Equine Fecal Microbiota Changes Associated With Anthelmintic Administration.
Abstract: The gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) plays an essential role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis with disruptions having profound effects on the wellbeing of the host animal. Parasitic infection is a long-standing issue for the equine industry, and the use of anthelmintic drugs for parasite control has long been standard practice. The impact of anthelmintic treatment on the GIM in healthy horses is not well known. This study evaluated the hypothesis that anthelmintic administration will alter the equine fecal microbiota in horses without an observed helminth infection. Ten horses were treated with a single dose of QUEST PLUS (active ingredients: Moxidectin and Praziquantel) (Zoetis), and fecal samples were collected before and after treatment. Amplicon sequencing data were quality filtered, processed, and analyzed using QIIME2. Anthelmintic treatment corresponded with a small but significant decrease in alpha diversity (P-value < .05). Analysis of taxonomic abundances before and after treatment with DESeq2 identified 21 features that were significantly different after treatment (P-value < .05). Differences in beta diversity associated with treatment were not significant and potentially suggest factors unique to the individual may play an essential role in the specific responses observed. Overall, the present study does not indicate a broad, large-scale impact on the GIM after anthelmintic treatment. The results do, however, suggest the potential of individualized responses that are based instead on host factors. Identification of these factors and investigation of their impact on the host/microbiota relationship will contribute significantly to our understanding of the role of the microbiome in horse health.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-02-13 PubMed ID: 31133326DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.01.018Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study explores the impact of parasitic infection treatment on the gut bacteria of healthy horses. It found that while the treatment slightly reduces the variety of bacteria present, the overall structure of the microbial communities remained largely unaffected.
Introduction and Methods
- The research studied the effect of anthelmintic drugs, which are used to treat parasitic worm infections, on the gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) in horses. The GIM is integral for maintaining the digestive health of an animal.
- The authors hypothesized that administrating anthelmintic drugs should change the composition of the equine fecal microbiota in healthy horses without any visible worm infection.
- To test this, ten horses were given a single dose of an anthelmintic medicine, QUEST PLUS. Fecal samples were collected from the horses before and after the treatment.
- These samples were then studied using a process called amplicon sequencing and analyzed with QIIME2, a software package for bioinformatics analysis.
Results
- The study found a small but significant decrease in the diversity (alpha diversity) of the microbes present after the treatment. This means that after taking the anthelmintic drug, there was a small reduction in the variety of microorganisms in the horse’s gut.
- Analysis of the abundance of different types of microbes before and after treatment identified 21features that were significantly different post-treatment.
- No significant changes were detected in the overall structure of the microbial communities (beta diversity) after treatment. This suggests that individual factors may influence the specific changes seen.
Conclusion
- The study did not find a considerable, widespread impact on the GIM in healthy horses after anthelmintic treatment.
- However, the results hint at the potential of individual reactions based on various host factors. The researchers recommend identifying these factors and understanding their effects on the horse-microbiota relationship, which could significantly impact our comprehension of horse health and the role of the microbiome in it.
Cite This Article
APA
Kunz IGZ, Reed KJ, Metcalf JL, Hassel DM, Coleman RJ, Hess TM, Coleman SJ.
(2019).
Equine Fecal Microbiota Changes Associated With Anthelmintic Administration.
J Equine Vet Sci, 77, 98-106.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.01.018 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Electronic address: stephen.coleman@colostate.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Feces
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Microbiota
Citations
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