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Cooke CG, Gibb Z, Grupen CG, Schemann K, Deshpande N, Harnett JE. The semen microbiome of miniature pony stallions. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:RD23117. [PMID: 38331564 DOI: 10.1071/rd23117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Little is known about the microbial composition of stallion semen. AIMS To describe the microbiota detected in equine semen of healthy miniature pony stallions. METHODS Semen specimens were collected using a Missouri artificial vagina at a single time point. PacBio (Pacific Biosciences) genomic DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was performed on these specimens, following which next-generation microbiome bioinformatics platform QIIME2 was used to process fastq files and analyse the amplicon data. The data were categorised into genus, family, class, order and phylum. KEY RESULTS Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla predominated (76%), followed by Proteobacteria (15%). Bacteroidales, Clostridiales and Cardiobacteriales predominated the microbial rank of order (86%). Class was mainly composed of Bacteroidia, Clostridia and Gammaproteobacteria (87%), while family was mainly composed of Porphyromonadaceae , Family_XI and Cardiobacteriaceae (62%). At the level of genus, 80% of the abundance was composed of seven genera, namely Porphyromonas, Suttonella, Peptoniphilus, Fastidiosipila, Ezakiella, Petrimonas and an unknown taxon. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that specific microbiota may be characteristic of healthy miniature pony stallions' semen with some inter-individual variations observed. IMPLICATIONS Larger equine studies involving fertile and infertile subjects could be informed by this study and could explore the relationship of the semen microbiome to male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Giselle Cooke
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Zamira Gibb
- Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Christopher G Grupen
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - Kathrin Schemann
- Sydney Informatics Hub, Core Research Facilities, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Nandan Deshpande
- Sydney Informatics Hub, Core Research Facilities, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joanna E Harnett
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Labens R, Raidal S, Borgen-Nielsen C, Pyecroft S, Pant SD, De Ridder T. Wound healing of experimental equine skin wounds and concurrent microbiota in wound dressings following topical propylene glycol gel treatment. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1294021. [PMID: 38155761 PMCID: PMC10752953 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1294021] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Topical wound treatments rely on carrier formulations with little to no biological impact. The potential for a common vehicle, a propylene glycol (PG) gel, to affect wound healing measures including microbiota is not known. Microbiome characterization, based on next generation sequencing methods is typically performed on tissue or directly obtained wound fluid samples. The utility for primary wound dressings to characterize equine wound microbiota in the context of topical treatments is currently unknown. This investigation reports the topical effect of an 80% PG based gel on wound healing and microbiota in wound dressings. Methods Experiments were performed in six mature horses utilizing a surgical, distal limb wound model, histology of sequential wound biopsies, photographic wound measurements and microbiota profiling via 16s rRNA sequencing of wound dressing samples. Experimental wounds were surveyed for 42 days and either treated (Day 7, 14, 21 and 28; at 0.03 ml/cm2) or unexposed to the PG gel. Wound surface area, relative and absolute microbial abundances, diversity indices and histologic parameters were analyzed in the context of the experimental group (treatment; control) using qualitative or quantitative methods depending on data characteristics. Results Compared to controls, treatment slowed the wound healing rate (17.17 ± 4.27 vs. 18.56 ± 6.3 mm2/day), delayed the temporal decline of polymorphonucleated cells in wound beds and operational taxonomic units (OTU) in wound dressings and lowered alpha-diversity indices for microbiota in primary wound dressing. Relative abundances of OTUs were in line with those previously reported for equine wounds. Clinical outcomes 42 days post wounding were considered similar irrespective of PG gel exposure. Discussion Results highlight the potential for vehicle exposure to alter relevant wound outcome measures, imposing the need for stringent experimental control measures. Primary wound dressings may represent an alternate sample source for characterization of the wound microbiome alleviating the need for additional interventions. Further studies are warranted to contrast the microbiome in wound dressings against that present on wound surfaces to conclude on the validity of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Labens
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
- QBiotics Group Ltd., Yungaburra, QLD, Australia
| | - Sharanne Raidal
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Cathrine Borgen-Nielsen
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen Pyecroft
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Sameer D. Pant
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
- Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
