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Equine veterinary journal2022; 55(5); 831-842; doi: 10.1111/evj.13894

Plasma metabolome of healthy and Rhodococcus equi-infected foals over time.

Abstract: Foals that develop pulmonary ultrasonographic lesions on Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) endemic farms are treated with antibiotics because those at risk of developing clinical pneumonia (~20%) cannot be recognised early. Candidate biomarkers identified using metabolomics may aid targeted treatment strategies against R. equi. Objective: (1) To describe how foal ageing affects their plasma metabolome (birth to 8 weeks) and (2) to establish the effects that experimental infection with Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) has on foal metabolome. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Nine healthy newborn foals were experimentally infected with R. equi as described in a previous study. Foals were treated with oral antibiotics if they developed clinical pneumonia (n = 4, clinical group) or remained untreated if they showed no signs of disease (n = 5, subclinical group). A group of unchallenged foals (n = 4) was also included in the study. By the end of the study period (8 weeks), all foals were free of disease. This status was confirmed with transtracheal wash fluid evaluation and culture as well as thoracic ultrasonography. Plasma metabolomics was determined by GC-MS weekly for the study duration (8 weeks). Results: Foals' plasma metabolome was altered by ageing (birth to 8 weeks) and experimental infection with R. equi as demonstrated using multivariate statistical analysis. The intensities of 25 and 28 metabolites were altered by ageing and infection (p < 0.05) respectively. Furthermore, 20 metabolites changed by more than 2-fold between clinical and subclinical groups. Conclusions: The number of foals is limited. Foals were experimentally infected with R. equi. Conclusions: Ageing and R. equi infection induced changes in the plasma metabolome of foals. These results provide an initial description of foal's plasma metabolome and serve as background for future identification of R. equi pneumonia biomarkers. Unassigned: Les poulains qui développent des lésions pulmonaires échographiques dans les fermes d'élevage où Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) est endémique sont traités avec antibiotiques car ceux à risque de développer des lésions cliniques (~20%) ne peuvent être identifiés précocement. Certains biomarqueurs identifiés par le biais de la métabolomique pourraient aider à orienter les stratégies de traitement pour R. equi. Objective: (1) Décrire les changements de métabolome plasmatique qui surviennent chez les poulains en lien avec l'âge (naissance jusqu'à 8 semaines d'âge) et (2) Établir les effets d'une infection expérimentale à Rhodococcus Equi sur le métabolome des poulains. TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude expérimentale. MÉTHODES: Neufs poulains nouveaux-nés en santé ont été infectés de façon expérimentale par R. equi tel que décrit précédemment. Ils ont été traités avec des antibiotiques s'ils ont développé une pneumonie clinique (n = 4, groupe clinique) ou ont simplement été suivi dans le temps s'ils n'ont pas montré de signes de la maladie (n = 5, groupe sous-clinique). Un groupe de poulains sains (n = 4) était aussi inclus dans l'étude. À la fin de l'étude (8 semaines), tous les poulains étaient sains tel que confirmé par l'évaluation et la culture de leur fluide de lavage transtrachéal de même qu'à l'échographie thoracique. Les métabolomiques plasmastiques ont été déterminées par GC-MS de façon hebdomadaire pour la durée de l'étude (8 semaines). RÉSULTATS: À la fois l'âge et l'infection expérimentale ont altéré le métabolome plasmatique des poulains tel que démontré par l'analyse statistique multivariée. L'âge a altéré l'intensité de 25 métabolites et l'infection a modifié l'intensité de 28 métabolites (p < 0.05). De plus, 20 métabolites ont changé de plus de 2 fois leur valeur initiale, entre les groupes cliniques et sous-cliniques. Unassigned: Le nombre de poulains reste limité. Les poulains ont été infecté par R. equi de façon expérimentale. Conclusions: Le vieillissement et l'infection par R. equi induisent des changements dans le métabolome plasmatique des poulains. Ces résultats représentent une description initiale du métabolome plasmatique chez le poulain et peuvent servir de base pour l'identification future de biomarqueurs pour la détection de pneumonie à Rhodococcus equi.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-03 PubMed ID: 36273247DOI: 10.1111/evj.13894Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the effects of aging and Rhodococcus equi infection on the plasma metabolome of foals. The study reveals changes in plasma metabolites due to both factors, with significant differences identified between foals exhibiting signs of pneumonia and those that were not symptomatic.

Research Objective and Methods

  • The research had two main objectives. Firstly, the researchers aimed to understand the changes in the plasma metabolome of foals as they age, from birth to eight weeks. Secondly, they sought to study the impact of an experimental Rhodococcus equi infection on the foals’ metabolome.
  • The research was experimental in nature and involved nine newborn healthy foals.
  • Each foal was intentionally infected with Rhodococcus equi as per methods detailed in a previous study.
  • If a foal developed clinical pneumonia, treatment with antibiotics was initiated (four foals fell into this clinical group). If a foal did not show signs of the disease, it was left untreated (five foals were in this subclinical group). A separate group of unchallenged foals was also included for study (this group consisted of four foals).
  • The foals were observed until they were eight weeks old. At this point, all foals were confirmed to be free of disease through a transtracheal wash fluid evaluation, culture, and thoracic ultrasonography.
  • The plasma metabolome of each foal was studied using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) on a weekly basis for the duration of the study.

Research Results

  • Aging (birth to 8 weeks) and experimental Rhodococcus equi infection resulted in alterations in the foals’ plasma metabolome. This was determined through multivariate statistical analysis of the GC-MS results.
  • 25 metabolites were identified with alterations linked to the aging process, and 28 metabolites had alterations associated with the infection. These alterations were significant (p < 0.05).
  • A clear differentiation was shown between the clinical and subclinical groups. In fact, 20 metabolites demonstrated more than a two-fold change between these two groups.

Conclusions and Limitations

  • The study concluded that both aging and Rhodococcus equi infection contribute to significant changes in the plasma metabolome of foals. The observed differences between clinical and subclinical groups suggest potential biomarkers for pneumonia.
  • However, the research was limited by the number of foals involved in the study and by the use of experimental infection. More work, with larger sample sizes and natural infections, is needed to validate these observations and further understand the potential of metabolomic analysis as a tool for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia identification.

Cite This Article

APA
Sanclemente JL, Rivera-Velez SM, Horohov DW, Dasgupta N, Sanz MG. (2022). Plasma metabolome of healthy and Rhodococcus equi-infected foals over time. Equine Vet J, 55(5), 831-842. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13894

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 5
Pages: 831-842

Researcher Affiliations

Sanclemente, Jorge L
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Rivera-Velez, Sol M
  • Molecular Determinants Core, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida, USA.
Horohov, David W
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Dasgupta, Nairanjana
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Sanz, Macarena G
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Rhodococcus equi
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia / veterinary
  • Metabolome
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents

Grant Funding

  • CVM Intramural Research Fund, WSU

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