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Mady EA, Osuga H, Toyama H, El-Husseiny HM, Inoue R, Murase H, Yamamoto Y, Nagaoka K. Relationship between the components of mare breast milk and foal gut microbiome: shaping gut microbiome development after birth. Vet Q 2024; 44:1-9. [PMID: 38733121 PMCID: PMC11089936 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2349948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota (GM) is essential for mammalian health. Although the association between infant GM and breast milk (BM) composition has been well established in humans, such a relationship has not been investigated in horses. Hence, this study was conducted to analyze the GM formation of foals during lactation and determine the presence of low-molecular-weight metabolites in mares' BM and their role in shaping foals' GM. The fecal and BM samples from six pairs of foals and mares were subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA metagenomic and metabolomic analyses, respectively. The composition of foal GM changed during lactation time; hierarchical cluster analysis divided the fetal GM into three groups corresponding to different time points in foal development. The level of most metabolites in milk decreased over time with increasing milk yield, while threonic acid and ascorbic acid increased. Further analyses revealed gut bacteria that correlated with changes in milk metabolites; for instance, there was a positive correlation between Bacteroidaceae in the foal's gut microbiota and serine/glycine in the mother's milk. These findings help improve the rearing environment of lactating horses and establish artificial feeding methods for foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman A. Mady
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Animal Hygiene, Behavior, and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Elqaliobiya, Egypt
| | - Haruna Osuga
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruka Toyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hussein M. El-Husseiny
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Inoue
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Science, Setsunan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Harutaka Murase
- Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Nagaoka
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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Bornbusch SL, Power ML, Schulkin J, Drea CM, Maslanka MT, Muletz-Wolz CR. Integrating microbiome science and evolutionary medicine into animal health and conservation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:458-477. [PMID: 37956701 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbiome science has provided groundbreaking insights into human and animal health. Similarly, evolutionary medicine - the incorporation of eco-evolutionary concepts into primarily human medical theory and practice - is increasingly recognised for its novel perspectives on modern diseases. Studies of host-microbe relationships have been expanded beyond humans to include a wide range of animal taxa, adding new facets to our understanding of animal ecology, evolution, behaviour, and health. In this review, we propose that a broader application of evolutionary medicine, combined with microbiome science, can provide valuable and innovative perspectives on animal care and conservation. First, we draw on classic ecological principles, such as alternative stable states, to propose an eco-evolutionary framework for understanding variation in animal microbiomes and their role in animal health and wellbeing. With a focus on mammalian gut microbiomes, we apply this framework to populations of animals under human care, with particular relevance to the many animal species that suffer diseases linked to gut microbial dysfunction (e.g. gut distress and infection, autoimmune disorders, obesity). We discuss diet and microbial landscapes (i.e. the microbes in the animal's external environment), as two factors that are (i) proposed to represent evolutionary mismatches for captive animals, (ii) linked to gut microbiome structure and function, and (iii) potentially best understood from an evolutionary medicine perspective. Keeping within our evolutionary framework, we highlight the potential benefits - and pitfalls - of modern microbial therapies, such as pre- and probiotics, faecal microbiota transplants, and microbial rewilding. We discuss the limited, yet growing, empirical evidence for the use of microbial therapies to modulate animal gut microbiomes beneficially. Interspersed throughout, we propose 12 actionable steps, grounded in evolutionary medicine, that can be applied to practical animal care and management. We encourage that these actionable steps be paired with integration of eco-evolutionary perspectives into our definitions of appropriate animal care standards. The evolutionary perspectives proposed herein may be best appreciated when applied to the broad diversity of species under human care, rather than when solely focused on humans. We urge animal care professionals, veterinarians, nutritionists, scientists, and others to collaborate on these efforts, allowing for simultaneous care of animal patients and the generation of valuable empirical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally L Bornbusch
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Michael L Power
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Jay Schulkin
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St., Box 356460, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christine M Drea
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences, Campus Box 90383, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Michael T Maslanka
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Carly R Muletz-Wolz
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
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Boucher L, Leduc L, Leclère M, Costa MC. Current Understanding of Equine Gut Dysbiosis and Microbiota Manipulation Techniques: Comparison with Current Knowledge in Other Species. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:758. [PMID: 38473143 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the importance of intestinal microbiota in horses and the factors influencing its composition have been the focus of many studies over the past few years. Factors such as age, diet, antibiotic administration, and geographic location can affect the gut microbiota. The intra- and inter-individual variability of fecal microbiota in horses complicates its interpretation and has hindered the establishment of a clear definition for dysbiosis. Although a definitive causal relationship between gut dysbiosis in horses and diseases has not been clearly identified, recent research suggests that dysbiosis may play a role in the pathogenesis of various conditions, such as colitis and asthma. Prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation to modulate the horse's gastrointestinal tract may eventually be considered a valuable tool for preventing or treating diseases, such as antibiotic-induced colitis. This article aims to summarize the current knowledge on the importance of intestinal microbiota in horses and factors influencing its composition, and also to review the published literature on methods for detecting dysbiosis while discussing the efficacy of gut microbiota manipulation in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Boucher
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Laurence Leduc
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Mathilde Leclère
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Marcio Carvalho Costa
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
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Mienaltowski MJ, Callahan M, De La Torre U, Maga EA. Comparing microbiotas of foals and their mares' milk in the first two weeks after birth. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:17. [PMID: 38191395 PMCID: PMC10775675 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03864-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mare-foal relationship is essential for the well-being and growth of a foal. Mare's milk provides a foal with nutrients, protective immunity, and microbes. Within the first two weeks of life, there is a risk for a foal to suffer from diarrhea, particularly "foal heat diarrhea" which happens at about the time of a mare's estrus cycle but is more likely due to transitions in the microbiota in the foal's gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We hypothesized that this GI microbiota transition could be caused by changes in lysozyme and microbial populations in the mare's milk. To test this hypothesis, fifteen mare-foal pairs were followed in the first 15 days post-foaling. Every other day milk was collected from mares and rectal swabs were collected from foals. Lysozyme activity in the mare's milk was measured using a fluorescence assay. Microbial DNA was isolated from the milk and swabs and the V4 domain of 16 S rRNA genes were PCR amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology. Microbial populations were analyzed using DADA2 and phyloseq within R. RESULTS Mare's milk lysozyme activity peaked for samples at Day 1 and levels dropped to 72.5% of Day 1 activity by Day 15; however, microbial populations in the mare's milk did not vary significantly over the two weeks. Furthermore, levels of microbial diversity found in foal rectal swabs were initially similar to microbial diversity seen in mare's milk; however, over the first fifteen days, diversity increased for the foal rectal swab microbiota and swab microbial populations differed from milk microbes. A transition occurred shifting from microbes from the phylum Proteobacteria early in rectal swabs to those primarily from the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota after the first few days post-foaling. These phyla contained several families and genera of microbes that promote utilization of milk components in healthy gut transition. Microbial abundance levels correlated more with days post-parturition than with lysozyme activity and mare's milk microbial populations. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that much of the microbial populations responsible for the transition of the foal's gut comes from sources outside of mare's milk species and levels of lysozyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Mienaltowski
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 2251 Meyer Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Mitchell Callahan
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 2251 Meyer Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ubaldo De La Torre
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 2251 Meyer Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, BRB 440, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Maga
