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Bull K, Davies G, Jenkins TP, Peachey L. The faecal microbiome of Exmoor ponies shows step-wise compositional changes with increasing levels of management by humans. Equine Vet J 2024; 56:159-170. [PMID: 37264698 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horses can suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disease in domestic environments, often precipitated by human-led changes in management. Understanding the consequences of these changes on equine gut microbiota is key to the prevention of such disease episodes. OBJECTIVE Profile the faecal microbiota of adult female Exmoor ponies under three management conditions, representing increasing levels of management by humans, encompassing different diets; whilst controlling for age, breed and sex. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional descriptive. METHODS Faecal samples were collected from three populations of Exmoor ponies kept under contrasting management conditions: 29 adult female ponies in groups with low management (LM) (n = 10), medium management (MM) (n = 10) and high management (HM) (n = 9) levels, based on diet, drug use, handling and exercise. Faecal microbial composition was profiled via high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and functional metagenome predictions. RESULTS We observed profound step-wise changes in microbiome structure in the transition from LM to MM to HM. A relatively high abundance of Proteobacteria and Tenericutes was associated with the HM group; higher abundance of Methanobacteria was observed in the LM group. The MM group had intermediate levels of these taxa and exhibited high 'within group' variation in alpha diversity. Functional predictions revealed increased amino acid and lipid metabolism in HM; energy metabolism in LM and carbohydrate metabolism and immune/metabolic disease pathways in MM. MAIN LIMITATIONS Low group sizes, incomplete knowledge of bacterial genomes in equine gut microbiota and it was not possible to assess the relative impact of diet, drug use, handling and exercise on the microbiome as variables were confounded. CONCLUSIONS Human-led management factors had profound step-wise effects on faecal microbial composition. Based on functional metagenome predictions, we hypothesise that dietary differences between groups were the major driver of observed differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Bull
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gareth Davies
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Timothy P Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Laura Peachey
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Gillen A, Catherine Archer D. Epidemiology of Colic: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2023:S0749-0739(23)00017-2. [PMID: 37268523 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies are essential for the generation of evidence-based, preventive health care strategies. This includes ways to minimize colic risk and assist informed decision making concerning diagnosis, treatment, and likely outcomes. It is important to consider that colic is not a simple "disease" but is a syndrome of abdominal pain that encompasses multiple different disease processes, and which is multifactorial in nature. This review focuses on prevention and diagnosis of colic, including specific forms of colic, communications with owners/carers concerning colic risk and management, and areas of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Gillen
- Department of Equine Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Debra Catherine Archer
- Department of Equine Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, United Kingdom.
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Ma X, Li J, Yang L, Liu H, Zhu Y, Ren H, Yu F, Liu B. Short Term Effect of Ivermectin on the Bacterial Microbiota from Fecal Samples in Chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera). Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10020169. [PMID: 36851473 PMCID: PMC9960913 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal microbiota plays an important role in health of the host animals and the detrimental influence of pharmaceutical treatment on the fecal microbiota receives an increasing concern. The clinical use of ivermectin on chinchillas has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of our study was to assess the influence of ivermectin injection on the fecal bacterial microbiota of chinchillas. A with-in subject, before and after study was performed on 10 clinically healthy chinchillas during a 14-day period, all chinchillas received the same ivermectin treatment, and the microbiota from their fecal samples before and after administration were compared as two experimental groups. Fecal samples were collected on day 0 (before ivermectin administration) and day 14 (post ivermectin administration). Fecal bacterial microbiota was analyzed by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No clinical abnormalities were observed post subcutaneous administration of ivermectin. No significant alteration was found in the abundance and diversity of fecal bacterial microbiota after treatment, but the dominant position of some bacterial species changed. In conclusion, ivermectin administration was associated with minimal alternations of the fecal bacterial microbiota in healthy chinchillas, and these changes had no observed negative effect on general health of chinchillas in short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Ma
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Beijing Zhongnongda Veterinary Hospital Co., Ltd.), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Luo Yang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Haoqian Liu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiping Zhu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Honglin Ren
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Feng Yu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Beijing Zhongnongda Veterinary Hospital Co., Ltd.), Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (F.Y.); (B.L.)
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Beijing Zhongnongda Veterinary Hospital Co., Ltd.), Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (F.Y.); (B.L.)
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4
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Boisseau M, Dhorne-Pollet S, Bars-Cortina D, Courtot É, Serreau D, Annonay G, Lluch J, Gesbert A, Reigner F, Sallé G, Mach N. Species interactions, stability, and resilience of the gut microbiota - Helminth assemblage in horses. iScience 2023; 26:106044. [PMID: 36818309 PMCID: PMC9929684 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The nature and strength of interactions entertained among helminths and their host gut microbiota remain largely unexplored. Using 40 naturally infected Welsh ponies, we tracked the gut microbiota-cyathostomin temporal dynamics and stability before and following anthelmintic treatment and the associated host blood transcriptomic response. High shedders harbored 14 species of cyathostomins, dominated by Cylicocyclus nassatus. They exhibited a highly diverse and temporal dynamic gut microbiota, with butyrate-producing Clostridia likely driving the ecosystem steadiness and host tolerance toward cyathostomins infection. However, anthelmintic administration sharply bent the microbial community. It disrupted the ecosystem stability and the time-dependent network of interactions, affecting longer term microbial resilience. These observations highlight how anthelmintic treatments alter the triangular relationship of parasite, host, and gut microbiota and open new perspectives for adding nutritional intervention to current parasite management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Boisseau
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France,IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31076 Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Dhorne-Pollet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - David Bars-Cortina
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Élise Courtot
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Delphine Serreau
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gwenolah Annonay
- INRAE, US UMR 1426, Genomic platform, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Jérôme Lluch
- INRAE, US UMR 1426, Genomic platform, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Amandine Gesbert
