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Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2023; 87(2); 85-96;

Effects of concentrated fecal microbiota transplant on the equine fecal microbiota after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.

Abstract: Bacterial imbalances are observed in intestinal diseases and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used to restore the intestinal microbiota of horses. However, there is evidence that the current methods proposed for FMT in horses have limited efficacy. The objective of this study was to concentrate the bacteria present in the donor stool by centrifugation, and to test the effect in horses with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. One healthy 11-year-old horse was selected as a fecal donor and 9 horses were given trimethoprim sulfadiazine (TMS) for 5 days to induce dysbiosis. Horses received either a concentrated FMT (cFMT, n = 3), fresh unconcentrated FMT (fFMT, n = 3), or 10% glycerol solution (vehicle, VEH, n = 3) by nasogastric tube for 3 days. Fecal samples were collected on Days 0, 4, 9, 11, and 21 for microbiota analysis (Illumina sequencing). The TMS significantly changed the bacterial composition of horses' feces (D0 versus D4). The composition of the cFMT and fFMT recipient horses was significantly different after transplantation compared to after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis (D4 versus D11), whereas the microbiota of the vehicle recipients was not, indicating that both protocols induced transient changes. However, preparation of FMT solutions markedly changed the original composition present in the donor's feces, with significant enrichment of Escherichia genus in the cFMT. Individual susceptibility to restoration of the microbiota was observed in horses, similar to what is known for other species. Our results suggest that concentrating bacteria should not be recommended in preparation of FMT solutions and that further research is required to improve current methods recommended to perform FMT in horses. Des déséquilibres bactériens sont observés dans les maladies intestinales et la transplantation de microbiote fécal (FMT) a été utilisée pour la restaurer le microbiote intestinal des chevaux. Cependant, que les méthodes actuelles proposées pour FMT chez les chevaux ont une efficacité limitée. L’objectif de cette étude était de concentrer les bactéries présentes dans les selles du donneur par centrifugation, et de tester leur effet chez des chevaux atteints de dysbiose induite par les antibiotiques. Un cheval sain de 11 ans a été sélectionné comme donneur fécal et 9 chevaux ont reçu du triméthoprime sulfadiazine (TMS) pendant cinq jours pour induire une dysbiose. Les chevaux ont reçu soit une FMT concentrée (cFMT, n = 3), une FMT fraîche non concentrée (fFMT, n = 3) ou une solution de glycérol à 10 % (véhicule, VEH, n = 3) par sonde naso-gastrique pendant 3 jours. Des échantillons fécaux ont été prélevés aux jours 0, 4, 9, 11 et 21 pour analyse du microbiote (séquençage Illumina). Le TMS a significativement modifié la composition bactérienne des matières fécales des chevaux (D0 versus D4). La composition des chevaux receveurs cFMT et fFMT était significativement différente après la transplantation par rapport à la dysbiose induite par les antibiotiques (D4 versus D11), alors que le microbiote des receveurs de véhicules ne l’était pas, indiquant que les deux protocoles induisaient des changements transitoires. Cependant, la préparation des solutions FMT a considérablement modifié la composition originale présente dans les matières fécales du donneur, avec un enrichissement significatif du genre Escherichia dans le cFMT. Une susceptibilité individuelle à la restauration du microbiote a été observée chez les chevaux, à l’instar de ce qui est connu chez d’autres espèces. Nos résultats suggèrent que la concentration des bactéries ne devrait pas être recommandée dans la préparation des solutions FMT et que des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour améliorer les méthodes actuelles recommandées pour effectuer la FMT chez les chevaux.(Traduit par les auteurs).
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Publication Date: 2023-04-07 PubMed ID: 37020579PubMed Central: PMC10069150
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The study investigates the impact of concentrated and unconcentrated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the equine intestinal microbiota following antibiotic-induced imbalance. The findings suggest that concentrating bacteria for FMT may not be helpful in restoring microbial balance and urge for further research to refine current FMT techniques in horses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The research focused on assessing the efficacy of FMT in horses suffering from dysbiosis – an imbalance in their intestinal bacterial population – caused by trimethoprim sulfadiazine, an antibiotic.
  • An 11-year-old healthy horse was chosen as the fecal donor. Nine other horses were induced with dysbiosis by administering trimethoprim sulfadiazine for 5 days.
  • Following this, the horses were given either fresh unconcentrated FMT (fFMT), concentrated FMT (cFMT), or a 10% glycerol solution via a nasogastric tube for three consecutive days.
  • Fecal samples were collected from the horses at different periods of the experiment (Days 0, 4, 9, 11, and 21) for the analysis of their intestinal microbiota using Illumina sequencing, a popular technology for gene sequencing.

Findings and Interpretation

  • The study found that the use of trimethoprim sulfadiazine significantly disrupted the natural mix of bacteria in horse feces.
  • The composition of fecal bacteria in horses receiving cFMT and fFMT demonstrated noticeable changes after transplantation as compared to post-antibiotic dysbiosis. The microbiota of horses given the glycerol solution, however, was largely unchanged.
  • The pre-transplantation preparation of FMT solutions significantly altered the bacterial mix originally present in the fecal donor, with the cFMT notably increasing the genus population.
  • The researchers observed a varying individual susceptibility to microbiota restoration in horses, similar to patterns seen in other species.

Conclusion

  • The results point to a conclusion that the process of concentrating bacteria is not recommended while preparing FMT solutions.
  • They suggest the need for further research to improve the current methods of conducting FMT in horses to effectively restore their gut microbiota after dysbiosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Di Pietro R, Arroyo LG, Leclere M, Costa M. (2023). Effects of concentrated fecal microbiota transplant on the equine fecal microbiota after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Can J Vet Res, 87(2), 85-96.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 87
Issue: 2
Pages: 85-96

Researcher Affiliations

Di Pietro, Rebecca
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences (Di Pietro, Costa), Department of Clinical Sciences (Leclere), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2; Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Arroyo).
Arroyo, Luis G
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences (Di Pietro, Costa), Department of Clinical Sciences (Leclere), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2; Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Arroyo).
Leclere, Mathilde
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences (Di Pietro, Costa), Department of Clinical Sciences (Leclere), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2; Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Arroyo).
Costa, Marcio
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences (Di Pietro, Costa), Department of Clinical Sciences (Leclere), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2; Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Arroyo).

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Dysbiosis / chemically induced
  • Dysbiosis / therapy
  • Dysbiosis / veterinary
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / methods
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / veterinary
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Arantes JA, Di Pietro R, Ratté M, Arroyo LG, Leclère M, Costa MC. Changes in bacterial viability after preparation and storage of fecal microbiota transplantation solution using equine feces. PeerJ 2025;13:e18860.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.18860pubmed: 39989751google scholar: lookup
  2. Long AE, Pitta D, Hennessy M, Indugu N, Vecchiarelli B, Luethy D, Aceto H, Hurcombe S. Assessment of fecal bacterial viability and diversity in fresh and frozen fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) product in horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jul 10;20(1):306.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04166-wpubmed: 38987780google scholar: lookup
  3. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14050758pubmed: 38473143google scholar: lookup
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