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 2251 Meyer Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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Shi J, Zhao G, Huang X, Li X, Ma Y, Yang K. Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immune Function, and Antioxidant Capacity of Newborn Foals. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 129:104501. [DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
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Shi J, Zhao G, Huang X, Li X, Ma Y, Yang K. Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immune Function, and Antioxidant Capacity of Newborn Foals. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 129:104501. [PMID: 37737196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation on the growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of foals. Fifteen newborn foals with similar birth weight (51.67 ± 6.07 kg) and good health were randomly assigned to three groups: control group and test groups I and II, which were supplemented with 5.0 × 109 CFU/day and 1.0 × 1010 CFU/day LGG, respectively, for 150 days. LGG intake increased the daily body height (P < .01) and weight (P < .01) gain of foals aged 120 to 150 days. The foals' IgA (P < .05) and IgG (P < .01) plasma levels increased at 30 and 150 days, respectively, and IL-6 plasma level increased at 90 days (P < .01). Plasma total antioxidant capacity level was significantly higher in test group I than in the control and test group II at 30 days (P < .01), whereas glutathione peroxidase level was significantly higher in test group II than in the control and test group I at 30 days (P < .01). Both test groups had significantly higher superoxide dismutase level than the control group (P < .01) and significantly decreased malondialdehyde plasma level at 90 and 150 days (P < .05). Overall, our findings indicate that dietary supplementation of LGG can improve the growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of newborn foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Shi
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Guodong Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xinxin Huang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaobin Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yuhui Ma
- Zhaosu animal Husbandry and Veterinary Development Center, Yili, China
| | - Kailun Yang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
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Pyles M, Agbana M, Hayes S, Flythe M, Lawrence L. The Establishment of Fibrolytic Bacteria in the Foal Gastrointestinal Tract Is Related to the Occurrence of Coprophagy by Foals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2718. [PMID: 37684982 PMCID: PMC10486901 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of maternal feces (coprophagy) is commonly observed in healthy foals and is a proposed contributor to microbial colonization of the foal's gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study investigated the role of coprophagy in the establishment of fibrolytic bacteria in the foal GIT. Nine thoroughbred mares were dosed with chromic oxide, an indigestible marker, as a method to detect the occurrence of coprophagy by their foals. Foal fecal samples were collected from 12 h to 21 d after birth to measure chromic oxide and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and to enumerate cellulolytic bacteria using culture-based techniques. Milk yield was estimated at 7 and 14 d postpartum. Coprophagy was detected as early as 3 d after birth and detected in all foals by 7 d of age. There were strong relationships between coprophagy and cellulolytic bacteria and NDF in foal feces at 7 d of age (r = 0.9703 and r = 0.7878, respectively; p < 0.05). Fecal NDF and chromic oxide concentrations were negatively related to milk yield (r = -0.8144 and r = -0.6966, respectively; p < 0.05), suggesting milk availability affected the incidence of coprophagy. Based on the relationships identified, maternal feces are an important source of fiber and live microbes for the foal, contributing to the development of the microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Pyles
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (M.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Miranda Agbana
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (M.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Susan Hayes
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (M.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Michael Flythe
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (M.P.); (M.F.)
- Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Laurie Lawrence
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (M.P.); (M.F.)
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Lu H, Zhang W, Sun S, Mei Y, Zhao G, Yang K. Effect of Supplementary Feeding on Milk Volume, Milk Composition, Blood Biochemical Index, and Fecal Microflora Diversity in Grazing Yili Mares. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2415. [PMID: 37570224 PMCID: PMC10417139 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Grazing is a common approach to rearing. We investigated the effects of supplementation during grazing on milk yield and composition, blood biochemistry, and fecal microflora in Yili horses. The control mares grazed normally, while those in groups I and II received 1 kg/d of concentrate and 1 kg/d of concentrate + 0.4 kg/d of coated FA, respectively. Milk volumes were significantly higher in groups I and II than in the control group, and among the previous two, milk volumes were significantly higher in group II than in group I. Milk fat, lactose, and protein levels were significantly higher in group II than in the others. BUN was highly significantly lower in group I than in the control group. Specific FAs, total SFA, and total UFA were significantly higher in group II than in the other groups. After feeding, plasma GLU, free FA, TG, LDL, and VLDL were significantly higher in group II than in the other groups. The control group, group I, and group II had 4984, 5487, and 5158 OTUs, respectively, and 3483 OTUs were common to all groups. The abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was >75%. The abundance of Verrucomicrobia was significantly higher in groups I and II than in the control group and, among the previous two, significantly higher in group II than in group I. The abundance of Treponema_saccharophilum significantly differed between the control and other groups, and WCHB 1_41, Kiritimatiellae, and Verrucomicrobia abundances significantly differed between groups II and the other groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Guodong Zhao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Meat & Milk Production Herbivore Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China; (H.L.); (W.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.M.)
| | - Kailun Yang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Meat & Milk Production Herbivore Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China; (H.L.); (W.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.M.)
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Zhu H, Miao R, Tao X, Wu J, Liu L, Qu J, Liu H, Sun Y, Li L, Qu Y. Longitudinal Changes in Milk Microorganisms in the First Two Months of Lactation of Primiparous and Multiparous Cows. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1923. [PMID: 37370433 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The present experiment was carried out to analyze the longitudinal changes in milk microorganisms. For this purpose, milk samples were collected from 12 healthy cows (n = 96; six primiparous cows and six multiparous cows) at eight different time points. The characteristics and variations in microbial composition were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. In the primiparous group, higher and more stable alpha diversity was observed in transitional and mature milk compared with the colostrum, with no significant difference in alpha diversity at each time point in the multiparous group. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota were the most dominant phyla, and Pseudomonas, UCG-005, Acinetobacter, Vibrio, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Serratia, Staphylococcus, and Glutamicibacter were the most dominant genera in both primiparous and multiparous cow milk. Some typically gut-associated microbes, such as Bacteroides, UCG-005, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, etc., were enriched in the two groups. Biomarker taxa with the day in time (DIM) were identified by a random forest algorithm, with Staphylococcus showing the highest degree of interpretation, and the difference in milk microbiota between the two groups was mainly reflected in 0 d-15 d. Additionally, network analysis suggested that there were bacteria associated with the total protein content in milk. Collectively, our results disclosed the longitudinal changes in the milk microbiota of primiparous and multiparous cows, providing further evidence in dairy microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhu
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- College of Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Renfang Miao
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Xinxu Tao
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Jianhao Wu
- Bright Farming Co., Ltd., No. 1518, West Jiangchang Road, Shanghai 200436, China
| | - Licheng Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation, No. 101 Xiangfu Road, Herbin 150038, China
| | - Jiachen Qu
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Hongzhi Liu
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yanting Sun
- School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology, No. 99 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710064, China
| | - Lingyan Li
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yongli Qu
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Feed Resources and Nutrition Manipulation in Cold Region, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
- Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinyang Road, Daqing 163319, China
