Screening of the equine intestinal microflora for potential probiotic organisms.

This study aimed to identify lactic acid bacteria naturally present in the digestive tract of horses with potential beneficial features that could make them viable as therapeutic probiotics. Of 47 organisms tested, one bacteria isolate, Lactobacillus pentosus WE7, showed promising in vitro and in vivo properties for preventing and treating intestinal diseases in horses.

Research Methodology

• The researchers started their study by collecting fecal samples from both healthy mature horses and young foals.
• They then isolated the lactic acid bacteria present in these samples and subjected them to tests checking their ability to grow in acidic and bile environments, and their aerotolerance – all necessary traits for a probiotic organism.
• The isolated bacteria were also tested for their inhibitive function against common enteropathogens, or pathogens that cause intestinal diseases.
• One isolate – Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 – was considered superior due to its various beneficial traits and was thus selected for further detailed study. This isolate was found to inhibit Salmonella spp and moderately prevent the growth of several other pathogens like E. coli, S. zooepidemicus and C. difficile while being mildly inhibitory against C. perfringens.
• The chosen isolate was subsequently orally administered to the horses and foals, after which its survival within the gastrointestinal tracts was assessed by recovering it from the feces of the subjects.

Research Findings

• Out of a total of 47 organisms tested, 18 were found to have adequate capacities to tolerate highly acidic and bile-containing environments, which is a common characteristic of an effective probiotic organism.
• All the tested organisms were found to be aerotolerant, meaning they could survive in the presence of oxygen.
• The isolate Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 was found superior due to its ability to markedly inhibit the growth of Salmonella spp. and efficiently combat other harmful bacteria.
• When orally given, this isolate was successfully recovered from the faeces of 8/9 foals and 7/8 mature horses, signifying a high potential for survival in an equine’s digestive tract.

Conclusions and Further Approaches

• The study concluded that Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 could potentially be beneficial in preventing and treating intestinal diseases in horses due to its demonstrated in vitro and in vivo properties.
• Giving its potential benefits, the researchers proposed that randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled efficacy studies should be conducted for this bacterial isolate to further verify its potential as a therapeutic probiotic for horses.