- INRAE, UE Physiologie Animale de l’Orfrasière, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabrice Reigner
- INRAE, UE Physiologie Animale de l’Orfrasière, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Sallé
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France,Corresponding author
| | - Núria Mach
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France,IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31076 Toulouse, France,Corresponding author
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5
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Fulham M, Power M, Gray R. Gut microbiota of endangered Australian sea lion pups is unchanged by topical ivermectin treatment for endemic hookworm infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1048013. [PMID: 36601397 PMCID: PMC9806137 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1048013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is essential for the development and maintenance of the hosts' immune system. Disturbances to the gut microbiota in early life stages can result in long-lasting impacts on host health. This study aimed to determine if topical ivermectin treatment for endemic hookworm (Uncinaria sanguinis) infection in endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) pups resulted in gut microbial changes. The gut microbiota was characterised for untreated (control) (n = 23) and treated (n = 23) Australian sea lion pups sampled during the 2019 and 2020/21 breeding seasons at Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island. Samples were collected pre- and post-treatment on up to four occasions over a four-to-five-month period. The gut microbiota of untreated (control) and treated pups in both seasons was dominated by five bacterial phyla, Fusobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. A significant difference in alpha diversity between treatment groups was seen in pups sampled during the 2020/21 breeding season (p = 0.008), with higher richness and diversity in treated pups. Modelling the impact of individual pup identification (ID), capture, pup weight (kg), standard length (cm), age and sex on beta diversity revealed that pup ID accounted for most of the variation (35% in 2019 and 42% in 2020/21), with pup ID, capture, and age being the only significant contributors to microbial variation (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the composition of the microbiota between treatment groups in both the 2019 and 2020/21 breeding seasons, indicating that topical ivermectin treatment did not alter the composition of the gut microbiota. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterise the gut microbiota of free-ranging Australian pinniped pups, compare the composition across multiple time points, and to consider the impact of parasitic treatment on overall diversity and microbial composition of the gut microbiota. Importantly, the lack of compositional changes in the gut microbiota with treatment support the utility of topical ivermectin as a safe and minimally invasive management strategy to enhance pup survival in this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel Fulham
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Power
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia,*Correspondence: Rachael Gray,
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Żak-Bochenek A, Bajzert J, Sambor D, Siwińska N, Szponar B, Łaczmański Ł, Żebrowska P, Czajkowska A, Karczewski M, Chełmońska-Soyta A. Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses-Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 36428322 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The defensive function of the intestinal mucosa depends both on the ability to secrete immunoglobulin A and communication with the mucus microbiome. In horses, the functioning of this system is also influenced by the presence of nematode eggs. Feces collected from healthy horses were examined to determine the fecal egg count, immunoglobulin A level (ELISA), microbiome composition (Next-Generation Sequencing, NGS, V3−V4 and V7−V9 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene analysis and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production ((high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC). In the taxonomic analysis within the phylum, the following order of dominance was found: Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota and Fibrobacterota. The coefficient of phylogenetic diversity of the microbiome positively correlated with both secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) [μg/g of feces] (p = 0.0354, r = 0.61) and SIgA [μg/mg of fecal protein] (p = 0.0382, r = 0.6) and with the number of Cyathostomum eggs (p = 0.0023, r = 0.79). Important components of the key microbiome in horses, such as phylum Proteobacteria and species Ruminococcus flavefaciens, were positively correlated with the fecal SIgA (p < 0.05). All the obtained results indicate the existence of significant relationships between the host response (SIgA production) and composition and SCFA production in the microbiome as well as the presence of small strongyles in the digestive tract of horses.
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Castilla Gómez de Agüero V, Esteban-Blanco C, Argüello H, Valderas-García E, Andrés S, Balaña-Fouce R, Arranz JJ, Gutiérrez-Gil B, Martínez-Valladares M. Microbial community in resistant and susceptible Churra sheep infected by Teladorsagia circumcincta. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17620. [PMID: 36271016 PMCID: PMC9587209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major threat to health and welfare in small ruminants worldwide. Teladorsagia circumcincta is a nematode that inhabits the abomasum of sheep, especially in temperate regions, causing important economic losses. Given that T. circumcincta and microbiome share the same niche, interactions between them and the host are expected. Although it is known that within a sheep breed there are animals that are more resistant than others to infection by GIN, it is not known if the microbiome influences the phenotype of these animals. Under this condition, 12 sheep were classified according to their cumulative faecal egg count (cFEC) at the end of a first experimental infection, 6 as resistant group (RG) and 6 as susceptible group (SG) to T. circumcincta infection. Then, all sheep were experimentally infected with 70,000 L3 of T. circumcincta and at day 7 days post-infection were euthanized. At necropsy, gastric mucosa and gastric content from abomasum were collected to extract bacterial DNA and sequence V3-V4 region from 16S rRNA gene using Ilumina technology. After bioanalysis performed, results showed that α-diversity and β-diversity remained similar in both groups. However, resistant phenotype sheep showed a higher number of bacteria butyrate-fermenting species as Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (abundance in RG: 1.29% and in SG: 0.069%; p = 0.05), and Turicibacter (abundance in RG: 0.31% and in SG: 0.027%; p = 0.07) in gastric content but also Serratia spp in gastric mucosa (abundance in RG: 0.12% and in SG: 0.041%; p = 0.07). A trend towards a significant negative correlation between cFEC and Clostridium sensu stricto 1 abundance in gastric content was detected (r = - 0.537; p = 0.08). These data suggest that microbiome composition could be another factor associated with the development of the resistant phenotype modifying the interaction with the host and the in last instance affecting the individual risk of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Castilla Gómez de Agüero
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346, Grulleros, León, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Cristina Esteban-Blanco
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Héctor Argüello
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Elora Valderas-García
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346, Grulleros, León, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Sonia Andrés
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346, Grulleros, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Juan José Arranz
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Beatriz Gutiérrez-Gil
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346, Grulleros, León, Spain.
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain.