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Burnham CM, McKenney EA, van Heugten KA, Minter LJ, Trivedi S. Effects of age, seasonality, and reproductive status on the gut microbiome of Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) at the North Carolina zoo. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:27. [PMID: 37147724 PMCID: PMC10163733 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00249-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Managed southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) serve as assurance populations for wild conspecifics threatened by poaching and other anthropocentric effects, though many managed populations experience subfertility and reproductive failure. Gut microbiome and host health are inextricably linked, and reproductive outcomes in managed southern white rhinoceros may be mediated in part by their diet and gut microbial diversity. Thus, understanding microbial dynamics within managed populations may help improve conservation efforts. We characterized the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in the managed population of female southern white rhinoceros (n = 8) at the North Carolina Zoo and investigated the effects of seasonality (summer vs. winter) and age classes (juveniles (n = 2; 0-2 years), subadults (n = 2; 3-7 years), and adults (n = 4; >7 years)) on microbial richness and community structure. Collection of a fecal sample was attempted for each individual once per month from July-September 2020 and January-March 2021 resulting in a total of 41 samples analyzed. Microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Total operational taxonomic units (OTUs), alpha diversity (species richness, Shannon diversity), and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, linear discriminant analysis effect size) indices were examined, and differentially enriched taxa were identified. RESULTS There were differences (p < 0.05) in alpha and beta diversity indices across individuals, age groups, and sampling months. Subadult females had higher levels of Shannon diversity (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05) compared to adult females and harbored a community cluster distinct from both juveniles and adults. Samples collected during winter months (January-March 2021) possessed higher species richness and statistically distinct communities compared to summer months (July-September 2020) (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Reproductively active (n = 2) and currently nonreproductive adult females (n = 2) harbored differentially enriched taxa, with the gut microbiome of nonreproductive females significantly enriched (p = 0.001) in unclassified members of Mobiluncus, a genus which possesses species associated with poor reproductive outcomes in other animal species when identified in the cervicovaginal microbiome. CONCLUSION Together, our results increase the understanding of age and season related microbial variation in southern white rhinoceros at the North Carolina Zoo and have identified a potential microbial biomarker for reproductive concern within managed female southern white rhinoceros.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Burnham
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Erin A McKenney
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 100 Brooks Ave, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Kimberly Ange- van Heugten
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Larry J Minter
- North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC, 27205, USA
| | - Shweta Trivedi
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
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11
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van Heule M, Monteiro HF, Bazzazan A, Scoggin K, Rolston M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population in healthy pregnancies. Theriogenology 2023; 206:60-70. [PMID: 37187056 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In spite of controversy, recent studies present evidence that a microbiome is present in the human placenta. However, there is limited information about a potential equine placental microbiome. In the present study, we characterized the microbial population in the equine placenta (chorioallantois) of healthy prepartum (280 days of gestation, n = 6) and postpartum (immediately after foaling, 351 days of gestation, n = 11) mares, using 16S rDNA sequencing (rDNA-seq). In both groups, the majority of bacteria belonged to the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidota. The five most abundant genera were Bradyrhizobium, an unclassified Pseudonocardiaceae, Acinetobacter, Pantoea, and an unclassified Microbacteriaceae. Alpha diversity (p < 0.05) and beta diversity (p < 0.01) were significantly different between pre- and postpartum samples. Additionally, the abundance of 7 phyla and 55 genera was significantly different between pre- and postpartum samples. These differences suggest an effect of the caudal reproductive tract microbiome on the postpartum placental microbial DNA composition, since the passage of the placenta through the cervix and vagina during normal parturition had a significant influence on the composition of the bacteria found in the placenta when using 16S rDNA-seq. These data support the hypothesis that bacterial DNA is present in healthy equine placentas and opens the possibility for further exploration of the impact of the placental microbiome on fetal development and pregnancy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Machteld van Heule
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Hugo Fernando Monteiro
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ali Bazzazan
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kirsten Scoggin
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Matthew Rolston
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Bart C Weimer
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Department of Population Health and Reproduction, 100K Pathogen Genome Project, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Barry Ball
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Peter Daels
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Pouya Dini
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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12
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Poole RK, Soffa DR, McAnally BE, Smith MS, Hickman-Brown KJ, Stockland EL. Reproductive Microbiomes in Domestic Livestock: Insights Utilizing 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Community Sequencing. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:485. [PMID: 36766374 PMCID: PMC9913168 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Advancements in 16S rRNA gene amplicon community sequencing have vastly expanded our understanding of the reproductive microbiome and its role in fertility. In humans, Lactobacillus is the overwhelmingly dominant bacteria within reproductive tissues and is known to be commensal and an indicator of fertility in women and men. It is also known that Lactobacillus is not as largely abundant in the reproductive tissues of domestic livestock species. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the research to date on both female and male reproductive microbiomes in domestic livestock species (i.e., dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, small ruminants, and horses). Having a comprehensive understanding of reproductive microbiota and its role in modulating physiological functions will aid in the development of management and therapeutic strategies to improve reproductive efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Poole
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
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13
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Wunderlich G, Bull M, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. Understanding the microbial fibre degrading communities & processes in the equine gut. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:3. [PMID: 36635784 PMCID: PMC9837927 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The equine gastrointestinal tract is a self-sufficient fermentation system, housing a complex microbial consortium that acts synergistically and independently to break down complex lignocellulolytic material that enters the equine gut. Despite being strict herbivores, equids such as horses and zebras lack the diversity of enzymes needed to completely break down plant tissue, instead relying on their resident microbes to carry out fibrolysis to yield vital energy sources such as short chain fatty acids. The bulk of equine digestion occurs in the large intestine, where digesta is fermented for 36-48 h through the synergistic activities of bacteria, fungi, and methanogenic archaea. Anaerobic gut dwelling bacteria and fungi break down complex plant polysaccharides through combined mechanical and enzymatic strategies, and notably possess some of the greatest diversity and repertoire of carbohydrate active enzymes among characterized microbes. In addition to the production of enzymes, some equid-isolated anaerobic fungi and bacteria have been shown to possess cellulosomes, powerful multi-enzyme complexes that further enhance break down. The activities of both anaerobic fungi and bacteria are further facilitated by facultatively aerobic yeasts and methanogenic archaea, who maintain an optimal environment for fibrolytic organisms, ultimately leading to increased fibrolytic microbial counts and heightened enzymatic activity. The unique interactions within the equine gut as well as the novel species and powerful mechanisms employed by these microbes makes the equine gut a valuable ecosystem to study fibrolytic functions within complex communities. This review outlines the primary taxa involved in fibre break down within the equine gut and further illuminates the enzymatic strategies and metabolic pathways used by these microbes. We discuss current methods used in analysing fibrolytic functions in complex microbial communities and propose a shift towards the development of functional assays to deepen our understanding of this unique ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Wunderlich
- grid.1009.80000 0004 1936 826XTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia ,Quantal Bioscience Pty Ltd, Castle Hill, Australia
| | - Michelle Bull
- grid.1009.80000 0004 1936 826XTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia ,Quantal Bioscience Pty Ltd, Castle Hill, Australia
| | - Tom Ross
- grid.1009.80000 0004 1936 826XTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Michael Rose
- grid.1009.80000 0004 1936 826XTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Belinda Chapman
- grid.1009.80000 0004 1936 826XTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia ,Quantal Bioscience Pty Ltd, Castle Hill, Australia
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14
