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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Sci / Survey on Faecal Microbiota Transplantation and Probiotic Us...
Veterinary medicine and science2026; 12(2); e70854; doi: 10.1002/vms3.70854

Survey on Faecal Microbiota Transplantation and Probiotic Use in Equine Practice in France and Belgium.

Abstract: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics are used in equine practice. Understanding veterinarians' perceptions and practices is crucial for effective implementation. Objective: (1) Evaluate the prevalence, usage patterns and perceived effectiveness of probiotics and FMT among equine veterinarians in France and Belgium. (2) Assess their knowledge, practices and influencing factors across demographics and settings. (3) Explore links between FMT protocols and treatment satisfaction. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An online survey collected demographic data and responses on the use of probiotics and FMT. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Results: Ninety-six equine veterinarians participated, practicing in Belgium (52.1%), France (39.6%) or both (8.3%). Probiotic use was reported by 82.1%, more frequent in field than clinical practice (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61, 95% CI [1.09, 12.02], p = 0.036) and in France than Belgium (OR = 5.08, 95% CI [1.44, 17.94], p = 0.012). Probiotics were used for chronic diarrhoea (88.0%), acute diarrhoea (67.6%) and inflammatory bowel diseases (45.9%). Most veterinarians (83.3%) defined probiotics well, but 16.7% misidentified non-probiotic products. FMT was used by 76.0%, mainly occasionally and therapeutically, more in clinical than field practice (OR = 4.79, 95% CI [1.03, 22.27], p = 0.046). In theory, 58.3% prioritized infection-free donors, but only 22.5% tested donors before FMT, mostly using coprology (93.8%). Those who tested donors reported higher perceived efficacy (p = 0.0029). Conclusions: Potential selection bias, as participation was voluntary. Generalizability might be limited by focus on France and Belgium. Sample size, while informative, should be expanded. Conclusions: Probiotics and FMT were commonly used therapeutically by equine veterinarians in France and Belgium. Although probiotic use was widespread, some misunderstandings remained. FMT protocols varied, with donor faeces often untested. Treatment satisfaction was generally positive but estimated success rates varied. Standardized FMT protocols are needed to improve outcomes and consistency.
© 2026 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2026-03-05 PubMed ID: 41782495PubMed Central: PMC12961356DOI: 10.1002/vms3.70854Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Loublier C, Taminiau B, Seidel L, Moula N, Tano C, Cesarini C, Costa M, Lecoq L, Daube G, Amory H. (2026). Survey on Faecal Microbiota Transplantation and Probiotic Use in Equine Practice in France and Belgium. Vet Med Sci, 12(2), e70854. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70854

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Pages: e70854
PII: e70854

Researcher Affiliations

Loublier, Clémence
  • Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Taminiau, Bernard
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Department of Food Sciences-Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium.
Seidel, Laurence
  • Biostatistics and Research Method Center (B-STAT), CHU-ULiège, Liège, Belgium.
Moula, Nassim
  • GIGA Animal Facilities, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Tano, Colombe
  • Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Cesarini, Carla
  • Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Costa, Marcio
  • Department of Veterinary Biomedicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Lecoq, Laureline
  • Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Daube, Georges
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Department of Food Sciences-Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium.
Amory, Hélène
  • Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Belgium
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use
  • Horses
  • France
  • Animals
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / veterinary
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data
  • Veterinarians / psychology
  • Female
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Humans

Grant Funding

  • 40005849 / Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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