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Hu D, Tang Y, Wang C, Qi Y, Ente M, Li X, Zhang D, Li K, Chu H. The Role of Intestinal Microbial Metabolites in the Immunity of Equine Animals Infected With Horse Botflies. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:832062. [PMID: 35812868 PMCID: PMC9257286 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.832062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota and its metabolites play an important role in regulating the host metabolism and immunity. However, the underlying mechanism is still not well studied. Thus, we conducted the LC-MS/MS analysis and RNA-seq analysis on Equus przewalskii with and without horse botfly infestation to determine the metabolites produced by intestinal microbiota in feces and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the immune response in blood and attempted to link them together. The results showed that parasite infection could change the composition of microbial metabolites. These identified metabolites could be divided into six categories, including compounds with biological roles, bioactive peptides, endocrine-disrupting compounds, pesticides, phytochemical compounds, and lipids. The three pathways involving most metabolites were lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. The significant differences between the host with and without parasites were shown in 31 metabolites with known functions, which were related to physiological activities of the host. For the gene analysis, we found that parasite infection could alarm the host immune response. The gene of “cathepsin W” involved in innate and adaptive immune responses was upregulated. The two genes of the following functions were downregulated: “protein S100-A8” and “protein S100-A9-like isoform X2” involved in chemokine and cytokine production, the toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and immune and inflammatory responses. GO and KEGG analyses showed that immune-related functions of defense response and Th17 cell differentiation had significant differences between the host with and without parasites, respectively. Last, the relationship between metabolites and genes was determined in this study. The purine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism contained the most altered metabolites and DEGs, which mainly influenced the conversion of ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, GMP, GDP, UTP, UDP, UMP, dTTP, dTDP, dTMP, and RNA. Thus, it could be concluded that parasitic infection can change the intestinal microbial metabolic activity and enhance immune response of the host through the pathway of purine and pyrimidine metabolism. This results will be a valuable contribution to understanding the bidirectional association of the parasite, intestinal microbiota, and host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dini Hu
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujun Tang
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski's Horse, Ürümqi, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Altay Management Station of Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Altay, China
| | - Yingjie Qi
- Altay Management Station of Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Altay, China
| | - Make Ente
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski's Horse, Ürümqi, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski's Horse, Ürümqi, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Li
| | - Hongjun Chu
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, Ürümqi, China
- Hongjun Chu
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Hu D, Yang J, Qi Y, Li B, Li K, Mok KM. Metagenomic Analysis of Fecal Archaea, Bacteria, Eukaryota, and Virus in Przewalski's Horses Following Anthelmintic Treatment. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:708512. [PMID: 34490397 PMCID: PMC8416479 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.708512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota is involved in immune response and metabolism of the host. The frequent use of anthelmintic compounds for parasite expulsion causes disturbance to the equine intestinal microbiota. However, most studies were on the effects of such treatment on the intestinal bacterial microbes; none is on the entire microbial community including archaea and eukaryotic and viral community in equine animals. This study is the first to explore the differences of the microbial community composition and structure in Przewalski's horses prior to and following anthelmintic treatment, and to determine the corresponding changes of their functional attributes based on metagenomic sequencing. Results showed that in archaea, the methanogen of Euryarchaeota was the dominant phylum. Under this phylum, anthelmintic treatment increased the Methanobrevibacter genus and decreased the Methanocorpusculum genus and two other dominant archaea species, Methanocorpusculum labreanum and Methanocorpusculum bavaricum. In bacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla. Anthelmintic treatment increased the genera of Clostridium and Eubacterium and decreased those of Bacteroides and Prevotella and dominant bacteria species. These altered genera were associated with immunity and digestion. In eukaryota, anthelmintic treatment also changed the genera related to digestion and substantially decreased the relative abundances of identified species. In virus, anthelmintic treatment increased the genus of unclassified_d__Viruses and decreased those of unclassified_f__Siphoviridae and unclassified_f__Myoviridae. Most of the identified viral species were classified into phage, which were more sensitive to anthelmintic treatment than other viruses. Furthermore, anthelmintic treatment was found to increase the number of pathogens related to some clinical diseases in horses. The COG and KEGG function analysis showed that the intestinal microbiota of Przewalski's horse mainly participated in the carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. The anthelmintic treatment did not change their overall function; however, it displaced the population of the functional microbes involved in each function or pathway. These results provide a complete view on the changes caused by anthelmintic treatment in the intestinal microbiota of the Przewalski's horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dini Hu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianming Yang
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski's Horse, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingjie Qi
- Xinjiang Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve Management Center, Changji, China
| | - Boling Li
- China National Environment Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Meng Mok
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Macau, Macao, China
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11
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Hesta M, Costa M. How Can Nutrition Help with Gastrointestinal Tract-Based Issues? Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2021; 37:63-87. [PMID: 33820610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many horses are fed differently than their wild ancestors. They often have limited access to pasture and are fed conserved forage and concentrates rich in starch and sugars, in only 2 meals per day. Feeding practices in contrast to natural feeding behavior can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Standard nutritional evaluation is warranted because of its important role in prevention and in treatment and management of diseases. When medical and nutritional treatments are combined, success rates are higher. New techniques to characterize equine microbiota have been used, allowing for microbiota manipulation to prevent and treat intestinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Hesta
- Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke B9820, Belgium.
| | - Marcio Costa
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
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12
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Hu D, Chao Y, Zhang B, Wang C, Qi Y, Ente M, Zhang D, Li K, Mok KM. Effects of Gasterophilus pecorum infestation on the intestinal microbiota of the rewilded Przewalski's horses in China. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251512. [PMID: 33974667 PMCID: PMC8112688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Horse botflies have been a threat to the Przewalski’s horses in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve in Xinjiang of China since their reintroduction to the original range. As larvae of these parasites could infest the intestine of a horse for months, they could interact with and alter the structure and composition of its intestinal microbiota, affecting adversely its health. Nonetheless, there are no such studies on the rewilded Przewalski’s horses yet. For the first time, this study characterizes the composition of the intestinal microbiota of 7 rewilded Przewalski’s horses infected severely by Gasterophilus pecorum following and prior to their anthelmintic treatment. Bioinformatics analyses of the sequence data obtained by amplicon high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes showed that G. pecorum infestation significantly increased the richness of the intestinal microbial community but not its diversity. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were found the dominant phyla as in other animals, and the parasitic infestation decreased the F/B ratio largely by over 50%. Large reduction in relative abundances of the two genera Streptococcus and Lactobacillus observed with G. pecorum infestation suggested possible changes in colic and digestion related conditions of the infected horses. Variations on the relative abundance of the genus groups known to be pathogenic or symbiotic showed that adverse impact of the G. pecorum infestation could be associated with reduction of the symbiotic genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that are probiotics and able to promote immunity against parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dini Hu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhu Chao
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Boru Zhang
- Qinhuangdao Forestry Bureau, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Altay Management Station of Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Altay, China
| | - Yingjie Qi
- Altay Management Station of Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Altay, China
| | - Make Ente
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski’s Horse, Urumqi, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (KL); (KMM)
