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BMC veterinary research2021; 17(1); 3; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02706-8

Experimental crossover study on the effects of withholding feed for 24 h on the equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares.

Abstract: An association between equine gastrointestinal disease causing colic signs and changes in faecal bacterial microbiota has been identified. The reasons for these changes and their clinical relevance has not been investigated. Withholding feed, which is an integral part of managing horses with colic, may contribute to the observed changes in the microbiota and impact interpretation of findings in horses with colic. Study objectives were, therefore, to determine the effect of withholding feed for 24 h on equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares to differentiate the effects of withholding feed from the changes potentially associated with the disease. Results: Species richness and Shannon diversity (alpha diversity) were significantly lower at the late withheld (10-24 h post withholding feed) and early refed (2-12 h post re-feeding) time points compared to samples from fed horses (P < 0.01). Restoration of species richness and diversity began to occur at the late refed (18-24 h post re-feeding) time points. Horses having feed withheld had a distinct bacterial population compared to fed horses (beta diversity). Bacteroidetes BS11 and Firmicutes Christensenellaceae, Christensenella, and Dehalobacteriaceae were significantly increased in horses withheld from feed primarily during the late withheld and early refed time points. Bacteroidetes Marinilabiaceae and Prevotellaceae, Firmicutes Veillonellaceae, Anaerovibrio, and Bulleidia, and Proteobacteria GMD14H09 were significantly decreased in horses with feed withheld at late withheld, early refed, and late refed time periods (P < 0.01). Changes in commensal gut microbiota were not significant between groups. Conclusions: Withholding feed has a significant effect on faecal bacterial microbiota diversity and composition particularly following at least 10 h of withholding feed and should be taken into consideration when interpreting data on the equine faecal bacterial microbiota in horses.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-05 PubMed ID: 33402190PubMed Central: PMC7786913DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02706-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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 article investigates the effect of withholding food from horses for 24 hours and its impact on their gut bacteria. The study reveals a notable shift in bacterial diversity and composition within this time period, suggesting that such changes should be considered during horse health assessments, especially when dealing with colic.

Objective and Background

  • The research was conducted to determine the impact of withholding feed for 24 hours on the faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares. The discussion of this topic is important as changes in the bacterial microbiota are connected to equine gastrointestinal disorders, often signified by colic symptoms.
  • In medical practices for horses dealing with colic, feed withholding is a common approach. This study aimed to differentiate between the effects of this practice and changes that are potentially related to the disease itself.

Methodology and Findings

  • Researchers employed an experimental crossover study to evaluate the responses of the horses’ gut microbiota to feed withholding.
  • They found that species richness and Shannon diversity (indicators of bacterial diversity), were significantly lower 10 to 24 hours after food was withheld and during the first 12 hours after re-feeding, compared to those in fed horses.
  • However, a restoration of such biodiversity began to occur at 18 to 24 hours post re-feeding.
  • The research illustrated that horses which had feed withheld distinctively differed in terms of their bacterial population composition in comparison to those fed regularly. This indicates a significant shift in the faecal bacterial microbiota due to feed withholding.

Impacting Bacterial Groups

  • Several bacterial groups had their presence significantly altered throughout the withholding and refeeding periods: Bacteroidetes BS11 and Firmicutes Christensenellaceae, Christensenella, and Dehalobacteriaceae increased, and Bacteroidetes Marinilabiaceae and Prevotellaceae, Firmicutes Veillonellaceae, Anaerovibrio, and Bulleidia, and Proteobacteria GMD14H09 showed a decrease.
  • Notably, however, the changes in commensal gut microbiota, which are the bacteria that naturally and beneficially coexist within the horse’s gut, were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusions

  • From these results, the study concludes that withholding food has a significant effect on the diversity and composition of faecal bacterial microbiota in horses, particularly when withheld for more than 10 hours.
  • Hence, these changes should be considered when interpreting data on equine faecal bacterial microbiota, meaning that any health evaluation of horses, especially regarding colic conditions, should take these effects into account.

Cite This Article

APA
Willette JA, Pitta D, Indugu N, Vecchiarelli B, Hennessy ML, Dobbie T, Southwood LL. (2021). Experimental crossover study on the effects of withholding feed for 24 h on the equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares. BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02706-8

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Willette, Jaclyn A
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
  • Present address: Department of Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Pitta, Dipti
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
Indugu, Nagaraju
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
Vecchiarelli, Bonnie
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
Hennessy, Meagan L
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
Dobbie, Tamara
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
Southwood, Louise L
  • Departments of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA. southwoo@vet.upenn.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Fasting
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Horses

Conflict of Interest Statement

No competing interests have been declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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