Efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii for treatment of horses with acute enterocolitis.

This research investigates the use of Saccharomyces boulardii, a type of yeast, in the treatment of acute enterocolitis (gastrointestinal disease) in horses, showing positive effects in reducing disease severity and duration.

Objective of the research

• The aim of this study was to investigate the viability and efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast, when orally administered to horses. The primary focus was on its use as a potential treatment method for horses suffering from acute enterocolitis, a severe inflammation of the intestines.

Methodology

• This prospective study involved 5 clinically normal horses and 14 horses with acute enterocolitis.
• Fecal samples were collected from the normal horses 2 days prior to the treatment with a lyophilized (freeze-dried) form of S. boulardii, and then again at 5 and 10 days into the treatment, and finally, 10 days after the treatment was discontinued. This helped in understanding how the yeast colonies evolved in the horses’ digestive systems over time.
• The 14 horses suffering from acute enterocolitis were randomly selected to receive either a placebo or S. boulardii treatment. The treatment regimen lasted for 14 days.

Results

• S. boulardii was not detected in the feces of clinically normal horses prior to beginning the treatment.
• Despite not colonizing the intestinal tract permanently, the yeast survived within the gastrointestinal tracts of the horses after administration, suggesting it may interact with the surrounding microbiota or influence the gut environment without persisting long term.
• The study observed significant improvements in the horses with acute enterocolitis that received the S. boulardii treatment in comparison to those who received the placebo. These horses exhibited a decrease in both the severity and duration of their gastrointestinal tract disease during their hospitalization.

Conclusions

• The research concluded that the administration of S. boulardii could help alleviate clinical symptoms, decreasing the severity and duration of acute enterocolitis in horses. However, more research may be necessary to fully understand the workings of this treatment, its long-term effects, and potential side effects considering that S. boulardii did not permanently colonize the intestinal tract.