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Chaucheyras-Durand F, Sacy A, Karges K, Apper E. Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota in Equines and Its Role in Health and Disease: The Black Box Opens. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122517. [PMID: 36557769 PMCID: PMC9783266 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Horses are large non-ruminant herbivores and rely on microbial fermentation for energy, with more than half of their maintenance energy requirement coming from microbial fermentation occurring in their enlarged caecum and colon. To achieve that, the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of horses harbors a broad range of various microorganisms, differing in each GIT segment, which are essential for efficient utilization of feed, especially to use nutrients that are not or little degraded by endogenous enzymes. In addition, like in other animal species, the GIT microbiota is in permanent interplay with the host's cells and is involved in a lot of functions among which inflammation, immune homeostasis, and energy metabolism. As for other animals and humans, the horse gut microbiome is sensitive to diet, especially consumption of starch, fiber, and fat. Age, breeds, stress during competitions, transportation, and exercise may also impact the microbiome. Because of its size and its complexity, the equine GIT microbiota is prone to perturbations caused by external or internal stressors that may result in digestive diseases like gastric ulcer, diarrhea, colic, or colitis, and that are thought to be linked with systemic diseases like laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome or obesity. Thus, in this review we aim at understanding the common core microbiome -in terms of structure and function- in each segment of the GIT, as well as identifying potential microbial biomarkers of health or disease which are crucial to anticipate putative perturbations, optimize global practices and develop adapted nutritional strategies and personalized nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand
- Lallemand SAS, 31702 Blagnac, France
- UMR MEDIS, INRAE, Université Clermont-Auvergne, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
| | | | - Kip Karges
- Lallemand Specialities Inc., Milwaukee, WI 53218, USA
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15
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Gomez DE, Wong D, MacNicol J, Dembek K. The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals. Vet Med (Auckl) 2022; 37:315-322. [PMID: 36519210 PMCID: PMC9889700 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fecal bacterial microbiota of normal foals and foals with enterocolitis has been characterized using next-generation sequencing technology; however, there are no reports investigating the gut microbiota in foals hospitalized for other perinatal diseases. OBJECTIVE To describe and compare the fecal bacterial microbiota in healthy and sick foals using next-generation sequencing techniques. ANIMALS Hospitalized (17) and healthy foals (21). METHODS Case-control study. Fecal samples were collected from healthy and sick foals on admission. Sick foals were further divided into sick nonseptic (SNS, n = 9) and septic (n = 8) foals. After extraction of DNA, the V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was amplified using a PCR assay, and the final product was sequenced with an Illumina MiSeq. RESULTS Diversity was significantly lower in healthy than sick foals (P < .05). The bacterial membership (Jaccard index) and structure (Yue & Clayton index) of the fecal microbiota of healthy, septic, and SNS foals were similar (AMOVA, P > .05). Bacterial membership (AMOVA, P = .06) and structure (AMOVA, P = .33) were not different between healthy and sick foals. Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus were among the 5 more abundant taxa identified in both groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Higher fecal microbiota diversity in sick than healthy foals might suggest a high exposure to environmental microorganisms or an unstable colonic microbiota. The presence of microorganisms causing bacteremia in foals in a high relative abundance in the feces of foals suggests the intestine might play an essential role in the causation of bacteremia in foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego E. Gomez
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary CollegeUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - David Wong
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Jennifer MacNicol
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture CollegeUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - Katarzyna Dembek
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
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16
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Perricone V, Sandrini S, Irshad N, Comi M, Lecchi C, Savoini G, Agazzi A. The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243475. [PMID: 36552396 PMCID: PMC9774806 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To support the overall health of horses, it is essential to maintain an optimal gut health (GH) status, which encompasses several physiological and functional aspects, including the balance and functionality of intestinal microbial populations and, accordingly, the effective digestion and absorption of nutrients. Numerous biotic and abiotic stressors can lead to an imbalance of GH, such as the quality of forages and the composition of diet, e.g., the inclusion of high energy-dense feeds to meet the energy requirements of performance horses. To support the digestive function and the intestinal microbial populations, the diet can be supplemented with feed additives, such as probiotic yeasts, that promote the ability of cellulolytic bacteria in the hindgut to digest the available fiber fractions, finally increasing feed efficiency. Among the different yeasts available, S. cerevisiae is the most used in horses' nutrition; however, results of digestibility trials, as well as data on intestinal and fecal microbial populations, are sometimes contradictory. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the effects of S. cerevisiae on in vivo and in vitro digestibility, providing an updated overview of its effects on the intestinal and fecal microbial population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Perricone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Silvia Sandrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Nida Irshad
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Marcello Comi
- Department of Human Science and Quality of Life Promotion, Università Telematica San Raffaele, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Lecchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savoini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Alessandro Agazzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-50334506
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17
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Winters AD, Romero R, Greenberg JM, Galaz J, Shaffer ZD, Garcia-Flores V, Kracht DJ, Gomez-Lopez N, Theis KR. Does the Amniotic Fluid of Mice Contain a Viable Microbiota? Front Immunol 2022; 13:820366. [PMID: 35296083 PMCID: PMC8920496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.820366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of an amniotic fluid microbiota (i.e., a viable microbial community) in mammals is controversial. Its existence would require a fundamental reconsideration of fetal in utero exposure to and colonization by microorganisms and the role of intra-amniotic microorganisms in fetal immune development as well as in pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we determined whether the amniotic fluid of mice harbors a microbiota in late gestation. The profiles of the amniotic fluids of pups located proximally or distally to the cervix were characterized through quantitative real-time PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and culture (N = 21 dams). These profiles were compared to those of technical controls for bacterial and DNA contamination. The load of 16S rRNA genes in the amniotic fluid exceeded that in controls. Additionally, the 16S rRNA gene profiles of the amniotic fluid differed from those of controls, with Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum being differentially more abundant in amniotic fluid profiles; however, this bacterium was not cultured from amniotic fluid. Of the 42 attempted bacterial cultures of amniotic fluids, only one yielded bacterial growth – Lactobacillus murinus. The 16S rRNA gene of this common murine-associated bacterium was not detected in any amniotic fluid sample, suggesting it did not originate from the amniotic fluid. No differences in the 16S rRNA gene load, 16S rRNA gene profile, or bacterial culture were observed between the amniotic fluids located Proximally and distally to the cervix. Collectively, these data indicate that, although there is a modest DNA signal of bacteria in murine amniotic fluid, there is no evidence that this signal represents a viable microbiota. While this means that amniotic fluid is not a source of microorganisms for in utero colonization in mice, it may nevertheless contribute to fetal exposure to microbial components. The developmental consequences of this observation warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Winters
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Zachary D. Shaffer
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- MD/PhD Combined Degree Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - David J. Kracht
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin R. Theis, ; Nardhy Gomez-Lopez,
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin R. Theis, ; Nardhy Gomez-Lopez,
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18
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Júnior ÂMCDA, da Silva AH, Bastos FL, Seidner JT, Filho LAJDM, Faleiros RR, Gobesso AADO. Influence of weaning management on gastritis incidence in foals. J Equine Vet Sci 2022; 113:103917. [PMID: 35218905 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the incidence of gastritis in foals subjected to different weaning management methods. Sixteen crossbreed foals [230±35 kg], were enrolled in an experiment with a randomized block design. After weaning, foals were housed in either individual pens or a group pen. Gastritis in the foals was evaluated through gastroscopy. Data were submitted to analysis of variance by the non-parametric Friedman test at 0.05 significance level. Before weaning, gastritis was observed in 87.5% of the foals, and the scores for the number of gastric lesions were 2.10 and 1.56 for foals housed in group and individual pens, respectively. After weaning, the scores for the number of gastric lesions were 1.75 and 1.25 for foals housed in group and individual pens, respectively. For the intensity of gastric lesions, the average scores observed before weaning were 3.31 and 1.37 for foals housed in groups and individual pens, respectively. After weaning, the scores for the intensity of gastric lesions were 1.93 and 1.00 for foals housed in group and individual pens, respectively. The intensity of the gastric lesions decreased when comparing foals prior to weaning and after weaning, regardless of the management system (P<0.05). The number of lesions was not significantly different but tended to decrease after weaning. Differences in plasma cortisol concentrations were observed between samples collected on the weaning date and after weaning (P<0.05). No differences were detected in plasma gastrin concentration. In conclusion, gastritis in foals can be observed before weaning, which contributes to a decreased gastric lesion incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Filipe Lima Bastos
