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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Vet Sci / Equine Fecal Microbiota Response to Short Term Antibiotic Ad...
Journal of equine veterinary science2024; 104993; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104993

Equine Fecal Microbiota Response to Short Term Antibiotic Administration.

Abstract: Though generally safe, research continues to demonstrate negative side effects of antibiotic administration on the gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiota across species. In horses, antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) is a life-threatening condition linked to the GIT microbiota. This study tested the hypothesis that short term antibiotic administration to healthy horses would negatively impact the fecal microbiota as measured by their ability to digest nutrients and through fecal shedding of disease-associated-bacteria. Twenty-four horses were assigned to one of four treatment groups: control (CO); potassium penicillin/gentamicin sulfate (KPG); ceftiofur crystalline free acid (EX); trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMZ); and treated for 4 days. Fecal samples were collected before treatment began (S0), the day after treatment conclusion (S5), and at 10, 14, 21, and 28 days after initiating treatment. Horses had highly individualized responses to antibiotic administration. All horses receiving antibiotics experienced significantly softer stool compared to controls. Lactobacillus spp. were dramatically reduced in all antibiotic treated S5 samples. Horses receiving antibiotics were significantly more likely to test positive for C. difficile or C. perfringens on fecal qPCR. In conclusion, response to antibiotic administration displays high inter-individual variability, but shows changes to the functions of fecal microbiota that may depend on the antibiotic used.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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Publication Date: 2024-01-01 PubMed ID: 38171452DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104993Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study investigates the side effects of short-term antibiotic use on horses’ gastrointestinal microbiota. It found that antibiotics can weaken the gut microbiota’s ability to digest nutrients, increase harmful bacteria, and result in softer stool.

Objective and Hypothesis

  • The goal of the research was to understand the impact of short-term antibiotic administration on the fecal microbiota in horses.
  • The researchers hypothesized that the antibiotics would negatively affect the gut microbiota’s ability to digest nutrients and could lead to higher levels of disease-associated bacteria.

    • Methodology

  • Twenty-four horses were involved in the study and divided into four treatment groups: a control group and three groups given different antibiotics – potassium penicillin/gentamicin sulfate (KPG), ceftiofur crystalline free acid (EX), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMZ).
  • All groups were treated for four days, and fecal samples were collected at different intervals before and after the treatment.

    • Findings

  • The research found diverse responses to antibiotic administration among the horses.
  • However, commonalities were observed such as significantly softer stools in all horses that received antibiotics as compared to the control group.
  • All treated samples showed a significant reduction in Lactobacillus spp., a type of bacteria that plays a crucial role in gut health.
  • The horses subjected to antibiotic treatment were more likely to test positive for C. difficile or C. perfringens, harmful bacteria linked with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), a potentially life-threatening condition in horses.
  • These changes in the fecal microbiota and its function varied depending on the type of antibiotic used.

    • Conclusion

  • While antibiotic administration responses varied between individual horses, negative impacts were observed across treated instances.
  • The research demonstrates a significant disruption to gut microbiota following short-term antibiotic treatment, suggesting potential implications for gut health and potential side-effects of antibiotics in veterinary medicine.

    • Cite This Article

    APA
    Parker JL, Page A, Jacob O, Stanton V, Davis B, Flythe M, Adam EN. (2024). Equine Fecal Microbiota Response to Short Term Antibiotic Administration. J Equine Vet Sci, 104993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104993

    Publication

    Journal of equine veterinary science
    ISSN: 0737-0806
    NlmUniqueID: 8216840
    Country: United States
    Language: English
    Pages: 104993
    PII: S0737-0806(23)00809-2

    Researcher Affiliations

    Parker, J L
    • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
    Page, A
    • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
    Jacob, O
    • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
    Stanton, V
    • Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, 725 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
    Davis, B
    • Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1100 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA; Department of Animal & Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 325 Cooper Dr., Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
    Flythe, M
    • Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1100 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA; Department of Animal & Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 325 Cooper Dr., Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
    Adam, E N
    • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY 40546, USA. Electronic address: emma.adam@uky.edu.

    Conflict of Interest Statement

    Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

    Citations

    This article has been cited 0 times.
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