Effect of starch source (corn, oats or wheat) and concentration on fermentation by equine faecal microbiota in vitro.
Abstract: The goal was to determine the effect of starch source (corn, oats and wheat) and concentration on: (i) total amylolytic bacteria, Group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC), lactobacilli and lactate-utilizing bacteria, and (ii) fermentation by equine microbiota. Results: When faecal washed cell suspensions were incubated with any substrate amylolytics increased over time. However, at 24 h there were 10 and 1000-fold more amylolytics with corn than wheat or oats respectively. Predominant amylolytics isolated were Enterococcus faecalis (corn, wheat) and Streptococcus bovis (oats). GPC increased with any substrate, but decreased during stationary phase in oats only. Lactobacilli decreased during stationary phase with corn only. By 24 h, oats had more lactate-utilizers and lactobacilli and fewer GPC than corn and wheat. More gas was produced from oats or wheat than from corn. Conclusions: These results indicate that the growth of bacteria and fermentative capacity associated with starch metabolism is starch source dependent. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a relationship between starch source and microbial changes independent of host digestion. However, future research is needed to evaluate the effect of starch source on the hindgut microbial community in vivo.
Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Publication Date: 2015-09-28 PubMed ID: 26255645DOI: 10.1111/jam.12927Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigated how different types of starch (corn, oats, and wheat) and their concentrations affect the behaviour and growth of various bacteria within horse gut microbiota. The results showed that the type of starch used significantly influenced bacterial growth and fermentation processes.
Start of the Experiment
- The experiment began by observing the effect starch (from various sources: corn, oats, and wheat) had on the count of different bacteria and the overall fermentation process in equine faecal microbiota.
- The focus was primarily on amylolytic bacteria (bacteria that aid in digestion and breakdown of starch), Group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC), lactobacilli (a type of bacteria in the gut that produces lactic acid), and lactate-utilizing bacteria.
Observations Over 24 Hours
- After incubating the faecal washed cell suspensions with any of the three substrates, it was noticed that the count of amylolytic bacteria increased over time.
- However, after 24 hours, the bacteria count appeared 10 and 1000 times more for samples incubated with corn than those with wheat and oats, respectively.
- While GPC increased with the presence of any substrate, a decrease was observed during the stationary phase with oats specifically.
- The amount of lactobacilli decreased over time with corn only. After 24 hours, samples that had oats had a higher count of lactate-utilizers and lactobacilli, and fewer count of GPC than corn and wheat.
Observations on Fermentation
- On comparing the gas production, it was observed that more gas was produced from oats or wheat than from corn, indicating higher fermentation.
Conclusion
- These results signal that the growth of bacteria and fermentative capacity linked to starch metabolism is greatly dependent on the source of the starch.
- Moreover, a fascinating observation was that these microbial changes occur independent of host digestion – a notion that may pave the way for future experiments and deeper understanding of starch digestibility in equine.
- Even though this study provides crucial insights, further research is required to assess the impact of the starch source on the hindgut microbial community directly in a living organism.
Cite This Article
APA
Harlow BE, Donley TM, Lawrence LM, Flythe MD.
(2015).
Effect of starch source (corn, oats or wheat) and concentration on fermentation by equine faecal microbiota in vitro.
J Appl Microbiol, 119(5), 1234-1244.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.12927 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Lexington, KY, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Avena / metabolism
- Bacteria / genetics
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Bacteria / metabolism
- Digestion
- Feces / microbiology
- Fermentation
- Horses
- Microbiota
- Starch / metabolism
- Triticum / metabolism
- Zea mays / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Forssten SD, Morovic W, Nurminen P. An in vitro model of the chicken gastrointestinal tract with special emphasis to the cecal microbiota.. Poult Sci 2023 Jun;102(6):102654.
- Wunderlich G, Bull M, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. Understanding the microbial fibre degrading communities & processes in the equine gut.. Anim Microbiome 2023 Jan 12;5(1):3.
- Li XB, Huang XX, Li Q, Li XY, Li JH, Li C, He LJ, Jing HX, Yang KL. Effects of different grains on bacterial diversity and enzyme activity associated with digestion of starch in the foal stomach.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Nov 17;18(1):407.
- Lara F, Castro R, Thomson P. Changes in the gut microbiome and colic in horses: Are they causes or consequences?. Open Vet J 2022 Mar-Apr;12(2):242-249.
- Harlow BE, Flythe MD, Klotz JL, Harmon DL, Aiken GE. Effect of biochanin A on the rumen microbial community of Holstein steers consuming a high fiber diet and subjected to a subacute acidosis challenge.. PLoS One 2021;16(7):e0253754.
- Mach N, Lansade L, Bars-Cortina D, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Ruet A. Gut microbiota resilience in horse athletes following holidays out to pasture.. Sci Rep 2021 Mar 3;11(1):5007.
- Pyles MB, Fowler AL, Bill VT, Harlow BE, Crum AD, Hayes SH, Flythe MD, Lawrence LM. Effect of maternal diet on select fecal bacteria of foals.. Transl Anim Sci 2019 Jan;3(1):204-211.
- Mach N, Ruet A, Clark A, Bars-Cortina D, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Crisci E, Pennarun S, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Lansade L. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes.. Sci Rep 2020 May 20;10(1):8311.
- Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM. Effect of age and the individual on the gastrointestinal bacteriome of ponies fed a high-starch diet.. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0232689.
- Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM. The equine gastrointestinal microbiome: impacts of weight-loss.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Mar 4;16(1):78.
- Plancade S, Clark A, Philippe C, Helbling JC, Moisan MP, Esquerré D, Le Moyec L, Robert C, Barrey E, Mach N. Unraveling the effects of the gut microbiota composition and function on horse endurance physiology.. Sci Rep 2019 Jul 3;9(1):9620.
- Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Harris PA, Aiken GE, Flythe MD. Exogenous lactobacilli mitigate microbial changes associated with grain fermentation (corn, oats, and wheat) by equine fecal microflora ex vivo.. PLoS One 2017;12(3):e0174059.
- Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH, Crum A, Flythe MD. Effect of Dietary Starch Source and Concentration on Equine Fecal Microbiota.. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0154037.
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