| | - Kai Meng Mok
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Macau, Macao, China
- * E-mail: (KL); (KMM)
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13
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Sabey KA, Song SJ, Jolles A, Knight R, Ezenwa VO. Coinfection and infection duration shape how pathogens affect the African buffalo gut microbiota. ISME J 2021; 15:1359-1371. [PMID: 33328653 PMCID: PMC8115229 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00855-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the gut microbiota during pathogen infection are often predicted to influence disease outcomes. However, studies exploring whether pathogens induce microbiota shifts have yielded inconsistent results. This suggests that variation in infection, rather than the presence of infection alone, might shape pathogen-microbiota relationships. For example, most hosts are coinfected with multiple pathogens simultaneously, and hosts vary in how long they are infected, which may amplify or diminish microbial shifts expected in response to a focal pathogen. We used a longitudinal anthelmintic treatment study of free-ranging African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) to examine whether (i) coinfection with bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis, TB) and gastrointestinal nematodes, and (ii) the duration of TB infection, modified effects of single pathogens on the gut microbiota. By accounting for the interaction between TB and nematodes, we found that coinfection affected changes in microbial abundance associated with single infections. Furthermore, the duration of TB infection predicted more microbiota variation than the presence of TB. Importantly, coinfection and infection duration had nearly as much influence on microbial patterns as demographic and environmental factors commonly examined in microbiota research. These findings demonstrate that acknowledging infection heterogeneities may be crucial to understanding relationships between pathogens and the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A Sabey
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Se Jin Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Jolles
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Vanessa O Ezenwa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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14
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Slater R, Frau A, Hodgkinson J, Archer D, Probert C. A Comparison of the Colonic Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compound Metabolome of Anoplocephala perfoliata Infected and Non-Infected Horses: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030755. [PMID: 33803473 PMCID: PMC7999024 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In horses, tapeworm infection is associated with specific forms of colic (abdominal pain) that can be life-threatening without surgical treatment. There is growing evidence that intestinal parasites interact with the gut bacteria, and the consequences of these interactions may influence the ability of the host to resist infection and parasite-associated disease. We aimed to compare the intestinal bacteria and the gases produced by metabolic processes in the gut between horses that had varying levels of tapeworms and those with no tapeworm present. Overall, the diversity of gut bacteria was similar in horses with and without tapeworms. There were some decreases in beneficial bacteria in horses with tapeworms, indicating a possible negative consequence of infection. Intestinal gases correlated with some bacteria indicating their functionality and use as potential markers of active bacteria. Our study validates further research investigating tapeworm and gut bacteria interactions in the horse. Abstract Anoplocephala perfoliata is a common equine tapeworm associated with an increased risk of colic (abdominal pain) in horses. Identification of parasite and intestinal microbiota interactions have consequences for understanding the mechanisms behind parasite-associated colic and potential new methods for parasite control. A. perfoliata was diagnosed by counting of worms in the caecum post-mortem. Bacterial DNA was extracted from colonic contents and sequenced targeting of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). The volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolome of colonic contents was characterised using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Bacterial diversity (alpha and beta) was similar between tapeworm infected and non-infected controls. Some compositional differences were apparent with down-regulation of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the symbiotic families of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae in the tapeworm-infected group. Overall tapeworm burden accounted for 7–8% of variation in the VOC profile (permutational multivariate analysis of variance). Integration of bacterial OTUs and VOCs demonstrated moderate to strong correlations indicating the potential of VOCs as markers for bacterial OTUs in equine colonic contents. This study has shown potential differences in the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of A. perfoliata infected and non-infected horses. This pilot study did not control for extrinsic factors including diet, disease history and stage of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Slater
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK; (A.F.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Alessandra Frau
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK; (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Jane Hodgkinson
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK; (J.H.); (D.A.)
| | - Debra Archer
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK; (J.H.); (D.A.)
| | - Chris Probert
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK; (A.F.); (C.P.)
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15
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Kodio A, Menu E, Ranque S. Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Microbiota Interactions. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E2018. [PMID: 33348551 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8122018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The nature of the relationship between the communities of microorganisms making up the microbiota in and on a host body has been increasingly explored in recent years. Microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, parasites and fungi, have often long co-evolved with their hosts. In human, the structure and diversity of microbiota vary according to the host’s immunity, diet, environment, age, physiological and metabolic status, medical practices (e.g., antibiotic treatment), climate, season and host genetics. The recent advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies enhanced observational capacities and allowed for a better understanding of the relationship between distinct microorganisms within microbiota. The interaction between the host and their microbiota has become a field of research into microorganisms with therapeutic and preventive interest for public health applications. This review aims at assessing the current knowledge on interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. After a brief description of the metagenomic methods used in the studies were analysed, we summarise the findings of available publications describing the interaction between the bacterial communities and protozoa, helminths and fungi, either in vitro, in experimental models, or in humans. Overall, we observed the existence of a beneficial effect in situations where some microorganisms can improve the health status of the host, while the presence of other microorganisms has been associated with pathologies, resulting in an adverse effect on human health.
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16
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Walshe N, Mulcahy G, Hodgkinson J, Peachey L. No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E2309. [PMID: 33291496 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [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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17
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Daniels SP, Leng J, Swann JR, Proudman CJ. Bugs and drugs: a systems biology approach to characterising the effect of moxidectin on the horse's faecal microbiome. Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:38. [PMID: 33499996 PMCID: PMC7807906 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00056-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anthelmintic treatment is a risk factor for intestinal disease in the horse, known as colic. However the mechanisms involved in the onset of disease post anthelmintic treatment are unknown. The interaction between anthelmintic drugs and the gut microbiota may be associated with this observed increase in risk of colic. Little is known about the interaction between gut microbiota and anthelmintics and how treatment may alter microbiome function. The objectives of this study were: To characterise (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation kinetics in vitro and (3) metabolic profiles following moxidectin administration to horses with very low (0 epg) adult strongyle burdens. Hypothesis: Moxidectin will not alter (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation in vitro, or, (3) host metabolome. Results Moxidectin increased the relative abundance of Deferribacter spp. and Spirochaetes spp. observed after 160 h in moxidectin treated horses. Reduced in vitro fibre fermentation was observed 16 h following moxidectin administration in vivo (P = 0.001), along with lower pH in the in vitro fermentations from the moxidectin treated group. Metabolic profiles from urine samples did not differ between the treatment groups. However metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations differed between moxidectin and control groups 16 h after treatment (R2 = 0.69, Q2Y = 0.48), and within the moxidectin group between 16 h and 160 h post moxidectin treatment (R2 = 0.79, Q2Y = 0.77). Metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations and fermentation kinetics both indicated altered carbohydrate metabolism following in vivo treatment with moxidectin. Conclusions These data suggest that in horses with low parasite burdens moxidectin had a small but measurable effect on both the community structure and the function of the gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Daniels
- School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL9 6JS, UK. .,School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK.
