Gut microbiota changes in horses with Chlamydia.
Abstract: Zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat to public health. Chlamydia, as an intracellular pathogen, can colonize the intestinal tract of humans and animals, changing the gut microbiota. However, only a few studies have evaluated alterations in the gut microbiota of horses infected with Chlamydia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gut microbiota and serum biochemical indicators in horses with Chlamydial infection (IG) and healthy horses (HG). Fecal and blood samples were collected from 16 horses (IG: 10; HG: 6) before morning feeding for the determination of gut microbiota and serum biochemical parameters. Results: The results showed that total globulin (GLB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels were significantly increased in IG compared with HG. Notably, the gut microbial diversity increased in IG compared with HG. Furthermore, Moraxellaceae and Akkermanisa abundance decreased in IG, while Streptococcus, Treponema, Prevotella, and Paraprevotella abundances (13 genera of bacterial species) increased. Compared with HG, carbohydrate metabolism increased in IG while amino acid metabolism decreased. In addition, the abundance of 18 genera of bacteria was associated with the level of five serum biochemical indicators. Conclusions: In summary, this study elucidated the influence of Chlamydia infection in horses on the gut microbiota, unraveling consequential alterations in its composition and metabolic profile. Therefore, this study improves the understanding of Chlamydia-induced intestinal infections.
© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
Publication Date: 2023-09-02 PubMed ID: 37660043PubMed Central: PMC10474637DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02986-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research study explores how Chlamydia infections in horses affect their gut microbiota (the collection of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract), as well as some serological indicators. It finds significant shifts in the gut microbiota and some serum biochemical levels, providing new insights into the impact of Chlamydia-induced gastrointestinal infections in horses.
Study Purpose and Methodology
- The primary objective of the study was to determine changes in the gut microbiota and serum biochemical indicators in horses with Chlamydia infections compared to healthy horses.
- Fecal and blood samples were collected from a total of 16 horses – 10 infected with Chlamydia (IG) and 6 healthy (HG).
- The samples were analysed to identify gut microbiota and measure serum biochemical parameters, specifically total globulin (GLB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels.
Key Findings
- The research found that horses with Chlamydia infection showed significantly increased levels of GLB, ALT, and CK compared to the healthy horses.
- There was a noticeable rise in gut microbial diversity in the infected horses compared to the healthy ones.
- Specific bacterial families showed alterations in their percentages with Moraxellaceae and Akkermanisa decreasing and Streptococcus, Treponema, Prevotella, and Paraprevotella (incorporating 13 genera of bacteria) increasing in the infected horses.
- The study also found notable changes in metabolic activities, with carbohydrate metabolism increasing and amino acid metabolism decreasing in infected horses compared to the healthy ones.
- An observed correlation between the abundance of 18 genera of bacteria and the levels of five serum biochemical indicators was also found.
Conclusion
- This research has provided evidence of the transformative effect of Chlamydia infection on the gut microbiota of horses, marked by significant shifts in microbiota composition and metabolic activities.
- This work contributes to the understanding of Chlamydia’s impact on intestinal infections, which can be valuable for developing future therapeutic strategies to control Chlamydia infections in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Jin Y, Li W, Ba X, Li Y, Wang Y, Zhang H, Li Z, Zhou J.
(2023).
Gut microbiota changes in horses with Chlamydia.
BMC Microbiol, 23(1), 246.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02986-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Lanzhou University, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Lanzhou University, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Animal Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, 712100, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
- Animal Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, 712100, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China. zhoujz@lzu.edu.cn.
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Lanzhou University, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China. zhoujz@lzu.edu.cn.
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Animals
- Horses
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Chlamydia
- Chlamydia Infections / veterinary
- Zoonoses
- Bacteroidetes
Grant Funding
- 2022YFC2304000 / National Key Research and Development Program of China
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest.
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