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Animal Production, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Júlia Troitino Seidner
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Animal Production, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
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19
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Hain‐Saunders N, Knight DR, Bruce M, Riley TV. Clostridioides difficile
infection and One Health: An Equine Perspective. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:985-997. [PMID: 35001483 PMCID: PMC9304292 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile presents a significant health risk to humans and animals. The complexity of the bacterial–host interaction affecting pathogenesis and disease development creates an ongoing challenge for epidemiological studies, control strategies and prevention planning. The recent emergence of human disease caused by strains of C. difficile found in animals adds to mounting evidence that C. difficile infection (CDI) may be a zoonosis. In equine populations, C. difficile is a known cause of diarrhoea and gastrointestinal inflammation, with considerable mortality and morbidity. This has a significant impact on both the well‐being of the animal and, in the case of performance and production animals, it may have an adverse economic impact on relevant industries. While C. difficile is regularly isolated from horses, many questions remain regarding the impact of asymptomatic carriage as well as optimization of diagnosis, testing and treatment. This review provides an overview of our understanding of equine CDI while also identifying knowledge gaps and the need for a holistic One Health approach to a complicated issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasza Hain‐Saunders
- Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia
| | - Daniel R. Knight
- Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Nedlands 6009 WA Australia
| | - Mieghan Bruce
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biosecurity and One Health Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia
| | - Thomas V. Riley
- Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Nedlands 6009 WA Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia Australia
- Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Nedlands Western Australia Australia
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20
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Fujimori S. Humans have intestinal bacteria that degrade the plant cell walls in herbivores. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:7784-7791. [PMID: 34963741 PMCID: PMC8661373 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i45.7784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell walls of plants are mainly made of cellulose and contain a large number of calories. However, the main component, cellulose, is an indigestible plant fiber that is thought to be difficult for humans to use as energy. Herbivores acquire energy through the degradation of cell wall-derived dietary fiber by microorganisms in the digestive tract. Herbivores, especially horses, have a highly developed cecum and large intestine, and plants are fermented for their efficient use with the help of microorganisms. Humans also have an intestinal tract with a wide lumen on the proximal side of the large intestine, in which fermentation occurs. The digestive process of horses is similar to that of humans, and many of the intestinal bacteria found in horses that degrade plants are also found in humans. Therefore, it is thought that humans also obtain a certain amount of energy from cell wall-derived dietary fiber. However, the intake of dietary fiber by modern humans is low; thus, the amount of calories derived from indigestible plant fiber is considered to be very low. Cellulose in the plant cell wall is often accompanied by hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, suberin, and other materials. These materials are hard to degrade, and cellulose is therefore difficult for animals to utilize. If the cell wall can be degraded to some extent by cooking, it is thought that humans can obtain calories from cell wall-derived dietary fiber. If humans can use the calories from the cell wall for their diet, it may compensate for human food shortages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunji Fujimori
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Chiba 270-1694, Japan
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21
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Age-Dependent Intestinal Repair: Implications for Foals with Severe Colic. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123337. [PMID: 34944114 PMCID: PMC8697879 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colic is a leading cause of death in horses, with the most fatal form being strangulating obstruction which directly damages the intestinal barrier. Following surgical intervention, it is imperative that the intestinal barrier rapidly repairs to prevent translocation of gut bacteria and their products and ensure survival of the patient. Age-related disparities in survival have been noted in many species, including horses, humans, and pigs, with younger patients suffering poorer clinical outcomes. Maintenance and repair of the intestinal barrier is regulated by a complex mucosal microenvironment, of which the ENS, and particularly a developing network of subepithelial enteric glial cells, may be of particular importance in neonates with colic. Postnatal development of an immature enteric glial cell network is thought to be driven by the microbial colonization of the gut and therefore modulated by diet-influenced changes in bacterial populations early in life. Here, we review the current understanding of the roles of the gut microbiome, nutrition, stress, and the ENS in maturation of intestinal repair mechanisms after foaling and how this may influence age-dependent outcomes in equine colic cases.
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22
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Zhu H, Yang M, Loor JJ, Elolimy A, Li L, Xu C, Wang W, Yin S, Qu Y. Analysis of Cow-Calf Microbiome Transfer Routes and Microbiome Diversity in the Newborn Holstein Dairy Calf Hindgut. Front Nutr 2021; 8:736270. [PMID: 34760909 PMCID: PMC8573054 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.736270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hindgut microorganisms in newborn calves play an important role in the development of immunity and metabolism, and optimization of performance. However, knowledge of the extent to which microbiome colonization of the calf intestine is dependent on maternal characteristics is limited. In this study, placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, colostrum, cow feces, and calf meconium samples were collected from 6 Holstein cow-calf pairs. Microbial composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, and maternal transfer characteristics assessed using SourceTracker based on Gibbs sampling to fit the joint distribution using the mean proportions of each sample with meconium as the "sink" and other sample types as different "sources." Alpha and beta diversity analyses revealed sample type-specific microbiome features: microbial composition of the placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, colostrum, and calf feces were similar, but differed from cow feces (p < 0.05). Compared with profiles of meconium vs. placenta, meconium vs. umbilical cord, and meconium vs. colostrum, differences between the meconium and amniotic fluid were most obvious. SourceTracker analysis revealed that 23.8 ± 2.21% of the meconium OTUs matched those of umbilical cord samples, followed by the meconium-placenta pair (15.57 ± 2.2%), meconium-colostrum pair (14.4 ± 1.9%), and meconium-amniotic fluid pair (11.2 ± 1.7%). The matching ratio between meconium and cow feces was the smallest (10.5 ± 1%). Overall, our data indicated that the composition of the meconium microflora was similar compared with multiple maternal sites including umbilical cord, placenta, colostrum, and amniotic fluid. The umbilical cord microflora seemed to contribute the most to colonization of the fecal microflora of calves. Bacteria with digestive functions such as cellulose decomposition and rumen fermentation were mainly transmitted during the maternal transfer process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
- College of Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Minna Yang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Juan J. Loor
- Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Ahmed Elolimy
- Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Lingyan Li
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Chuang Xu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Shuxin Yin
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Yongli Qu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
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23
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Goodman-Davis R, Figurska M, Cywinska A. Gut Microbiota Manipulation in Foals-Naturopathic Diarrhea Management, or Unsubstantiated Folly? Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091137. [PMID: 34578169 PMCID: PMC8467620 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea in foals is a problem of significant clinical and economic consequence, and there are good reasons to believe microbiota manipulation can play an important role in its management. However, given the dynamic development of the foal microbiota and its importance in health and disease, any prophylactic or therapeutic efforts to alter its composition should be evidence based. The few clinical trials of probiotic preparations conducted in foals to date show underwhelming evidence of efficacy and a demonstrated potential to aggravate rather than mitigate diarrhea. Furthermore, recent studies have affirmed that variable but universally inadequate quality control of probiotics enables inadvertent administration of toxin-producing or otherwise pathogenic bacterial strains, as well as strains bearing transferrable antimicrobial resistance genes. Consequently, it seems advisable to approach probiotic therapy in particular with caution for the time being. While prebiotics show initial promise, an even greater scarcity of clinical trials makes it impossible to weigh the pros and cons of their use. Advancing technology will surely continue to enable more detailed and accurate mapping of the equine adult and juvenile microbiota and potentially elucidate the complexities of causation in dysbiosis and disease. In the meantime, fecal microbiota transplantation may be an attractive therapeutic shortcut, allowing practitioners to reconstruct a healthy microbiota even without fully understanding its constitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Goodman-Davis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland; (R.G.-D.); (M.F.)
