The association between gut microbiome, sex, age and body condition scores of horses in Maiduguri and its environs.
Abstract: The equine gut harbours complex microbial populations which influence physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune functions, while disruption to the gut microbiota has been linked with conditions such as lameness, diabetes and obesity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the association between microbial dysbiosis, sex, age and body condition scores (BCS) of horses (Equus equus caballus) in Maiduguri and its environs. Forty horses were assessed by convenient sampling, while faecal samples were collected and analyzed to determine the microbiomes in the various age groups with variable BSC in stallions and mares. The present study revealed that there was strong and not significant association between the microbial populations in the gut of horses and the various age groups (Chi-Squared test = 11.809; df = 18; P = 0.8570). There were significant (p < 0.0001) differences in the microbiome population in the guts of the horses. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the microbiomes in the various body scores. There were significant (P < 0.047) differences in the microbiomes of the mares and stallions. E. coli had the highest burden of microbial populations with 30.38*10 ± 1.04*10 in the guts of horses in the study area, while statistically there were no differences in the populations of Corynebacterium, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in the gut of horses in the study area relative to E. coli. This study provides information on the nature of bacterial population present in horses in Maiduguri and its Environs. Therefore, further high-throughput characterization of the faecal bacteria microbiome of horses is essential to enable comparison to disease state and thus develop diagnostic tests, prophylactic measures and appropriate treatments.
Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2018-03-09 PubMed ID: 29530806DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.03.018Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper investigates how the gut microbiome in horses, their sex, age, and body conditions are interrelated. The study, conducted in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas, does not find a significant correlation between microbial populations in horse gut and age groups but significant differences do exist in the microbiome of different body conditions and between male and female horses.
Understanding the Research
The study evaluated forty horses using convenient sampling methods. Faecal samples were collected and analyzed to determine the microbiomes in various age groups with variable body score conditions (BCS) in both stallions (male horses) and mares (female horses).
- The research found no significant correlation between the microbial populations in a horse’s gut and the various age groups. The chi-square test value was 11.809 with 18 degrees of freedom and a p-value of 0.8570, indicating no strong statistical significance.
- However, significant differences were found within the microbial population in the horse’s gut, indicating diverse microbiome populations.
- Additionally, significant differences were found in the microbiomes of different body score conditions and between mares and stallions. This concludes that sex and body condition affect the gut microbiome.
Insights on Microbial Populations
In the study, E. coli was found to have the highest microbial populations in the horse’s gut.
- The populations of other bacteria such as Corynebacterium, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus in the horse’s gut were not significantly different relative to E.coli.
Implications and Future Research
This study demonstrated information on the nature of the bacterial population present in horses living in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas.
- Such information can be crucial in shaping our understanding of equine health and metabolic conditions.
- Research in this direction importantly suggests there are significant hygienic implications on the overall well-being of the horses.
- The authors concluded that further study and high-throughput characterization of the faecal bacteria microbiome of horses are essential. This can enable comparison to the disease state and thus help develop diagnostic tests, preventive measures, and suitable treatments.
Cite This Article
APA
Mshelia ES, Adamu L, Wakil Y, Turaki UA, Gulani IA, Musa J.
(2018).
The association between gut microbiome, sex, age and body condition scores of horses in Maiduguri and its environs.
Microb Pathog, 118, 81-86.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2018.03.018 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria. Electronic address: drlawan3758@unimaid.edu.ng.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University of Kashere, P. M. B. 0812, Gombe State, Nigeria.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Bacteria / classification
- Bacteria / genetics
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Body Composition
- Dysbiosis / microbiology
- Dysbiosis / veterinary
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Horse Diseases
- Horses / microbiology
- Male
- Nigeria
- Sex Factors
Citations
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