Equine Development of Gut Microbiota

This is a baby horse! Photo credit: [1]

By Mira Allen

Topic: equine development of gut microbiota

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Introduction

In utero, horses intestinal tracts are close to sterile. Soon after birth, however, microbial colonization skyrockets. Proper colonization lasts about 50 days, and is incredibly important as improper microbial gut content can result in dysbiosis, causing inflammation and metabolic disease [1]. Equine hind-gut microbiota enable nutritional optimization from an otherwise nutrient-poor foraging diet via plant material fermentation [2]. The initial colonization, stabilization, and then weaning period (4-6 months old) as a foal transfers to solid food are important periods in establishing the microbial composition of the colon [1].

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Gut Colonization: Birth to Maturity

The stages of microbiome colonization in mammals are as follows:
- Initial colonization [1]
- Microbiota stabilization [1]
- Weaning (in foals: 4-6 months) [1]
- Transfer to solid foods (occurs gradually) [1]

While these are generally applicable in mammals, it has been demonstrated that the foal gut microbiome closely resembles their mother's around 60 days of age [1]. This means that their microbiome development occurs more rapidly than most other mammals. While it is unclear where colonization begins exactly, it is likely in utero, and if not, in the birth canal [1]. This is then furthered via the consumption of mare's milk and manure [1]. Manure consumption occurs most commonly until about 2 months of age [1].

Microbiome Species

The core mature equine microbiome that has so far been documented to include:
- Bacteroides uniformis [1]
- Bacteroides fragilis [1]
- Parabacteroides [1]
- Butyricimonas (all Bacteroidetes)[1]
- Enterobacteriaceae (Proteobacteria) [1]
- Lactobacillus mucosae [1]
- Blautia producta [1]
- Streptococcus (all Firmicutes) [1]

References

Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski,at Kenyon College,2024