Identification of a core bacterial community within the large intestine of the horse.
Abstract: The horse has a rich and complex microbial community within its gastrointestinal tract that plays a central role in both health and disease. The horse receives much of its dietary energy through microbial hydrolysis and fermentation of fiber predominantly in the large intestine/hindgut. The presence of a possible core bacterial community in the equine large intestine was investigated in this study. Samples were taken from the terminal ileum and 7 regions of the large intestine from ten animals, DNA extracted and the V1-V2 regions of 16SrDNA 454-pyrosequenced. A specific group of OTUs clustered in all ileal samples and a distinct and different signature existed for the proximal regions of the large intestine and the distal regions. A core group of bacterial families were identified in all gut regions with clear differences shown between the ileum and the various large intestine regions. The core in the ileum accounted for 32% of all sequences and comprised of only seven OTUs of varying abundance; the core in the large intestine was much smaller (5-15% of all sequences) with a much larger number of OTUs present but in low abundance. The most abundant member of the core community in the ileum was Lactobacillaceae, in the proximal large intestine the Lachnospiraceae and in the distal large intestine the Prevotellaceae. In conclusion, the presence of a core bacterial community in the large intestine of the horse that is made up of many low abundance OTUs may explain in part the susceptibility of horses to digestive upset.
Publication Date: 2013-10-24 PubMed ID: 24204908PubMed Central: PMC3812009DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077660Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research studied the microbial community within the large intestine of horses. A group of bacteria, referred to as a core community was identified in different sections of the horse’s gut. How this community may relate to the digestive health of horses was also explored.
Study Design and Methods
- The study involved samples taken from the terminal ileum and seven regions of the large intestine from ten horses.
- The DNA was extracted, and the V1-V2 regions of 16SrDNA 454-pyrosequenced. This sequencing aims at identifying and quantifying the different bacteria present in each region of the digestive system.
- The researchers used this data to identify groups of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which are clusters of closely related organisms, likely representing individual bacterial species.
Findings
- A distinct group of OTUs was found in all samples from the ileum, representing a ‘core community’ of bacteria in this part of the gut. This community represents 32% of all sequences and is comprised of seven OTUs of varying abundance.
- A different and distinct ‘core community’ was identified in the proximal and distal sections of the large intestine, representing 5-15% of all sequences. This core community involved a larger number of OTUs but each was present in lower abundance.
- The most abundant family of bacteria in the ileum was Lactobacillaceae, in the proximal large intestine it was Lachnospiraceae, and in the distal large intestine, it was Prevotellaceae.
Implications
- The identification of these core bacterial communities in different parts of the horse’s gut provides insights for further studies on horse health and disease.
- The fact that the core community in the large intestine is made up of many low abundance OTUs might potentially explain why horses are susceptible to digestive upset. If one of these species of bacteria gets out of balance, it could disrupt the whole community, leading to a cascade of digestive problems.
Cite This Article
APA
Dougal K, de la Fuente G, Harris PA, Girdwood SE, Pinloche E, Newbold CJ.
(2013).
Identification of a core bacterial community within the large intestine of the horse.
PLoS One, 8(10), e77660.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077660 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, United Kingdom.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / genetics
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Horses / microbiology
- Ileum / microbiology
- Intestine, Large / microbiology
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Grant Funding
- BB/G017271/1 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Conflict of Interest Statement
Patricia A. Harris is employed by one of the funders of this research (WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. LE14 4RT). The authors can confirm that they have adhered to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. The authors also confirm that none of the authors record a Conflict of Interest.
References
This article includes 68 references
Citations
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