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Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2025; 15; 1590839; doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1590839

Exploring the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota across different horse breeds and ages using metataxonomics.

Abstract: Gut microbiota exerts a pivotal function in host nutrient metabolism and maturation of the mucosal immunity. Analyzing the reciprocal interaction between horses and gut microbiota constitutes a crucial aspect of scientific feeding practices. This study aims to investigate the differences in gut microbiota among Hequ horses, Mongolian horses, and Thoroughbred horses, as well as between Thoroughbred horses at two age stages. Unassigned: Paired-end sequencing with a read length of 2×250 bp targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples was carried out. Subsequently, differences in the diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota among the groups were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Horse breeds were associated with variations in the gut microbiota. Microbial diversity, the proportion of commensal bacteria from Bacillota and Bacteroidota, and bacterial communities involved in dietary fiber metabolisms were significantly higher in the gut of the Hequ horses than in the gut of the Mongolian and Thoroughbred horses. The highest Bacillota to Bacteroidota (B/B) ratio and enrichment of bacterial communities involved in the metabolism of bile acids, lipids, and amino acids in the gut of the Mongolian horses resulted in significantly higher lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism than in the other two breeds. The bacterial communities enriched in the gut of Thoroughbred horses were primarily involved in carbohydrate metabolism, but the level of energy metabolism was significantly lower than in Hequ horses. (2) The results also showed an association between age and gut microbiota of Thoroughbred horses. The alpha diversity, B/B ratio, and 83.33% of metabolic pathways did not differ significantly between younger and older Thoroughbred horses. However, there were significant differences between the two age groups in beta diversity, composition of glycolytic bacteria, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and energy metabolism of gut microbiota. Unassigned: Collectively, these results point to an association between the breed of horses or the age of Thoroughbred horses with variations in gut microbiota. The current findings will serve as a reference for improving feeding strategies for horses.
Copyright © 2025 Qin, Xi, Zhao, Han, Qu, Xu and Weng.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-07 PubMed ID: 40692682PubMed Central: PMC12277257DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1590839Google 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.

The research paper examines the differences in gut microbiota across different breeds of horses and different ages of Thoroughbred horses, finding variations linked to breed and age. The study provides important information for improving horse feeding strategies.

Research Methodology

  • The method involved a paired-end sequencing approach of 2×250 bp read length. It targeted the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples from Hequ horses, Mongolian horses, and Thoroughbred horses.
  • Researchers then examined the differences in diversity, composition and metabolic pathways of gut microbiota amongst the different breeds and age groups.

Key Findings

  • There was a strong link between horse breed and variations in gut microbiota.
  • The Hequ horses had significantly higher microbial diversity, larger proportions of commensal bacteria strains such as Bacillota and Bacteroidota, and higher numbers of bacterial communities involved in dietary fiber metabolisms.
  • Mongolian horses had a higher Bacillota to Bacteroidota (B/B) ratio, and a higher enrichment of bacterial communities involved in the metabolism of bile acids, lipids, and amino acids. This suggested significantly higher lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism than the other two breeds.
  • The Thoroughbred horses’ gut microbiota primarily participated in carbohydrate metabolism, but showed significantly lower energy metabolism levels than Hequ horses.
  • Age was also shown to affect the gut microbiota of Thoroughbred horses. The alpha diversity, B/B ratio, and majority of metabolic pathways did not differ significantly between younger and older Thoroughbred horses.
  • However, notable differences were observed between the two age groups. These differences involved beta diversity, composition of glycolytic bacteria, metabolism of cofactors, vitamins, and energy metabolism of gut microbiota.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the research has found a clear correlation between the breed of horses and the variations in their gut microbiota. There were also differences noted between younger and older Thoroughbred horses.
  • The researchers believe these findings could be important for refining feeding strategies for horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Qin X, Xi L, Zhao L, Han J, Qu H, Xu Y, Weng W. (2025). Exploring the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota across different horse breeds and ages using metataxonomics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 15, 1590839. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1590839

Publication

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
ISSN: 2235-2988
NlmUniqueID: 101585359
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Pages: 1590839
PII: 1590839

Researcher Affiliations

Qin, Xinxi
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Xi, Li
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Zhao, Longfei
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Han, Jincheng
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Qu, Hongxia
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Xu, Yajun
  • College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China.
Weng, Weiping
  • Department of Research and Development, Inner Mongolia Huatian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Chifeng, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Age Factors
  • Metagenomics / methods
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Biodiversity
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Conflict of Interest Statement

Author WW was employed by Inner Mongolia Huatian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Wang J, Gu H, Gao H, Zhang T, Jiang F, Song P, Liu Y, Fan Q, Xu Y, Zhang R. Insights into Cold-Season Adaptation of Mongolian Wild Asses Revealed by Gut Microbiome Metagenomics. Microorganisms 2025 Oct 4;13(10).
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  3. Wang J, Gu H, Gao H, Zhang T, Li B, Zhang M, Jiang F, Song P, Liang C, Fan Q, Xu Y, Zhang R. Developmental dynamics and functional adaptation of gut microbiota in Mongolian wild asses (Equus hemionus hemionus) across ontogenetic stages in arid desert ecosystems. Front Microbiol 2025;16:1659661.
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