Vaginal lactic acid bacteria in the mare: evaluation of the probiotic potential of native Lactobacillus spp. and Enterococcus spp. strains.
Abstract: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important members of the human vaginal microbiota and their presence is considered beneficial. However, little is known about native vaginal bacteria in other animal species such as the horse. The aim of this work was to quantify the vaginal lactic acid bacteria and lactobacilli of mares and to establish if selected equine vaginal lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus and Enterococcus spp. strains, could exhibit potential as probiotics. The vaginal lactic acid bacteria and lactobacilli of 26 mares were quantified by plate counts. Five strains (three Lactobacillus spp. and two Enterococcus spp.) were characterised and adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells, antimicrobial activity and ability to form biofilms were evaluated. Lactic acid bacteria were recovered from the 26 samples and lactobacilli counts were detected in 18 out of 26 mares (69%). Probiotic properties tested in this study varied among the isolates and showed promising features for their use as equine probiotics.
Publication Date: 2007-06-21 PubMed ID: 17588124DOI: 10.1007/s10482-007-9180-4Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 research aimed to explore the levels and potential probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus and Enterococcus spp. strains, in the vaginal environment of horses.
Overview of Research Methodology
- The study involved sampling vaginal lactic acid bacteria and lactobacilli from a total of 26 mares.
- The bacteria were quantified through plate counts.
- Five representative strains (three Lactobacillus spp. and two Enterococcus spp.) were selected for further characterization.
- Key properties evaluated included adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells, antimicrobial activity, and biofilm formation ability.
Key Findings
- The researchers successfully recovered lactic acid bacteria from all 26 sampled mares.
- Among the mares, 18 of them (making approximately 69% of the total) were found to have measurable lactobacilli counts.
- The probiotic properties under consideration were found to vary among the isolated strains.
- However, the varying properties identified showed signs of potential promise for the strains’ potential use as equine probiotics.
Implications and Conclusions
- The study helps fill a knowledge gap by increasing understanding of native vaginal bacteria in an animal species other than humans.
- The findings bring us a step closer to the potential use of specific Lactobacillus and Enterococcus strains as probiotics in horses, which can boost equine health and well-being.
- However, due to the observed variation in probiotic properties among the identified strains, further research is needed to better differentiate the potentiality of each strain as a probiotic and determine the best ways to utilize such strains for maximum benefit.
Cite This Article
APA
Fraga M, Perelmuter K, Delucchi L, Cidade E, Zunino P.
(2007).
Vaginal lactic acid bacteria in the mare: evaluation of the probiotic potential of native Lactobacillus spp. and Enterococcus spp. strains.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 93(1-2), 71-78.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-007-9180-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biofilms / growth & development
- Enterococcus / genetics
- Enterococcus / growth & development
- Enterococcus / isolation & purification
- Epithelial Cells / microbiology
- Female
- Horses / microbiology
- Humans
- Lactobacillus / genetics
- Lactobacillus / growth & development
- Lactobacillus / isolation & purification
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Probiotics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Vagina / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Edyta G, Natalia S, Marlena S, Natalia W, Joanna L, Arent Z, Magdalena S. The in vitro effects of probiotic bacteria on genital pathogens of female dogs.. BMC Vet Res 2023 Jul 8;19(1):82.
- Tyrnenopoulou P, Fthenakis GC. Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance in the Reproductive System of Equids.. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 28;12(4).
- Malaluang P, Wilén E, Frosth S, Lindahl JF, Hansson I, Morrell JM. Antimicrobial Resistance in Vaginal Bacteria in Inseminated Mares.. Pathogens 2023 Feb 24;12(3).
- Huang C, Xu H, Zhou X, Liu M, Li J, Liu C. Systematic Investigations on the Metabolic and Transcriptomic Regulation of Lactate in the Human Colon Epithelial Cells.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 2;23(11).
- Kellerman C, Malaluang P, Hansson I, Eliasson Selling L, Morrell JM. Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Cervical Microbes of Gilts and Sows.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 4;12(1).
- Barba M, Martínez-Boví R, Quereda JJ, Mocé ML, Plaza-Dávila M, Jiménez-Trigos E, Gómez-Martín Á, González-Torres P, Carbonetto B, García-Roselló E. Vaginal Microbiota Is Stable throughout the Estrous Cycle in Arabian Maress.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 3;10(11).
- El-Deeb WM, Fayez M, Elsohaby I, Ghoneim I, Al-Marri T, Kandeel M, ElGioushy M. Isolation and characterization of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius): in vitro evaluation of probiotic potential of selected isolates.. PeerJ 2020;8:e8500.
- Husso A, Jalanka J, Alipour MJ, Huhti P, Kareskoski M, Pessa-Morikawa T, Iivanainen A, Niku M. The composition of the perinatal intestinal microbiota in horse.. Sci Rep 2020 Jan 16;10(1):441.
- Lindenberg F, Krych L, Kot W, Fielden J, Frøkiær H, van Galen G, Nielsen DS, Hansen AK. Development of the equine gut microbiota.. Sci Rep 2019 Oct 8;9(1):14427.
- Bouridane H, Sifour M, Idoui T, Annick L, Thonard P. Technological and Probiotic Traits of the Lactobacilli Isolated From Vaginal Tract of the Healthy Women for Probiotic Use.. Iran J Biotechnol 2016 Sep;14(3):192-201.
- Delucchi L, Fraga M, Perelmuter K, Cidade E, Zunino P. Vaginal lactic acid bacteria in healthy and ill bitches and evaluation of in vitro probiotic activity of selected isolates.. Can Vet J 2008 Oct;49(10):991-4.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
