What Is the Microbiota and What Is Its Role in Colic?

Carolyn E Arnold; Rachel Pilla

doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.004

What Is the Microbiota and What Is Its Role in Colic?

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2023 Aug;39(2):381-397. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.004. Epub 2023 Apr 28.

Authors

Carolyn E Arnold¹, Rachel Pilla²

Affiliations

¹ School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University, 7671 Evans Street, Amarillo, Texas 79106, USA. Electronic address: Carolyn.Arnold@ttu.edu.
² Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.

PMID: 37121786
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.004

Abstract

The fecal microbiome of the horse is reflective of the large colon and plays an important role in the health of the horse. The microbes of the gastrointestinal tract digest fiber and produce energy for the host. Healthy horses have Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucromicrobia as the most common phyla. During gastrointestinal disease such as colic or colitis, the microbiome shows less diversity and changes in bacterial community composition.

Keywords: Colic; Equine; Gastrointestinal bacteria; Microbiome.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacteria
Colic* / veterinary
Feces / microbiology
Horse Diseases* / microbiology
Horses
Microbiota*