- The Scientific Society of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marianna Figurska
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland; (R.G.-D.); (M.F.)
| | - Anna Cywinska
- Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
- Correspondence:
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24
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Freccero F, Lanci A, Mariella J, Viciani E, Quercia S, Castagnetti A, Castagnetti C. Changes in the Fecal Microbiota Associated with a Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Administration in Hospitalized Neonatal Foals with Probiotics Supplementation. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082283. [PMID: 34438741 PMCID: PMC8388449 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Post-antibiotic intestinal dysbiosis leads to an overall reduction in bacterial and functional diversity, along with a minor resistance against pathogens. The study aimed to determine the changes on the fecal microbiota in hospitalized neonatal foals administered with broad-spectrum antimicrobials and supplemented probiotics. Fecal samples were collected at hospital admission, at the end of the antimicrobial treatment and at discharge. Seven foals treated with intravenous ampicillin and aminoglycosides for a mean of seven days were included. The results suggest that the fecal microbiota of neonatal foals rapidly returns to a high diversity after treatment. While the findings need to be confirmed in a larger population, the study suggests that in foals, the effect of antimicrobials may be strongly influenced by the changes that occur over time in the developing gut microbiota. Of note, the findings are influenced by the use of probiotics, and whether the changes would be consistent in antimicrobial-administered but not supplemented foals remains to be elucidated. Abstract There is a wide array of evidence across species that exposure to antibiotics is associated with dysbiosis, and due to their widespread use, this also raises concerns also in medicine. The study aimed to determine the changes on the fecal microbiota in hospitalized neonatal foals administered with broad-spectrum antimicrobials and supplemented probiotics. Fecal samples were collected at hospital admission (Ta), at the end of the antimicrobial treatment (Te) and at discharge (Td). Feces were analysed by next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene on Illumina MiSeq. Seven foals treated with IV ampicillin and amikacin/gentamicin were included. The mean age at Ta was 19 h, the mean treatment length was 7 days and the mean time between Te and Td was 4.3 days. Seven phyla were identified: Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, TM7 and Verrucomicrobia. At Ta, Firmicutes (48.19%) and Proteobacteria (31.56%) were dominant. The alpha diversity decreased from Ta to Te, but it was the highest at Td. The beta diversity was higher at Ta than at Te and higher at Td than at Te. An increase in Akkermansia over time was detected. The results suggest that the intestinal microbiota of neonatal foals rapidly returns to a high diversity after treatment. It is possible that in foals, the effect of antimicrobials is strongly influenced or overshadowed by the time-dependent changes in the developing gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Freccero
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sora 50, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (J.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Aliai Lanci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sora 50, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (J.M.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jole Mariella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sora 50, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (J.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Elisa Viciani
- Wellmicro srl, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (E.V.); (S.Q.); (A.C.)
| | - Sara Quercia
- Wellmicro srl, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (E.V.); (S.Q.); (A.C.)
| | - Andrea Castagnetti
- Wellmicro srl, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (E.V.); (S.Q.); (A.C.)
| | - Carolina Castagnetti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sora 50, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (J.M.); (C.C.)
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
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25
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Rosado D, Pérez-Losada M, Pereira A, Severino R, Xavier R. Effects of aging on the skin and gill microbiota of farmed seabass and seabream. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:10. [PMID: 33499971 PMCID: PMC7934244 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00072-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Important changes in microbial composition related to sexual maturation have been already reported in the gut of several vertebrates including mammals, amphibians and fish. Such changes in fish are linked to reproduction and growth during developmental stages, diet transitions and critical life events. We used amplicon (16S rRNA) high-throughput sequencing to characterize the skin and gill bacterial microbiota of farmed seabass and seabream belonging to three different developmental age groups: early and late juveniles and mature adults. We also assessed the impact of the surrounding estuarine water microbiota in shaping the fish skin and gill microbiota. Results Microbial diversity, composition and predicted metabolic functions varied across fish maturity stages. Alpha-diversity in the seabass microbiota varied significantly between age groups and was higher in older fish. Conversely, in the seabream, no significant differences were found in alpha-diversity between age groups. Microbial structure varied significantly across age groups; moreover, high structural variation was also observed within groups. Different bacterial metabolic pathways were predicted to be enriched in the microbiota of both species. Finally, we found that the water microbiota was significantly distinct from the fish microbiota across all the studied age groups, although a high percentage of ASVs was shared with the skin and gill microbiotas. Conclusions We report important microbial differences in composition and potential functionality across different ages of farmed seabass and seabream. These differences may be related to somatic growth and the onset of sexual maturation. Importantly, some of the inferred metabolic pathways could enhance the fish coping mechanisms during stressful conditions. Our results provide new evidence suggesting that growth and sexual maturation have an important role in shaping the microbiota of the fish external mucosae and highlight the importance of considering different life stages in microbiota studies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-020-00072-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rosado
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Marcos Pérez-Losada
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Porto, Portugal.,Computational Biology Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052-0066, USA
| | - Ana Pereira
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Severino
- Piscicultura Vale da Lama, Sapal do Vale da Lama, Odiáxere, 8600-258, Lagos, Portugal
| | - Raquel Xavier
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Porto, Portugal.
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26
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No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122309. [PMID: 33291496 PMCID: PMC7762139 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary There is increasing evidence for the importance of gut bacteria in animal health and disease. This is particularly relevant for gastrointestinal infections, such as parasitic worms, which share a niche with gut bacteria. Parasitic worms are highly prevalent in domestic horses and are a significant cause of disease in this population. This commentary explores the complex relationships between the most common parasitic worm in horses (cyathostomins) and gut bacteria, based on recent studies in horses and other species. We propose novel theories and avenues for research that harness these relationships and have the potential to improve control of parasitic worms, and overall equine health, in the future. Abstract The importance of the gut microbiome for host health has been the subject of intense research over the last decade. In particular, there is overwhelming evidence for the influence of resident microbiota on gut mucosal and systemic immunity; with significant implications for the outcome of gastrointestinal (GI) infections, such as parasitic helminths. The horse is a species that relies heavily on its gut microbiota for GI and overall health, and disturbances in this complex ecosystem are often associated with life-threatening disease. In turn, nearly all horses harbour parasitic helminths from a young age, the most prevalent of which are the small strongyles, or cyathostomins. Research describing the relationship between gut microbiota and cyathostomin infection is in its infancy, however, to date there is evidence of meaningful interactions between these two groups of organisms which not only influence the outcome of cyathostomin infection but have long term consequences for equine host health. Here, we describe these interactions alongside supportive evidence from other species and suggest novel theories and avenues for research which have the potential to revolutionize our approach to cyathostomin prevention and control in the future.