| | - J Leng
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK
| | - J R Swann
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - C J Proudman
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK
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18
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Walshe N, Mulcahy G, Crispie F, Cabrera-Rubio R, Cotter P, Jahns H, Duggan V. Outbreak of acute larval cyathostominosis - A "perfect storm" of inflammation and dysbiosis. Equine Vet J 2020; 53:727-739. [PMID: 32920897 PMCID: PMC8246859 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Cyathostomins are prevalent and pathogenic intestinal helminths of horses, causing acute and chronic disease, including acute larval cyathostominosis, which has a mortality rate of 50%. Factors determining individual susceptibility to acute larval cyathostominosis are unknown. Investigation of these factors could lead to novel treatment and prevention strategies. Objectives To investigate clinicopathological and faecal microbiota changes associated with disease in individual horses in an acute larval cyathostominosis outbreak. Study design Case series. Methods The study population was a herd of 23 mixed breed horses in Ireland. The outbreak occurred in November 2018. Fourteen horses were clinically affected. Clinical status was monitored and recorded. Blood and faecal sampling allowed clinicopathological, faecal 16s rRNA gene sequencing and faecal egg count analyses. Results Two horses were euthanised, whilst 12 recovered. Common clinical signs included loose faecal consistency, weight loss and pyrexia. Consistent clinicopathological findings were borderline anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, hyperfibrinogenaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and a reverse A: G ratio. Decreased alpha‐diversity of the faecal microbiota and greater relative abundance of the genus Streptococcus, class Bacilli, order Lactobacillales and family Streptococcaceae, and family Prevotelleceae was found in clinically affected horses compared to their clinically normal cohorts. An increase in obligate fibrolytic bacteria was seen in the clinically normal group compared to the clinical group. Histopathological findings of the colon and caecum revealed a severe necrotising typhlocolitis associated with cyathostomin larvae and bacterial overgrowth in the mucosa of the large intestine. Main limitations The study population in this outbreak is small. There are several confounding factors limiting this to a descriptive case series. Faecal microbiota has been shown to reflect the large intestinal microbiota but do not represent changes directly. Conclusions These findings suggest that acute larval cyathostominosis is associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota as well as the inflammatory stimulus of numerous emerging larvae leading to structural and functional pathology of the large intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Walshe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Mulcahy
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona Crispie
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, APC Microbiome, Moorepark, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, Moorepark, Ireland
| | | | - Paul Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, APC Microbiome, Moorepark, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, Moorepark, Ireland.,Vistamilk, Moorepark, Ireland
| | - Hanne Jahns
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vivienne Duggan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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19
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Hu X, Xu Y, Liu G, Hu D, Wang Y, Zhang W, Zheng Y. The impact of anthelmintic treatment on gut bacterial and fungal communities in diagnosed parasite-free sika deer Cervus nippon. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:9239-9250. [PMID: 32930840 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10838-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiota, including both bacterial and fungal communities, plays vital roles in the gut homeostasis of animals, and antibiotics can lead to disorders of these microbial communities. The use of anthelmintic treatment to control parasitic infection has long been a standard practice, although its impact on the gut microbiota of healthy sika deer is relatively unknown. This study used next-generation sequencing based on 16S/18S/ITS rRNA genes to investigate the shifts in fecal bacterial and fungal communities in parasite-free sika deer after treatment with fenbendazole and ivermectin tablets. The α-diversity of both bacterial and fungal communities was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after treatment, as were the bacterial genus Bacteroides and fungal genus Candida (P < 0.05). The results of β-diversity, LEfSe analysis, core community's analysis, taxonomic composition, and functional prediction of fungal and bacterial communities confirmed the substantial impacts of anthelmintic treatment on the function and structure of the intestinal microbiota of sika deer. Nevertheless, many lines of evidence, including β-diversity, LEfSe analysis and functional prediction analysis, suggested that the anthelmintics exerted more significant influences on fungal communities than on bacterial communities, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the changes in fungal communities of sika deer under anthelmintic treatment. The present study provides evidence to support the assumption that anthelmintic drugs modify the gut microbiota of deer and serves as the first trial to test the potential effects of anthelmintics on mycobiota in ruminants using high-throughput sequencing techniques. Key Points • Anthelmintic treatment showed significant effects on the gut microbiota of sika deer. • Fungi were more strongly affected by anthelmintic treatment than bacteria. • The profile of mycobiota provides essential data that were previously absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongtao Xu
- College of forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Institute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Defu Hu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yihua Wang
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- College of forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Yunlin Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
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20
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Mravčáková D, Kišidayová S, Kopčáková A, Pristaš P, Pisarčíková J, Bryszak M, Cieslak A, Várady M, Váradyová Z. Can the foregut nematode Haemonchus contortus and medicinal plants influence the fecal microbial community of the experimentally infected lambs? PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235072. [PMID: 32574178 PMCID: PMC7310730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The abomasal parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus can influence the abomasal microbiome of the host. On the other hand, no information occurs on the influence of the parasite on the hindgut microbiome of the host. We evaluated the impact of Haemonchus contortus on the fecal microbial community of the experimentally infected lambs treated with a mixture of medicinal herbs to ameliorate the haemonchosis. Twenty-four female lambs were divided into four groups: infected animals (Inf), infected animals supplemented with a blend of medicinal herbs (Inf+Herb), uninfected control animals (Control), and uninfected animals supplemented with medicinal herbs (C+Herb). Inf and Inf+Herb lambs were infected orally with approximately 5000 L3 larvae of a strain of H. contortus susceptible to anthelmintics (MHco1). Herb blend (Herbmix) consisted of dry medicinal plants of Althaea officinalis, Petasites hybridus, Inula helenium, Malva sylvestris, Chamomilla recutita, Plantago lanceolata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Solidago virgaurea, Fumaria officinalis, Hyssopus officinalis, Melisa officinalis, Foeniculum vulgare, and Artemisia absinthium. Each animal was fed meadow hay and a commercial concentrate (600 + 350 g DM/d). Inf+Herb and C+Herb lambs were fed Herbmix (100 g DM/d and animal). Treatment lasted for 50 days. The fecal microbial fermentation parameters (short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, and pH) were evaluated at intervals of 0, 20, 32, and 50 days. The fecal eubacterial populations were evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) at day 32 when H. contortus infection was the highest. No substantial effects of the H. contortus infection and the herbal treatment on fecal microbial fermentation parameters and fecal eubacterial populations were observed. Evaluation of DGGE patterns by Principal component analysis pointed to the tendency to branch the C+Herb group from the other experimental groups on Day 32. The results indicate that hindgut microbial activity was not disturbed by H. contortus infection and herbal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Mravčáková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Svetlana Kišidayová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Anna Kopčáková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Peter Pristaš
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Pisarčíková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Magda Bryszak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Adam Cieslak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marián Várady
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Zora Váradyová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
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21
