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PloS one2013; 8(9); e75079; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075079

Strong stability and host specific bacterial community in faeces of ponies.

Abstract: The horse, as a hindgut fermenter, is reliant on its intestinal bacterial population for efficient diet utilisation. However, sudden disturbance of this population can result in severe colic or laminitis, both of which may require euthanasia. This study therefore aimed to determine the temporal stability of the bacterial population of faecal samples from six ponies maintained on a formulated high fibre diet. Bacterial 16S rRNA terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analyses of 10 faecal samples collected from 6 ponies at regular intervals over 72 hour trial periods identified a significant pony-specific profile (P<0.001) with strong stability. Within each pony, a significantly different population was found after 11 weeks on the same diet (P<0.001) and with greater intra-individual similarity. Total short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration increased in all ponies, but other changes (such as bacterial population diversity measures, individual major SCFA concentration) were significant and dependent on the individual. This study is the first to report the extent of stability of microbes resident in the intestinal tract as represented with such depth and frequency of faecal sampling. In doing so, this provides a baseline from which future trials can be planned and the extent to which results may be interpreted.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-11 PubMed ID: 24040388PubMed Central: PMC3770578DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075079Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • 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.

This study evaluates the stability and host-specificity of the bacterial community in pony feces. It found a significant level of stability and diversity within each pony’s gut microbiome, even with changes in diet, and underscores the importance of this microbial community for equine health.

Objective of the Research

  • The main goal of this study was to analyze the stability of the bacterial population in fecal samples from ponies who were kept on a high-fiber diet. It was important to investigate this as horses, due to their physiological makeup as hindgut fermenters, rely on their intestinal bacterial population for effective digestion.
  • The research also focused on understanding the potentially severe impact of a sudden disruption of this bacterial population. A sudden change can result in distressing conditions like severe colic or laminitis, possibly even leading to the animal’s euthanasia.

Methodology of the Research

  • The researchers used bacterial 16S rRNA terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analyses on 10 faecal samples collected from six ponies.
  • The samples were collected at regular intervals over 72-hour trial periods.

Findings of the Research

  • The analyses identified a significant pony-specific bacterial profile in the fecal samples, with strong stability observed. This implies that each pony had a unique microbial composition which remained largely consistent over time.
  • Even after a period of 11 weeks on the same diet, a significantly different population was found within each pony, suggesting that the microbial make-up adapts and evolves over time based on the diet.
  • The total concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased in all ponies. However, other changes such as bacterial population diversity measures and individual major SCFA concentration were found to be significant and dependent on the individual.

Significant Implication to Future Studies

  • This research is groundbreaking as it is the first to report the extent of stability of microbes residing in the intestinal tract with this level of detail and frequency of faecal sampling.
  • This knowledge provides a fundamental baseline in planning future trials and interpreting the extent of the results from those trials.

Cite This Article

APA
Blackmore TM, Dugdale A, Argo CM, Curtis G, Pinloche E, Harris PA, Worgan HJ, Girdwood SE, Dougal K, Newbold CJ, McEwan NR. (2013). Strong stability and host specific bacterial community in faeces of ponies. PLoS One, 8(9), e75079. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075079

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 9
Pages: e75079

Researcher Affiliations

Blackmore, Tina M
  • Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales.
Dugdale, Alex
    Argo, Caroline McG
      Curtis, Gemma
        Pinloche, Eric
          Harris, Pat A
            Worgan, Hilary J
              Girdwood, Susan E
                Dougal, Kirsty
                  Newbold, C Jamie
                    McEwan, Neil R

                      MeSH Terms

                      • Animals
                      • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
                      • Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
                      • Feces / microbiology
                      • Horses / microbiology
                      • Intestines / microbiology
                      • Metabolomics
                      • Microbiota
                      • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
                      • Principal Component Analysis
                      • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
                      • Time Factors

                      Conflict of Interest Statement

                      Competing Interests: The trial was commercially funded by WALTHAM Centre For Pet Nutrition, of which one of the co-authors, Dr Pat Harris, is an employee. The ponies were fed Spillers(r) Happy Hoof for the duration of the trial (detailed in Methods), which is a marketed product of WALTHAM Centre For Pet Nutrition. There are no patents or products in development. This does not alter the authors\' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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