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27
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Xing J, Liu G, Zhang X, Bai D, Yu J, Li L, Wang X, Su S, Zhao Y, Bou G, Dugarjaviin M. The Composition and Predictive Function of the Fecal Microbiota Differ Between Young and Adult Donkeys. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:596394. [PMID: 33343537 PMCID: PMC7744375 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.596394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The community of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of monogastric herbivores played critical roles in the absorption of nutrients and keeping the host healthy. However, its establishment at different age groups has not been quantitatively and functionally examined. The knowledge of microbial colonization and its function in the intestinal tract of different-age donkeys is still limited. By applying the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and functional prediction on fecal samples from different-age donkeys, we characterized the gut microbiota during the different age groups. In contrast to the adult donkeys, the gut microbiota diversity and richness of the young donkeys showed significantly less resemblance. The microbial data showed that diversity and richness increased with age, but a highly individual variation of microbial composition was observed at month 1. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed a significant difference across five time points in the feces. The abundance of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Odoribacter tended to decrease, while the proportion of Streptococcus was significantly increased with age. For functional prediction, the relative abundance of pathways had a significant difference in the feces across different age groups, for example, Terpenoids and Polyketides and Folding, Sorting, and Degradation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The analysis of beta diversity (PCoA and LEfSe) and microbial functions predicted with PICRUSt (NSTIs) clearly divided the donkeys into foals (≤3 months old) and adults (≥7 months old). Microbial community composition and structure had distinctive features at each age group, in accordance with functional stability of the microbiota. Our findings established a framework for understanding the composition and function of the fecal microbiota to differ between young and adult donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingya Xing
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Guiqin Liu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.,College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Xinzhuang Zhang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Dongyi Bai
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jie Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Liaocheng, China
| | - Lanjie Li
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Xisheng Wang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Shaofeng Su
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yiping Zhao
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Gerelchimeg Bou
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Manglai Dugarjaviin
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
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28
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Tavenner MK, McDonnell SM, Biddle AS. Development of the equine hindgut microbiome in semi-feral and domestic conventionally-managed foals. Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:43. [PMID: 33499959 PMCID: PMC7807438 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00060-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early development of the gut microbiome is an essential part of neonate health in animals. It is unclear whether the acquisition of gut microbes is different between domesticated animals and their wild counterparts. In this study, fecal samples from ten domestic conventionally managed (DCM) Standardbred and ten semi-feral managed (SFM) Shetland-type pony foals and dams were compared using 16S rRNA sequencing to identify differences in the development of the foal hindgut microbiome related to time and management. Results Gut microbiome diversity of dams was lower than foals overall and within groups, and foals from both groups at Week 1 had less diverse gut microbiomes than subsequent weeks. The core microbiomes of SFM dams and foals had more taxa overall, and greater numbers of taxa within species groups when compared to DCM dams and foals. The gut microbiomes of SFM foals demonstrated enhanced diversity of key groups: Verrucomicrobia (RFP12), Ruminococcaceae, Fusobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp., based on age and management. Lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus spp. and other Lactobacillaceae genera were enriched only in DCM foals, specifically during their second and third week of life. Predicted microbiome functions estimated computationally suggested that SFM foals had higher mean sequence counts for taxa contributing to the digestion of lipids, simple and complex carbohydrates, and protein. DCM foal microbiomes were more similar to their dams in week five and six than were SFM foals at the same age. Conclusions This study demonstrates the impact of management on the development of the foal gut microbiome in the first 6 weeks of life. The higher numbers of taxa within and between bacterial groups found in SFM dams and foals suggests more diversity and functional redundancy in their gut microbiomes, which could lend greater stability and resiliency to these communities. The colonization of lactic acid bacteria in the early life of DCM foals suggests enrichment in response to the availability of dams’ feed. Thus, management type is an important driver of gut microbiome establishment on horses, and we may look to semi-feral horses for guidance in defining a healthy gut microbiome for domestic horses. Supplementary Information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s42523-020-00060-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith K Tavenner
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
| | - Sue M McDonnell
- Havemeyer Equine Behavior Laboratory, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA
| | - Amy S Biddle
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Newark, DE, 19711, USA.
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29
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Liu Y, Bailey KE, Dyall-Smith M, Marenda MS, Hardefeldt LY, Browning GF, Gilkerson JR, Billman-Jacobe H. Faecal microbiota and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of healthy foals. Equine Vet J 2020; 53:806-816. [PMID: 33030244 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human and domestic animal faecal microbiota can carry various antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), especially if they have been exposed to antimicrobials. However, little is known about the ARG profile of the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. A high-throughput qPCR array was used to detect ARGs in the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. OBJECTIVES To characterise the faecal microbiota and ARG profiles in healthy Australian foals aged less than 1 month. STUDY DESIGN Observational study. METHODS The faecal microbiota and ARG profiles of 37 Thoroughbred foals with no known gastrointestinal disease or antimicrobial treatment were determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a high-throughput ARG qPCR array. Each foal was sampled on one occasion. RESULTS Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the faecal microbiota. Foals aged 1-2 weeks had significantly lower microbiota richness than older foals. Tetracycline resistance genes were the most common ARGs in the majority of foals, regardless of age. ARGs of high clinical concern were rarely detected in the faeces. The presence of ARGs was associated with the presence of class I integron genes. MAIN LIMITATIONS Samples were collected for a case-control study so foals were not sampled longitudinally, and thus the development of the microbiota as individual foals aged could not be proven. The history of antimicrobial treatment of the dams was not collected and may have affected the microbiota of the foals. CONCLUSION The ARGs in foal faeces varied concomitantly with age-related microbiota shifts. The high abundance of tetracycline resistance genes was likely due to the dominance of Bacteroides spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Liu
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kirsten E Bailey
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Dyall-Smith
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marc S Marenda
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Laura Y Hardefeldt
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Glenn F Browning
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James R Gilkerson
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Helen Billman-Jacobe
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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30
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Henry S, Sigurjónsdóttir H, Klapper A, Joubert J, Montier G, Hausberger M. Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices? Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10020361. [PMID: 32102206 PMCID: PMC7070483 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial weaning is a standard practice known to be one of the most stressful events in a domestic foal's life. Research has mainly focused on ways to alleviate weaning stress. However, there is still a need for more detailed research on what should constitute best practices with respect to animal welfare. The aim of this review is to address this issue by examining the natural weaning process. We first provide an overview of the scientific literature on the natural temporal dynamics of the dam-offspring bond in horses: it is to be noted that the natural process of weaning is little documented, individual variations have been poorly investigated and immediate effects of weaning on the mare-foal relationship remain unexplored. To partly address these gaps, we performed a study around the weaning period on 16 mare-foal pairs kept with minimal human interference. Most foals were weaned spontaneously when 9-10 months old, with individual variations mainly due to the conception rate of mares. Natural weaning induced no stress response in either partner and was performed without clear signs of rejection by the dams either just before or after. We lastly open up the discussion on the need for rethinking weaning practices under domestic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Henry
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)—UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France; (A.K.); (J.J.); (G.M.); (M.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir
- Faculty of Subject Teacher Education, School of Education, University of Iceland, Stakkahlíð, R105 Reykjavík, Iceland;
| | - Aziliz Klapper
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)—UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France; (A.K.); (J.J.); (G.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Julie Joubert
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)—UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France; (A.K.); (J.J.); (G.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Gabrielle Montier
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)—UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France; (A.K.); (J.J.); (G.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Martine Hausberger
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)—UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France; (A.K.); (J.J.); (G.M.); (M.H.)
