactions were significant for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration and tended to be significant for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration, and horses fed the Mix treatment had the greatest and the lowest concentration of HDL and LDL, respectively (P < .01). The IgM concentration was greater in horses fed Pre or Pro compared with those not supplemented (P < .05). The treatments had no effect on IgA, IgG or liver enzymes concentration. Moreover, results indicated that FOS and Enterococcus faecium adding may interact to affect blood parameters, but did not affect nutrient digestibility under our experimental conditions, therefore further researches with higher supplementary doses are warranted.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2021-02-10 PubMed ID: 33781429DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103410Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study examined how the dietary addition of a prebiotic named fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and a bacteria called Enterococcus faecium influences nutrient digestibility, fecal pH, and various blood parameters in horses.
Objective and Methodology
- The research aimed to discern the effects of dietary inclusions of a prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and the bacteria Enterococcus faecium on nutrient absorption, fecal acidity, and select blood parameters.
- Twelve adult Kurdish horses participated in the long-term experiment – 4 periods of 28 days, inclusive of a 21-day dietary adaptation phase followed by a 7-day sampling period.
- The study utilized a replicated 4×4 Latin Square experiment with a 2×2 factorial design.
- Four treatments were observed: No supplementation, FOS only, Enterococcus faecium only, and a mix of both FOS and Enterococcus faecium.
Results
- Fecal pH decreased when horses were fed either FOS or Enterococcus faecium individually as compared to those unequipped with supplementation.
- Supplementing diets with FOS alone significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in horses.
- Feeding horses a mix of FOS and Enterococcus faecium also resulted in a decrease in triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
- Significant interactions between FOS and Enterococcus faecium were highlighted in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations and a potential significance in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations.
- Horses fed the mixture of FOS and Enterococcus faecium showcased the highest HDL and lowest LDL levels.
- Concentration of IgM, a type of antibody, was comparatively higher in horses supplied with either FOS or Enterococcus faecium, underlining an enhanced immune response.
- No significant effect was observed on IgA, IgG or liver enzymes concentration due to the treatments.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that while FOS and Enterococcus faecium may interact to affect blood parameters, they do not influence nutrient digestibility under the experimental conditions provided.
- Further research is required with higher doses of the substances to better understand their impacts.
Cite This Article
APA
Saeidi E, Mansoori Yarahmadi H, Fakhraei J, Mojahedi S.
(2021).
Effect of Feeding Fructooligosaccharides and Enterococcus faecium and Their Interaction on Digestibility, Blood, and Immune Parameters of Adult Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 99, 103410.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103410 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran.
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran. Electronic address: h-mansouri@iau-arak.ac.ir.
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran.
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Enterococcus faecium
- Feces
- Horses
- Oligosaccharides
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Li H, Leng C, Chen N, Ding Q, Yuan Y, Zheng Y, Zhu G, Chen C, Xu L, Shuai J, Jiang Q, Ren D, Wang H. Lactic acid bacteria reduce bacterial diarrhea in rabbits via enhancing immune function and restoring intestinal microbiota homeostasis. BMC Vet Res 2024 Apr 20;20(1):151.
- Boucher L, Leduc L, Leclère M, Costa MC. Current Understanding of Equine Gut Dysbiosis and Microbiota Manipulation Techniques: Comparison with Current Knowledge in Other Species. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 28;14(5).
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