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Umbach AK, Fernando C, Hill JE, Neufeld JD. Evaluating cpn60 for high-resolution profiling of the mammalian skin microbiome and detection of phylosymbiosis. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:69. [PMID: 37419988 PMCID: PMC10328941 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite being the most widely used phylogenetic marker for amplicon-based profiling of microbial communities, limited phylogenetic resolution of the 16S rRNA gene limits its use for studies of host-microbe co-evolution. In contrast, the cpn60 gene is a universal phylogenetic marker with greater sequence variation capable of species-level resolution. This research compared mammalian skin microbial profiles generated from cpn60 and 16S rRNA gene sequencing approaches, testing for patterns of phylosymbiosis that suggest co-evolutionary host-microbe associations. An ~560 bp fragment of the cpn60 gene was amplified with universal primers and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Taxonomic classification of cpn60 sequences was completed using a naïve-Bayesian QIIME2 classifier created for this project, trained with an NCBI-supplemented curated cpn60 database (cpnDB_nr). The cpn60 dataset was then compared to published 16S rRNA gene amplicon data. Beta diversity comparisons of microbial community profiles generated with cpn60 and 16S rRNA gene amplicons were not significantly different, based on Procrustes analysis of Bray-Curtis and UniFrac distances. Despite similar relationships among skin microbial profiles, improved phylogenetic resolution provided by the cpn60 gene sequencing permitted observations of phylosymbiosis between microbial community profiles and their mammalian hosts that were not previously observed with 16S rRNA gene profiles. Subsequent investigation of Staphylococcaceae taxa using the cpn60 gene showed increased phylogenetic resolution compared the 16S rRNA gene profiles, revealing potential co-evolutionary host-microbe associations. Overall, our results demonstrate that 16S rRNA and cpn60 marker genes generate comparable microbial community composition patterns while cpn60 better facilitates analyses, such as phylosymbiosis, that require increased phylogenetic resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K Umbach
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Champika Fernando
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Janet E Hill
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Josh D Neufeld
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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Brys M, Claerebout E, Chiers K. Chronic Progressive Lymphedema in Belgian Draft Horses: Understanding and Managing a Challenging Disease. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050347. [PMID: 37235431 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050347] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) in draft horses is characterized by increased dermal thickness and fibrosis, with the development of skinfolds and nodules, hyperkeratosis, and ulcerations on the distal limbs of affected horses. Secondary bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections frequently complicate and aggravate the lesions, as well as the progression of this disease. CPL has a particularly high prevalence of up to 85.86% in the Belgian draft horse breed. Due to the disease's progressive and incurable nature, affected horses are often euthanized prematurely. The treatment options are solely symptomatic, aimed at improving the horse's quality of life. Despite the severity of this condition, many uncertainties about its etiology and pathogenesis still remain to date. The established scientific research on CPL is rather limited, although there is an urgent need for strategies to tackle this disease. This review summarizes the available knowledge, serving as a guideline for practitioners, and provides perspectives for future research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Brys
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Koen Chiers
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Styková E, Nemcová R, Maďar M, Bujňáková D, Mucha R, Gancarčíková S, Requena Domenech F. Antibiofilm Activity of Weissella spp. and Bacillus coagulans Isolated from Equine Skin against Staphylococcus aureus. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:2135. [PMID: 36556500 PMCID: PMC9787530 DOI: 10.3390/life12122135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of Weissella cibaria, Weissella hellenica and Bacillus coagulans, isolated from equine skin, against biofilm-forming Staphylococcus aureus CCM 4223 and clinical isolate methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Non-neutralized cell-free supernatants (nnCFS) of tested skin isolates completely inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus strains and caused dispersion of the 24 h preformed biofilm in the range of 21-90%. The majority of the pH-neutralized cell-free supernatants (nCFS) of skin isolates inhibited the biofilm formation of both S. aureus strains in the range of 20-100%. The dispersion activity of B. coagulans nCFS ranged from 17 to 77% and was significantly lower than that of nnCFS, except for B. coagulans 3T27 against S. aureus CCM 4223. Changes in the growth of S. aureus CCM 4223 in the presence of catalase- or trypsin-treated W. hellenica 4/2D23 and W. cibaria 4/8D37 nCFS indicated the role of peroxides and/or bacteriocin in their antimicrobial activities. For the first time, the presence of the fenD gene, associated with biosurfactants production, was detected in B. coagulans. The results of this study showed that selected isolates may have the potential for the prevention and treatment of biofilm-forming S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Styková
- Clinic of Horses, University Veterinary Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Radomíra Nemcová
