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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Effects of transport, fasting and anaesthesia on the faecal ...
Equine veterinary journal2015; 48(5); 595-602; doi: 10.1111/evj.12479

Effects of transport, fasting and anaesthesia on the faecal microbiota of healthy adult horses.

Abstract: The intestinal microbiota is important for health and disease. Factors that disturb the equine intestinal microbiota need further investigation. Objective: To determine the effects of transport, fasting and anaesthesia on the faecal microbiota of healthy adult horses using next-generation sequencing. Methods: Experimental trial. Methods: Faecal samples were taken from 8 horses at baseline, after transport, 12 h of fasting and 24, 48 and 72 h after a 6 h anaesthesia. Next generation sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was used to assess the microbial composition of faeces. Alpha diversity, phylogenetic structures and beta diversity were assessed. Results: There were significant changes in the relative abundances of phyla, classes, orders and families after transport, fasting and anaesthesia. Most notably horses had a significantly lower abundance of Clostridiales after transport compared with baseline (P = 0.03) and a decreased abundance of Rickettsiales after fasting (P = 0.024). Alpha diversity was not significantly different between time points (all P>0.21). When parsimony analysis was applied, anaesthesia had a significant effect on community membership and structure (Jaccard index and Yue and Clayton index both P = 0.02). Conclusions: There was some effect of transport, fasting and anaesthesia on the composition and structure of the microbiota of healthy horses. This indicates these are potentially stress factors for the equine intestinal microbiota. Further investigation is required to look at the potential impact of changes in the microbiota on the development of disease in the post anaesthetic period.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-08-18 PubMed ID: 26122549DOI: 10.1111/evj.12479Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 explored the effects of transport, fasting, and anesthesia on the fecal microbiota of healthy adult horses. Using next-generation sequencing, the study discovered significant changes in the population of different bacteria following these three actions, impacting the composition and structure of the horse’s gut microbiota.

Research Methods

  • The study involved an experimental trial on eight horses. Various changes in the animals’ physical conditions synthesized the factors of transport, fasting, and anesthesia.
  • Fecal samples were taken from each horse in different stages: at baseline, after transport, after 12 hours of fasting, and after 24, 48, and 72 hours post a six-hour anesthesia.
  • The research team used next-generation sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to assess the microbial composition of the horse’s feces. This technique allows researchers to identify and catalogue all bacteria present in a sample.
  • Several parameters were evaluated, including alpha diversity (species richness within a sample), phylogenetic structures (the evolutionary relationships among bacteria), and beta diversity (species diversity between samples).

Research Findings

  • The study found significant changes in the relative abundances of various microbiota levels, specifically the phyla, classes, orders, and families of bacteria, after the horses underwent transport, fasting, and anesthesia.
  • Of particular note was a significant decrease in Clostridiales bacteria after transport and a reduction in Rickettsiales bacteria after fasting.
  • Alpha diversity, however, showed no significant difference between the different time points, suggesting that while the sample composition changed, the overall diversity remained the same.
  • Applying parsimony analysis, a significant effect on community membership and structure was noted after anesthesia. This conclusion emanates from statistically significant changes observed on Jaccard index and Yue and Clayton index.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The research concluded that transport, fasting, and anesthesia, indeed, have some effect on the composition and structure of the microbiota of healthy horses. This observation implies that these factors can potentially stress the equine’s gut microbiota.
  • The findings provide critical insight into the factors that can impact a horse’s gut health and indicates the necessity for further studies investigating the correlation between such changes in microbiota and potential post-anesthetic diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Schoster A, Mosing M, Jalali M, Staempfli HR, Weese JS. (2015). Effects of transport, fasting and anaesthesia on the faecal microbiota of healthy adult horses. Equine Vet J, 48(5), 595-602. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12479

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 5
Pages: 595-602

Researcher Affiliations

Schoster, A
  • University of Zurich, Equine Department, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland.
Mosing, M
  • University of Zurich, Equine Department, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jalali, M
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Staempfli, H R
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Weese, J S
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Food Deprivation
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Microbiota / genetics
  • Microbiota / physiology
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Citations

This article has been cited 38 times.
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