Fecal microbiota characterization of an Italian local horse breed.
Abstract: The Bardigiano horse is a traditional native Italian breed with a rich history and peculiar characteristics. Local breeds are proven to have unique genetic traits developed over generations to adapt to defined geographical regions and/or conditions. The specific microbial communities that coexist within these animals are unraveled by studying their microbiota, which permits a further step in the characterization of local heritage. This work aimed to characterize Bardigiano horse fecal microbiota composition. The data obtained were then compared with published data of a mix of athlete breeds to evaluate potential differences among local and specialized breeds. The study involved 11 Bardigiano mares between 3 and 4 years of age, from which stool was sampled for the study. Samples were processed for 16S rRNA sequencing. Data obtained were analyzed and plotted using R, RStudio, and FastTree software. The samples analyzed were similar to what literature has reported on horses of other breeds and attitudes at higher taxonomic levels (from phylum to genera). While at lower taxonomic levels, the difference was more marked highlighting specific families found in the Bardigiano breed only. Weight, province of origin, and breeding sites significantly affected microbiota composition (-value ≤0.02, -value ≤0.04, and -value ≤0.05, respectively). The comparison with athlete breed showed a significant difference confirming that animal and environmental factors are crucial in determining fecal microbiota composition (-value <0.001). Understanding the microbiota composition in local breeds like the Bardigiano horse is crucial for preserving biodiversity, managing animal health, and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Copyright © 2024 Carrillo Heredero, Sabbioni, Asti, Ablondi, Summer and Bertini.
Publication Date: 2024-02-15 PubMed ID: 38425839PubMed Central: PMC10902133DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1236476Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The article presents research focused on the unique fecal microbiota characteristics found in the Bardigiano horse, an indigenous Italian breed, comparing its microbial makeup with that of a mix of athlete breeds to highlight differences.
Objective of the Study
- The main aim of this scientific study was to understand and describe the composition of the fecal microbiota in Bardigiano horses, which is a local Italian breed with its unique set of genetic traits. Furthermore, this data was compared with available data on a mix of athlete horse breeds to identify any significant differences between the microbiota of local and specialized breeds.
Methodology
- The research team used a sample of 11 Bardigiano mares, aged between 3 and 4 years, as subjects for the study. The feces from these horses were collected and processed for 16S rRNA sequencing, a method often used to analyze microbial communities.
- The researchers used various software tools like R, RStudio, and FastTree to interpret and visually represent the sequencing data.
Findings and Observations
- The study found that the analyzed samples were consistent with what literature has pointed out about other horse breeds’ taxonomic makeup at higher levels ranging from the phylum to genera.
- However, more significant differences were found at lower taxonomic levels. Particularly, specific families of microbes were identified that were found only in the Bardigiano breed.
- It was noted that factors such as the horse’s weight, its province of origin, and the breeding sites had a significant impact on the composition of the microbiota (with p-values ≤0.02, ≤0.04, and ≤0.05 respectively).
- The fecal microbiota composition of the Bardigiano breed when compared with athlete breeds showed a substantial difference. This outcome reveals the pivotal role animal-specific and environmental factors play in shaping the fecal microbiota composition (p-value <0.001).
Implications of the Study
- The insights gained from understanding the microbiota composition of local horse breeds such as the Bardigiano horse are invaluable for preserving biodiversity, managing animal health, and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Cite This Article
APA
Carrillo Heredero AM, Sabbioni A, Asti V, Ablondi M, Summer A, Bertini S.
(2024).
Fecal microbiota characterization of an Italian local horse breed.
Front Vet Sci, 11, 1236476.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1236476 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The 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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