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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Effect of Management System on Fecal Microbiota in Arabian H...
Veterinary sciences2025; 12(4); doi: 10.3390/vetsci12040309

Effect of Management System on Fecal Microbiota in Arabian Horses: Preliminary Results.

Abstract: The gut microbiota plays a basic role in maintaining the psychophysical health and well-being of horses. Understanding the complex interactions among microbial communities in relation to age, management, and health is a topic of growing interest. The equine microbiota, given its complexity, is subject to variations caused by internal or external stressors that can lead to metabolic problems and pathologies, i.e., obesity and laminitis. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal microbiota of 12 purebred Arabian horses and to compare the microbial communities in two distinct management systems (Group 1 = box 22 h/day + paddock 2 h/day and Group 2 = paddock 24 h). Fecal samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicons. The microbiota was predominantly composed of Firmicutes (32-53%) and Bacteroidetes (32-47.8%), with Ruminococcaceae emerging as the most prevalent bacterial family (10.9-24%). Comparisons of alpha and beta diversity revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups based on different management systems. This preliminary characterization contributes valuable data for understanding the equine fecal microbiota and lays the groundwork for future studies on the relationship among intestinal microbiota and equine health, performance, and management strategies.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-28 PubMed ID: 40284811PubMed Central: PMC12031164DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12040309Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study is about investigating the effect of different management systems on the gut microbiota of Arabian horses. The study provides preliminary data on the composition of the horses’ fecal microbiota and reveals there are no significant differences in microbiota diversity between horses kept in a box for 22 hours a day versus those kept in a paddock around the clock.

Introduction

  • The study places emphasis on the importance of gut microbiota in maintaining the psychophysical health and well-being of horses. It also highlights the growing interest in understanding the intricate relationship among microbial communities in relation to horses’ age, management, and health.
  • It further points out that equine microbiota is complicated and can be disturbed by various internal or external stressors. Such disturbances can lead to several health issues such as metabolic problems, obesity, and laminitis.

Objective and Methodology

  • The primary objective of this study was to characterize the fecal microbiota of 12 purebred Arabian horses and to compare the microbial communities in two different management systems.
  • The two management systems compared are Group 1 – box 22 hours per day and paddock for 2 hours per day, and Group 2 – paddock for 24 hours per day.
  • Fecal samples were collected from the horses and analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicons.

Results

  • The analysis revealed that the microbiota was mostly composed of Firmicutes (32-53%) and Bacteroidetes (32-47.8%), with Ruminococcaceae being the most prevalent bacterial family (10.9-24%).
  • When comparing the alpha and beta diversity (measures of microbiotic richness and evenness), the study discovered no statistically significant differences between the groups based on different management systems.

Conclusion

  • This preliminary study provides valuable insights for understanding the equine fecal microbiota.
  • Despite there being no significant differences in microbiota diversity between the two management systems, the study paves the way for future research regarding the relationship between intestinal microbiota and equine health, performance, and management strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Curadi MC, Vallone F, Tenuzzo M, Gazzano A, Gazzano V, Macchioni F, Vannini C. (2025). Effect of Management System on Fecal Microbiota in Arabian Horses: Preliminary Results. Vet Sci, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12040309

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Curadi, Maria Claudia
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Vallone, Flavio
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Tenuzzo, Martina
  • Department of Biology, Via Volta 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Gazzano, Angelo
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Gazzano, Valentina
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Macchioni, Fabio
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Vannini, Claudia
  • Department of Biology, Via Volta 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • PRA_2022_8 / University of Pisa

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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