Metagenomic analysis unravels novel taxonomic differences in the uterine microbiome between healthy mares and mares with endometritis.
Abstract: The application of high throughput technologies has enabled unravelling of unique differences between healthy mares and mares with endometritis at transcriptomic and proteomic levels. However, differences in the uterine microbiome are yet to be investigated. Objective: The present study was aimed at evaluating the differences in uterine microbiome between healthy mares and mares with endometritis. Methods: Low-volume lavage (LVL) samples were collected from the uterus of 30 mares classified into healthy (n = 15) and endometritis (n = 15) based on their reproductive history, intrauterine fluid accumulation, gross appearance of LVL samples, endometrial cytology and bacterial culture. The samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Notable differences in the uterine microbiome were observed between healthy mares and mares with endometritis at various taxonomic levels. In healthy mares, the most abundant phylum, class, order and family were Firmicutes, Bacilli, Bacillales and Paenibacillaceae, respectively. In contrast, the most abundant corresponding taxonomic levels in mares with endometritis were Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacterales and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. At the genus level, Brevibacillus and Paenibacillus were more abundant in healthy mares, whereas Escherichia, Salmonella and Klebsiella were more abundant in mares with endometritis. In healthy mares, Brevibacillus brevis was the most abundant species, followed by Brevibacillus choshinensis and Paenibacillus sp JDR-2. However, in mares with endometritis, Escherichia coli was the most abundant species, followed by Salmonella enterica and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusions: These results confirmed the previously reported presence of a uterine microbiome in healthy mares and helped unravel some alterations that occur in mares with endometritis. The findings can potentially help formulate new approaches to prevent or treat equine endometritis.
© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2024-02-15 PubMed ID: 38357732PubMed Central: PMC10867593DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1369Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research examined the differences in the uterine microbiome between healthy mares and mares suffering from endometritis, an infection of the uterus. The study found specific alterations in the microbiome of diseased mares, providing insights that could lead to new prevention and treatment approaches.
Research Objective and Methodology
- The goal of this study was to determine the differences in the uterine microbiome between healthy horses and those with endometritis, a common uterine infection in mares.
- Using a method known as “low-volume lavage” (essentially a small-scale washing procedure), the researchers collected samples from the uterus of 30 mares, 15 of which were healthy and 15 had endometritis. The classification was based on each mare’s reproductive history, the presence of intrauterine fluid, physical appearance of the sample, and results from cytology and bacterial culture.
- The samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing, a process used to identify and compare bacteria from the collected samples.
Key Findings
- The study identified distinct differences in the microbiome of healthy mares and mares with endometritis at various taxonomic levels.
- In healthy horses, the microbiome was largely composed of several taxa: the phylum Firmicutes; the class Bacilli; the order Bacillales; and the family Paenibacillaceae.
- In contrast, mares with endometritis saw higher levels of different taxa, including Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacterales, and Enterobacteriaceae.
- At the genus level, the bacteria Brevibacillus and Paenibacillus were predominant in healthy mares, while the bacteria Escherichia, Salmonella, and Klebsiella were more abundant in mares with endometritis.
- The most common bacterial species in healthy mares were Brevibacillus brevis, Brevibacillus choshinensis, and Paenibacillus sp JDR-2. For mares with endometritis, the most prevalent species were Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Conclusions
- The results corroborated previous findings of a uterine microbiome in healthy mares and were able to discern specific changes that occur when a mare has endometritis.
- This newfound understanding of the uterine microbiome changes linked to endometritis could potentially aid in the development of new strategies for prevention and treatment of equine endometritis.
Cite This Article
APA
Virendra A, Gulavane SU, Ahmed ZA, Reddy R, Chaudhari RJ, Gaikwad SM, Shelar RR, Ingole SD, Thorat VD, Khanam A, Khan FA.
(2024).
Metagenomic analysis unravels novel taxonomic differences in the uterine microbiome between healthy mares and mares with endometritis.
Vet Med Sci, 10(2), e1369.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1369 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Equus Stud Farm, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- Nanoli Stud and Agricultural Farm, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies.
- Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Female
- Endometritis / veterinary
- Proteomics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
- Uterus
- Microbiota
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 potential conflicts of interest.
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