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Garber A, Hastie P, Murray JA. Factors Influencing Equine Gut Microbiota: Current Knowledge. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 88:102943. [PMID: 32303307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal microbiota play a crucial role in nutrient digestion, maintaining animal health and welfare. Various factors may affect microbial balance often leading to disturbances that may result in debilitating conditions such as colic and laminitis. The invention of next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics has provided valuable information on the effects of factors influencing equine gut microbiota. Among those factors are nutrition and management (e.g., diet, supplements, exercise), medical substances (e.g., antimicrobials, anthelmintics, anesthetics), animal-related factors (breed and age), various pathological conditions (colitis, diarrhea, colic, laminitis, equine gastric ulcer syndrome), as well as stress-related factors (transportation and weaning). The aim of this review is to assimilate current knowledge on equine microbiome studies, focusing on the effect of factors influencing equine gastrointestinal microbiota. Decrease in microbial diversity and richness leading to decrease in stability; decrease in Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae family members, which contribute to gut homeostasis; increase in Lactobacillus and Streptococcus; decrease in lactic acid utilizing bacteria; decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria that have anti-inflammatory properties may all be considered as a negative change in equine gut microbiota. Shifts in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes have often been observed in the literature in response to certain treatments or when describing healthy and unhealthy animals; however, these shifts are inconsistent. It is time to move forward and use the knowledge now acquired to start manipulating the microbiota of horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Garber
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Peter Hastie
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jo-Anne Murray
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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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; 10:441. [PMID: 31949191 PMCID: PMC6965133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of the intestinal microbiota is critical for the digestive and immune systems. We studied the early development of the rectal microbiota in horse, a hindgut fermenter, from birth until 7 days of age, by qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. To evaluate initial sources of the foal microbiota, we characterised dam fecal, vaginal and oral microbiotas. We utilised an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) pipeline to maximise resolution and reproducibility. Stringent ASV filtering based on prevalence and abundance in samples and controls purged contaminants while preserving intestinal taxa. Sampled within 20 minutes after birth, rectal meconium contained small amounts of diverse bacterial DNA, with a profile closer to mare feces than mouth. 24 hours after birth, rectum was colonised by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, some foals dominated by single genera. At day 7, the rectal genera were still different from adult feces. The mare vaginal microbiota contributed to 24 h and 7 day microbiotas. It contained few lactobacilli, with Corynebacterium, Porphyromonas, Campylobacter and Helcococcus as the most abundant genera. In the oral mucosa, Gemella was extremely abundant. Our observations indicate that bacteria or bacterial components are present in the intestine immediately after birth, but the newborn microbiota changes rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Husso
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Jalanka
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M J Alipour
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P Huhti
- Saharan ravitalli (Sahara stud), Haapamäki, Finland
| | - M Kareskoski
- Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Pessa-Morikawa
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Iivanainen
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - M Niku
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Mols KL, Boe-Hansen GB, Mikkelsen D, Bryden WL, Cawdell-Smith AJ. Prenatal establishment of the foal gut microbiota: a critique of the in utero colonisation hypothesis. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/an20010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria colonisation of the foal’s gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a critical developmental stage, effecting subsequent immunological and health outcomes. It has long been thought that the equine fetus develops in a sterile intrauterine environment and GIT colonisation commences at birth. Research now suggests that bacteria isolated from amniotic fluid are the initial colonisers of the fetal GIT, and exposure to the dam’s microbiota and the external environment during birth provide supplementary colonisation. This in utero colonisation hypothesis has only recently been examined in the horse and microbiota were detected in the amniotic fluid and meconium of healthy equine pregnancies. This review highlights the possible colonisation routes of these bacteria into the fetal compartments and examines their likely origins from the existing maternal microbiome. However, the current data describing the amniotic microbiota of the horse are limited and there is a need for research to fill this gap. Understanding the significance of intrauterine microbes for foal GIT colonisation may provide strategies to improve neonatal health.
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Wong DM. Clinical insights: Recent development in equine neonatology and foal medicine (2017-2019). Equine Vet J 2020; 52:7-10. [PMID: 31821613 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D M Wong
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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Kauter A, Epping L, Semmler T, Antao EM, Kannapin D, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H, Lübke-Becker A, Günther S, Wieler LH, Walther B. The gut microbiome of horses: current research on equine enteral microbiota and future perspectives. Anim Microbiome 2019; 1:14. [PMID: 33499951 PMCID: PMC7807895 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-019-0013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complex interactions of microbial communities including bacteria, archaea, parasites, viruses and fungi of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) associated with states of either health or disease is still an expanding research field in both, human and veterinary medicine. GIT disorders and their consequences are among the most important diseases of domesticated Equidae, but current gaps of knowledge hinder adequate progress with respect to disease prevention and microbiome-based interventions. Current literature on enteral microbiomes mirrors a vast data and knowledge imbalance, with only few studies tackling archaea, viruses and eukaryotes compared with those addressing the bacterial components.Until recently, culture-dependent methods were used for the identification and description of compositional changes of enteral microorganisms, limiting the outcome to cultivatable bacteria only. Today, next generation sequencing technologies provide access to the entirety of genes (microbiome) associated with the microorganisms of the equine GIT including the mass of uncultured microbiota, or "microbial dark matter".This review illustrates methods commonly used for enteral microbiome analysis in horses and summarizes key findings reached for bacteria, viruses and fungi so far. Moreover, reasonable possibilities to combine different explorative techniques are described. As a future perspective, knowledge expansion concerning beneficial compositions of microorganisms within the equine GIT creates novel possibilities for early disorder diagnostics as well as innovative therapeutic approaches. In addition, analysis of shotgun metagenomic data enables tracking of certain microorganisms beyond species barriers: transmission events of bacteria including pathogens and opportunists harboring antibiotic resistance factors between different horses but also between humans and horses will reach new levels of depth concerning strain-level distinctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kauter
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS-4), Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lennard Epping
- Microbial Genomics (NG1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Semmler
- Microbial Genomics (NG1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Dania Kannapin
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabita D Stoeckle
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heidrun Gehlen
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antina Lübke-Becker
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Günther
- Pharmaceutical Biology Institute of Pharmacy, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Birgit Walther
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS-4), Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
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36
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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; 9:14427. [PMID: 31594971 PMCID: PMC6783416 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50563-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Shortly after birth the mammalian gut is colonized, by a transient microbiota, highly susceptible to environment and diet, that eventually stabilizes and becomes the resident gut microbiota. In a window of opportunity during the colonization, oral tolerance is established towards resident bacteria. In this study, the development of the equine gut microbiota was investigated in ten foals from parturition until post weaning. We found great differences in the core species of the gut microbiota composition between time-matched samples on Day 7 and 20 post-partum. Between day 20 and Day 50 post-partum, we saw the gut microbiota became increasingly dominated by fiber fermenting species. After Day 50, no significant changes in species abundance were observed. Gene expression analysis of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood revealed no significant changes before and after weaning. In summary, relative stability of the gut microbiota was reached within 50 days post-partum and, weaning did not have a major impact on the microbial composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lindenberg
- Brogaarden Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - L Krych
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - W Kot
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Aarhus University, København, Denmark
| | | | - H Frøkiær
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - G van Galen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D S Nielsen
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A K Hansen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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37
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Affiliation(s)
- P. R. Murcia
- MRC‐University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research Glasgow UK
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38
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De La Torre U, Henderson JD, Furtado KL, Pedroja M, Elenamarie O, Mora A, Pechanec MY, Maga EA, Mienaltowski MJ. Utilizing the fecal microbiota to understand foal gut transitions from birth to weaning. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216211. [PMID: 31039168 PMCID: PMC6490953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract with a properly established microbiota is necessary for a foal to develop into a healthy weanling. A foal's health can be critically impacted by aberrations in the microbiome such as with diarrhea which can cause great morbidity and mortality in foals. In this study, we hypothesized that gut establishment in the foal transitioning from a diet of milk to a diet of grain, forage, and pasture would be detectable through analyses of the fecal microbiotas. Fecal samples from 37 sets of foals and mares were collected at multiple time points ranging from birth to weaning. Bacterial DNA was isolated from the samples, and the V4 domain of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified via polymerase chain reaction. Next generation sequencing was then performed on the resulting amplicons, and analyses were performed to characterize the microbiome as well as the relative abundance of microbiota present. We found that bacterial population compositions followed a pattern throughout the early life of the foal in an age-dependent manner. As foals transitioned from milk consumption to a forage and grain diet, there were recognizable changes in fecal microbial compositions from initial populations predominant in the ability to metabolize milk to populations capable of utilizing fibrous plant material. We were also able to recognize differences in microbial populations amongst diarrheic foals as well as microbial population differences associated with differences in management styles between facilities. Future efforts will gauge the effects of lesser abundant bacterial populations that could also be essential to GI health, as well as to determine how associations between microbial population profiles and animal management practices can be used to inform strategies for improving upon the health and growth of horses overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ubaldo De La Torre
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - John D. Henderson
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Kathleen L. Furtado
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Madeleine Pedroja
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - O’Malley Elenamarie
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Anthony Mora
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Monica Y. Pechanec
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Maga
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Mienaltowski
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Wright S. Highlights of recent clinically relevant papers. EQUINE VET EDUC 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eve.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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