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Effect of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on the composition of the faecal microbiota of foals.
Abstract: Effects of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota of foals are yet insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (DSM 7133) and Enterococcus faecium (DSM 7134) influences the bacterial composition of the faecal microbiota of foals. A total of 34 newborn foals were randomly assigned to the placebo group (PG, n = 16) and the treatment group (TG, n = 18). From day 1 to day 14 of life, foals orally received 3 ml of either a probiotic preparation (1.05 × 10 CFU E. faecium and 4.50 × 10 CFU L. rhamnosus) or placebo (carrier) once a day. Faeces were collected directly from the rectum immediately after birth (meconium) and at day 14 and day 56 of life. Samples of 12 foals per group were selected for microbiological analysis. DNA was extracted and used for polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative PCR. No DNA or amplicons were obtained from meconium. There were no differences in richness of bands and Shannon index of diversity regarding the Clostridium cluster XIVa between groups. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis of DGGE data showed a clear effect of age. Band-based similarity of bacterial clusters (Dice coefficient) decreased from day 14 to day 56 of life (p < 0.001) in PG foals only resulting in lower similarity in PG versus TG foals when 2 month old (p < 0.01). Five of thirty re-amplified bands were identified on species level. Others were assigned either to family (mainly Lachnospiraceae) or genus level (Akkermansia). The bands related to Akkermansia muciniphila or Akkermansia spp. appeared almost in all DGGE profiles. Two-week supplementation of the probiotic preparation to foals had no significant impact on the composition of the faecal microbiota but it appears to have prevented the reduction of bacterial similarity between 2 and 8 weeks of age observed in not treated foals.
© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2019-03-10 PubMed ID: 30854744DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13079Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Clinical Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores how oral supplementation of probiotics affects the fecal microbiota in foals when they’re administered Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium.
Research Method
- The study involved 34 newborn foals that were randomly split into two groups: a treatment group (18 foals) and a placebo group (16 foals).
- For two weeks, these foals were given either a probiotic preparation (1.05 x 10 CFU E. faecium and 4.50 x 10 CFU L. rhamnosus) or a placebo, orally once per day.
- Fecal samples were promptly collected after birth and also on the 14th and 56th days of the foals’ lives.
- Upon DNA extraction, the samples were used for Polymerase chain reaction- denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative PCR.
Findings
- Meconium (the foals’ first feces) showed no DNA or amplicons.
- Data showing any differences in the richness of bands and the Shannon index of diversity concerning the Clostridium cluster XIVa were non-existent.
- However, data deduced from DGGE laboratory testing showed a clear effect of age with the similarity of bacterial clusters reduced from day 14 to day 56 of life solely in PG foals, leading to lower similarity in PG compared to TG foals at 2 months of age.
- Some re-amplified bands could only be identified at the family or genus level, with a band corresponding to the Akkermansia spp. showing up in nearly all DGGE profiles.
Conclusion
- The administration of the probiotic supplement to foals over two weeks did not have a significant impact on the composition of their fecal microbiota.
However, it does seem like the supplement might have prevented the reduction of bacterial similarity between the second and eighth week of age that was observed in untreated foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Urubschurov V, Stroebel C, Günther E, Romanowski K, Büsing K, Zeyner A.
(2019).
Effect of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on the composition of the faecal microbiota of foals.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 103(3), 915-924.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13079 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Stülower Dorfstraße 1, Retschow OT Stülow, Germany.
- District Administration Vulkaneifel, Department 8: Veterinary Office and Agriculture, Daun, Germany.
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dietary Supplements
- Enterococcus faecium / physiology
- Feces / microbiology
- Horses / microbiology
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / physiology
- Probiotics / administration & dosage
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Goodman-Davis R, Figurska M, Cywinska A. Gut Microbiota Manipulation in Foals-Naturopathic Diarrhea Management, or Unsubstantiated Folly?. Pathogens 2021 Sep 4;10(9).
- Penazzi L, Pagliara E, Nervo T, Ala U, Bertuglia A, Romano G, Hattab J, Tiscar PG, Bergagna S, Pagliasso G, Antoniazzi S, Cavallarin L, Valle E, Prola L. Dietary supplementation of new-born foals with free nucleotides positively affects neonatal diarrhoea management. Ir Vet J 2025 Mar 1;78(1):7.
- Terpeluk ER, Schäfer J, Finkler-Schade C, Schuberth HJ. Supplementation of Foals with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product Alters the Early Response to Vaccination. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 20;14(6).
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