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PloS one2019; 14(8); e0220553; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220553

Modification of the equine gastrointestinal microbiota by Jerusalem artichoke meal supplementation.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of natural prebiotic active compounds on the microbial composition in different regions of the equine gastrointestinal tract. Twelve adult horses (body weight [bwt] 534 ± 64.5 kg; age 14 ± 7.5 years) were randomly divided into two feeding groups. Six horses received a basal diet consisting of 1.5 kg hay/100 kg bwt x d-1 and oat grains equal to 1.19 g starch/kg bwt x d-1, supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke meal providing prebiotic fructooligosaccharides + inulin in a quantity of 0.15 g/kg bwt x d-1. The remaining horses received a placebo added to the basal diet. The horses were fed for 21 d and euthanized at the end of the feeding period. Digesta samples from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were taken, DNA extracted and the V1-V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene amplified. Supplementation with the prebiotic increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (P < 0.05), with a concurrent reduction of the relative abundance of Streptococcus mainly in the stomach (P < 0.05). In the hindgut, the supplemental prebiotic also increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus but further reduced the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria, specifically the unclassified members of the families Lachnospiraceae (P < 0.05) and Ruminococcaceae. The relative abundance of the genus Ruminococcus increased solely in the caecum and colon transversum. Overall, the addition of the prebiotic significantly increased the diversity in nearly all parts of the gastrointestinal tract (P < 0.05). The feeding of this natural prebiotic compound to horses had an impact on the microbial community in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the effect on the bacterial community in the foregut (especially the stomach) was more pronounced in comparison to the effect in the hindgut. Therefore, the impact on stomach health should be carefully considered.
Publication Date: 2019-08-08 PubMed ID: 31393892PubMed Central: PMC6687111DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220553Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research article explores how supplementing a horse’s diet with Jerusalem artichoke meal can affect the microbial composition in its gastrointestinal tract. The results showed a significant shift in the relative abundance of certain bacteria in both the foregut and hindgut, highlighting how diet can influence gut health in horses.

Study Design and Methods

  • The study recruited twelve adult horses, each with an average weight of 534 ± 64.5 kg and age of about 14 ± 7.5 years.
  • The horses were randomly divided into two groups. One group was fed a basal diet supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke meal, which provided the horses with naturally occurring prebiotics fructooligosaccharides and inulin. The other group received the same basal diet alongside a placebo.
  • The feeding regimen continued for 21 days, after which the horses were euthanized, and digesta samples were collected from various parts of their gastrointestinal tracts.
  • These samples were then subjected to DNA extraction and amplification of the V1-V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene. This approach allows for the identification and quantification of bacterial species present in the samples.

Findings of the Study

  • The results showed that supplementing the horse’s diet with Jerusalem artichoke prebiotics led to a notable increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus bacteria, specifically in the stomach.
  • Concurrently, there was a significant decline in the Streptococcus population in the stomach.
  • In the hindgut, while there was also an increase in Lactobacillus bacteria, there was a decrease in fibrolytic bacteria, mainly unclassified members of the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families.
  • The relative abundance of Ruminococcus bacteria increased only in the caecum and colon transversum.
  • Overall, the addition of prebiotics to the horse’s diet resulted in a significant enhancement in the diversity of bacteria in nearly all parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Implications of the Study

  • The study showed that the use of natural prebiotics, such as those found in Jerusalem artichoke meal, could have a widespread impact on the microbial community in a horse’s gastrointestinal tract.
  • Of crucial importance was the finding of a pronounced effect on the bacterial community in the stomach or foregut compared to the hindgut. This implies that dietary interventions can be used to promote stomach health in horses, although the potential impacts should be critically evaluated.

Cite This Article

APA
Glatter M, Borewicz K, van den Bogert B, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Bochnia M, Greef JM, Bachmann M, Smidt H, Breves G, Zeyner A. (2019). Modification of the equine gastrointestinal microbiota by Jerusalem artichoke meal supplementation. PLoS One, 14(8), e0220553. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220553

Publication

ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
Pages: e0220553
PII: e0220553

Researcher Affiliations

Glatter, M
  • Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Borewicz, K
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
van den Bogert, B
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Wensch-Dorendorf, M
  • Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Biometrics and Informatics in Agriculture Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Bochnia, M
  • Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Greef, J M
  • Julius Kuehn Institute, Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Crop and Soil Science, Braunschweig, Germany.
Bachmann, M
  • Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Smidt, H
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Breves, G
  • Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Zeyner, A
  • Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Group Animal Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Helianthus
  • Horses
  • Inulin / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Oligosaccharides / pharmacology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
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