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Mach N, Ruet A, Clark A, Bars-Cortina D, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Crisci E, Pennarun S, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Lansade L. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8311. [PMID: 32433513 PMCID: PMC7239938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65444-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We simultaneously measured the fecal microbiota and multiple environmental and host-related variables in a cohort of 185 healthy horses reared in similar conditions during a period of eight months. The pattern of rare bacteria varied from host to host and was largely different between two time points. Among a suite of variables examined, equitation factors were highly associated with the gut microbiota variability, evoking a relationship between gut microbiota and high levels of physical and mental stressors. Behavioral indicators that pointed toward a compromised welfare state (e.g. stereotypies, hypervigilance and aggressiveness) were also associated with the gut microbiota, reinforcing the notion for the existence of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. These observations were consistent with the microbiability of behaviour traits (> 15%), illustrating the importance of gut microbial composition to animal behaviour. As more elite athletes suffer from stress, targeting the microbiota offers a new opportunity to investigate the bidirectional interactions within the brain gut microbiota axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Mach
- Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, INRAE, University of Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Alice Ruet
- PRC, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Allison Clark
- Health Science Department, Open University of Catalonia, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Yuliaxis Ramayo-Caldas
- Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, INRAE, University of Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Program, Institute for Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Torre Marimon, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Elisa Crisci
- Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, INRAE, University of Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Samuel Pennarun
- US UMR 1426, INRAE, Genomic platform, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Sophie Dhorne-Pollet
- Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, INRAE, University of Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Aline Foury
- University of Bordeaux, INRAE, NutriNeuro UMR 1286, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Léa Lansade
- PRC, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
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22
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Cortés A, Wills J, Su X, Hewitt RE, Robertson J, Scotti R, Price DRG, Bartley Y, McNeilly TN, Krause L, Powell JJ, Nisbet AJ, Cantacessi C. Infection with the sheep gastrointestinal nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta increases luminal pathobionts. Microbiome 2020; 8:60. [PMID: 32354347 PMCID: PMC7193420 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00818-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The multifaceted interactions between gastrointestinal (GI) helminth parasites, host gut microbiota and immune system are emerging as a key area of research within the field of host-parasite relationships. In spite of the plethora of data available on the impact that GI helminths exert on the composition of the gut microflora, whether alterations of microbial profiles are caused by direct parasite-bacteria interactions or, indirectly, by alterations of the GI environment (e.g. mucosal immunity) remains to be determined. Furthermore, no data is thus far available on the downstream roles that qualitative and quantitative changes in gut microbial composition play in the overall pathophysiology of parasite infection and disease. RESULTS In this study, we investigated the fluctuations in microbiota composition and local immune microenvironment of sheep vaccinated against, and experimentally infected with, the 'brown stomach worm' Teladorsagia circumcincta, a parasite of worldwide socio-economic significance. We compared the faecal microbial profiles of vaccinated and subsequently infected sheep with those obtained from groups of unvaccinated/infected and unvaccinated/uninfected animals. We show that alterations of gut microbial composition are associated mainly with parasite infection, and that this involves the expansion of populations of bacteria with known pro-inflammatory properties that may contribute to the immunopathology of helminth disease. Using novel quantitative approaches for the analysis of confocal microscopy-derived images, we also show that gastric tissue infiltration of T cells is driven by parasitic infection rather than anti-helminth vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Teladorsagia circumcincta infection leads to an expansion of potentially pro-inflammatory gut microbial species and abomasal T cells. This data paves the way for future experiments aimed to determine the contribution of the gut flora to the pathophysiology of parasitic disease, with the ultimate aim to design and develop novel treatment/control strategies focused on preventing and/or restricting bacterial-mediated inflammation upon infection by GI helminths. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Cortés
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - John Wills
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Xiaopei Su
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Rachel E Hewitt
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Jack Robertson
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Riccardo Scotti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Daniel R G Price
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Yvonne Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | | | - Jonathan J Powell
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.
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23
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Sharpton TJ, Combrink L, Arnold HK, Gaulke CA, Kent M. Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 53:26-34. [PMID: 32114334 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal helminth parasites present major challenges to the welfare of humans and threaten the global food supply. While the discovery of anthelminthic drugs empowered our ability to offset these harms to society, the alarming rise of anthelminthic drug resistance mitigates contemporary efforts to treat and control intestinal helminthic infections. Fortunately, emerging research points to potential opportunities to combat anthelminthic drug resistance by harnessing the gut microbiome as a resource for discovering novel therapeutics and informing responsible drug administration. In this review, we highlight research that demonstrates this potential and provide rationale to support increased investment in efforts to uncover and translationally utilize knowledge about how the gut microbiome mediates intestinal helminthic infection and its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sharpton
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Leigh Combrink
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Holly K Arnold
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | | | - Michael Kent
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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24
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Scotti R, Southern S, Boinett C, Jenkins TP, Cortés A, Cantacessi C. MICHELINdb: a web-based tool for mining of helminth-microbiota interaction datasets, and a meta-analysis of current research. Microbiome 2020; 8:10. [PMID: 32008578 PMCID: PMC6996195 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0782-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The complex network of interactions occurring between gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-intestinal (EI) parasitic helminths of humans and animals and the resident gut microbial flora is attracting increasing attention from biomedical researchers, because of the likely implications for the pathophysiology of helminth infection and disease. Nevertheless, the vast heterogeneity of study designs and microbial community profiling strategies, and of bioinformatic and biostatistical approaches for analyses of metagenomic sequence datasets hinder the identification of bacterial targets for follow-up experimental investigations of helminth-microbiota cross-talk. Furthermore, comparative analyses of published datasets are made difficult by the unavailability of a unique repository for metagenomic sequence data and associated metadata linked to studies aimed to explore potential changes in the composition of the vertebrate gut microbiota in response to GI and/or EI helminth infections. RESULTS Here, we undertake a meta-analysis of available metagenomic sequence data linked to published studies on helminth-microbiota cross-talk in humans and veterinary species using a single bioinformatic pipeline, and introduce the 'MICrobiome HELminth INteractions database' (MICHELINdb), an online resource for mining of published sequence datasets, and corresponding metadata, generated in these investigations. CONCLUSIONS By increasing data accessibility, we aim to provide the scientific community with a platform to identify gut microbial populations with potential roles in the pathophysiology of helminth disease and parasite-mediated suppression of host inflammatory responses, and facilitate the design of experiments aimed to disentangle the cause(s) and effect(s) of helminth-microbiota relationships. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Scotti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
- Present address: Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Stuart Southern
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Christine Boinett
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Timothy P Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.
