Efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation for treating acute colitis in horses undergoing colic surgery

Dias, Daniel Penteado Martins; Sousa, Samuel Santos; Molezini, Flávia A.; Ferreira, Henrique Sampaio; Campos, Renato de

doi:10.1590/1678-5150-pvb-5521

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…The use of FMTs in horses is mostly anecdotal with minimal research in the area. However, there are some promising indications of efficacy, in that FMTs have been shown to increase the alpha diversity of geriatric horses with colitis [75] and had significant rapid results in horses treated for acute onset colitis in hospitalised horses post colic surgery [76]. FMT may have a role in restoring gut function in horses suffering from dysbiosis.…”

Section: Microbiota Modulating Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections

Walshe

Mulcahy

Hodgkinson

et al. 2020

Animals

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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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Section: Microbiota Modulating Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections

Walshe

Mulcahy

Hodgkinson

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…When using nasogastric intubation, fecal fluid is deposited into the stomach and bacteria must survive the acidic environment to reach the large intestine. Sodium bicarbonate and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs, omeprazole in the horses of this study) are commonly administered to decrease gastric acidity before FMT ( Dias et al ., 2018 ), but their value as part of the transfaunation protocol has not been studied and remains speculative. Furthermore, the administration of PPIs has been listed as one of the factors associated with increased risk of CDI in humans ( Barletta and Sclar, 2014 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are multiple causes of colitis in horses, including infectious etiologies, parasites, antimicrobial or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, carbohydrate overload, sand enteropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, and GI toxins, among others. Colitis is also a potential postoperative complication in horses undergoing colic surgery ( Dias et al ., 2018 ). Many cases remain undiagnosed as to specific etiology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are limited reports and small case series describing FMT in horses ( Dias et al ., 2018 ; Muller et al ., 2018; McKinney et al ., 2021 ) and clinical results have been variable. A recent prospective study showed more rapid improvement of diarrhea score in horses receiving FMT compared to FMT-untreated cases ( McKinney et al ., 2021 ); however, transfaunated and control groups were treated in two different referral hospitals which precluded blinding, adding confounders unique to each hospital center, and the number of affected animals was small.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fecal microbiota transplant for treatment of diarrhea in adult hospitalized horses – 111 cases (2013 – 2018)

Quattrini,

Bozorgmanesh,

Egli

et al. 2023

Open Vet J

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Background: Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is increasingly administered as part of the treatment of colitis in horses, yet there are little data as to effectiveness. Aim: Retrospective evaluation of the effects of FMT on discharge status, fecal consistency, length of hospitalization and improvement in clinical signs in horses hospitalized for diarrhea. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Medical records of adult horses (>1 year old) that received at least one transfaunation treatment (2013-2018) in two referral hospitals were identified through a medical records database search. Medical records of contemporary adult horses with diarrhea that did not receive FMT at the same study centers were used as controls. Results: Control horses had statistically significant shorter hospitalization (7 [1-21]) as compared to the transfaunation group (12 [3-31]) (P=0.0006). There were no significant differences between groups in number of days to improvement of feces (P=0.38), or in days to normalization of fecal consistency (P=0.43), respiratory rate (P=0.42), heart rate (P=0.27), body temperature (P=0.12), peripheral white blood cell count (P=0.37), improvement in appetite (P=0.81) or attitude (P=0.06). There was also no significant difference in survival to discharge (transfaunation 28/37, 75.7%; control 56/74, 75.7%, P=1.0). Conclusions: There were no significant advantages of performing fecal microbiota transplant in horses with diarrhea in this retrospective study. This highlights the need for prospective, randomized studies to evaluate the efficacy of FMT, as well as different formulations, in horses with colitis before this can become standard practice.

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“…This observation is consistent with anecdotal reports of improved fecal consistency in equine colitis [ 8 , 11 , 17 ] and reduction of excessive free fecal water after FMT treatment [ 18 ]. In addition to improved manure consistency reported in a small group of horses with antibiotic-induced or undifferentiated colitis [ 17 ], FMT has also been associated with a more rapid resolution of fever when administered to horses with acute diarrhea following exploratory celiotomy compared to untreated horses [ 39 ]. Given that clinical variables improved in both the FMT-treated and untreated groups in the current study, the relationship between FMT and alterations in vital parameters could not be established in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of clinical and microbiota responses to fecal microbial transplantation in adult horses with diarrhea

et al. 2021

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Background and aims Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) is empirically implemented in horses with colitis to facilitate resolution of diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to assess FMT as a clinical treatment and modulator of fecal microbiota in hospitalized horses with colitis. Methods A total of 22 horses with moderate to severe diarrhea, consistent with a diagnosis of colitis, were enrolled at two referral hospitals (L1: n = 12; L2: n = 10). FMT was performed in all 12 patients on 3 consecutive days at L1, while treatment at L2 consisted of standard care without FMT. Manure was collected once daily for 4 days from the rectum in all colitis horses, prior to FMT for horses at L1, and from each manure sample used for FMT. Fecal samples from 10 clinically healthy control horses housed at L2, and 30 healthy horses located at 5 barns in regional proximity to L1 were also obtained to characterize the regional healthy equine microbiome. All fecal microbiota were analyzed using 16S amplicon sequencing. Results and conclusions As expected, healthy horses at both locations showed a greater α-diversity and lower β-diversity compared to horses with colitis. The fecal microbiome of healthy horses clustered by location, with L1 horses showing a higher prevalence of Kiritimatiellaeota. Improved manure consistency (lower diarrhea score) was associated with a greater α-diversity in horses with colitis at both locations (L1: r = -0.385, P = 0.006; L2: r = -0.479, P = 0.002). Fecal transplant recipients demonstrated a greater overall reduction in diarrhea score (median: 4±3 grades), compared to untreated horses (median: 1.5±3 grades, P = 0.021), with a higher incidence in day-over-day improvement in diarrhea (22/36 (61%) vs. 10/28 (36%) instances, P = 0.011). When comparing microbiota of diseased horses at study conclusion to that of healthy controls, FMT-treated horses showed a lower mean UniFrac distance (0.53±0.27) than untreated horses (0.62±0.26, P<0.001), indicating greater normalization of the microbiome in FMT-treated patients.

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Efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation for treating acute colitis in horses undergoing colic surgery

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections

No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections

Fecal microbiota transplant for treatment of diarrhea in adult hospitalized horses – 111 cases (2013 – 2018)

Assessment of clinical and microbiota responses to fecal microbial transplantation in adult horses with diarrhea

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