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Marián Maďar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Dobroslava Bujňáková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Šoltésovej 4, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Rastislav Mucha
- Institute of Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Šoltésovej 4, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Soňa Gancarčíková
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
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Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Collaud A, Hurni J, Perreten V. Prevalence and WGS-based characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal mucosa and pastern of horses with equine pastern dermatitis. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:79. [PMID: 35209904 PMCID: PMC8867626 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03053-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many contributing factors are involved in the development of equine pastern dermatitis (EPD). Among the most frequently suspected is Staphylococcus aureus, known for its pathogenic potential in skin and soft tissue infections. We therefore investigated the association between S. aureus carriage and EPD. RESULTS One hundred five EPD-affected horses and 95 unaffected controls were examined for the presence of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA) on the pastern skin and in the nostrils. S. aureus isolates were cultivated from swab samples on selective MSSA and MRSA chromogenic agar and identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Isolates were analysed by Illumina whole genome sequencing for genetic relatedness (cgMLST, spa typing), and for the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. A markedly higher proportion of samples from EPD-affected horses proved positive for S. aureus, both from the pastern (59.0 % vs. 6.3 % in unaffected horses; P<0.001), and from the nose (59.0 % vs. 8.4 %; P<0.001). Isolates belonged to 20 sequence types (ST) with lineages ST15-t084 (spa) (18 %), ST1-t127 (13 %), and ST1-t1508 (12 %) being predominant. Eight S. aureus were MRSA ST398-t011 and ST6239-t1456, and contained the staphylococcal cassette chromosome SCCmecIVa. Antimicrobial resistance genes were almost equally frequent in pastern and in nasal samples, whereas some virulence factors such as the beta-hemolysin, ESAT-6 secretion system, and some enterotoxins were more abundant in isolates from pastern samples, possibly enhancing their pathogenic potential. CONCLUSIONS The markedly higher prevalence of S. aureus containing specific virulence factors in affected skin suggests their contribution in the development and course of EPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kaiser-Thom
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vinzenz Gerber
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Collaud
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joel Hurni
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Perreten
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Kaiser-Thom S, Hilty M, Ramseyer A, Epper P, Gerber V. The relationship between equine pastern dermatitis, meteorological factors, and the skin microbiota. Vet Dermatol 2021; 33:165-e48. [PMID: 34888974 PMCID: PMC9300176 DOI: 10.1111/vde.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a multifactorial syndrome, with prolonged exposure to moisture assumed to be a predisposing or primary factor. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To examine the course of EPD lesion severity, changes in bacterial skin microbiota, and the influence of meteorological factors. ANIMALS Prospective, longitudinal cohort study over a one-year period, with six Franches-Montagnes stallions, four affected by EPD and two unaffected, that were kept under the same conditions. METHODS AND MATERIALS Pasterns were scored for lesion severity and sampled once a month for 12 consecutive months. Lesion severity, the skin microbiota and meteorological factors were examined for associations. RESULTS EPD lesions tended to worsen in autumn and at the beginning of spring. The relationship between lesion severity and the meteorological factor precipitation was not clearly evident; high scores were preceded by both low or high rates of precipitation. Microbiota in affected pasterns appeared to have experienced a reduction in alpha diversity. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated that bacterial community structures were altered in affected versus unaffected pasterns, and that alterations were more pronounced with higher EPD scores (P = 0.005). Meteorological factors also had considerable influences on the bacterial composition, whereby these influences appeared to be more marked in the affected pasterns (P = 0.001, F = 3.19) than in unaffected ones (P = 0.005, F = 1.83). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our study provides preliminary observations of the relationships between lesion severity, meteorological factors and cutaneous bacteria. The population was too small to draw firm conclusions, and further studies on environmental factors and the involvement of bacteria in this multifactorial disease are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kaiser-Thom
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | - Markus Hilty
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, Bern, 3010, Switzerland
| | - Alessandra Ramseyer
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Les Longs-Prés, Avenches, 1580, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Epper
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Les Longs-Prés, Avenches, 1580, Switzerland
| | - Vinzenz Gerber
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
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