Relationship between the components of mare breast milk and foal gut microbiome: shaping gut microbiome development after birth.
Abstract: The gut microbiota (GM) is essential for mammalian health. Although the association between infant GM and breast milk (BM) composition has been well established in humans, such a relationship has not been investigated in horses. Hence, this study was conducted to analyze the GM formation of foals during lactation and determine the presence of low-molecular-weight metabolites in mares' BM and their role in shaping foals' GM. The fecal and BM samples from six pairs of foals and mares were subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA metagenomic and metabolomic analyses, respectively. The composition of foal GM changed during lactation time; hierarchical cluster analysis divided the fetal GM into three groups corresponding to different time points in foal development. The level of most metabolites in milk decreased over time with increasing milk yield, while threonic acid and ascorbic acid increased. Further analyses revealed gut bacteria that correlated with changes in milk metabolites; for instance, there was a positive correlation between in the foal's gut microbiota and serine/glycine in the mother's milk. These findings help improve the rearing environment of lactating horses and establish artificial feeding methods for foals.
Publication Date: 2024-05-10 PubMed ID: 38733121DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2349948Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the connection between horse milk composition and the development of gut microorganisms in horse infants, finding that certain components of the milk affect the variety of microbes in the foal’s intestines over time.
Research Purpose
- The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the composition of breast milk in horses (mares) and the development of gut microbiota in their foals (infants).
- The research wanted to identify any low-molecular-weight metabolites present in mares’ breast milk that may play a role in shaping the foals’ gut microbiota.
- It pursued this line of study because while the connection between breast milk composition and gut microbiota in human infants is well-established, such a relationship has not been fully explored in horses.
Methodology
- The study used samples from six pairs of mares and their respective foals.
- Metagenomic analysis of the foals’ fecal matter provided data about the gut microbiota.
- Metabolomic analyses of the mares’ breast milk gave information about its composition.
- Researchers divided the development of the foals’ gut microbiota into three clusters using hierarchical analysis, matching these clusters to various stages of development in the foal.
Findings
- The composition of the foals’ gut microbiota changed according to the phase of lactation.
- Most metabolites in the mares’ breast milk decreased in concentration over time as milk production increased.
- Two exceptions to the general trend of decreasing metabolite levels were threonic acid and ascorbic acid that both increased over time.
- Specific gut bacteria correlated with changes in milk metabolites showcasing a clear link between the microbes in the foals’ gut and components of the mares’ milk.
Implications
- The findings contribute to understanding how gut microbiota in foals can be shaped by breastfeeding, improving the rearing environment for horses.
- These insights could also aid in developing artificial feeding methods for horse infants when breastfeeding is not an option.
Cite This Article
APA
Mady EA, Osuga H, Toyama H, El-Husseiny HM, Inoue R, Murase H, Yamamoto Y, Nagaoka K.
(2024).
Relationship between the components of mare breast milk and foal gut microbiome: shaping gut microbiome development after birth.
Vet Q, 44(1), 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2024.2349948 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Animal Hygiene, Behavior, and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Elqaliobiya, Egypt.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Science, Setsunan University, Osaka, Japan.
- Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
- Horses
- Female
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk / microbiology
- Feces / microbiology
- Feces / chemistry
- Animals, Newborn / microbiology
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
- Lactation
Citations
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