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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / In vitro analysis of the effect of supplementation with acti...
Journal of equine science2016; 27(2); 49-55; doi: 10.1294/jes.27.49

In vitro analysis of the effect of supplementation with activated charcoal on the equine hindgut.

Abstract: The present study uses in vitro analytical techniques to investigate the effect of activated charcoal on the microbial community of the equine hindgut and the metabolites they produce. Incubations were performed in Wheaton bottles using a 50 ml incubation of a high-energy feed or a low-energy feed, plus bottles with no added food source, together with five levels of activated charcoal (0, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg per bottle) and fecal samples as a bacterial inoculum. Using this method the rate of gas production, volatile fatty acid and ammonia concentrations, and pH values were analyzed and found to vary depending on the addition of feed, but the activated charcoal had no effect (P>0.05) on any of these. It is already believed that the effect of activated charcoal as a control for toxic substances is at its highest in the foregut or midgut of animals, and therefore should have little impact on the hindgut. The data presented here suggest that if any of the activated charcoal does reach the hindgut, then it has no significant impact on the microbial community present, nor on the major metabolites produced, and so should not have a detrimental effect on the principal site of fermentation in the horse.
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Publication Date: 2016-06-21 PubMed ID: 27330398PubMed Central: PMC4914397DOI: 10.1294/jes.27.49Google 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.

This research investigated how activated charcoal affects the microbial community in horse’s hindgut and the substances they produce, using in vitro analysis. It concluded that if any activated charcoal does reach the hindgut, it has no significant impact on the microbes present or the substances they produce.

Study Design & Methodology

  • To investigate the impact of activated charcoal on the microbial community in the hindgut of the horse and the metabolites it produces, the researchers performed incubations in Wheaton bottles.
  • The incubation consisted of two variables – a high-energy feed and a low-energy feed. They also had bottles with no added food source for control.
  • Five levels of activated charcoal were used in varying quantities – 0, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg per bottle.
  • Fecal samples were also included in the incubation set-up to serve as a bacterial inoculum. This enabled researchers to more accurately mimic the microbial environment in the horse’s hindgut.

Study Findings & Analysis

  • The rate of gas production, levels of volatile fatty acids, ammonia concentrations, and pH values were scrutinized in these in vitro incubations.
  • The results showcased variations in these parameters depending on the type and presence of feed. However, no significant effect (P>0.05) was observed due to the activated charcoal in any of these parameters.
  • The findings reiterate previous beliefs that the potency of activated charcoal in controlling toxic substances is highest in the foregut or midgut of animals. Since it should have little impact in the hindgut, the results confirm this theory.

Conclusion & Implications

  • The researchers concluded that if any activated charcoal reaches the hindgut, it doesn’t notably affect the microbial community present there or the main metabolites they produce. This implies that it shouldn’t negatively influence the principal fermentation site in the horse.
  • This study provides valuable insights into the effects of activated charcoal on horses’ health and digestion. It could contribute to a better understanding of how various substances interact with the equine gut microbiota and affect metabolism.

Cite This Article

APA
Edmunds JL, Worgan HJ, Dougal K, Girdwood SE, Douglas JL, McEwan NR. (2016). In vitro analysis of the effect of supplementation with activated charcoal on the equine hindgut. J Equine Sci, 27(2), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.27.49

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
Pages: 49-55

Researcher Affiliations

Edmunds, J L
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.
Worgan, H J
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.
Dougal, K
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.
Girdwood, S E
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.
Douglas, J-L
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.
McEwan, N R
  • Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA Wales, U.K.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Smirnova KP, Frill MA, Warner SE, Cheney JA. Shape change in the saddle region of the equine back during trot and walk. J R Soc Interface 2024 Jun;21(215):20230644.
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  3. Mitchell CJ, O'Sullivan CM, Pinloche E, Wilkinson T, Morphew RM, McEwan NR. Using next-generation sequencing to determine diversity of horse intestinal worms: identifying the equine 'nemabiome'. J Equine Sci 2019 Mar;30(1):1-5.
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  4. Crotch-Harvey L, Thomas LA, Worgan HJ, Douglas JL, Gilby DE, McEwan NR. The effect of administration of fenbendazole on the microbial hindgut population of the horse. J Equine Sci 2018;29(2):47-51.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.29.47pubmed: 29991923google scholar: lookup
  5. Shaw SD, Stämpfli H. Diagnosis and Treatment of Undifferentiated and Infectious Acute Diarrhea in the Adult Horse. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2018 Apr;34(1):39-53.
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