Evaluation of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 for prevention of diarrhea in neonatal foals.
Abstract: To evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7, an equine-origin organism with potentially beneficial in vitro properties, as a probiotic for prevention of neonatal diarrhea in foals. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: 153 foals. Methods: Foals were enrolled at 24 to 48 hours of age and randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. The treatment group received approximately 2 x 10(11) CFU of freeze-dried L. pentosus WE7 orally once daily for 7 days, whereas the control group received a placebo. Clinical monitoring was performed for 14 days. Results: Probiotic administration was significantly associated with development of signs of depression, anorexia, and colic and the need for veterinary examination and treatment. Probiotic-treated foals also had more days of diarrhea, compared with the control group, although not significantly. In a multivariate model, probiotic administration was significantly associated with development of diarrhea and diarrhea plus additional clinical abnormalities. Conclusions: Administration of L. pentosus WE7 did not prevent diarrhea; rather, it was associated with development of diarrhea and, most importantly, development of diarrhea plus additional clinical abnormalities and the need for veterinary intervention. The promising in vitro properties of L. pentosus WE7 were not evident in vivo. Results raise concern about the variety of untested probiotic products that are commercially available. Safety and efficacy testing needs to be performed for all potential equine probiotics.
Publication Date: 2005-07-02 PubMed ID: 15989186DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.2031Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research aimed to assess the use of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 as a preventative measure for neonatal diarrhea in foals, but found that it led to other issues instead of resolving the original problem.
Methodology
- The study involved 153 foals, enrolled 24 to 48 hours after their birth. They were randomly divided into two groups – a treatment group and a control group.
- The foals in the treatment group received approximately 2 x 10(11) CFU of freeze-dried L. pentosus WE7 orally once a day for a week, while the control group was given a placebo.
- The researchers then closely monitored all foals for two weeks to observe any changes or developments.
Results
- Rather than preventing diarrhea, administration of L. pentosus WE7 was found to be significantly associated with issues such as signs of depression, anorexia, and colic in the foals. Consequently, it led to the need for veterinary examination and treatment.
- Though not significantly, foals treated with the probiotic experienced more days with diarrhea compared to those in the control group.
- The statistical model also showed a significant association between administration of the probiotic, development of diarrhea, and additional clinical abnormalities.
Conclusions
- L. pentosus WE7 administration did not prevent – rather provoked the incidence of diarrhea and various clinical abnormalities in the foals, leading to the need for veterinary intervention.
- Despite potentially beneficial in vitro properties, the in vivo effects of L. pentosus WE7 did not prove to be beneficial. This discrepancy between the in vitro and in vivo effects raises concerns about other untested commercially available probiotic products.
- The researchers concluded that every potential equine probiotic should undergo thorough safety and efficacy tests before being introduced to the market.
Cite This Article
APA
Weese JS, Rousseau J.
(2005).
Evaluation of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 for prevention of diarrhea in neonatal foals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 226(12), 2031-2034.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.226.2031 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Diarrhea / epidemiology
- Diarrhea / prevention & control
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Lactobacillus / physiology
- Multivariate Analysis
- Prevalence
- Probiotics / administration & dosage
- Probiotics / adverse effects
- Random Allocation
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
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