Effects of Different Stages of Training on the Intestinal Microbes of Yili Horses Analyzed Using Metagenomics.
Abstract: : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different stages of training on the intestinal microbial abundance of Yili horses. : Ten Yili horses, all aged 2 years old and weighing 305 ± 20 kg, were selected and divided into a training group and an untrained group. The training group performed riding training 6 days a week, and the untrained group moved freely in the activity circle every day. Fecal samples were collected on days 30 and 60, and the intestinal microorganisms were detected and analyzed using metagenomics. : Compared with the 30-day untrained group, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes were significantly increased in the 30-day training group ( < 0.01). Conversely, the abundances of , , and were significantly decreased ( < 0.01), whereas those of , , and were significantly increased ( < 0.05). Additionally, the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Actinomycetes were significantly decreased ( 0.05) were observed. In the linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, seven significantly different bacteria were detected in the fecal flora of horses in the 30-day training group versus the untrained 30-day group, but only one significantly different bacterium was detected after 60 days. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were related to metabolism and the environmental information processing pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, and membrane transport pathways. : Therefore, training seems to affect the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of Yili horses, especially during the first 30 days of training.
Publication Date: 2025-04-27 PubMed ID: 40428326PubMed Central: PMC12111061DOI: 10.3390/genes16050504Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article investigates the impact of different stages of training on the composition of the intestinal microbes of Yili horses. Notably, changes in the microbial makeup were particularly significant during the initial 30 days of training.
Research Methodology
- For the purpose of this study, 10 Yili horses were selected. All the horses were 2 years old and had an average weight of 305 ± 20 kg.
- These horses were divided into two groups – a training group and an untrained group. While the training group underwent daily riding training, six days a week, the untrained group was allowed to move freely.
- The study used fecal samples collected on the 30th and 60th days of the experiment. Analysis of these samples via metagenomics helped ascertain changes in the horses’ intestinal microorganisms.
Key Findings
- The study found that the relative abundances of a bacteria group called Bacteroidetes significantly increased in the 30-day training group.
- Contrarily, the abundances of other bacterial groups decreased significantly with training. However, some other kinds showed a noteworthy increase.
- Moving on to the 60-day period, there were no significant differences in the bacterial makeup between the trained and untrained horses.
- Through the linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, seven significantly different bacterial species were identified in the 30-day training group when compared with the untrained 30-day group. Only one was significantly different after 60 days.
- The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were related to several factors, including metabolism, the environmental information processing pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, and membrane transport pathways.
Conclusion
- The article concludes that the training process appears to result in changes in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of Yili horses.
- Notably, the first 30 days of training displayed the most significant changes in the microbial makeup. After 60 days, the changes became less significant.
Cite This Article
APA
Sun YF, Han ZX, Yao XK, Meng J, Ren WL, Wang CK, Yuan XX, Zeng YQ, Wang YF, Sun ZW, Wang JW.
(2025).
Effects of Different Stages of Training on the Intestinal Microbes of Yili Horses Analyzed Using Metagenomics.
Genes (Basel), 16(5), 504.
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16050504 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
- Metagenomics / methods
- Feces / microbiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Bacteria / genetics
- Bacteria / classification
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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