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25
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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: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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26
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Cortés A, Peachey L, Scotti R, Jenkins TP, Cantacessi C. Helminth-microbiota cross-talk - A journey through the vertebrate digestive system. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 233:111222. [PMID: 31541662 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of vertebrates is inhabited by a vast array of organisms, i.e., the microbiota and macrobiota. The former is composed largely of commensal microorganisms, which play vital roles in host nutrition and maintenance of energy balance, in addition to supporting the development and function of the vertebrate immune system. By contrast, the macrobiota includes parasitic helminths, which are mostly considered detrimental to host health via a range of pathogenic effects that depend on parasite size, location in the GI tract, burden of infection, metabolic activity, and interactions with the host immune system. Sharing the same environment within the vertebrate host, the GI microbiota and parasitic helminths interact with each other, and the results of such interactions may impact, directly or indirectly, on host health and homeostasis. The complex relationships occurring between parasitic helminths and microbiota have long been neglected; however, recent studies point towards a role for these interactions in the overall pathophysiology of helminth disease, as well as in parasite-mediated suppression of inflammation. Whilst several discrepancies in qualitative and quantitative modifications in gut microbiota composition have been described based on host and helminth species under investigation, we argue that attention should be paid to the systems biology of the gut compartment under consideration, as variations in the abundances of the same population of bacteria inhabiting different niches of the GI tract may result in varying functional consequences for host physiology.
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27
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Massacci FR, Clark A, Ruet A, Lansade L, Costa M, Mach N. Inter-breed diversity and temporal dynamics of the faecal microbiota in healthy horses. J Anim Breed Genet 2019; 137:103-120. [PMID: 31523867 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Understanding gut microbiota similarities and differences across breeds in horses has the potential to advance approaches aimed at personalized microbial modifications, particularly those involved in improving sport athletic performance. Here, we explore whether faecal microbiota composition based on faecal 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing varies across six different sport breeds at two time points 8 months apart within a cohort of 189 healthy horses cared for under similar conditions. Lusitano horses presented the smallest and Hanoverians the greatest bacterial diversity. We found subtle but significant differences in β-diversity between Lusitano, Anglo Arabian and the central European breeds, and we reproduced these results across the two time points. Repeat sampling of subjects showed community to be temporally more stable in Lusitano and Anglo Arabian breeds. Additionally, we found that 27 genera significantly varied in abundance across breeds. Overall, 33% of these taxa overlapped with previously identified taxa that were associated with genetic variation in humans or other species. However, a non-significant correlation was observed between microbial composition and the host pedigree-based kinship. Despite a notable variation in the diversity and composition of the faecal microbiota, breed exerted limited effects on the equine faecal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Romana Massacci
- UMR 1313, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Research and Development Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche 'Togo Rosati', Perugia, Italy.,Agricultural and Food Sciences Department, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Allison Clark
- Gastroenterology Department, Vall d'Hebron Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alice Ruet
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marcio Costa
- Biomedical Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Núria Mach
- UMR 1313, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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28
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Peachey LE, Castro C, Molena RA, Jenkins TP, Griffin JL, Cantacessi C. Dysbiosis associated with acute helminth infections in herbivorous youngstock - observations and implications. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11121. [PMID: 31366962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47204-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A plethora of data points towards a role of the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota of neonatal and young vertebrates in supporting the development and regulation of the host immune system. However, knowledge of the impact that infections by GI helminths exert on the developing microbiota of juvenile hosts is, thus far, limited. This study investigates, for the first time, the associations between acute infections by GI helminths and the faecal microbial and metabolic profiles of a cohort of equine youngstock, prior to and following treatment with parasiticides (ivermectin). We observed that high versus low parasite burdens (measured via parasite egg counts in faecal samples) were associated with specific compositional alterations of the developing microbiome; in particular, the faecal microbiota of animals with heavy worm infection burdens was characterised by lower microbial richness, and alterations to the relative abundances of bacterial taxa with immune-modulatory functions. Amino acids and glucose were increased in faecal samples from the same cohort, which indicated the likely occurrence of intestinal malabsorption. These data support the hypothesis that GI helminth infections in young livestock are associated with significant alterations to the GI microbiota, which may impact on both metabolism and development of acquired immunity. This knowledge will direct future studies aimed to identify the long-term impact of infection-induced alterations of the GI microbiota in young livestock.
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29
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Cortés A, Peachey LE, Jenkins TP, Scotti R, Cantacessi C. Helminths and microbes within the vertebrate gut - not all studies are created equal. Parasitology 2019; 146:1371-8. [PMID: 31258097 DOI: 10.1017/S003118201900088X] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The multifaceted interactions occurring between gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic helminths and the host gut microbiota are emerging as a key area of study within the broader research domain of host-pathogen relationships. Over the past few years, a wealth of investigations has demonstrated that GI helminths interact with the host gut flora, and that such interactions result in modifications of the host immune and metabolic statuses. Nevertheless, whilst selected changes in gut microbial composition are consistently observed in response to GI helminth infections across several host-parasite systems, research in this area to date is largely characterised by inconsistent findings. These discrepancies are particularly evident when data from studies of GI helminth-microbiota interactions conducted in humans from parasite-endemic regions are compared. In this review, we provide an overview of the main sources of variance that affect investigations on helminth-gut microbiota interactions in humans, and propose a series of methodological approaches that, whilst accounting for the inevitable constraints of fieldwork, are aimed at minimising confounding factors and draw biologically meaningful interpretations from highly variable datasets.
