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The Influence of Probiotic Supplements on Microbial Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Healthy Horses

Barnhart, Katelyn L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437693649

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Animal Sciences.
Bacteria play a crucial role in the gastrointestinal health of horses and stress, medication and diet can alter microbial populations leading to decreased health. Recently there has been increased interest in the prophylactic use of probiotic supplements in healthy horses. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of probiotic supplements in three separate studies. In the first study, seven Quarter Horse mares (10.0 ± 2.0 yr) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments in a crossover design with 49 d experimental periods. All horses received a control diet of 0.5% BW of 12% CP pelleted concentrate with water and mixed grass hay ad libitum (CTL) or the control diet supplemented with 140 g of a probiotic containing 109 cfu per dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus (TRT) intended for humans. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49. In the second study, 12 Quarter Horses (4 geldings, 8 mares; 1.5 ± 0.5 yr) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. All horses received a control diet of 0.5% BW of 14% CP pelleted concentrate with water and mixed grass hay ad libitum (CTL) or the control diet supplemented with 10 g of a commercial probiotic containing 107 cfu per dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus (TRT) intended for livestock. Fecal samples were collected weekly for 77 d. In the third study, six Miniature Horse geldings (7.5 ± 3.5 yr) were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin Square design. Each horse received a control diet of 1.5% BW of a mixed grass hay and water ad libitum and was randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups during each 14 d period: control diet only (CTL), control diet supplemented with 0.11g/kg of BW of a commercial equine probiotic containing 2.0 x 107 cfu/g of Bacillus subtilis (LO) or control diet supplemented with 0.22 g/kg of BW of the commercial equine probiotic (HI). Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14 of each period. For each study, fecal samples were pooled by treatment group and time. DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR-DGGE. PCR-DGGE images were analyzed with BioNumerics to generate dendrogram comparisons and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCA). Band counts were analyzed using the LOESS procedure of SAS (p-value of = 0.05). In the first study with Quarter Horse mares receiving a human probiotic, PCA and dendrogram analyses revealed changes in the microbial profile of Lactobacillus species clustered by treatment. In the second study with young Quarter Horses, the probiotic intended for livestock altered the microbial diversity of starch-utilizing species revealing clusters in PCA and dendrograms. In the third study with Miniature Horses, the probiotic intended for equine use altered the microbial profiles on d 14. Dendrograms representing Bacillus spp. indicated clustering by treatment on d 7, 10 and 14 in horses receiving the HI dose. Together, these studies suggest probiotics can change the microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy horses.
Kimberly Cole (Advisor)
Zhongtang Yu (Committee Member)
Pasha Lyvers-Peffer (Committee Member)
125 p.
Animal Sciences
Probiotics Horses Bacteria PCR-DGGE

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Citations

  • Barnhart, K. L. (2015). The Influence of Probiotic Supplements on Microbial Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Healthy Horses [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437693649

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Barnhart, Katelyn. The Influence of Probiotic Supplements on Microbial Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Healthy Horses. 2015. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437693649.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Barnhart, Katelyn. "The Influence of Probiotic Supplements on Microbial Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Healthy Horses." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437693649

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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