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30
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Walshe N, Duggan V, Cabrera-Rubio R, Crispie F, Cotter P, Feehan O, Mulcahy G. Removal of adult cyathostomins alters faecal microbiota and promotes an inflammatory phenotype in horses. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:489-500. [PMID: 30986403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The interactions between parasitic helminths and gut microbiota are considered to be an important, although as yet incompletely understood, factor in the regulation of immunity, inflammation and a range of diseases. Infection with intestinal helminths is ubiquitous in grazing horses, with cyathostomins (about 50 species of which are recorded) predominating. Consequences of infection include both chronic effects, and an acute inflammatory syndrome, acute larval cyathostominosis, which sometimes follows removal of adult helminths by administration of anthelmintic drugs. The presence of cyathostomins as a resident helminth population of the equine gut (the "helminthome") provides an opportunity to investigate the effect helminth infection, and its perturbation, has on both the immune system and bacterial microbiome of the gut, as well as to determine the specific mechanisms of pathophysiology involved in equine acute larval cyathostominosis. We studied changes in the faecal microbiota of two groups of horses following treatment with anthelmintics (fenbendazole or moxidectin). We found decreases in both alpha diversity and beta diversity of the faecal microbiota at Day 7 post-treatment, which were reversed by Day 14. These changes were accompanied by increases in inflammatory biomarkers. The general pattern of faecal microbiota detected was similar to that seen in the relatively few equine gut microbiome studies reported to date. We conclude that interplay between resident cyathostomin populations and the bacterial microbiota of the equine large intestine is important in maintaining homeostasis and that disturbance of this ecology can lead to gut dysbiosis and play a role in the aetiology of inflammatory conditions in the horse, including acute larval cyathostominosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Walshe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vivienne Duggan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Raul Cabrera-Rubio
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, APC Microbiome, Ireland
| | - Fiona Crispie
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, APC Microbiome, Ireland
| | - Paul Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, APC Microbiome, Ireland
| | - Orna Feehan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Mulcahy
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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31
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Kunz IGZ, Reed KJ, Metcalf JL, Hassel DM, Coleman RJ, Hess TM, Coleman SJ. Equine Fecal Microbiota Changes Associated With Anthelmintic Administration. J Equine Vet Sci 2019; 77:98-106. [PMID: 31133326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) plays an essential role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis with disruptions having profound effects on the wellbeing of the host animal. Parasitic infection is a long-standing issue for the equine industry, and the use of anthelmintic drugs for parasite control has long been standard practice. The impact of anthelmintic treatment on the GIM in healthy horses is not well known. This study evaluated the hypothesis that anthelmintic administration will alter the equine fecal microbiota in horses without an observed helminth infection. Ten horses were treated with a single dose of QUEST PLUS (active ingredients: Moxidectin and Praziquantel) (Zoetis), and fecal samples were collected before and after treatment. Amplicon sequencing data were quality filtered, processed, and analyzed using QIIME2. Anthelmintic treatment corresponded with a small but significant decrease in alpha diversity (P-value < .05). Analysis of taxonomic abundances before and after treatment with DESeq2 identified 21 features that were significantly different after treatment (Padj-value < .05). Differences in beta diversity associated with treatment were not significant and potentially suggest factors unique to the individual may play an essential role in the specific responses observed. Overall, the present study does not indicate a broad, large-scale impact on the GIM after anthelmintic treatment. The results do, however, suggest the potential of individualized responses that are based instead on host factors. Identification of these factors and investigation of their impact on the host/microbiota relationship will contribute significantly to our understanding of the role of the microbiome in horse health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle G Z Kunz
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Kailee J Reed
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Jessica L Metcalf
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Diana M Hassel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Robert J Coleman
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - Tanja M Hess
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Stephen J Coleman
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
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32
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Morgan ER, Aziz NAA, Blanchard A, Charlier J, Charvet C, Claerebout E, Geldhof P, Greer AW, Hertzberg H, Hodgkinson J, Höglund J, Hoste H, Kaplan RM, Martínez-Valladares M, Mitchell S, Ploeger HW, Rinaldi L, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Sotiraki S, Schnyder M, Skuce P, Bartley D, Kenyon F, Thamsborg SM, Vineer HR, de Waal T, Williams AR, van Wyk JA, Vercruysse J. 100 Questions in Livestock Helminthology Research. Trends Parasitol 2018; 35:52-71. [PMID: 30477758 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An elicitation exercise was conducted to collect and identify pressing questions concerning the study of helminths in livestock, to help guide research priorities. Questions were invited from the research community in an inclusive way. Of 385 questions submitted, 100 were chosen by online vote, with priority given to open questions in important areas that are specific enough to permit investigation within a focused project or programme of research. The final list of questions was divided into ten themes. We present the questions and set them briefly in the context of the current state of knowledge. Although subjective, the results provide a snapshot of current concerns and perceived priorities in the field of livestock helminthology, and we hope that they will stimulate ongoing or new research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Morgan
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Nor-Azlina A Aziz
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Claude Charvet
- ISP, INRA, Université Tours, UMR1282, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Peter Geldhof
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Andrew W Greer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln University, Christchurch, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Hubertus Hertzberg
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jane Hodgkinson
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Johan Höglund
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BVF-parasitology, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hervé Hoste
- UMR 1225 IHAP INRA/ENVT, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076 Toulouse, France
| | - Ray M Kaplan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - Siân Mitchell
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre, Jobswell Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, SA31 3EZ, UK
| | - Harm W Ploeger
- Utrecht University, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Smaragda Sotiraki
- Veterinary Research Institute, HAO-DEMETER, Campus Thermi 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philip Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - David Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Fiona Kenyon
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stig M Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Theo de Waal
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland
| | - Andrew R Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jan A van Wyk
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Raza A, Qamar AG, Hayat K, Ashraf S, Williams AR. Anthelmintic resistance and novel control options in equine gastrointestinal nematodes. Parasitology 2019; 146:425-37. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractControl of equine nematodes has relied on benzimidazoles (BZs), tetrahydropyrimidines and macrocyclic lactones. The intensive use of anthelmintics has led to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR) in equine cyathostomins and Parascaris equorum. Field studies indicate that BZ and pyrantel resistance is widespread in cyathostomins and there are also increasing reports of resistance to macrocyclic lactones in cyathostomins and P. equorum. The unavailability of reliable laboratory-based techniques for detecting resistance further augments the problem of nematode control in horses. The only reliable test used in horses is the fecal egg count reduction test; therefore, more focus should be given to develop and validate improved methodologies for diagnosing AR at an early stage, as well as determining the mechanisms involved in resistance development. Therefore, equine industry and researchers should devise and implement new strategies for equine worm control, such as the use of bioactive pastures or novel feed additives, and control should increasingly incorporate alternative and evidence-based parasite control strategies to limit the development of AR. This review describes the history and prevalence of AR in equine nematodes, along with recent advances in developing resistance diagnostic tests and worm control strategies in horses, as well as giving some perspective on recent research into novel control strategies.
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